The life of Man is a long march through the night, surrounded by invisible foes, tortured by weariness and pain, towards a goal that few can hope to reach, and where none may tarry long. One by one, as they march, our comrades vanish from our sight, seized by the silent orders of omnipotent Death.
— Bertrand Russell

Sheldon Brown, patron Saint of bicycle mechanics, and master of silly hats is gone from us, and the world is a darker place for his absence.