Bob was a fellow Friday Rider that you all probably remember and were inspired by his awesome power. He raced Cat2 50+ and has some impressive stats online. He won the sprint many times, even after his surgery. Probably the oldest rider to win the sprint multiple times. From his brother Jim, here is some info about Bob’s passing.
Good Friends, Fellow Cyclists, Inspirations,
After a day of of disbelief, a sleepless night, waking at 2:45 am which is when i need to leave to meet Bobbie to ride w him on his commute to work, it hit me again that i had lost my little brother.
He had been training really hard all last year after having a 10cm bypass of his illiac artery, which had been blocked for about 6 months but did not keep him from riding one-legged. After his surgery he kept increasing his training gradually to the point where now he was back training and racing like his old self (3) races in a day. He had trained hard all week and instead of going to tucson w me to race he was really excited to do bike ranch A group on saturday on tandem with his friend Jackie. She has been improving tremendously and he wanted to show her how strong they would be on the tandem. They had a great 3-4 hr ride and had dropped all in the pack but 4 National team guys and they stayed away. He had pushed really hard saturday but wanted to back it up with doing the tandem again on sunday and wanted to do the 74 mile tour de phx course in under 3 hrs. about the same time we did several years ago to win the TDP. Dick Snyder and i met them and pretty much only held their wheel to Ftn Hills where they dropped us climbing to Pallisades. As we got close to the Beeline i did a 42 mph (downhill) sprint to get in front of them for the first time of the day. Climbing towards Saguaro Lake we finally cried uncle and Dick and i said goodbye and turned around. Bobbie had been having chest pains on really cold rides that would make him let go of the bars and clutch his chest. It happened again couple weeks ago at the 12 hrs of Papago race he did with Bob Laroche. He was riding as strong as ever this day and they had made it up Usury Pass and were heading back on McDowell rd when he asked Jackie if she was pushing cause he was really feeling it. Shortly after that he just fell over and died. She has a lot of road rash but is ok. We do not know for sure but he may have been having several heart-attaches but is in such great shape that it only made him hesitate for a few seconds then return to being Bubba Power. This one was a big one though and for the first time in my life my brother did not get up from it. I’ve seen him crash as a kid pick up his teeth and bike and walk home, or jog 10-15 miles home after being left at the salt river. Bobbie was the toughest person i know and i cannot believe anything could stop him.
You are receiving this email from me and i must say this is only the people i had addresses for as their are so many more of you out there that i know my little brother had loved, respected, been inspired by, been encouraged and enriched for knowing you and to have so many wonderful memories on the bike. So many of you have helped and supported my brother over the years to stay on the bike, race, be the best he could be no matter what life threw his way. I wanted to personally thank you and remind you of how much he appreciated all of you, your kind words, your competitive spirits, good sportsmanship, your generosity etc.
Often on long rides especially when on the tandem where i was stoker and thus could keep up with him we would talk and your names would come up as he would fondly remember and share so many thoughts and stories of rides with you. Cycling was his life and you were a big part of that.
I encourage you to remember him not in sadness but with a big smile like he always had especially when he was going all out!
Jim
Life can be so unfair at times. This was the most kind, caring and generous man I ever met in cycling, and my heart is broken over this. I regret that I got so wrapped up with work that I didn’t ride with you more often, and you asked me so many times. I’m so sorry. You were always such a joy to be
around, you and Jim. When you brothers were together, I could tell you
loved each other so much. I will always miss you Bob, but grateful to
have been your friend.
Words cannot express the shock and grief I am experiencing over the loss of Bob! Back in 87 or so he stopped me as I was mounting my mountain bike for my commute home. He challenged me to a trail ride in South Mountain.
As we were jamming on many of the gnarly parts of the trail I realized I was up against a very, very competitive rider. We went on the race many state championship races, of which I finally place first in my category, grand masters for 87 and 88 and he in the top 3 or 4 of his. We drank many beers and told many stories. His dog, Buddy was one of the most dedicated pal and trail runner of any dog I have ever known. Jarve Sellers and I were just talking about him a month or so ago. My regret is I didn’t follow my desire to see him and see if I could suck his wheel the way he used to suck mine in the 80’s. Payback is hell. I will miss him very much!
Jim,
I don’t think I need to tell you how I felt about your little brother…. I was proud to call him a friend and a team mate on several teams. He was of a different breed of cyclist, he was a die hard, tough man. He also had a gentle side of him that wasn’t seen by everyone, he loved his family, friends and team mates more than any of us probably ever knew. I try to teach Bob’s characteristics to my athletes and our team everyday… I pray all my athlete’s and myself can be more like Bob, it makes us better cyclists…. Just remember, when someone is laying the wood to you, their motivation may have come from your little brother! We will never forget him.
I didn’t know Bob well; however I was getting to know him better while racing with him and on group rides. I was one of the 4 riders to leave the front of the group with him and his Stoker friend Sat morning. He and his Gal friend were very impressive, making break after break. Bob rode like a champion and when we were done, we all said that we had one of our most enjoyable rides ever.. Sorry you had to leave us Bob. I enjoyed knowing you, even though just for a short time.
Jim,
I’ve taking some recent pics at a couple races and I have some shots of your brother. I would like to share them with you. Let me know the best way to get a hold of you.
Maurice
Today has been a tough day not just for me but I’m sure many others! Bob was one of a kind, I have spent many days ridding with, against and traveling with Bob. You learn a lot about someone when you spend 30hrs+ on a road trip just to go get your teeth kicked in but to Bob that was the fun. I learned how not to give up and push through pain that was Bob’s style. Today has put a big perspective on things for me as you just never know when it’s going to be your time to go so make the most of everyday, love your Family, Friends and what you do. Bob you will be missed my friend….
We will all miss you
Bob,
What can we say? You were truly one of the best racers I ever rode with and one of the most helpful, friendly and unselfish guys out there. You taught many of us so much. You were truly an inspiration. So many times doing multiple races in a day. Wow, it was awesome just to ride with you and know that you had your friend’s back when a little help was needed. So many of us will continue to call on you when we are pumping up some hard little hill and need to get that little inspiration from thinking of how you would just power on. Thanks for being a friend and inspiration.
Doug
Bob, his family and his big brother will be in my prayers!
Jim, when I started the Patent It! Cycling Team way back when, and didn’t know anything about racing, Bob stepped up to help. He taught me a lot back then, but most of all, he would lead by example. He was an inspiration to me, and to others as well. I am sorry for your loss, and please let me know if there is anything I can do for you or the Pongratz family.
Today was a very sad day at Honeywell.We learned that our very good friend Puppy Bob Pongratz passed over the weekenddoing what he loved ….cycling. I shed tears just thinking about Bob and how we won’t see him any more. All I have is good memories of him. Miss you iron man. God Bless you and all your Loved Ones!!!!
Jim,
So sorry to hear about this. as you may recall, when I first moved out to AZ a few years back, I was looking for a team to join. Did my first race and ran into Bobby afterwards. We talked, he gave me some info on local rides and the rest is history. I joined your team the next year and we raced together a lot, including greats time with all of our families at the beach when we went to race Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. I have been in competitive, endurance sports since I was 14 (38 years ago) and he was the toughest SOB I ever met in races. And he was just a blast to be around before and after the races. Just a great character. For those that may have missed it, Jim and Bobby had a special bond. I often saw that they got more joy out of the other’s performance than their own. Sad day for all of us.
Bob was one of those guys that I would say “oh crap” when he showed up on the FR, cuz it meant that this was going to be a particularly hard ride and I’d better pay attention.
A couple of years ago Bob caught me doing ‘secret’ training on South Mtn. I was doing intervals, and he was doing big chain ring stuff. We kept passing each other up the climb until on the last pitch we were together and he made me sprint with him to the top. I thought I was going to puke, but I appreciated how he was encouraging me.
The cycling community will truly miss his presence.
Jim,
I am shocked and saddened by the loss of Bob…no words can express how much fun, joy and pain Bob has given me over all these years. He is truly a fierce warrior, a generous member of the cycling community, and a loving father. I can always remember Bob’s enthusiasm in helping out at all the races we put on over the years…his endless energy was always uplifting and contagious to us all…
The Arizona cycling community has lost a wonderful asset, racer and friend…
Bob will be sorely missed…
We wish you and Bob’s family our most heartfelt sympathies…
Brian, Traci & Taylor Smith
Bob was definitely one of the hardest racers out there. It was always fun to race with him. He will be missed.
Ken
Hi Jim,
Just heard the new and I’m devastated! Bob was my friend, my inspiration, and an Arizona cycling icon. I’ll never forget his toughness nor his presence on many of the hundred rides I rode with him over the last 15+ years. Cycling won’t be the same without him but as you said he would want all of us to keep riding and always push as hard as we can! Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you or your family during this sad time. I’m so sorry!!!
Hard news to hear. Bob was a true competitor; one of the guys you had to ‘mark’ during a race, knowing he’d be near the front at the end. He shared his knowledge and experience with others, even those of us on other teams. He will be missed.
—
Jim
Bob,
I have always enjoyed dirt bike riding with you years ago. boy do you remember the “bar of pain” that I made. Some of you know what I”m talking about. Bob you were an animal at everything you did. I always looked up to you for that inspiration.
I will never forget you Bob.
This is so sad. Those last few paragraphs by Jim should also be reversed, they are what he gave us so much of. Bob will be missed but never forgotten.
He really did have a big heart. He was one of the most, if not most, competitive riders I knew, yet very encouraging to others. I will never forget a couple of years ago when he absolutely dominated the Masters 50+ category by winning almost all of the races and winning the Az Copper Cup points by a 2 to 1 margin. No one could touch him in a race. He would split the purse with his teammates despite the fact he pretty much did it solo by constant attacking and then sometimes lapping the field solo.
I was shocked when I heard the news yesterday and have been mulling ways that perhaps we can honor his memory at our race. In the mean time, do as Chuck says and keep his family in your good thoughts and prayers.
Joe
Jim, I have worked with Bob for years on Honeywell Fire. Honeywell has not officially announced his passing, so I’m picking up information throught the grapevine.
Please know we are saddend by this and keep us posted of his services. I will sincerely miss Bob.