This is a place where people who loved Pam Leven may feel free to write a memory they have of her, a story, or to say goodbye to a good friend. Please share your thoughts by clicking on the "Comments" at the bottom of the tribute below. You need not be a cyclist to share a memory here. Please send photos of Pam that we can share to Chuck Bramwell at cbrams@caltriplecrown.com and to Roland Hoffman at roland@hoffmanplastic.com
Sadly, Pam had a bad accident while riding her bike on Sunday, December 15, 2013. On Tuesday, December 17, Hugh Murphy wrote: "Our friend Pam Leven, the President of the Los Angeles Wheelmen, is in need of our prayers. I just spoke with Kermit Ganier a few minutes ago. Kermit said she was involved in a cyclist/cyclist wreck last weekend. She has major head trauma. Things do not sound good. Please send lots of prayers and healing thoughts Pam's way."
Roland Hoffman wrote: "Oh NO! Pam and Kermit inspired me to do the quad in 2011. She will be included in our Hoffman family daily prayer towards a complete and speedy recovery. Love ya, Pam!!!!!!!"
On Wednesday, December 18, Roland wrote: "For those that may not know, LA Wheelmen's 2013 / 2014 President, Pam Leven was involved in a cycling incident last Sunday, December 15th, while riding the LA Wheelmen's "Newcomer's Ride" in the West LA / Brentwood area. I have just spoke with Kermit regarding the incident and Pam's current condition. As the group was making a safe and routine left turn from Sunset Blvd., she got tangled up with another experienced cyclist that was next to her within the group. They both went down onto the pavement. While the experienced rider has escaped serious injury, Pam is currently at UCLA Medical Center in critical condition with severe head trauma. Let's ALL hold our virtual hands in unity . . . as we send our healing prayers together in hopes our Lord brings his healing hand down onto Pam as we pray with all of our might towards Pam's most challenging moments of her life. Lord . . . . hear our prayers."
Beautiful collage by Renee Sands of Los Angeles Wheelmen
On Thursday, December 19, Kermit called Chuck. Sadly Pam was taken off life support at 2:15pm and she passed away at 3pm.
Pam Leven was an amazing woman and a friend to us all. She has been a major partner for Kermit allowing the LA Wheelmen to organize the Grand Tour and Dead of Winter Doubles so well for many years now. "When someone dies, you don't 'get over it' by forgetting. You 'get over it' by remembering." Leslie Marmon Let's keep the memories of Pam alive for years to come here. Pam was a HUGE supporter and organizer of the Los Angeles Wheelmen's Grand Tour. Her California Triple Crown History Report can be found HERE.
Pam at her 40th High School Reunion
Roland wrote: "Calling our California Triple Crown "family" from near and far, we grasp our virtual hands in unity as the President of the LA Wheelmen Bicycle Club, Pam Leven has left us in passing at 3:00pm today at UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, CA. She was a dynamic leader with the LA Wheelmen as she would head and participate in many of the club's events, including the original double century in the country, the Grand Tour. She loved to be with her cycling "family" within the club, and throughout the cycling community. Pam is survived by her loving and supporting husband, Bob Geddes. As we hold our virtual hands together, we bow our heads in unity as we bless Pam - as she heads into the heavens where our Lord will await her arrival to praise her highly for her dedication, kindness, enthusiasm, and her shear attention to needs and support for us all here on Earth. Her mission on Earth is now complete. May peace be with you Pam, as you have been and continue to be loved by everyone that had the great pleasure of growing with you, learning with you, working with you, riding with you, and especially knowing you. May the tears from our eyes cleanse you during your "final ride" into the heavens as we praise your name from our hearts and soul . . . with tailwinds - always. RIP Pam ~Roland Hoffman California Triple Crown History"
On Sunday, September 1 2013, Chuck Bramwell wrote:"It is with a very heavy
heart that I write to tell you that Lee Mitchell passed away Saturday from the
cancer he had been battling.
Lee was one in a million. I
will miss my good friend who helped me and thousands of cyclists in so many
ways. I will miss hearing the fun music from his Red “BIKE VAN” and looking back
to see his smiling face.
I know you will as
well.
Barbara Anderson, the
President of the Davis Bike Club, wrote in an e-mail on the Davis Bike club list
this afternoon:
“Lee Mitchell, a dedicated
and devoted friend and supporter of cyclists everywhere, but especially of the
Davis Bike Club, died this morning.
Lee will be remembered for
his unfailing smile, his signature "Santa Claus" look, his never-changing
wardrobe, and his red mini-van blasting music to get you over that next hill.
Most of all, we'll remember him for his unfailing SAG support, his generosity of
spirit, and his single-minded concern for the safety of cyclists on the
road.
I understand plans for a
memorial service are pending but no definite date is yet set. As I learn more, I
will pass it on.
Our heartfelt condolences to
Lee's wife, Shirley, to his family, and to all those who counted him among our
friends.
Barbara
Barbara Anderson
President, Davis Bike
Club"
Lee, you were a great
inspiration to me and to many cyclists.
Thanks for being such an
amazing example to us.
Our thoughts and prayers are
with your family.
We will honor you in the
days and months ahead. We will share some of
these many stories at the California Triple Crown Awards Breakfast on Sunday
September 29, 2013 from 7:30 A.M. to about 9:30 A.M. The Breakfast will be
held under the gazebo in Pena Adobe Park which is where the Knoxville Double
will Start and Finish the day before."
A memorial service will be held:
Sunday, September 29, 2013 02:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Veterans Memorial Center 203 East Fourteenth Street Davis CA 95616
Dan Shadoan wrote: "Have you ever found yourself riding a dark, lonely road heading for a finish line, your speed in the single digit range? You're wondering if you'll make the cut-off. You hear some distant music. And then Credence Clearwater booms through the night from the speakers on a red van. Your spirits rise and your bike speed increases exponentially. And this fuzzy-faced guy asks how you're doing from the driver's window.
Have you ever been riding the Davis Double, climbing Resurrection, and spokes start pinging and wrapping around your derailleur? "Is this the end of my ride?" you think. And miraculously a red van, driven by some kind of Santa, shows up with a myriad of perfect wheels in its back end for you to choose from.
Have you ever had a burning desire to challenge yourself to ride the Furnace Creek 508 or perhaps even Race Across AMerica and wondered who could help you? Someone says, "Call the red van guy". You do and he says, "Yes, I'll get a crew and organize everything for you. Just train up."
We all can call Lee Mitchell our
friend for supporting us on so many big time challenges.
Lee Mitchell has set the standard for supporting
us on Double Centuries, Brevets, and huge rides like the Furnace Creek 508,
Hoodoo 500, and the Race Across America for over 30 years!!
In 1989, Lee was supporting John Hughes on the Furnace Creek 508
Lee giving Hugh Murphy a water bottle on the
1991 Furnace Creek 508
Lee with Steve Born and Rick Anderson at the start
of the 1998 Race Across America
With Anne Schneider and crew at 1998 Furnace Creek 508
Lee and his Red Bike Van supported us all the way on
Just look HERE at how much he has given
back to the Double Centuries in the California Triple Crown and that only shows his good work
since 2004 … Lee has been supporting us since way back in the early
90’s!!!!
Lee was inducted into the California
Triple Crown Hall of Fame way back in 2000 as shown HERE and in the Ultra Cycling Hall of
Fame in 2004 as shown HERE
Glenn Mounkes, the President of the Davis Bike club, wrote: "Lee was also honored with the Davis Bike Club's
Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. As a cyclist who has been helped by
Lee from, a handy floor pump for a flat tire to a ride to the Hospital after a
bad crash, it was my privilege to present him with the Award at the September
14th "Lee Mitchell Day" Event."
Lee at the start of the 2004 Race Across America
Lee riding a good stretch on the 2004 Race Across America for the Grand PAC Masters
Lee is starting treatment for cancer
of the esophagus. It would be great to send cards to:
Lee Mitchell
26 Clark Ct.
Woodland, CA 95776
Or you can add your stories by clicking "Post a Comment" at the bottom of this page. Or you can send your stories and/or photos to Chuck at cbrams at caltriplecrown dot com and he'll add them here.
Or you can send emails to him at LeeBikeVan at aol dot com
Let's be sure Lee knows that we are on his team supporting him all the way on his challenge!!
Isabelle Drake wrote: “Lee is very
optimistic and is a fighter. His Ultra Cycling experience will help him as he
faces this unexpected challenge. He has helped so many of us over the years
crewing, sagging, etc. and he really needs our support now!”
Let’s keep Lee in our thoughts and
prayers!!
Chuck Bramwell
California Triple Crown Guy
Thanks to all of you, we turned Lee's house into a House of Cards!!
In May of 2013, Lee wrote me:
"Largely because of you our house has become a house of cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many were from bike riders I never met but had heard me coming and were glad to know I was out there sagging, just in case. All helped me fortify myself.
Son Tim helped me sag the Davis DC yesterday. Good thing he was driving--I ended up exhausted early and we came home by 4 PM. Was first sag since fall Death Valley DC.
Will be more.
See you at Knoxville in September!
Hugs, Lee"
From Frank Neal, CTCDataGuy…
I first met Lee at the first time I had a challenge on a CTC
Double.It was Death Valley, the
southern route, when it started and finished in Stovepipe wells.I purposely bought new headlight batteries at
the Trading Post because I did not want problems after dark.Guess what?The batteries were bad.I was in
that long stretch between Bad Water and Furnace Creek.My headlight went dark.There was little moonlight.That is one dark stretch!I had to ride down the middle of the road to
follow what I could see of the white line to prevent myself from running off
the road.A vehicle came up from behind,
so I pulled over to get out of the way.Guess who?Lee Mitchell.He stopped and asked me if I needed
anything.I said, “Yes.My headlight batteries died.Do you have batteries?”He replied, “Sure what size and how many do
you need?”I was ecstatic and grateful
to this guy that looked like Santa Claus.At that point, he was Santa Claus.
I was riding my first Davis double.I had an eight speed cassette at that time.I had moved up to a 54-tooth big chain ring
because I liked to chase tandems on down hills.After lunch there is a huge and fast downhill.I was chasing the tandems.I was in my 54/12 at the bottom, made the
turn and did not realize there was an immediate climb.I was Way in the wrong gear!I stood up, but to no avail.It was too steep.I tried to shift gears and I twisted and
broke my chain.I kept asking all
passing riders if they had a chain breaker.If I could remove the broken link, I would be okay to finish.Who showed up?You guessed it:Lee Mitchell.Saved again by Santa Claus.
This next save was at Eastern Sierra Double.I got up on Saturday morning to get ready for
a good day of riding from Bishop to Mono Lake.The weather was perfect.One
thing was missing.I did not pack my
bike shoes.I ran up and down the halls
to all of my friends to see if any one of them had an extra pair in their
trunks.I didn’t care what size.No luck.There was a bike shop on the ground floor of the motel, but it was
closed and nobody knew how to contact the owner.I was wearing court shoes.That is all I had.I went ahead and started thinking I could fix
it somewhere on the course.This was a
bad idea.I had the old Shimano SPD’s
which are about the size of a half dollar.The court shoes were sliding off the pedals.I had to curl my toes just to stay on the
pedals.There was no way I could stand
up.My feet were cramping.The Eastern Sierra has a big loop south of
Bishop in around 25 miles returns close to Bishop.I knew I was done by the time I got back to
around Bishop.I pulled over to wait for
the Sweep SAG to take me back to Bishop.This would be my first DNF.Who
showed up?Who always shows up?Lee Mitchell.I said, “Lee, you have to take me in.I am done”.He said, “Frank, you
never DNF?!”I replied, “Look at my
shoes.”He looked down and saw I was
wearing tennis shoes.He said, “Oh yeah,
you do have a problem.”He got out of
his van and opened up the back doors of his van and started going through his
many parts drawers.He said, “I have a
very old set of platform pedals, with cages.What would you think about trying a double century in tennis shoes with
platform pedals and cages?”I said,
“Let’s give it a try.I’m already
dust.I have nothing to lose.”So he changed my pedals and I finished in
tennis shoes.My feet hurt for two
weeks.I had blisters on top of my
blisters, but I did not DNF.Now, this
guy changed from Santa Claus to my SAG Angel.
I never DNF’ed a Double.Guess who was always there to save me?Lee Mitchell.
I have now retired from riding CTC Doubles, but have changed
to supporting them.Guess who is always
there to educate me?Lee Mitchell.
Another Lee Story:I
hope this is appropriate for mixed company.This was last year at Death Valley Spring.
I had a ride share and a room share, so I made it a vacation
and did not volunteer.We stayed in the
bungalows at the Furnace Creek Ranch.The bungalows have patios.As I
walked past, Lee and Veronica Tunucciwere sitting there exchanging tall tales.I stopped to say, “Hi.”
Lee knows I have followed him as a SAG with his major
mentoring.
He said, “Frank, I bet I carry one thing you do not.”Okay, I am always good to learn from
Lee.He said, “Do you carry
tampons?”Instantly, my mind was in high
gear.Why would I need to carry
tampons?I couldn’t figure out the
answer.I carry first aid and why would
I need to carry tampons?He smiles,
“Take four women across the U.S. for RAAM and you will understand.”Lee is so precious.He is unassuming.His smile says a lot.
For you, who know me well, I am Garfield the Kickstand
Guy.I never got to hear much of Lee’s
music.I always have had Garfield
sitting on my bike bag.Lee has a
barking dog sound on his loud speakers.That is what I always heard.I
was always amused because I knew it was Lee and I was well supported.
Lee is my SAG Mentor, my SAG Angel, and my constant goal to
learn all I can from him.
My Best to Lee for a Speedy Recovery.Respectfully submitted. – Frank Neal, a
devoted SAG Student of Lee’s.Thank you
for letting me be your student.
On the 2013 Davis Double, John Clare wrote: "It was great to see the legendary Lee "Fuzzy" Mitchell out at the Davis Double. He has helped MANY of us finish rides. He in fact helped a rider with a broken wheel immediately after we took this shot."
