"John passed away on December 17 at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy that quietly touches thousands of bikes and just as many mechanics every single day. Barnett's Path to Cycling Barnett's path into cycling was anything but conventional. Long before he became synonymous with professional mechanic education, he lived a life shaped by curiosity, movement, and work that was often physical and grounded."
"He bounced between schools, jobs, and places, spent time in bike shops, sold flowers on street corners, and even worked on wildfire duty. Cycling wasn't a career plan; it was something that naturally fit into a life built on hands-on problem-solving. When he settled in Colorado in the late 1970s and later took on the role of service manager at Criterium Bicycles in Colorado Springs, the industry itself was still figuring out what it was becoming."
"Barnett was part of that first wave of builders and mechanics helping shape early mountain bikes. Along with Criterium Bicycles owner and founder Chris Caunt, the duo mirrored what was happening at the same time in places like Northern California. But John's most enduring contribution didn't come from the service stand. It came from teaching. Barnett Bicycle Institute What started as small, off-season mechanic classes grew into the Barnett Bicycle Institute (BBI), a place that would train generations of professional and amateur mechanics."
John Barnett spent a varied life of hands-on work before settling in Colorado in the late 1970s and serving as service manager at Criterium Bicycles in Colorado Springs. He helped shape early mountain bikes alongside builders like Chris Caunt as the industry adapted to new equipment and race support needs. Barnett launched off-season mechanic classes that expanded into the Barnett Bicycle Institute (BBI), training generations of professional and amateur mechanics. Thousands of bikes and mechanics bear the influence of his teaching and professional standards. Barnett died on December 17 at age 74, leaving a practical legacy in mechanic education.
Read at Bikerumor
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