It's quite foolish really
Hi Silver, and no there's nothing offensive in your post. It's natural to address the "fred" designation as it seems to be a prevalent concern among the "serious roadies" who are as fussily obsessed about their own appearance as a teen aged girl entering puberty.
But since you asked (you did ask right?) here my .02 FWIW: any "roadie" or cyclist of any genre, who even has a scintilla of concern about how another cyclist dresses, wears their visor, etc probably has low self esteem issues and feels the need to build him or herself up at the expense of others. For some reason there seems to be a preponderance of this type in the "serious roadie" category (see "road cycling" on bikeforums)....who knows why?
For this person it's not enough that they spend as many hours as they want on the bike, perhaps (ya think?) to the detriment of their interpersonal relationships, not enough that they are able to spend loads of ...ahem..."disposal" income on their hobby, they also feel the need to put down others who don't somehow measure up to their self-imposed, arbitrary standards.
It's really quite foolish.
I am done now :D
Colleen
the ORIGINAL FRED ... from a bicycling article
I have read this thread and thought you might want to know that the ORIGINIAL FRED is from a bicycling article (can't remember the exact magazine), back in the 70's or 80's, that was written in humor about a man's journey in his personal transformation from a "man on a bike" to a "cyclist" ... it was FUNNY!! I have a friend who has the magazine and enjoys passing it around to new people in cycling ... JUST FOR FUN. So, to me, FRED is humor ... not to be taken seriously and a "general term" for those who aren't "cycling chic" -- there is a little FRED in all of us ... thank goodness!! :D
From the ORIGINIAL FRED ... key "FRED points" are: long white tube socks, tucked in jersey, and loose fitting/too large helmet (you know, the kind that moves on your head when you move).
So, please don't take the FRED-thing seriously ... know it started long long ago in a little bicycling magazine by an author who could laugh at himself and the cycling community .... alll good! :cool:
Wikipedia -- link did not work, here it is:
Fred (bicycling)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Fred" is a derisive term used by cyclists to describe other cyclists, usually male, that appear amateurish and oblivious to cycling culture.
The exact qualities that define one as a "Fred" vary widely among regions and cyclists, but recently, particularly in the US, a Fred is somebody with higher quality and more expensive gear than his or her talent would warrant. For example:
A person watches the highlights of a few Tour de France stages, goes to a bike store and buys a Trek carbon fiber Madone in Team Discovery colors, along with Team Discovery shorts and jersey, and then rides it on a cycling path at 15 mph (25 km/h).
Such a person would be a prototypical Fred, especially if the jersey is yellow.
In the UK the earlier usage is more common—used by 'serious' roadies to refer to (often) bearded, sandal wearing, touring cyclists. The rare female Fred is a Doris.
This usage still survives in the US - David Bernstein, presenter of The FredCast says the term is "used by “serious” roadies to disparage utility cyclists and touring riders, especially after these totally unfashionable “freds” drop the “serious” roadies on hills because the “serious” guys were really posers."
[edit] Is a Fred just a poseur?
A Fred is generally too naive to be considered a poseur. A Fred is largely unaware of his or her status as an object of ridicule, and likely unaware of the Fred moniker. While it is common for cyclists to claim varying degrees of "Fredness", such self-derision indicates a higher degree of cycling cultural-awareness and would indicate that the commenter is, in fact, unlikely to be a Fred.
[edit] Word origin
The roots of the term "Fred" are unclear, though it purportedly originated from[1] a grumpy old touring rider named Fred.
This cycling-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
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