We are sad to report that Dan Schreck, RUSA# 9310, passed away May 27, 2025, from pancreatic cancer.
Dan began his randonneuring journey in 2014 by completing a full ACP brevet series in the run-up to Paris-Brest-Paris. Dan qualified for and attended PBP ’15 but did not finish after getting off route and then behind time.
Dan still had a great time and grand adventure in France and was soon making plans to return in 2016 for PBP-Audax, which is the UAF version of PBP that was then held every five years. This was our club’s introduction to the audax formula, in which all of the riders “Start together, ride together, and finish together” in a mutually supportive, communal environment. Due to a crash during the first night’s riding that injured his shoulder, Dan was unable to complete the ride but once again returned to France for a third time for the 2019 PBP-Randonneur. However, by Brest on his second try at PBP-Randonneur, Dan had fallen behind schedule due to assisting other riders to the point that he would not be able to finish officially. But, in testament to Dan’s character and honoring the spirit of PBP and randonneuring, Dan carried on and completed the ride anyway, cycling every meter of the course back into Rambouillet. Dan’s determined solo journey is a celebration of the indominable randoneuring spirit and Dan’s fortitude.
It was the audax formula, though, in which Dan truly shined and radiated joy as a cyclist. Returning from France in 2016, Dan helped Central Florida Randonneurs organize, support, and lead the first audax brevets in the United States in two decades. Dan served as a Capitain de Route on every UAF brevet ever organized by Central Florida Randonneurs and then continued in this role when RUSA introduced UAF brevets in 2022. Being a Road Captain means riding at the front, setting the predetermined, steady pace, taking the wind, and safely and correctly navigating the route to ensure that the entire peloton completes the stage at the appointed time. Seeing others finish tough rides because of his efforts brought Dan immense happiness and belonging. Because of Dan, 97% of our riders finished the audax brevets they started.
French audax tradition holds that the premier Road Captain is listed second on the finishers’ list (the organizer is listed first). All of Dan’s CFR results bear this distinguished mark. The photo above shows Dan wearing his trademark whistle (he was also in charge of keeping the riders on time at the stops!) with Josh, Paul, Susan, and Mary.
Dan, we raise our bottles to you and we’ll see you down the road.
On of my favorite Dan memories was the 400k in 2018 where he finished with under 10 minutes left on the clock. I had slept and was packed up driving away when I saw him rolling toward the finish. You couldn’t tell he was close to 27 hours of riding in. He was just plugging away and looked happy to be on a bike ride. That’s kinda how Dan always was; plugging along and happy to be on a bike ride.
We spent many hours riding together, Into the evening, into the night, sometimes all night. Dan was such an easy going, humble guy. But, one thing he would frequently talk about, was, without using the word ‘proud’, his pride in being ride captain, a position he took with great seriousness. There was also a lot of consternation, as he understood and worriedly accepted the responsibility of safely leading a group of riders. I will miss tales of his bike shop, him riding 60 miles each way to a 400K and the shared memory of a bolide exploding in the sky on a pitch black night. RIP