A "KEEN, well-liked and very sociable" Skipton cyclist was killed when his bike hit a bridge parapet and he fell almost 35 feet on to a dry river bed, an inquest was told.

James Nelson, 32, was out alone on an evening training ride when he braked and the wheels on his cycle locked as he reached Dibble's Bridge on the Hebden to Pateley Bridge road on August 13, the hearing in Skipton was told.

The Skipton Building Society IT technician was a member of Skipton Cycling Club and had been hoping to join other club members who were training to ride the 'Hoy 100' ride from Skipton later in the year.

Problems with his tyres had delayed him setting off from home and he may have been trying to catch his fellow cyclists on their ride, or he may have simply decided to ride solo, said coroner Rob Turnbull.

Scuff marks on the road and the bridge parapet indicated he was travelling at 19 mph when he had first braked, the inquest was told.

His body was found the following morning by two female Environment Agency workers who were conducting a survey of the river Dibb. They called emergency services from a nearby house as they had no mobile signal. James was pronounced dead at the scene at 11am. A post-mortem examination later concluded he had died from multiple injuries to his head and chest.

He had been reported missing to police that morning when his mother found he was not at home, the hearing was told.

His mother Jane Nelson said she had texted him twice the previous evening to ask his whereabouts without reply, but was not worried as he sometimes stayed out late with friends.

David Taylor, of North Yorkshire Police's collision investigation unit, told the inquest that it appeared James had applied his brakes fully to the point of wheel-lock as he came to the bridge. There was a 16 per cent downhill gradient leading to the bridge. Marks on the road and the bridge indicated that he and the bike had hit the bridge wall and gone over it. The weather had been mostly fine and dry, and the road surface was in good repair with no potholes, said Mr Taylor.

James was an experienced cyclist and the bike was in good repair, while there was no evidence of contact with another vehicle or animal in the incident, but that could not be completely discounted, he added.

Coroner Mr Turnbull said James had been a fit and healthy man of a very sociable character and with a great interest in cycling. He appeared to have lost control of his bike, hit the bridge parapet and fell to his death. His death was the result of an accident and was "a tragic and sad loss" to his family and friends.

James' mother said that her son had a very laid-back character and has always been very generous and kind. His interest in cycling had developed at a young age as his father cycled a lot and he had grown to love it.