In memory of Bruce
 A memorial fund has been set up for the family of Bruce Watts. Donations may be made at any Bank of Granite location, or donors can mail checks to BMCC at P.O. Box 1281, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. Checks should be made payable to the Bruce D. Watts Memorial Fund. Questions? Please call BMCC treasurer Matt Daye at (336) 667-8684.
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Tales of Bruce
I think most of these stories are going to have a similar flair to them. I think we can all remember a time when Bruce made us hurt on the bike. Here’s my first one. When I first started riding road after several years of riding mountain, I considered myself pretty strong. I went out on one of my first Thursday night rides up the Brushies. The group had decided to ride up Lithia Springs. We got to the base of the climb and Bruce (as usual) takes off at a pretty good pace. I thought, "Well, OK, it’s going to be a bit of a race. I’ll ride with this old guy." I hung with him for a little while but then he slowly started getting further away from me. I finally just resigned myself to keeping him in sight. As his
figure grew smaller and smaller out in the distance, I finally just resigned myself to seeing him at the top. That year I made it my goal to try and reel Bruce in every Thursday. It took a while but I did manage to gain the ability to ride with him. Never in the same gear though. In the following years there were times when I could beat Bruce to the top and probably more when he beat me. We mostly just rode together. No matter which way it went he always had that same smile and disposition. Every time he crushed me I’d say “Bruce you’re riding really strong.” He’d always reply back with that big grin and find a way to turn it around as a positive back to me. He’d say “just wait till next week, I know it will be the other way around.” No matter what, it was always positive with Bruce. Regardless he always made us much younger guys suffer. He was one of my favorite people to ride with. He was one of those guys who always asked “How’ve you been doing” and you always knew he genuinely wanted to know. He was one of those guys who made you a better person by just being around him. He rode no matter what the weather was and always turned the big gears. Riding up the Brushies will never be quite the same without Bruce. He was always there and always had a smile on his face. I know I’ll think of Bruce when I ride through that fateful intersection on Speedway Road but I’ll remember him most when going up the Brushies. Especially when my legs and lungs feel like they're both about to explode. We’ll all miss you Bruce.
Jim Horton
My first encounter with Bruce is much like everyone else's. There was big climb was coming. I looked around and thought Brandon and Shaw will probably beat me to the top but I think I can take everyone else (especially the older looking guy) Well you can guess the rest. Brandon, Shaw and the Bruce beat me to the top. I quickly found out who he was after that. I did not know him well but the times that I have talked with Bruce I knew I was talking with a good man. My deepest sympathies to his family and the Brushy Mountain Cycling Club.
Andy Le Beau, Boone
I met Bruce on the Thursday night ride. He and Brandon Eller faithfully rode from the lake to the Brushies. I noticed he was a little old to be riding with Brian, who was probably still in his twenties. I never really rode with Bruce; he was out of my league, but I ran into him some times when riding around Wilkes County. In January 2005, I met him and Bailey on top of the Little Brushies and we were talking about how many miles we rode on 2004. He did over 10,000 on 2004 alone! I told him he was a crazy old man, but in reality I had admiration. Just to give you an idea, I put 10,000 miles on my car on 2004 and The Moose rode as many miles on his bike, AMAZING…! Someone forgot to tell him he was 57 years old. He had the body and endurance of a 25 year old cyclist.
Lazaro Holguin
A few years ago I went on a ride with Bruce and his friend Steve Tgettis. We met at Bruce's house and left from there on a rolling ride through his "neigborhood". About 20 miles into the ride, we stopped at a small country restauraunt (I can't even remember the name) and went inside. I thought that we were just going in to get some water and maybe visit with some of the locals. Anyway....we sat down at a booth and proceded to order. I went first and just ordered a glass of ice water with lemon expecting the Moose and Steve to do the same. Bruce then ordered a piece of chocolate cake and a coffee! Steve ordered a slice of apple pie and a coffee. I couldn't believe it! I never looked at Bruce the same way after that. This was a man who could eat chocolate cake in the middle of a ride and still make me chase him all the way back to his house. He was a great man and a true friend. I love you Bruce!
Sam Hutchens
I'm the rider that Sam Hutchens mentioned in his tribute to Bruce. There was so much more to Bruce than just being a good bike rider. He was a good and real Christian. His friends were black and white, rich and poor, people from the North and people from the South, serious bikers and couch potatoes.
Most of the club members may not know about Bruce's generosity. Although he and his wife lived in a modest home, he generously shared by giving many jobs when his cleaning business had the lucrative Lowe's home office account. When the business needed to downsize, Bruce continued to provide work for as many as he possibly could. Bruce hired me when I needed work and was always patient with me (and anyone else that worked for him) as he maintained the highest level of customer service.
When I was in need of a friend, Bruce was there. At one point in my life I didn't have a place to live. Bruce and his wife were there for me and lovingly let me stay in their small trailer for as long as I needed. When I needed to talk to someone, Bruce was there. We combined friendship and biking. I logged 104 rides with Bruce for a total of over 3,500 miles from 2000 to 2002. I could never ride as fast as Bruce, and his riding abilities increased with time. Yet, not once did Bruce allow the difference in our abilities interfere with our rides. His friendship always outweighed his need for speed.
Despite a natural shyness, Bruce shared his spiritual side with his neighbors as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. His high level of honesty and sincerity won the hearts of many who believed differently than he. Bruce was just that kind of guy.
This week has been tough on me after learning of Bruce's death. I still wake up thinking that I must have had a terrible dream and that someday we'll get to ride again. If I can be half the person that Bruce was, maybe I will.
Steve Tgettis
The first time I rode with Bruce he was up front and I noticed he was on the big chain ring while the rest of us were spinning on the small chain ring. I commented to Brandon, Gary, and Steve that this guy's knees wouldn't last if he kept doing that. They all said Bruce could, would, and did ride the big chain ring all the time .... even on the climbs. A couple of years later I rode with Bruce after he'd lost 20 pounds or so over the winter. That was my welcome to 
the House of Pain. Later that year I went to a group training ride and Bruce was there. Mockingly I put my bike back in my car saying if Bruce is riding I was going back to the house .... I didn't want to hurt that bad. I should have gone home. Ride on Bruce! Ride in Peace!
Scott Nelson
My story of Bruce is a lot like anyone else's, but also different to me. I remember the first time I ever met Bruce. I had just started cycling in the spring, and was going to do the RAW. I wanted to pre-ride part of the course, because I had never ridden it before. So we scheduled a ride for the club, and several members that I knew were there, but there was this one guy I didn't know. Well, later in the ride I was learning who he was real well after chasing him the whole ride. I thought man he is strong. But the most impressive thing to me was on Saturday when it was time to ride the RAW he was one of a handful to go out and do the full course in 40 degree temperatures and rain. That really impressed me. Well at future rides Mike Smithey and I would always joke around with Bruce and say I wanna be like Bruce, because he could ride so well. I even told him that until the last ride we did together. However in his passing I have had a lot to deal with, as we had become very close friends, and have learned a lot in the process. I did want to be like Bruce, but not just on the bike. This was a man who had no enemies, and everyone looked forward to riding with him. He always had a smile on his face, and made every ride a true joy. His passing has made me realize I need to be a better person, because we never know when it is our turn. When I began my move to Asheville, I would come home on Fridays, and besides seeing my family there was nothing I looked more forward to than riding with Bruce. In his passing I feel like I have lost a best friend, but also a mentor. Bruce we miss you, but you will be in my memories everytime I click into the big ring. Bruce, thanks for enriching our lives, and the opportunity to know such a great man.
Brandon Eller
This is difficult for me to write, mainly because I do not have the words to truly express my feelings. I will have to admit, and maybe I am wrong, but I do not believe that I had the pleasure of riding with Bruce. On this past Tuesday, the Lord had us to cross paths even though it was not the way I would have liked it. I work down in Roaring River at LP and on that Tuesday at lunch had gone to town, one of the few times in the last year. On the way back, I came upon the accident. I was probably the second car there. Now why the Lord put me there I may never know, but I do know that everything was done for Bruce that possibly could have. Once the EMT got there, I said a prayer for all. Bruce, the truck driver (who sat down and cried), the EMT workers, and myself. We must always trust in the Lord that he has the master plan and we are but only a small part of it. Everyone who cycles knows the joy of being out on the open road and pedaling. From the early morning rides on the Parkway with the peace and serenety to the hot afternoon rides with the sweat and pain, it is a pleasure to experience. From what I can tell from what y'all have said about Bruce, he had a love and passion for cycling and more importantly was an outstanding person who touched the lives of who he came in contact with. Everyone just remember that there are dangers on the road and we must ride while constantly being aware of the things that are around us. Be safe and enjoy the ride...and keep on pedaling.
David Doyle
After hearing so many wonderful comments made by fellow cyclists who knew Bruce personally, I feel I really missed out by never crossing his path of life. From what I heard he must have been a wonderful person and friend to a multitude of folks. I believe that he left a great impression with everyone he came in contact with. The memorial to Bruce include a nice send-off at the beginning of the event by BMCC Nick Cheek and officially retiring the number that he would have worn for the RAW event. This number will be retired and never worn again at any BMCC event. After this ceremony all members of the BMCC rode out to the accident site, removed our helmets, and stood there in reverence till the cyclists all rode through. This was very touching to me even though I didn't know Bruce. While riding out to the accident site one of my fellow BMCC club members said to me that Bruce was such a great rider and it seemed that he was always having to wait on everyone. I told this person that in a way nothing had changed. Bruce is still waiting on everyone. So, though it was a day of mixed emotions, Bruce Watts had a great ride (May 7th) through the testimony of friends and fellow cyclists that knew and loved him.
Jeff McNeal
My favorite bike ride with Bruce was climbing from Marion to the top of Mount Mitchell the day after Independence Day in 2002. (There is a photo of all of us at the bottom of this page.) Several of us had come up from Wilkesboro to take on this climb, the longest and toughest climb I’ve ever experienced. Oh, there was wailing and gnashing of teeth that day! One of our guys even fell in slo-mo when his cramping legs finally gave out. Bruce was in the front of the pack all day, grinding through that big mountain in big gears like a beaver through birch wood. No muss, no fuss, just getting it done in that unassuming way of his.
In most of my rides with Bruce, I’ve been off the back, but I’ve still learned a couple things from him:
First, looks can be deceiving. Some guys are young, wiry, all muscle. They just look like they could ride a bike. Not Bruce. If I didn’t know him and sized him up at the starting line of a ride, I would think, "I could take this guy!" Wrong, wrong, wrong! It’s important not to judge people based on a first impression.
The most important thing I learned from Bruce was this: In the end, it's not about the bike or how well you can ride it. When all is said and done, what's important is how you treat people along the way. Sure, we remember Bruce for his skill as a rider, but the biggest thing that comes to mind is his "class". Always smiling, never bragging, Bruce was genuinely interested in other people. On our journey through life that’s ultimately what matters.
Tim Murphy
I was another of those off the back of the group and exhausted on Mt. Mitchell. Even on those trying rides, Bruce's smile make us feel good and we smiled back. I feel that just as our rides together would not be special without the good people we come to know, the heaven we hope to be welcomed into could not be as great without those who have passed before us and those that will follow. Thank you Bruce.
Dwight Levi
Bruce Watts was one of my friends and was a great person to know. I enjoyed getting to ride all over the country with Bruce. Every ride was a great ride and we will all miss him.
Mike Smithey
I could surely fill this forum with great memories of the many rides that Bruce and I did together...to the top of Mt. Mitchell, over Snake Mountain, up Oklahoma Road to the Parkway and many more. But what I will remember most about Bruce Watts was that he was one of the most decent human beings that I have ever known. I can only hope that something good can come from this. Let's try to be more decent humans also. And hey, let's be careful out there.
Gary Wyatt
Mike Smithey, Bruce Watts, Dwight Levi, Brandon Eller, Tim Murphy and Gary Wyatt after climbing to Mt. Mitchell, July 5th, 2002.
Thanks to Richard Fink for the photos of Bruce in his blue "Still Crankin'" jersey.
A response from the Watts family
As I sit here in my dad's study, at my dad's desk, typing on his computer surrounded by his biking posters, family pictures, Bibles, books, and so many other little pieces that made up his life, I cannot believe that he is gone. I have read all of your stories of my dad and I have laughed and I have cried. I am so grateful that you saw my dad as he truly was - a humble, caring, spiritual, dedicated, wonderful man. I'm afraid that I do not have any biking stories to share because I am not a cyclist. He did make an attempt to interest me in the sport by generously buying me a very nice mountain bike a few years ago. I have rode it several times but not regularly. I wil think of him every time I ride it. I do, however, have a lifetime of wonderful memories to cherish. He was all of the things all of you saw in him and so much more. I will always love and admire him for who he was - a truly wonderful human being and the best father I could ever have had. I miss him so much everyday. There is a hole in my heart that will not be filled until I see him again. My family would like to express to all of you our deep appreciation for all you have done in loving memory of my father. We have so loved reading your memories of him. We are deeply touched by all you have done for him and for us. "Thank you" does not seem to begin to express how we feel, but it is all we have to offer. Thank you for sharing your memories, thank you for all you did at the RAW ride, thank you for your donations, thank you for making cycling so enjoyable for my dad. Our family will never forget all you have done for may dad. He would have been in awe of how much has been done for him and for us.
Amber and Eric Shores, Suk Cha Watts
BMCC mourns the loss of Bruce Watts
with tributes at the 2005 RAW
A successful Rides Around Wilkes Saturday, May 7th, 2005 was tinged with sadness as BMCC members mourned the loss of club member Bruce Watts.
Bruce died of injuries received when he was struck by a dump truck while riding his bicycle at the intersection of Antioch Church Road and Windy Gap Road east of Wilkesboro May 3rd.
The 2005 RAW was a tribute to Bruce:
Graphic designer Jim Horton prepared memorial badges, patches and placards. BMCC members attached the "Bruce the Moose" patches to their club jerseys.A collection jar was set up at the registration table to gather donations to assist Bruce’s family.
Nicholas Cheek presented a brief devotion at 8:40 a.m. A moment of silence was observed.
At 8:45 a.m., BMCC members rode out early to the site of Bruce’s accident. The club members stood in silent vigil on the side of the road as the main pack of riders passed.
Bruce's number for the RAW, #29, has been retired and will not be assigned in any future BMCC-sponsored events, RAW director Scott Nelson said.
A memorial service for Bruce was held at 2:00 p.m. May 7th at the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall on Airport Road in North Wilkesboro with a number of BMCC members in attendance.
Club members gather at the corner of Speedway Road and Antioch Church Road to stand in silent vigil during the 2005 RAW Saturday, May 7th.
Nicholas Cheek shares some reflections on Bruce Watts
with BMCC members before the start of the RAW May 7th.
