Updated April 22, 2008

Tragedy struck the Sea Otter Classic when an experienced mountain biker and component designer crashed and died during a downhill run on Saturday.

The man was identified by authorities as Mark Reynolds, 48, of San Jose. He was owner and product developer for Wicked Racin, a company that makes bike components for downhill, black diamond and free ride specialists.

According to reports, Reynolds failed to negotiate a narrow wooden bridge and struck a dirt embankment shortly after noon on Saturday. It was reported that he suffered head and neck injuries and was airlifted to Natividad Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

A medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death this week. ...   more »

What started in 1991 as a gathering of about 350 mountain bikers to race in the hills near Monterey has grown into an annual event that's expected to draw 10,000 athletes and 50,000 cycling fans.

The 18th annual Sea Otter Classic runs Thursday through Sunday at the Laguna Seca Recreational Area (directions) with road, BMX and mountain bike racing and demos.

Fans also can visit a trade show featuring nearly 250 exhibitors that's open throughout the festival. Also, cyclists can participate in either a 15- or 100-mile bike tour on Sunday that passes through Carmel and Monterey ...   more »

Alas, 2008 wasn't the year for High Road's George Hincapie to win the Paris-Roubaix bike race, although the American scored another Top 10 win.

Belgium's Tom Boonen, left, finished in much the same way he beat Hincapie in 2005, by hanging on to the breakaway and sprinting for a win with less than a lap to go in the Roubaix velodrome.

Boonen's (Quick Step) victims in this 106th edition of the 161-mile race -- more than 30 miles over cobblestones -- were Fabio Cancellera (Team CSC) and Allesandro Ballan (Lampre). ...   more »

You know that Paris-Roubaix is the one spring classic that George Hincapie would like to win. He's often considered among the favorites, but bad luck always seems to ruin his day.

My son and I were watching the race on TV six years ago when Big George literally disappeared from sight when he slipped off the road and into a ditch.
In 2005 he was passed by Tom Boonen with a half-lap remaining in the velodrome.
In 2006, the steering tube on his Trek 5200 crumbled just 28 miles from the finish, leaving Hincapie sidelined with a seriously injured shoulder.

The American cyclist for the High Road team will get another chance this Sunday when the 161-mile race rolls through northern France and Belgium. The 106th anniversary of the race dubbed Hell of the North features more than 32 miles of cobblestones; if it's wet, that's 32 miles of mud as well...   more »

The Redlands Bicycle Classic, which runs today through Sunday in southern California, is featuring live video from the start house for the 5K men's and women's time trial.

Among those racing are Tom Danielson (above, Slipstream), Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing), Rory Sutherland (Health Net) and Chris Baldwin (Toyota). Among the women, High Road, Webcor, Value Act Capital, Aaron's and Cheerwine are supplying strong teams.

The four-day event isn't just for watching pro cyclists. If you're in the area and would rather ride than watch, you can jump onto the Redlands Bicycle Classic Rotary Ride. It offers 6- to 60-mile bike tour options throughout the countryside. Also, public races for ages 3 and up are offered on Saturday morning. ...   more »

As many predicted, the 2008 Tour of America tentatively scheduled for this fall has been cancelled. Organizers of the prospective cross-country bicycle stage race are now looking ahead to the fall of 2009.

Frank Arokiasamy, a management consultant, had unveiled plans for the bike race at last year's Interbike Expo in Las Vegas. The bike racing press immediately considered it an extreme long shot.

Meanwhile, the 2008 Tour of Virginia has been cancelled and the Tour de 'toona has been knocked back to just one day ...   more »