I found out the most horrible news last night. Ken Schneider, from Schneider's Bike Shop in Cleveland, was robbed, beaten and "left for dead" last week in his shop. Here's a newspaper article about the incident:
[I] Police Look For Person Who Attacked Local Bike Shop Owner
Victim In Critical Condition After Robber Beats Him
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POSTED: 3:59 pm EST March 23, 2006 CLEVELAND
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Police are trying to find the person responsible for attacking a well-known Cleveland shop owner. Ken Schneider, owner of Schneider's Bike Shop on Lorain Avenue, is now in critical condition. Police say a robber broke into his shop Tuesday night, beating Schneider and leaving him for dead. The same person is believed to have robbed the bike shop three other times in the past two months.[I]

I found out today from another shop that Ken is in a drug-induced coma after having brain surgery and is expected to recover eventually. I was also told that the person that committed this horrible crime was arrested. Apparently the guy had robbed Ken twice before and when he tried a third time, Ken had enough and fought back.
Ken is 56 years old and Schneiders Bike Shop has been in his family for several generations. He has a bunch of kids and one of them, Ken Jr., used to work in the shop. For the last few years, though, Ken is always the only one there, 10-6 every day, all day. I've known Ken for nine years--his shop was one of the first I went to when I started my job as a sales rep. Ken is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Seriously. Ask anyone from Cleveland who has ever met him (and everyone from Cleveland into BMX knows him). The dude is just too nice. If I was in there and needed some obscure coaster brake part or something, he would always have it. Last year I needed a 28t crank lock nut and he stepped into the back room and produced one for me in about 30 seconds. No charge, of course. Every time I've been in there some idiot would come in and want Ken to fix his bike for free or would be *****ing about the price of a $4 inner tube. The shop is in a pretty crummy neighborhood and the riff-raff that come in there are unbelievable, but Ken is always real straight-forward and kind to them.
My heart goes out to Ken and his family and there is a fund set up to help pay for his bills.
You can send all donations to :
Schneider’s Bike Shop (ATTN: KEN SCHNEIDER FUND)
10001 Lorain Ave
Cleveland, OH 44111

Sorry to hear that Towne. Will do what I can donation wise

That is terrible news...I hope he makes a complete recovery.

Tony

honestly! What the hell is going on these days?

scottTowne: I'm so sorry to hear that. I just accepted a job today after being out of work for months. I will donate as soon as I can. My thoughts and prayers are with Ken and his family. Keep us posted Towne.
~mike~

I read about this in another thread - It sickens me that an upstanding member of your community who treats everyone with kindness and respect, regardless of who they are, can get beaten to within an inch of his life over a little bit of money. I really, fervently hope the guy who did this goes to prison for a long, long time - and gets gang-raped twice a day every single day he is there. [I tried to curse]!

Hey Scot,
I spoke to his wife just now and she mentioned thanks for the prayers. Ken is has gone through numerous surgeries and fighting hard for recovery.

Thanks
dirt diggler
Fran
"Team Scream"

[ March 31, 2006, 06:15 AM: Message edited by: dirt diggler ]

I grew up in Cleveland, and I heard the horrible news a few nights ago. I also found out, that the animal responsible for the hideous crime had been aprehended. Which was the only good news.

This is really personal to me, because I grew up in and around Schneiders bike shop from the mid 80's to the early 90's. His shop was the center of the BMX/Freestyle/Skateboard universe in Cleveland during that era. Until the early-mid 90's when BMX took a totally different turn, for good.

He remained in business though the mid 90's and beyond, since his skateboard and skate clothing inventory was always plentiful, and some MTB business had also begun to peak it's head.

May 9, 2006 will mark the 20th anniversary from the date I picked up my first brand new freestyle bike from Schneiders in may '86. A brand new $289 Kuwahara Bravo I added $80 worth of accesories to.

After riding around on beater gooses and murrays, to me it was like getting a Lamborghini or something, a childhood experience I'll never forget.

I stopped by in recent years and visited with Ken whenever I was in town. I actually stopped by to see him about a month ago and he told me about an NOS auburn frame he had in the basement and asked if I was interested. Since he knew I was into vintage.

I'll never forget how the most prominent BMX shop in the Cleveland area. Once stocked with high-end Hutch, Redline, GT, etc.

Almost over night, became stocked with S&M's, bash guard Haro's and Bully's, etc. Ken, never missed a beat. He had his finger on the pulse of everything skate and bmx.

Unfortunately, the Lorain-Denison neighborhood crumbled around a dignified, well-kept establishment that is and always was Cleveland's best. Having grown up on the near West side of Cleveland, I speak from experience.

Get well soon Ken!!!

I've spoken to alot of the old crew, and we're all in your corner man!!

[ March 30, 2006, 08:45 PM: Message edited by: '85TrickStar ]

Please see "Important Cause PLEASE READ" post for info on how to help Ken and his family. '85trickstar, you described Ken perfectly. He's the best.

I posted the story over in the cafe section of this board. His son`s opened the shop back up,not sure if its full time,or whenever they have spare time. I`ve been going to Schneiders since 79 or so.Ken is the most down to earth guy,that would help anyone out.Ken WAS BMX in the Cleve area ,if you rode a bike,you knew of Schneiders Bike Shop.
85 TS,you probally bought your bike from either Ken,or my good friend Scott Weisman,he worked there at that time
Scott,what your doing is something special