Friends, fellow riders remember fallen student

Friends and teammates of fourth-year art student Dylan Mitchell were mystified Saturday when he never arrived at the Horseshoe for an afternoon bike ride he'd planned. Not until several hours later did they receive news of Mitchell's death.

Mitchell died Friday after doing the thing he lived for the most. Riding home after a group bike ride, a 2003 Pontiac Vibe collided with the rear of Mitchell's bicycle around 8:40 p.m.

The 21-year-old Fort Mill native died around 9 p.m. at Richland Hospital.

Friends remember Mitchell as a free spirit, an impressive artist and an avid cyclist. Mitchell joined USC's cycling club and eventually served as the club's Webmaster and secretary.

No matter what the situation, former president of the Carolina Cycling Club and USC alumna Stephanie Lareau said her friend was persistently upbeat and free spirited.

"Dylan was the person we could always count on to lighten the mood," she said. "He lived life to the fullest. Whether spending hours on his bike or hours working on his art, Dylan was happy. He always had the most random away messages that would bring a smile to your face."

Mitchell came to USC as a mountain biker but quickly converted into a road cyclist.

Phillip Hare, president of the Carolina Cycling Club, met Mitchell in spring 2004. Mitchell quickly spiked from the designation of a Cat 5 cyclist to the nearly pro level of Cat 2.

"To do that in less than a year is pretty amazing," Hare said. "Not only do you have to do a lot of racing, but you have to have good results in those races to move up that fast."

After reaching Cat 2 last month, friends said Mitchell's hard work and dedication to his sport quickly lead to a sponsorship, riding for the John Deere Team.

"Most of us were taking 15-20 hours of classes, but Dylan spent 15-20 hours training on his bicycle," Hare said.

Using his artistic sensibilities, Mitchell even painted the rims of his sunglasses bright green and yellow to match his John Deere racing uniform, and fashioned his own bike.

"Dylan had just constructed the coolest campus bike to ride to and from his apartment," Lareau said. "Using parts from old bikes and his keen sense of design, he created the ultimate campus bike."

"You never new what he was going to do next," Hare said of Mitchell's spontaneity and creativity, adding that Mitchell described himself on facebook.com chiefly as an artist and a cyclist. "His artistic talents always impressed us - except for one time when he took it a bit far.

"Dylan showed up prior to a race we were hosting with a huge flame tattoo going around his calf," Lareau said.

"He was so proud of his design that now was a permanent part of him. As several of us were supposed to spend the night at his parents' house that night we quickly asked him if he had told his parents about his tattoo. The answer was 'no' so no one in the group had the guts to accompany Dylan home that night."

On Monday, Hare and several members of the Carolina Cycling Team traveled to Fort Mill to remember Mitchell at his parents' home. The family asked that the dress be casual to commemorate Mitchell's free spirit.

Hare said Mitchell's friends in the club are relying on each other for support.

"We're trying to lean on each other as much as possible and not let each other go it alone," he said.

"The only kind of solace we can find in the situation was that Dylan died doing something that he loved," Lareau said.

The club is planning an additional event in Mitchell's memory.