LEWISTON – At 63, Dick Williamson was an inspiration to men and women half his age. He was a bicyclist who competed locally and nationally. He trained year-round, ran for exercise, skied any chance he could get.

“To say he was in shape is a major understatement,” local cyclist Dave Chirayath said.

Williamson, a recently retired Bates College professor, died this week just days before he was to compete at the National Senior Games in Louisville, Ky. Friends said Williamson died while sleeping in a hotel room, en route to the games where he was registered to compete in several cycling events and a triathlon.

“I don’t feel like he missed out on anything,” said friend and fellow cyclist John Grenier of Rainbow Bicycle and Fitness in Auburn. “He was doing what he loved, always. He seemed to be the picture of health.”

Early indications were that Williamson died of a heart attack. His wife Debbie, also a competitive cyclist, was with her husband at the time, and other family members were on their way to Kentucky to join her Wednesday night.

“They were the perfect couple,” Grenier said. “They both were into cycling and health and they were always taking bike-related trips together.”

Many of Williamson’s friends were together Wednesday evening. That’s because Wednesday nights are big for the Maine Cycling Club, which gathers several times each week for rides of varying length. Had he not been on his way to the national competition, Williamson would have been among them as roughly 30 cyclists gathered at Harriman business park, off Washington Street in Auburn.

“He was one of the most hard-core athletes around,” said Richard Marchessault, who had been riding with Williamson for 15 years. “He was as dedicated as anyone. This is the last thing we would have expected. We have never seen him ail at all.”

“I just can’t believe it,” said John Cox, another friend and fellow cyclist. “He was in phenomenal shape. He was just incredible and he was an incredibly nice guy.”

Which was what Williamson’s friends mourned when they got the news. As competitive and seemingly healthy as the man was, Williamson was said to be twice as jovial.

“He was a very, very happy guy. He was the most upbeat guy you can imagine,” said Chirayath, who gave Williamson’s bicycle a tune-up for the trip to Kentucky. “He was always a pleasure to be around.”

Keeping up with Williamson’s resume is no easy feat. Right there along with the athletic achievements is the success and popularity he enjoyed in academia.

For 30 years, Williamson taught French at Bates College. He also coached men’s hockey, a sport in which he was an active player during his years at Yale University.

He was named “outstanding teacher of French in Maine” in 1994. He earned accolades at home and from the French government, which lauded his support of the language.

“He was liked and admired by a lot of people for a variety of reasons,” Bates spokesman Bryan McNulty said.

Williamson and his wife took up cycling during a trip to France, and before long both were at it full time. Their daughter Vanessa graduated from Bates College where she holds individual records in swimming competitions.

Friends said Williamson never had a problem combining the passions of his life. He rode with his students, at one time making a 600-mile trek with a pair of them. Grenier said Williamson would walk into the Rainbow cycle shop greeting everyone loudly, boisterously in the French language he so loved.

“When he came into a room, everybody knew it,” Grenier said. “He’d brighten up our day when he’d come into our shop. He was a jolly guy, always very enthusiastic with everyone.”

Williamson last week competed in the Trek Across Maine, a meandering, three-day cycle ride across the state. This Friday, he would have begun competing in the National Senior Games; Williamson was entered in all bike race categories for men ages 60-64.

“He wanted me to go over his bike, to get it all ready for that,” said Chirayath, who has a private bicycle shop at his home.

Cycling Club members Wednesday night had a moment of silence for their fallen friend. They plan to brainstorm ways to honor Williamson, perhaps by naming a race after the man.

Mostly, they were just missing him.

“I just can’t believe it,” Cox said.

“It’s a blow to all of us, to everyone that knew him,” Grenier said. “I just can’t imagine him never coming into the shop again.”