Just got back from Sea Otter.... heard someone was killed on the DH course

[kanga]

Thoughts go out to his family and friends...

Just reported in the SFgate news that the autopsy showed "fatal injuries" from the crash, not anything prior.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...&feed=rss.news

[JoeTruth]

Wow, interesting. I'm surprised they have the autopsy results so quickly. Maybe I'm naive but I thought such things usually take 1-2 weeks. Apparently not.

Originally Posted by kanga

Thoughts go out to his family and friends...

Just reported in the SFgate news that the autopsy showed "fatal injuries" from the crash, not anything prior.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...&feed=rss.news

[sdyeti]

As long as there were no orders for tox screenings, the actual autopsy can be done quickly. Also depends on how busy the coroner/ME office is.

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

Wow, interesting. I'm surprised they have the autopsy results so quickly. Maybe I'm naive but I thought such things usually take 1-2 weeks. Apparently not.

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

As long as there were no orders for tox screenings, the actual autopsy can be done quickly. Also depends on how busy the coroner/ME office is.

I was going to say the same thing. It lab work that slows the process down. They can do the physical part pretty quick. I have seen them be in and out in a couple hours.

[drclark]

I'm not a doctor so I don't know if the crash injuries could have masked a possible preceeding medical event (like stroke, heart attack, loss of conciousness).

I know there are lots of reasons to wish that there was some "rational" explanation for how an experienced rider could crash and die on a relatively tame course section. At the very least is serves as a sharp reminder to all of us that despite all our skill, past accomplishments and achievements on two wheels, we are not invincible. It could just as easily happen to us someday.

I was not there, I didnot witness the crash, and I never met Mark. I cannot judge how tame that part of the course was per his abilities. Sometimes $hit just happens and there is no good reason for it.... Times like these is when faith in whatever higher power you choose to believe in helps you through (God, Karma, Fate, Luck, etc).

Lets try to keep our debates about racing speeds, course design, equipment, etc to another thread. Everything I have read about Mark seems to show he was a standup guy and an asset to the sport that will be sorely missed. I think he deserves a thread free of bickering back and forth about personal opinions.

As an engineer, the video of his deraileur-chain guide that was posted, has got my respect. Its a damn shame that kind of pasion and innovation for the sport has been snuffed out before his time.

drc

[mottmcfly]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

Wow, interesting. I'm surprised they have the autopsy results so quickly. Maybe I'm naive but I thought such things usually take 1-2 weeks. Apparently not.

I think they were looking strictly for a coronary event. I'm no Dr either but I believe a simple blood test looking for identifying proteins and a type of enzyme that go hand in hand with a heart attack would either rule it in or out.

[L8 APEKS]

Seems so strange though...eyewitness accounts claim to see him "go limp" immediately before the crash, and he (probably his bike?) got "wobbly".

I'm no Dr. either, but it sure SOUNDED like there was more to it. What evidence of a heart attack, stroke, hemorrhage, aneurysm, etc. is left postmortem? Is it possible they could have missed this?

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by L8 APEKS

Seems so strange though...eyewitness accounts claim to see him "go limp" immediately before the crash, and he (probably his bike?) got "wobbly".

I'm no Dr. either, but it sure SOUNDED like there was more to it. What evidence of a heart attack, stroke, hemorrhage, aneurysm, etc. is left postmortem? Is it possible they could have missed this?

I know that they could determine the Heart Attack they do all the time, along with a aneurysm. I am not to sure about any other causes.

The odd thing is I am not sure if they would release the autopsy results to the media, so if they didn't that means a family member released them and if they believe the results we should too.

[slapfan1]

Im shocked, maybe he was dizzy or something small that made him loose control. I don't know its sad my prayers with the fam.

[Johnny Dirt]

Very sad. My heart goes out to your family.
.........at least you were having fun!

[mottmcfly]

Originally Posted by slapfan1

Im shocked, maybe he was dizzy or something small that made him loose control. I don't know its sad my prayers with the fam.

It's always the small stuff that nails me. Maybe it's over-confidence on my part. Easy as everyone says remember this was a DH race and you make up speed on the "easy" stuff. I'm sure he was hauling.

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by AKmoney

Very sad story, but here's a bizarre coincidence (not sure if this was posted yet).

The name of the victim who died in the January, 2004 mountain lion attacks in Whiting Ranch is Mark Jeffrey Reynolds.

I'm not normally superstitious but if your name also happens to be Mark Reynolds, I might suggest dropping MTB from your list of hobbies!!

Yeah. I thought of it right away but didn't post. Just a freaky coincidence in this freak thing called life!

[denmother]

Too bad there wasn't more notice. Found this at http://www.sicklines.com/2008/05/01/...ent/#more-2186

5/1/08

Los Angeles, CA — A fund raiser is being held in conjunction with the CCCX Downhill Race Series starting this Saturday, May 3rd in honor of Mark A. Reynolds who died on Saturday, April 19, 2008.


Mark’s death was a result of the crash he had while competing in the Downhill race during the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA. Mark, who was just 48 years old, was the owner of Wicked Racin and innovator of the Dualrailluer Guide for which is in the process of being patented as the first dual chain ring guide. Mark was an avid mountain biker who raced competitively and he also enjoyed the action sports scene including snowboarding, wake boarding and even piloting airplanes. He was also a friend to many as well as a mentor to those looking to improve their skills.

After hearing the news on Saturday, members of the Evomo Mountain Bike Team stepped forward to contact fellow industry companies in order to organize a memorial fund raiser in Mark’s name. “I feel it’s the right thing to do and I really feel for the family who had to hear such terrible news”, said Tom Judy, Evomo Downhill Team Member. Everyone on the Evomo team instantly said they would be happy to make a collective Team donation to help. Within a few days, Fox Racing was ready to ship out some product donations and Keith DeFiebre, CCCX race organizer, offered his event location as a place to hold the fund raiser. “It was pretty awesome to get such instant support”, said Tom Judy.

Mark’s family hopes to contribute to a freeride or jump park that will be named after Mark so that people of all levels can enjoy the sport of mountain biking and can feel encouraged and supported, just as Mark made all of us feel.

Fox Racing Shox, Evomo, X-Fusion, Pactimo, Stan’s No Tubes, Cool Cycling Club, Calabazas Cyclery, Trailhead Cyclery, and Auburn Bike Works have already stepped up to donate cash or product for the fund raising raffle that will be held at the CCCX DH Race Series finale on Sunday, June 22. Memorial T-shirts and raffle tickets will be for sale at this weekends event in which all proceeds will go to the fund in honor of Mark. “By having a huge raffle at our series finale in June we are able to maximize the cash we can raise by selling tickets at the next 5 races”, said Keith DeFiebre, CCCX Race organizer.

This weekend’s event will be held at Toro Park in California, located between Salinas and Monterey off of Hwy 68 just minutes from Laguna Seca Raceway. Registration for racing opens at 8am.

Donation information, please visit www.wickedracin.com where you can make a cash donation in his Mark’s name via PayPal.

CCCX Race Event/Fund Raiser information:
http://www.cccx.org/dh/2008/index.shtml
For more information or to donate products for the Event raffle please contact:

Evomo Clothing
Toll free: 888-346-4421
www.evomo.com