Robb Deignan spent much of his career in the halls of government, but his recreational hours were spent on area bikeways and trails.

The 65-year-old former California Senate staff member was taking part in a 100-mile ride Saturday when he lost control of his bicycle and crashed while riding downhill in Fairfield. He was airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, where he died of his injuries.

Friends and colleagues were stunned by Deignan's death. They described him as a skilled rider who had participated in Eppie's Great Race and was active in the Folsom-Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition, a group that has worked to create mountain bike trails in the Folsom Lake and Auburn State Recreation Area.

It was the first fatality in the Foxy's Fall Century ride, sponsored for more than 30 years by the Davis Bike Club.

"It was a single bike accident. There were no other bikes involved," said Stuart Bresnick, Davis Bike Club president, who was at the ride's command center when word of the accident was received. "He was just heading downhill and he went down."

Approximately 1,500 people participated in the event, which offers a 100-mile ride, a 100K ride and a 50-mile family ride. The marked routes run through Solano and Napa counties. Bresnick said most riders probably were not aware of the accident Saturday.

Deignan worked in state government for more than two decades, serving as a press secretary and media consultant in the state Senate and spending four years as director of public affairs at the Department of General Services.

A former anchor and reporter for KTXL-TV, he put his media skills to work in the Senate, directing radio, television and Web communications for the Democratic Caucus and serving as press aide to Democratic then-Sens. Kevin Murray and John Garamendi.

His LinkedIn profile described his current occupation as "Semi-Retired/Dog Walker" at "Self-Amused Inc."

"Semi-retired and hanging out with my dog, Buddy, and cycling junkies," he wrote in the description field.

Deignan lived in Sacramento and is survived by his wife, Marcia, and son, Justin.

Tim Streeper, a longtime friend and riding partner, said Deignan's greatest joys were his family and bicycling. He had looked forward to Saturday's century ride and had recently done a 75-mile ride in Bend, Ore., in preparation for it.

"He was probably one of the most interesting people I've met," Streeper said of Deignan. "He always had just the right thing to say when it needed to be said."

Ken Hunt worked with Deignan in the state Department of General Services' public affairs office and also participated with him in recreational rides.

"He was in fabulous physical shape," Hunt said, adding that Deignan was also an avid kayaker and hiker.

Hunt described him as a man of great integrity. "Robb always focused on doing the right thing, even when people weren't watching," he said.

Fellow riders and bicycle advocates said fatalities in organized recreational rides are rare.

"They are inherently safer (than bicycling alone) because there are more people," said Tricia Hedahl, executive director of Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates.

Researchers, she said, have found that fewer injuries and deaths occur on roads frequented by recreational bicyclists because motorists expect to see them and are more cautious.

Hedahl said she has heard of only two fatalities in organized rides in the 10 years she has been involved in bicycling.

A Facebook memorial page has been created in Deignan's honor, and Streeper said information about services will be posted at the site.

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Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287. State worker columnist Jon Ortiz contributed to this report.