Fred Schroeder

When I saw the post on the Northshore Cycling facebook page, I had to look twice to make sure I was reading it right. Did it really say that Fred Schroeder has passed away? 

I was shocked. 

Two days ago he emailed me that he had made the arrangements with the Washington Parish sheriff's office for the twice-postponed Tour de Louisiane road race. I could always count on Fred for this sort of thing. I've lost count of the number of northshore races that he cheerfully helped with. He was one of our small NOBC group that put on the Tour and the Time Trial, and various other races every year, and when we needed someone to help make arrangements for the Tulane collegiate races at the high school, he was the person who got it done year after year. One year we'd been late making arrangements to use the Lakeshore High venue for the collegiate race and the day before the event the school board had still not approved it. Somehow Fred convinced the assistant principal to just give him the gate key so we could have the race there.

A regular on the northshore rides, Fred was also a coach, mentoring new riders every day, teaching them the often vague and mysterious ways of road cycling. He was one of those guys who was always there, but never in the limelight. He'd show up at the each of the Tour venues early, setting up course signage, blocking off roads, hauling around hay bales, putting up banners, and dealing with the sometimes clueless police. I thought he would always be around. He will be sorely missed by all of us.

I don't know the details of what happened. I don't know if it even really matters at this point. I guess we'll hear the story eventually, although it won't change the past. 

So we'll go on riding and racing and hanging out at the Abita Brewpub, doing all of those things that Fred so loved to do, riding the roads he loved to ride, telling tales of questionable veracity, and we'll leave an extra seat or two at the bar for Fred and the other riders who we wish were with us. As one of the old guys, I've already lost my share of cycling friends and teammates, of which Fred was both. 

It doesn't get any easier.