french sportsman eric baron is a multi-world record holder for mountain bike speed achievements. in may of 2002 he attempts to beat his record of nearly 81 miles per hour on an active volcano in nicaragua. it is to be the last ride of his professional career. known as the red baron, barone prepares with a specially designed mountain bike prototype. he makes the trek up and gets ready to go. he mounts the bike and hits the slope. he flies down the volcano at a dizzying speed. suddenly, the bicycle seems to disintegrate underneath him and he's hurdled over the handlebars. his helmet ripped off him.