FF : 3 Time U.S. PRO Cycling Champion

Our Mission
Our mission at Fast Freddie Foundation (FFF) is to support young cyclists in achieving their goals in cycling and beyond. FFF is strongly committed to enhancing the physical, ethical, and professional development of young riders through our creation of cycling programs and our support of youth cycling teams and leagues that aim to give these talented and dedicated cyclists the skills and tools for realizing their dreams. FFF believes that essential to this objective is emphasizing that education and community responsibility are key to achieving success, both on and off the bike.

Fast Freddie Rodriguez and FFF
I have been fortunate in my career to have the continuous support of my friends and family every step of the way. Still, paving my own road in a sport that is not generally supported through school involvement or by the community at large was not at all easy. While my love for cycling never wavered, growing up I continually felt I was fighting an uphill battle just to get the recognition from my educators that what I was doing was important, that my dedication to cycling was instrumental in shaping who I was becoming, and that fundamental to my future success was the need of support from my educational structure. It should never be this hard. Young people with a passion for something healthy, something that builds independence and inner strength, and something that literally teaches of the outside world should never have to go at it in separation from their educational foundation. And that is where FFF comes in.

I hope that through this foundation I can help lead the way for young cyclists in pursuit of their dreams. I want to tell them my story and show them that it's possible to live your dream. I had to sacrifice many parts of my youth to achieve my goal. One of the hardest decisions I had to make was picking between furthering my education and being a professional cyclist. That was a decision I shouldn't have had to make. If I can show and help one young cyclist that it is possible to do both then I have made a difference.

FFF Involvement
NorCal High School Mountain Bike League (www.norcalmtb.org)
Fast Freddie Foundation has joined forces with the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League to provide what we think is an amazing opportunity for young cyclists in Northern California to fulfill their cycling ambitions within a supported environment that extends to their primary place of development, their school. The marriage between school and sport is nothing newðbut with the sport of cycling, this union is indeed new. In a recent and first of its kind film "Children of the Dirt", by NorCal High School Mountain Bike League President and Berkeley High School math teacher, Matthew Fitzenger, filmmakers capture the essence of youth cycling as they follow several high school cyclists through a racing season. These students come from various northern California high schools and compete against each other at the team level. What is captivating about this film is how beautifully it depicts the essence of riding a bike - freedom, healthy activity, outdoor beauty, sportsmanship, and team support, all the while testing one's physical and mental abilities. Some of the movie's stars are natural athletes, while others are not. Some are your confident "bike racers", while still others are nervously exploring new ground. In all cases, what the film leaves you with is the magic that comes with riding a bike. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, we all have a commonality, and that is we all remember when we first learned to ride a bike.

Our goal with Norcal High School Mountain Bike League is to encourage schools around the state to join the league so that one day we have fully developed cycling programs for young cyclists throughout California and other states that are sanctioned by the various educational entities. In October of last year, we had the first Annual Benefit Dinner for the League. It was a great honor for me to be a part of this event and a part of this group. I had already had the chance to meet several of the League's riders beforehand, and was excited to see that a good number of them made it to the dinner, along with their parents. I was especially glad they were there when I announced the Fast Freddie Academic Scholarship Award. This college scholarship will be given to a graduating senior League rider who exemplifies sportsmanship, perseverance, and dedication to sport, education, and community. In addition, I will be auctioning a one-of-a-kind Fast Freddie bike frame on my Web site with the proceeds going directly to the award fund.

Team Swift (www.teamswift.org)
FFF is equally thrilled to support Team Swift, a junior cycling team headed by ex-professional racer Laura Charmeda. Team Swift is a non profit organization whose quest is to promote the importance of athletics, academics, and community through cycling. The Team Swift junior development support program enables elite young cyclists to train for and compete in National and International races and championship events. The riders selected for this program must not only show athletic ability, but also demonstrate dedication to their school work, and participation in activities benefiting the community at large. All Team Swift riders are ambassadors for the sport of cycling. Their motto is Ride Fast. Ride Smart. Be Swift.

I had the pleasure of riding with this team last winter, and I assure you it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my role as a mentor for up and coming young cyclists. I had such a great time interacting with these riders, talking about both cycling and non cycling related topics. After our meeting, I was surprised when I received an email containing letters written by each rider expressing to me what our time together meant to them. I was very touched and inspired to know the impact I had had on each one of them. Each letter was unique in its message, intelligently written, and most importantly, opened my eyes as to the affect we professionals have on our future cycling stars. It didn't take me long to know that I wanted to be involved with this group some way, some how.

In December, FFF and Team Swift held its first fundraising event - our Holiday Ride - benefiting the Team Swift Junior Development Program. Participants rode with me and Team Swift riders through the beautiful Sonoma Valley in California. We are looking forward to our next event, scheduled for Sunday, May 29th, 2005 in Napa Valley. If you are interested in joining the ride, please contact Team Swift Manager Laura Charmeda.

We at FFF are very excited about the opportunities before us. We hope that you, too, will become involved in supporting our great sport of cycling. For more information, email us.

Thank you.