Today the British mountain biking community bids farewell to Pat Adams, a visionary event organiser and inaugural inductee into the British Cycling Hall of Fame in 2010.

Pat was a true titan of the British mountain biking scene, who leaves behind a tremendous legacy for the many thousands of mountain bikers who ride and compete every week.

Best remembered for his trailblazing events, including Mountain Mayhem and Sleepless in the Saddle, Pat was also a soigneur for British riders and teams, and was pivotal to the commercial growth of mountain biking over recent decades.

Most importantly, Pat’s unforgettable humour, warmth and kindness, and the support he showed for each and every rider crossing the line – always with a hearty handshake – made him a true cornerstone of the community. His absence will be sorely felt by all who knew him.

Reflecting on Pat’s life and achievements, his close friend and co-founder of Singletrack Magazine, Chipps Chippendale, said:

“Patrick was a friend to so many riders over the years, running successful bike teams and some of the biggest mountain bike events the UK has ever seen. Yet Pat always made sure that every single rider felt special and included.

“His cheerful ability to charm everyone from royal landowners to battered solo racers meant that his loss has been felt deeply throughout the mountain bike, and wider cycling world. He was one of a kind.”

The thoughts of everybody at British Cycling are with Pat’s family and many friends within the sport at this incredibly difficult time.