Remembering Roman Manko – Words from the Durham Cycling Club





Lifelong cyclist
Joined DCC 5-6 years ago
Immediate impact on the club, getting to know everyone, hosting rides, getting involved, always
quick to help out a new club member, or anyone in need.
Words to describe from the club; vibrant, visible, smiling, upbeat, positive, kind, generous,
And for anyone that knew Roman, loud! He could always be heard in a crowd.
The Sport of Cycling




Incredible love for the sport
Professional cycling encyclopedia
Largest professional cycling clothing kit collection one person could possibly have.
Often would let us know when, or that he had ordered a new kit, but would never mention it when he
would wear them for the first time. He would just show up with a slightly different “proud” look about
him.
Personal Betterment






Cycling, darts or woodworking, and probably many other aspects of his life.
Others would joke comparing cycling to darts; How many calories do you burn in game of darts?
Loved to push himself
One good example was this past winter, signed up for a weekly spin class for the first time, every
Sunday morning for 2 hrs. The first class found it very intense, climbed off his bike saying “I can’t do
this…”. After taking a breather, looking around at everyone else still on their bikes, he climbed back on
and said “I can do this!” Every class for the rest of the winter he was there pushing himself,
determined, and wanting to move forward…
Always a leader, never a sweeper. He had certain determination to increase his average speed over a
ride or over the course of the year. If the group was going to slow, he would drift off the front
protecting his own average speed. And I think sending a quiet message to the rest of us saying, “come
on you guys, you’re being really pokey today!”
Rarely missed a ride, logging 10,000km in a season is not easy. That’s like riding from here to Regina
and back, twice!
People







Roman always made everybody welcome, in parking lot before every ride, Roman would make a point
of getting around and saying hello to everyone that pulled into that parking lot, whether with a hand
shake, or a shout across the parking lot.
Not just at rides though, if Roman knew someone was working a booth at the bike show, made a point
of looking for her and saying hello with some conversation. Even if it meant standing in the middle of a
women’s cycling clothing booth for 10 minutes.
Or knowing the vehicles that people drove, honking at a work truck and waiving, because he knew
who was driving.
Loved sharing a good laugh.
Circulating a good e-mail joke. You knew it was really good if Roman was forwarding one of these on!
He could call up a funny picture or joke on his phone in an instant.
I sometimes think he spent every moment off his bike searching the internet for the next great laugh.
Remembering



Never take friendship for granted.
Every club ride there will be someone missing. At least in body, but I think Roman spirit will be with us
on every ride, covering every mile.
For many of us, every time we park our bike at Tim Hortons, or a bakery somewhere on a country road,
He will be remembered
He wasn’t the strongest,
he wasn’t the weakest,
he wasn’t the fastest,
he wasn’t the slowest,
but you know what he was?
He was One of a Kind!