TRIBUTES to ‘phenomenal’ motorbike enthusiast and father-to-be Mike Mahon have been paid by the hundreds of lives he touched in the town after he died in a collision while riding in the Forest of Dean on Sunday.

Mike had been riding with an organised group heading to Monmouthshire when, at around 10.30am, he collided with a grey Fiat travelling in the opposite direction.

Despite the best efforts of ambulance crews, he died at the scene, in a layby between Cinderford and Brierley.

Twenty-eight-year-old bike fanatic Mike has been praised as one of the best salesmen seen at Blade Trade Centre in Kembrey Park, where he headed up his own department.

The shop has been closed since Monday as friends and colleagues come to grips with his loss.

He leaves behind a sister in law, brother, two nephews, a niece, his mother and father, and his partner, 27-year-old Charlotte, currently seven months’ pregnant.

“The whole family is devastated,” said dad Michael, 65. “He was a favourite uncle to his two nieces and nephew.

“He loved his motorbikes from an early age, and he would not be discouraged from them.

"Part of his job was helping with specific ride-outs, which is what he was doing when this happened.

“This one was the last of the year, from Swindon to Monmouthshire.

"There are normally between 20 and 30 bikers, and Blade would put three or four of their men in as markers. Mike was fourth marker that morning.

“We went out to the spot where he died with the police on Tuesday. The bend where it happened is a known black spot, and it is almost like a V shape at the top of the hill.

“It seems there was a doctor five cars back who stopped to give help but Mike only had a very faint pulse. He died within seconds. He had sustained head injuries even though he was fully kitted out with the right gear.”

The family have been stunned by the overwhelming response from those who knew Mike paying their respects.

“We have had so many people knocking on the door, often complete strangers in tears about what happened,” said Michael.

“I do not think if you lived to 90-years-old you would meet anyone quite like him. He was so honest and open with everyone.

“When you have a son who rides superbikes this is the worst case scenario. It was a split-second accident.”

Mike’s brother Matt, 29, said: “He had several bikes for different types of riding.

“He had a dirt bike to fulfil his adventurous side, along with a racing bike and a track bike to go a bit faster and test himself.

“You only see a certain side to a person as family, and his friends were another family to him. The response from them has been unbelievable, he was loved by so many people.”

Darren Neal, general manager at Blade Trade Centre, said: “We are all absolutely devastated by the news. He has been a friend and colleague for eight years.

“He was a fantastic guy with a real zest for life, and one of the most naturally-gifted salespeople I’ve seen. He was universally liked and will be a massive loss.”

Stephen Scully, 40, Michael’s friend of 15 years, used to travel the world with Mike snowboarding and surfing “He was my action bud,” he said. “He took everyone that crossed his path on a whirlwind with him. His loss is the biggest pain I have ever felt and ever will feel, with the overwhelming feeling I will never see the guy again. He was my best friend and a little brother to me.”

Mike will be remembered at Steam on Friday night from 7pm, during an event organised by friends Luke Embling, Craig Norris and Jake Mee. Everyone who knew him is welcome.