Mechanic, teacher and innovator John Barnett dies at 74
John Barnett, founder of a prominent bicycle mechanics school, passed away December 17 at his Colorado Springs home at age 74.
Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Barnett grew up in Pleasantville, New York before his family relocated to Dallas in 1961. He briefly attended Antioch College in Ohio and later spent a semester at the University of Texas at Austin.
While in the Austin area, Barnett worked at multiple bike shops and in wildfire services before permanently moving to Colorado in 1979. He joined Criterium Bicycles in Colorado Springs during the early 1980s as service manager, working alongside founder Chris Caunt. Together they developed early mountain bikes during the pioneering era of the sport. Barnett supported racing teams, including the Avocet squad at the Coors Classic.
His mechanic classes evolved into Barnett Bicycle Institute, which trained thousands of professionals and enthusiasts over decades. The organization published multiple editions of a mechanics handbook still used by shops nationwide. He sold BBI to the National Bicycle Dealers Association in 2016, with QBP acquiring it three years later before eventual closure.
Post-retirement, Barnett enjoyed photography, hiking, reading, and writing — particularly about music. He was completing a book on music when he died.
He leaves behind his wife Jennifer Nosler, former wife Beth Moorman, four children (Max Moorman, Sam Barnett, Peter Barnett, and Amelia Mellett Keith), five grandchildren, and two siblings.