How to be a Fred?

Didn't know whether to put this in humor or new riders so put it here.

Um, yeah, moving right along....

There's a very long, fun thread on bikejournal about being a Fred. Now everybody is admitting to their "Fredness" and there's even a Team Fred.

I feel ill-prepared to define "being a Fred" here, but it did bring up a lot of things that I realized I wanted to know more about.

So, for fun AND for education, could y'all give a girl's definition of a Fred?

And to start with a specific question -- a couple of things that were mentioned were "white cotton socks" and "wearing an Aerohelmet to a group ride."

'Splain, please?

Thanks!

Oh, by the way -- in all fairness the only thing people really seemed to find problematical is wearing event jerseys for events you didn't ride. Beyond that, all the finger-pointing/defining seemed to be "in fun." But still, I'd like to be in on the joke? Thanks!

An Aerohelmet is what the pros wear when they are doing a time trial. Maybe everyone who races time trials wears them - I don't know. :p So wearing one to a group ride would not be cool, unless you're doing a team time trial.

The deal with the socks - I don't know - maybe they just look funny to some people. It looks funny - so let's give it a derogatory name and poke fun. Whatever.

V.

I think the white cotton socks thing is talking about wearing regular white cotton knee socks - pulled all of the way up to the knee of course.

Oh yeah, that would be it with the socks. They did mention "chain tattoos" on white socks, which would mean the socks would be high on the calf, right?

I bought wicking athletic socks that are low on the ankle. Close one!

And I guess I'm okay with my helmet. I chose it because for the price, it seemed to have the best ventilation. It's a MTB helmet, I was told, but I didn't care about that.

So is it okay to coordinate socks, shorts, jerseys or does that make you look like the equivalent of a "snow bunny?"

Wear what you like and is comfortable. :D

If you feel like coordinating - go ahead, but don't feel compelled if it's not you.

I've been on a pink thing lately. Pink helmet, I almost bought some pink sunglasses in Utah. I just bought rose colored mountain biking shoes... but I wear it all on an orange bike, which right now has totally mismatched wheels. The rear tire is a 27 and is rainbow colored. The front is still one of my "go fast" wheels with a 23.

Just ride. :p

V.

I'm with you on this one Veronica. Just dress how you want and ride.

If you want a full dose of endless descriptions and critiques of Fredness, go to bikeforums. It comes up frequently over there.

Thanks -- I don't mind bucking the trends and blazing my own trail. I just prefer to know when I'm doing it.

You know how it goes -- you decide to wear jeans to a party even though you know most people will be biz-casual, is different than doing it unawares!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pooks

Thanks -- I don't mind bucking the trends and blazing my own trail. I just prefer to know when I'm doing it.

You know how it goes -- you decide to wear jeans to a party even though you know most people will be biz-casual, is different than doing it unawares!

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Exakkly. And since my dream is to be a Fredwina Athena, it's good to know how to do it. The Fredwina part is readily achievable, I think. Athena takes some work, since it means keeping up on the road in spite of the extra pounds. I passed a woman today who was having an Athena workout -- of goddess-like dimensions, AND hauling her 3-year-old in a trailer, AND spinning up hills into the wind. When I finally caught up with her, instead of calling out "on your left" I puffed and said "I'm having enough trouble pulling just myself into this wind." "Thanks!" she replied, "Now I don't feel so bad." Glad I could be of encouragement.

Ahemmm

Let's just say "many are called but few are chosen". :cool: