My John story.
John was a very down to earth guy, always ready to help someone, never afraid to get his hands dirty. That created a lot of good karma that was returned to him also.
In the 2005 IBR, John was riding his BMW K75. An odd bike for such a big guy, but he somehow made it work.
He ran into problems along the way in, of all places, North Bay, Ontario, my home town. Lucky for him he contacted a character named Ron Leblanc, a number he must have found in the BMW MOA emergency help book.
Ron, a mechanic by trade, was Mr. BMW in North Bay. He knew them inside out. Being that it was late at night, and there were no dealers Ron worked with a machinist friend. They fabricated a part for John's bike and got him back on the road. John finished in the top ten. He never forgot the guys in North Bay.
Cut to 2011 IBR, Buffalo checkpoint. My "pit crew" Cam Sanders is desperately trying to undo a bolt that prevented us from removing the front wheel of my '04 FJR. We needed a special wrench to get the bolt off. I went running into the lobby of the hotel, and who do I meet? None other than John Ryan. "What do you need?" he asked. I described our problem. Within minutes John was there with the proper tool, wrenching on my bike. I chuckled. It was like having Bobby Orr tape your hockey stick.
Wheel off, new one on, a hand shake, and he was off to help someone else.
When I got back to North Bay I talked to Ron Leblanc and told him the story. He had not forgotten John either.
John listened when you talked to him. During the time he spent with you he gave you his undivided attention.
And he was like that with everyone. Big, small, rich, poor, superstar, noobie. DIdn't matter. He made you feel that what you had to say was important.
Just one reason why he'll be missed by those who crossed his path.
Peter Delean
North Bay, ON
