by 
This one just in:
On June 16th my friend, co-worker, and teammate Ben Pritchard died of heart failure while doing a lap at the Hardcore 24 Mountain bike race in Naples, NY. He will be missed incredibly. Check out parkavebike.com for a great photo of Ben 5 min. before he died, riding into the woods. One can tell from the photos that he died doing what he loved more than anything else in the world…riding his bike.
Thanks
Alex
As always, my heartfelt condolences to his friends and family.
I posted the info from ParkAveBike below as the photo just hit me in the guts. God speed, Ben. Even though I never had the chance to meet you, it sure looks like you went out on top.
We all could be so lucky.
Ben Pritchard 1982-2007
This picture was taken minutes before Ben Collapsed and died of heart failure while riding a lap at The Hardcore 24, June 16th, 2007. His last words to his teammates were “See you in under one hour”. Park Ave Bike will be closed Monday, June 18th, while we deal with this tragedy.Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, June 20th at:
Anthony Funeral Chapel
2305 Monroe Avenue Rochester, NY 14618
5pm-Greeting
6pm-Funeral Service
by 
It is a story like this that shows you how fragile life is. We never know when life will take a terrible turn. Since we never know we all should enjoy a tasty beer tonight, as it may be the last. I never knew him, but if he was a friend of Big Jonny he must have been a good man.
I was there at the event, close friends with the crew who ran the race and had ridden with Ben a few times. It was a tragic and sobering circumstance. I’m glad that the racers were quite respectful of the choices made by the race organizers to halt the event.
All I can say is life is short, drink your fill of every moment of it. Don’t sit around and let things slip by! Grab hold and run with it!
Wow. So sorry to hear the news. I am sure he will be missed. At least he was racing his mountain bike when it happened. I can certainly think of worse ways to go. Respect.
Amazing how quickly everything can change. Didn’t know Ben but he looks and seems like the kinda guy I would have liked to had a beer with. RIP.
This just in:
Ride for Ben Pritchard Friday June 22st 8:30pm
Memorial ride for Ben Pritchard
– bring anything with two wheels/if it rolls, be there
– following a route through the city
– meet at 126 Argyle St. @ 8:30pm – ride leaves at 9pm
– bring your friends
– drinking
– be there for Ben
– spread the word
WTF????
Did this guy have some type of congenital heart problem that was undiagnosed? This guy looks in shape!
One the one year anniversary of my mother’s death, reading this is just too much to handle- I’m walking over to the On The Run for a 40 of Olde E