tom milton
Tom Milton - A good man goes
We got the bad news today (Monday) that Tom Milton, good friend and the man behind Selle An-Atomica had died of a heart attack while riding the Devil Mountain Double Century bike race in San Jose, Ca. A report from an eye witness can be read here: Bike Ride Stories
My feelings about Tom have very little to do with bikes, saddles or business. Tom was the kind of guy you liked being around. He told a great story, he loved his food and he was a wise and worldly man. The last time i saw him was in Taiwan at the Bike Show there. He was so full of life, talking, arguing and joking with everybody. He had plans and he had a lot of friends. We ate together in Taiwan many times and it was always an occasion. One night in a Taiawanese fast food store where Tom charmed the people who couldn't speak any english, I won't forget that. On another night we were out with two French guys, an Italian, one German, an Englishman and Tom. We had a great time talking about food and wine, about politics, about cars. He could talk about almost anything.
I know he was plannng to come back to Europe and to the Eurobike. He had been so impressed about what was possible in Europe for Selle An-Atomica. He was looking forward to coming back to Quakenbrück where the ice-cream parlour sells liquor - he loved that and we joked about the "good" grappa they gave us there. You know thinking about him right now, i think about his charm and about his intensity. He was an American that was unlike many Americans I know. He was worldly wise, he spoke to my son like an adult, asking, probing, learning. He is a role model for us all. i will miss his tacky hawaiian shirts and cherish the one he gave me as a present.
He was a man who wanted to make the most comfortable saddle in the world, and a lot of people will testify to his success. I'm going to go the Ice Cream parlour and order an Espresso and the "good Grappa" and think about the friend Daniela and I have lost.
tom and bob in munich - he always had the better shirts!