RIP - UncleJust

[cyclotaur]

I have some very sad news. Justin, our forum buddy and my good friend of the last 8 years, has died in hospital yesterday after an operation earlier in the week. He was just recently (3 weeks ago) and unexpectedly diagnosed with aggressive kidney cancer following a bout of flu.

I spoke to him by phone in hospital last week and he was his usual dry and ironic self, but a bit worried at his prospects. I suspect he had not been given a great prognosis but we had a few laughs anyway. I was hopeful and optimistic for him but received a message from his son Simon just this afternoon. I guess he ‘died with his cleats on’ to an extent as he was riding with me the week before I left for Europe in late June. A planned coffee ride on my return did not eventuate.

I’ll miss the old curmudgeon and his company around the trails, and on the short light-tours we had done (and planned) over the last 8 years.

I know he had many friends here on the forum, and this is the best way I could let you all know this sad news.

Regards,
Mike

[RonK]

That is sad news indeed. Justin was a very good forum member and contributor.

[find_bruce]

Thanks for letting us know the sad news Mike

[cyclotaur]

Yes - I'm still coming to grips with the speed of events. On July 27th he emailed that he was hoping for a ride the next day, in fact.

He had much 'unfinished business' wrt cycling, including a JOGLE/LEJOG ride that he missed out on in the early 2000's and, on a smaller scale, a tour from Wangaratta to Gippsland via Myrtleford/MtBeauty/Falls/Omeo/Hotham/Dargo we started but abandoned after one day last March due to his back troubling him. I'd like to do that one next autumn - I may be looking for company.

Justin was the first and best friend I met through cycling after my retirement in 2010. He challenged me to do bigger rides and try touring. He talked me into the AudaxAlpineClassic in 2012 and I have been up there every year since except 2014(?) when there were bushfires. He was an endless, generous source of help and advice to me and a few of my friends who also took up cycling in the last 7-8 years. He had high technical and aesthetic standards, great skills on the bike, and never rode a dirty, poorly serviced or shabby bike. He could be a bit of a retro-grouch and his pride and joy is/was his custom steel Gellie with Ritchey Breakaway joints. His shed is an Aladdin's cave of bikes, frames and parts.

But mostly he was just a good. modest guy who liked to ride and stay fit. His last month or so was tough, with some other health problems within his extended family also.

My thoughts are with his wife, son and daughter and their extended family. Justin was one of 11(?) kids, so there are lots of them.

[cyclotaur]

Just to indicate how quickly things moved for Justin, his last ride that I know of was just 6 weeks ago - a cold miserable day in July when he did a few laps of Kew Boulevard near home in Richmond.

He had ridden over 4500kms this year up until then.

[Strawburger]

That is terrible news. As RonK said, a great contributor and even though I never met Justin, he seemed like a nice guy.

[P!N20]

Terrible news - Justin was a regular contributor to the retro section too, where I mainly hang out.

I noticed he finished up with an even 800 posts! Very neat.

May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face and may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.

[cyclotaur]

….I noticed he finished up with an even 800 posts! Very neat.

Typical of him - he had a tidy mind, that's for sure.

[cyclotaur]

A fine farewell service with great tributes from family and long-time cycling friends.
See you up the road, Justin.

[trailgumby]

Farewell, Justin.

[cyclotaur]

Justin's son Simon and a few of Justin's friends went to Bright last week and rode the Alpine Classic as a bit of a memorial ride for UncleJust/UJ1.

A good day and a great tribute to Justin, especially from his son Simon and nephew Lincoln, who both rode the 200 under 10 hours in the poor conditions. Simon also wore a tribute kit and supplied us all with typical UJ1 cycling cap as a memento.

A great and emotional effort from Simon, who intends to go back next year and do it again.

I met Simon at the end of his ride. I pulled out at Tawonga and returned to Bright - not fit enough for the 200 this year, and the early conditions on Mt Buffalo didn't help.


UJ1 tribute cap by Simon.

[find_bruce]

That's a good ride to remember a good mate

[jules21]

thanks for posting Mike. I hadn't seen this post before. RIP Justin.