19/09/2026
Well it took me a few days to process what happened and I still have a hard time believing it. I spent most of my twenties with Max and some of my most valuable memories were with this guy. I met this German young handsome fella in the student dorms in Salzburg after a few b**rs and a great night. Even tho we both studied at that time, we rather spent partying and doing every other thing. We shared the same love for the outdoors, for music, for out of the box thinking and great b**r. At one time we even started a YouTube cooking channel (still live btw.). What followed was a time of great friendship, with highs and lows, always with mutual respect and helpfulness. The adventures we’ve been on, the hikes, the festivals & concerts, the projects we did together, the friends we made along the way, this time was special and I will never forget. He was so full of life and ambition that is rare these days, truly inspiring.
I still remember when he prepared for the Silk Road Mountain Race the first time and how crazy it seemed that he will participate in such a hard race. During the race we sat hours in front of the laptop just watching a dot move, hoping he’s doing great. It became a habit to this day: watching his dot move, cheering him on for a win and a great time.
Not to mention he introduced me to cycling, helped me buy my first real gravelbike, showing me whats important and what’s not. He gave me his old clothes, so I don’t need to buy new stuff right away. I still ride his old road bike to this day. This passion for cycling still follows me to this day and led to many wonderful connections, my wife and my kids.
His loss is truly heartbreaking and leaves a huge void.
Ride on you crazy diamond!
Max Riese gravgrav Collective
