Only met Mike a couple of times, at Strathpuffer and a talk, but have always followed his flashing tracker at TCR, Tour Divide and the like, i sat there last night watching his SPOT tracker not moving and as i went to bed at midnight, the news was they thought it was a motorbike and that Mike was stuck in the traffic.
I hate that faux sentiment you see on Facebook and the like, but i can honestly say that only twice in my life has the news of someone passing away hit me in the gut and genuinely make me shed a tear, when John Peel died because he was music to me as a lad, and working 14 hour shifts in a kitchen he soundtracked my late hours and the news this morning of Mike Hall.
I sat there and shed a tear and felt and still feel genuinely shocked, i think that anyone that as attached bike bags to their bike knowing they were off on an adventure and normal life was being put on hold for a bit or anyone that has pushed their body harder than they thought possible and been on the bike at 5am with their mind playing tricks, could do nothing but hold Mike in the highest esteem and just marvel at what he achieved. The fact that he did it for little reward or recognition and whilst be a nice bloke was what he will be remembered for.