An engineer killed when he was knocked off his bicycle on the way to work had given up riding motorcycles because he believed they were “too dangerous”.
David Blake, 57, suffered severe head injuries when he was thrown from the saddle after being clipped by the wing mirror of a car in Leman Street, near Aldgate, east London.
He died in hospital the following day, becoming the twelfth cyclist to lose their life on London’s roads this year.
Friends today said Mr Blake, a specialist ventilation engineer from Barking, had become a “cycling addict” after giving up his powerful Yamaha R1 superbike several years ago following a series of minor accidents.
Colin Bilton, a former colleague, told the Standard: “He got rid of his motorbike because it was too dangerous. He’d had a couple of accidents, a few narrow scrapes, and he thought cycling was safer, so he took it up.
“After that he used to go everywhere on his bike. I can’t believe he died on his bike.
“I worked with him for many years and he was a great man. He was a bit of a character, everyone loved him. He lived at home with his mum until she passed away four years ago.”
Mr Blake described himself as a fan of classical music and travel when he signed up to a dating website last year, saying he was “looking for love and happiness.”
Liam Earle, a close friend, said Mr Blake was “one of the craziest, loveliest men you would ever wish to meet.”
He said: He was one of those people you never forget. He was an amazing cyclist. He cycled to and from work every day. The guy was like a machine. He loved cycling more than anything. I am so shocked at his death.”
Dale Ruby, another former colleague, said: “He was a pleasure to work with, he was a nice guy who loved his bike. It’s a real loss.”
Police today launched a fresh appeal for witnesses to the accident at 7am on December 6 to come forward.
Vishnu Patel, owner of Wine Tiers newsagent opposite the scene of the crash, said: “He was wearing cycling gear and a helmet, but it must have come off – it was about three feet away from the accident.
“He wasn’t moving when he was on the ground. There was blood all over the place which must have come from his head.
“We heard the car only clipped him with its wing mirror so he must have hit his head on the bollard or the pavement. The ambulance arrived and they stripped him down and were working on him before taking him away.”
Anyone with information should call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) based at Chadwell Heath Traffic Garage on 0208 597 4874.
:: The 46-year-old driver of the vehicle was arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving and has been bailed until in February.