RIP Don Rafa, owner of 16th St. Cyclery

We have written before about Don Rafa and his store over on 16th near Mission street in SF. I went in a couple of times, but since is not close to my house, nor do I work near there, I was an infrequent visitor. I definitely appreciated his presence in the latino community as a bike store that caters to what some people call the "invisible cyclists." That term makes me think of fingernails on a chalkboard, and I'm glad that the store will live on through his daughter.

Mission Local has the info:

Rafa Macias, who was known to many as Don Rafa, has passed away.

The owner of Don Rafa’s Cyclery at 2929 16th St. suffered a heart attack while driving home from his daughter’s house on Jan. 20, according to another daughter, Lupe Macias. He was 60 years old.

He had worked on bicycles for most of his life, first in Mexico and then in the Bay Area.

In the late 1990s, Macias moved to the United States and started working at local swap meets, renting space and fixing bicycles on site.

Here's to a new generation over at 16th St. Cyclery! We extend our condolences and wish the family well.