[Update on Memorial, from Dave Miller and Reg McGhee, courtesy Facebook:]
Time: August 14 · 9:30am – 11:00am
Location: Belle Isle Beach
“Join family and friends in celebrating the life of Woody Miller (September 28, 1944 – July 17 2010). Woody was an avid cyclist: serving on the board of The Hub of Detroit, mentoring new riders, and advocating for the cycling community. He was a great promoter and supporter of the arts, most recently lending his skills to the creation of TheDetroiter.com. Cyclists can join him on his last lap around Belle-Isle following the ceremony. Please wear casual summer attire or cycling gear.”
It is with a heavy heart and hands that I write of the passing of Woody Miller, a member of our Board and a fixture on the roads atop a 7/11 Team Eddy Merckx that he’d ridden around Detroit for decades. Ride in peace, Woody.
We at The Hub are still forming thoughts and ideas as far as remembering Woody and honoring his memory, and we have heard of plans in the works to get a local gathering/ride to remember Woody, and will post any info as soon as it becomes available, as well as information regarding where to direct your condolences.
If you have any memories of Woody that you’re willing to share with us and our readership, please feel free to post them in comments below.
-Joe
I’ll always remember Woody’s voice on group rides with folks of varying road experience ,and how it seemed to carry through the commotion or the traffic of whatever was going on.
“Ride…Right!”,
It was no wonder to me that people listened when Woody spoke- his words always seemed to get the point across with a concision that cut through mental and physical congestion to strongly suggest (but never force) the most safe and direct course of action.
“Ride…Right!”, to me, is more than just a traffic instruction; I’ll remember those words as an invitation to a world where continuing on and maintaining ones own course is more of a focus than getting tangled up in the congestion that permeates our lives.
I first really got to know Woody when working on the Bike Film Festival last year. It became very clear early on that he couldn’t care less about the event unless it featured and uplifted Detroit cyclists and artists. He seemed all for celebrating bicycling and getting together for some “bike culture” but wanted to make sure it reflected the Detroit experience.
As so many more people take interest in Detroit, good or bad, they try to fetishize us. It is always the extremes. Woody always had his finger on the pulse of Detroit and what made Detroit the real place that most people never see.
First, Woody was a wonderful example of a bicyclist in a place is was built for the automobile. Second, Woody was a proud Detroiter in a place that is looked down upon and not cared about.
Last, Woody was a wonderful person who was a caretaker and friend to all different kinds of people. I miss that guy.
Woody and I go back 3 decades-many, many memorable rides and great memories have been popping back into my head lately-his die-hard sewup use, his rear wheel always out out of true, that great laugh of his!-I’m still struggling with the reality that I won’t get a chance to ride his wheel again- a great man-I’ll miss you.