I've seen this come up in a few threads, so I have to ask... what's a "Fred"?
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I've seen this come up in a few threads, so I have to ask... what's a "Fred"?
Here you go. Boy, I'm doing well at procrastinating today.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...highlight=fred
I looked it up the other week myself on Google--only to discover that it appears I'm a Fred! down to the gym shorts, T-Shirt, and white socks and regular old tennis shoes when riding (can't afford "real" cycle gear yet). Oh well, at least I'm enough of a cyclist to earn some kind of name :cool:
Is there a woman version of Fred--Fredericka maybe?
LOL! It seems the entire fixed gear movement is made up of Freds! DH wouldn't be caught dead in cycling clothes, with a mirror, lights and common sense protective gear. He'd find the whole Fred concept really funny, actually.
Thank you for the thread! My DH hangs out over at bikeforum.com and has begun to take himself very seriously (although he is afraid to ask questions for fear of being ridiculed!) I get the "fred" look from him pretty regularly now. While shopping for my road bike, I asked about the little brake handles I saw on the straight part of some drop handle bars--the lbs said, "we usually take those off when they come in." So I ask, "Do you have some you can put back on?" The (fred) look from lbs and DH. One bike shop had the clipless pedals with cheaters--flat on one side for shoes and clips on the other--"These are great pedals!" The lbs--"those are just for demo." So I ask, "Can I get some?" The (fred) look from lbs and DH.Quote:
Originally Posted by SadieKate
I also miss my bell--we used to call it the "bunny bell" because I used it to scare geese and bunnies off of the trail. Apparently, there was a fist fight at out local bike path over who had the right away--walkers or bikers--now my brother-in-law wants to buy a bell for his road bike!
I'm too vain to put my handlebar bag off the hybrid on my new street bike, because I might get the look! I went for a ride today w/o tubes and my pump because my NEW seat bag DH ordered isn't in yet--how FRED to move my old bag off my hybrid. My brother in law got a FLAT!
I'm glad this is all based in humor! I can laugh at myself--I don't care! I get the last laugh--my DH is starting to lean over my shoulder and read THIS forum--(so any FRED questions will be from him!)
I also carry a map!
And I've been getting chainring tattoos on my new bike because it doesn't have the chainring cover like my hybrid--can't wait to see DH's face when I ask him to switch that over :-)
Your LBS guy/gal needs to learn some manners!Quote:
Originally Posted by cunninghamair
After several years of mountain biking, I decided to buy a road bike. The lack of brakes on the flat part of the bar made me nervous, so I asked if I'd look silly if I had those brakes added on. The LBS guy said, "No, just tell everyone it's cyclocross-style." In this and many other ways, he completely supported me, saying that their only interest is in getting people onto bikes, and whatever it takes to make people comfortable so that they'll ride more, that's what the shop will do.
(Shout out to University Bicycles on Pearl Street!)
Interestingly, I don't think I will ever use those brakes now, but they made me feel more comfortable when I first got the bike and felt most vulnerable -- and that's really the point.
I would LOVE to have those brakes added on to my road bike - might yet. I ride some long hills and of course, what goes up, must come down. I would love the ability to have the optional brakes just to give my hands and arms a break (pun intended) on a 7 mile downhill.
I'm such a Fred (or Wilma or Fredlette - whatever). I keep the reflectors on my bike - all of them. And I've been known to ride road in mountain biking shorts (if I'm going to get off the bike and walk around town, sorry, lycra is not my best option).
I agree with the good LBS guy - whatever works.
Actually I am appalled at the prejudices I have encountered since starting to ride again. We have been in several LBS and ran into some of the snobbiest folks in town. I tell them I have a hybrid = they frown. They take one look at my overweight body and refuse to offer assistance. I have to ask for assistance. I tell them that I am training for the MS150 and they look at me in total disbelief. We found a wonderful LBS near our home and it is owned and operated by a single fella and he is awesome and not judgmental at all. We helped him deliver a trike to a senior citizen and saw firsthand his compassionate and caring manner in making sure that the old fella could not only ride his trike, but made sure it was adjusted properly for him and offered to come back out to his house to adjust it if needed. Every “newbie” question that I have asked him has been answered in a professional, courteous manner and he has been very supportive of our efforts to train for the MS150. I cannot stress enough the importance of being supportive of people no matter how they dress or outfit their bikes or even set high goals for themselves. The person is more important than whether they can afford an expensive bike/gear and to encourage them to ride should be the main goal. The elite groups I have encountered remind me of the snobs I went to high school with - I personally do not want to relive those miserable times. So I guess you could call me and my husband “Freds”. We cannot afford to get fancy cycling jerseys, so we ride with Walmart sports tees = same fabric, just not cut for cycling and with no rear pockets. I ordered a budget-priced pair of Cannondale cycling shorts from this forum. Meanwhile, I ride in capris with regular socks and New Balance running shoes. Having a mirror has been a vital part of our commuting - my DH has the end of bar variety and I have the one that attaches to your glasses. We are training with full panniers, but they too have been very helpful to stow our gear and carry our support water, etc. We were in a state park yesterday and thankful that we had panniers to carry rain ponchos and extra water (needed both) plus dry tshirts - got caught in a thunderstorm. I know that this is lengthy, but reading about labels got my dander up - blame my Scotch-Irish temper. Do not listen to anyone else’s labels - ride for the sheer joy of it, not for who has the latest and greatest equipment.
Wildhawk- Great post. Riding is for fun and I don't certainly don't want to go back to high school either. I would rather ride with a "fred" than an uppity person any day.
I hate to say I also feel there can be a lot of snobbery and prejudice in road cycling. I have a triple on my carbon bike and am looking at making the puppy gears even easier, so what? My helmet doesn't match my bike and sometimes I still tat myself with the chain ring? So what? I have also done multiple centuries, a couple of two day MS150s and some of the harder rides in the southwest. I may not look like it to some, so why should I judge?
Personally if I see an obvious newbie I give an audible "Howdy". And I wave to everyone, even if a lot of people look but won't wave back.
I have found the mountain bikers seem to be very embracing everyone, even those of us who feel like Freds. When I run into a male racer on the road all he does is blow by me without acknowledging me, maybe he is a jerk or maybe he is just in the zone but it still feels uppity. Last weekend I was mountain biking and this guy who was very good (and had a big racing team kit) gave me some encouragement on the trail. This isn't the first time it has happened out there either. Something about dirt seems to humble everyone a bit.
Thank you Aggie: I would love to ride with you too. Mountain bikers are very friendly - I used to live in Jackson, Wyoming and met quite a few. That is what encouraged me to get my mountain bike. Unfortunately it was the wrong size for me and I went with a hybrid. We have a 46 mile paved trail here called the Pinellas Trail. My DH and I used to make it a point to wave and say howdy to people we passed and see how many responses we got in return. Sadly, not that many people returned our smiles and howdies. We are seeing more and more riders with headphones/earbuds in and that may be why they do not hear our audibles.
It makes sense, doesn't it? How often do you see a mountain biker smile on the trail? A lot, right? Now how often do you see a roadie grinning for the sheer joy of being on a bike? Yeah, not so much.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama
I don't know why road riding has to be so serious. I really think a lot of people are out there for the brag factor, not the fun. If you're working your butt off and not having any fun, I guess you won't have much energy left over to be friendly.
Why is wearing a camelbak on a road bike "Fred" again??? Sorry, function over fashion here!
Let's all just go out and have fun!
OK.... I see this topic come up from time to time.... Why do you expect this guy to acknowledge you... I don't think he is a jerk or uppity. He just doesn't have anything in common with you except that he is riding a bike. You don't expect every car driver to acknowledge you when you are driving. You don't wave and say hi to every other person who is walking on the sidewalk when you are.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama
I know we are a subset of humanity because we ride, but to tell the truth I don't feel that means I have an instant kinship with every other rider on the road. Maybe its because there are so many of us out here, but I don't necessarily acknowledge ever other rider I see. That's not to say that we shouldn't look out for one another - I always ask cyclists if they need any assistance if I see them having mechanical difficulties etc., but I don't feel the need to personally greet everyone.
I waved and smiled at him/her first and they made eye contact, the way I was raised you acknowledge that. My Mammaw taught me we are all more alike than we want to believe, I had relate to a millionare and the person who can barely afford the roof over their head. She is a wise 90 year old, a sage if you ask me. If some stranger says hello to me on the street, I say hello, even if they were a seven foot tall green martian (who I would have nothing in common with but the location).Quote:
Originally Posted by Eden
I honestly don't have anything against racers, my husband is one himself. I don't race, I don't understand training and I will never do it. Which means it will always be difficult for me to understand how returning a friendly wave or warning me when you are about to blow by me on a road is such an inconvenience. The roads I am talking about are not the ones with 50 cyclists out, it is the middle of nowhere county roads by me that I may be the only one they see for 30 minutes or the entire ride. I don't expect it every time but I am not sure the wave has ever been returned.
I don't hold a grudge about it and it doesn't keep me awake at night, I just find that road racers in my area tend to be less friendly than the mountain racers and I have been quite surprised by that. More surprised the mountain racers are so darn friendly! Maybe it is their recovery day since I ride one of the easier trails?
And I am generalizing and do not mean offense to the racers on this board. I thought I had something in common with the ones around me but I guess they do not look at this little Fredette the same type of person as themselves. That is a sad way to be IMO. We all can use the roads how we want legally, I won't hold it against the guy who thinks I am a dork and I guess if he knew I thought he was a bit uppity he wouldn't give a darn either.
I guess I'm of two minds here:Quote:
Originally Posted by Eden
I actually do feel a kinship with other cyclists based solely on the fact that we're both on bikes.
But...
I am not offended when my nod or wave isn't returned. If someone is clearly in the midst of a hard workout, I don't really expect them to break their concentration to say hello.
http://foolstown.com/sm/velo.gif :D