Former Lord Mayor of Bristol Peter Abraham has paid tribute to his son, Nick, who died aged 29 in a cycling accident on the Portway.

"He loved the outdoor life and so many sports. Most of all, he was a great climber. We are only now learning, from friends and colleagues of his, just how good," Mr Abraham told the Bristol Post.

"He lived with us and his presence is everywhere in our house. The hardest thing for us is that he is no longer about."

Mr Abraham and his wife, Pearl – three times Bristol's Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress – have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection towards them in the wake of last week's tragedy.

At their home in Avonmouth they have received hundreds of letters, cards and emails from well-wishers across the city and from other parts of Britain, from Europe and the US.

"The very first was from the Mayor of Bristol, Tennessee, which we have visited," said Mr Abraham. "We have heard from all the party leaders in Bristol, from friends we made ballooning in France and Germany, from so many people we met during our time at the Mansion House.

"All the messages we have received have been comforting and helpful. It's just overwhelming."

They have received dozens of flower bouquets and hundreds of emails – many of them from fellow cyclists and climbers.

As a boy at Stoke Bishop Primary School and later at St Katherine's School, in Pill, Nick developed a love of sport.

"He was a first-class tennis player, recognised by the Lawn Tennis Association. He played football for the National Smelting Works team," said his father.

"He had asthma all his life and the team used to hold Nick, their star player, in reserve until half-time for this reason.

"He was a good snooker player, too. But many of these sports were pushed aside by kayaking, canoeing and climbing. He loved the outdoors, sport and the environment. He was the most 'green' person I've known. He passionately believed in protecting the planet."

It is still not clear what Nick's plans were when he left home on his bike at about 5.30pm on the night of January 6. He was hit by a car as he cycled in the direction of the city centre on the Portway about half an hour later.

"He had no money on him. We think he was probably crossing the Portway, intending to go for a walk by the river," said Mr Abraham.

Nick will be buried next Tuesday, January 20, after a funeral service at Westbury-on-Trym parish church at 1.30pm.

Fellow climber Ashley George, of St Werburgh's, said Nick had been a very good climber, working as an instructor at Undercover Rock, at the Bristol Climbing Centre, in St Werburgh's and also leading groups on the Avon Gorge.

Dan Cox, of the Climbing Academy in Barton Hill, had climbed with Nick at Undercover Rock and praised his skill at bouldering, which is low-level climbing without ropes.

Conservative group leader on Bristol City Council Richard Eddy described Nick as "a fine young man" and said his death had stunned councillors.

Nick was hit by a red Seat Ibiza car on the Portway, between Clifton and Shirehampton, at about 6pm on Tuesday of last week. Police have asked witnesses to the accident to call them on 0845 456 7000or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.