Unexpected loss of Berni Avila... @bigringrider101

I don't have any words. Some of my favorite memories in this sport involve this guy.

Rest in Peace @bigringrider101 ...

https://www.gofundme.com/f/unexpect...&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

 

I heard about this yesterday. RIP, Big Ring Rider.

 

Sorry to hear this. I never got a chance to meet the man, but he seemed like a lost bikepacking bro with enough outdoor passion for three.

Condolence to his family and all who knew him.

 

Very sad news.
My condolences go out to his family and friends. He had a presence here for quite some time and always positive at that.

 

This is shocking news. Berni was a great dude and one of the strongest riders I’ve known. I’m happy to have many great memories with him. RIP @bigringrider101…

 

And although Berni didn't post much lately, he was still checking the forum often... Up until the day before he passed away.

 

My experiences with Berni had always been positive. Strong fun guy to ride with.

RIP Bernie

 

Wow, so sad to lose an imtbtrails family member. I didn't know him well but I can say that he was a good a guy. RIP Berni.

 

Looking back, I don't think I ever actually rode with Berni. I remember always chasing Berni. Big Bear, The Front Range, Pioneertown, Wrightwood, Golden Eagle...

Absolute beast of a rider, and always with a smile, and some ball busting thrown in.

 

I offered condolences to “all who knew him,” and though that sounds overtly generic, it certainly includes a host of you guys and gals here. Sorry that you lost a partner and friend.

Life is fleeting. Ride and love hard.

 

Berni was a dear dear friend of mine and I have rolled with him many many times.



I remember the first time I met him. It was in the Flying J parking lot in Lebec. I hosted a horribly tough ride that I could not even finish myself! When I saw him in the parking lot, I said to CJ, "Who invited that guy?!? I hope he will survive the ride?" NEVER pre-judge people is what I learned because he literally kicked my sorry azz that day. And... most days.



I'm really going to miss this guy. Hit the new hero dirt Berni, and show us when we get there...

Chasing the Ghost of Berni
by rossage
(Created from this Ride Report: https://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/rr-cannell-trail-round-2.4970/ )

Red sun rising,
over the water
smoke pouring in from the flames
firefighters staged,
sons and daughters
here we go
more of the same

Chasing the ghost of Berni
on the dusty trails of Cannell
Chasing the ghost of Berni
through the smoke and flames
of Hell

We hit the trail at Sherman Pass
no warm up here
just hauling ass
chains, spokes
and freewheels clicking
Hoots, hollers
and corners sticking

Chasing the ghost of Berni
on the trail to Big meadow
no plus tires, no space truck forks
we had suspension
we're not dorks!


The cabin is a welcome sight
to trail riders
day or night
nice place to sit and contemplate
gotta get safe before its too late

Chasing the ghost of Berni
where is our fat-tired friend?
He may be out in Big Bear,
Sidewalls on the mend
the trail gets rougher from here on out
looser than a two dollar whore
down from the air, into the smoke
one fire, two fires, maybe more....

Chasing the ghost of Berni
His PR times did fall
the boys were hot
the hole was shot
and Strava made the call

The ride would end in the smoke filled valley
all safe, though blood was shed
KRBC was there and waiting
to make sure the boys were fed

Chasing the ghost of Berni
His PR times did fall
the boys were hot
the hole was shot
and Strava made the call

-rossage


https://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/rr-hitting-some-opium-trail-in-kernville.4175/
















https://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/cannell-trail-epic.1715/


BigRingRider101 Berni

 

Other than several times our paths crossed on the trail I don't think I actually rode with Berni but I did still have a picture of him on my phone, always smiling and nice guy.

 

From the 2016 Pioneertown ride... Berni on Mamasita with his imtbtrails.com smiley plate. I remember him saying he wasn't shelling out the bucks for a jersey, but he wanted to fit in for the ride.

He fit in... He broke my balls on the way back when he saw that I couldn't keep up with him. And had a beer ready when I finished...

 

I remember that ride. He gave @Mikie & I sh!t for at least a year after for missing the Jeep road cutoff. He was literally miles ahead of us...

 

From the San Gabes group ride back in 2015... Following Berni down Middle Merrill and Sunset... "I thought I could get one more ride out of these pads."

https://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/san-gabes-ride-sunday-12-27-15.9883/#post-243619

 

I found out the sad news last night.
I tried to start a thread but I couldn’t

Since the first day I met him we hit it off. It was my first big adventure with OTBMbc. We started at Millard campground and rode all the way to Chilao, where we set up camp and spent the night. On the way up Mt Lowe, I remember passing him at the paved section and thinking to myself whether or not he was going to make it up the climb. He was on a rather big gear combination and pedaling slowly. Classic turtle and hare scenario because he caught me and passed me before the Eaton saddle.

He became my carpool buddy for many adventures. We lost touch the last couple of years because he spent more time hiking rather than biking. I know he had mentioned hurting his back at work and that was probably what kept him from riding.
I’m going to miss him tremendously

 

That was some epic sauce, Berni!


Go find your stolen bike and haunt that poor unfortunate soul who took it.


Ride for a Reason...and be sure to stop and enjoy the flowers (after completing the Strava Segment of course).


Berni was a Chicken Nugget.


Berni was a Hooligan.


Did I mention Berni is a Chicken Nugget?


Berni was a good human.


@bigringrider101 liked big bad mountains.


Berni Avila was my Froind. Checkyalater Bernie!

 

Oh man! My heart hurts of this news. Met and rode with with Bernie many times with the OTB's and IMTB.

I always respected his strong endurance and approach to riding. While all of us would race each other up the hill and then take a break from exhaustion, Bernie would take it easy and then ride right past us while we munched on snacks and caught our breaths. He was a smooth character and a blast to be around. Que en Paz Descanse mi amigo @bigringrider101 !!

 

R.I.P. Bernie. Prayers to all that are close to him.

 

So sad to read about this news. Berni was such a cool cat always living life to the fullest.

 

So sad.... I didn't get to ride with him but always read the RR and thought he was a strong rider. I google his birthplace and found out is an hour from Guadalajara Jalisco where I was raised..... Ride in Peace Berni !!

 

This breaks my heart. I only saw Berni a couple of times, but it was enough to know he was a BEAST of a rider, and funny dude. He may be the strongest rider I've seen, next to Tinker Juarez, in terms of cranking big gears up hills relentlessly.

I am sure there is far more to the man than his unexpected power as a rider. Taken too soon. Ride in Power Berni, and may your family find peace with their loss.

 

Not sure how many of you are instagramers, we had been following each other for a while and that’s how I saw how he has been as of late. Lots of pics of nature and his camping trips.

https://instagram.com/berniavila?utm_medium=copy_link

 

He regularly did our Bike for Bender events and I could always recognize him because he regularly wore his Bike for Bender jerseys. He was a great supporter of our sport and from what I know, a wonderful person to know. Even from those of us who barely knew him, he will be missed.

 

Man, this one is hitting different. I would be more at peace if he had passed doing what he loved but a freaking car accident? C'mon?!

The last time I saw him was up in Mt. Pinos. He was camping with his wife.

The last time we rode was with Tom Foy, Tom's buddy from the UK, Berni and me. We got in close to 30miles and over 3500 at Tapia- we hit just about everything.

 

I have a handful of pictures I know are Berni. I'll post one when I find them.


edited to remove pictures that wasn't him.

 

That's not him.

 

That's not Berni.

 

Berni was one of the few proud riders who never dabbled in full suspension. The first time I met him in 2015, he proudly told me that... As we were entering Lower Sam Merrill. We were comparing Salsas at the time.

 

Thanks. I had my doubts once I posted it. But he ALWAYS was wearing a BFB jersey at our events so that led me to think it might be him. He truly was one of our biggest supporters. And I say that as having never met him in person. But we'd messaged a few times and I always saw his name on our entry lists and like I said, he wore BFB stuff regularly as you can see in several of the other pictures that have been posted.