Fred?

[silver]

So soon in my venture into road cycling, I learned that "roadies" refer to things that are "roadie faux paux" as "Fred." I subsequently learned what "roadies" regard as "fred."

However, my personal feeling is that function trumps style. In other words, even if something is considered "fred" I'm not going to adhere to that if it's something that helps me. (i.e. I'm not a snob)

For instance, I was told that for a roadie to wear a visor on their helmet was fred, but I felt that the visor helped shield my sensitive eyes from the sun. So I wore my visor anyway. However, as time went on, I found that the visor really did restrict my vision, so I eventually did away with it and prefer not having it now.

In any event, apparantly, I refered to using a mirror as being "fred" and Mr. thinks I told him couldn't use one because of that. My perspective was that roadies consider it to be "fred, " but that doesn't mean that he shouldn't use one if he wants one.

Oh, and another thing, I considered turning up your shorts elastic to be fred (and not functional, I mean why did they put that expensive elastic there if it wasn't to keep the shorts legs from riding up) but Fred (the real guy named Fred who sold Mr. his bike) told Mr. to turn it up.

so, I wanted to know what others thought.....

and maybe a list of all things "fred"

Fred list:
visors
reflectors
turning up your shorts elastic

[Veronica]

Personally I find the Fred label a bit offensive. Why do folks need to be so judgemental about other people's choices?

Veronica

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, I guess "Fred" could include just about anything that obsessesive roadies don't do. But remember not all "roadies" are obsessive or snobby about what's cool and what isn't. Personally, I think that the very act of deciding what's uncool is in itself uncool. (and i suspect you agree, re:function over style).

So with that in mind, and in the spirit of finding some amusement in it's silliness, fashion obsessed roadies might make fun of most anything, like:

--wider tires than 23mm, or Kevlar tires to prevent flats, or any size tire other than 700's
--regular (non-clipless) shoes and pedals
--non-Lycra/Spandex bottoms
--interruptor brakes
--bells
--mirrors
--headlights or fixed lights of any kind (small Blinkies "might" be considered ok in the rain or twilight IF they are removed while not in use) (!)
--ample saddlebags or panniers...nothing but the absolute smallest toolbag possible
--any handlebars other than drop bars
--"regular" food snacks like p&jsanwiches or Fig Newtons (not specifically manufactured for sport purposes)
--cycling tops that are not polyesther with giant garish designs and brand logos on them
--cushy padded "girly" saddles
--"regular" everyday socks of any kind
--plastic spoke protector discs
--hairy legs or arms might go in this list (non-aerodynamic, must be shaved!)
--wearing underwear under your shorts
--not wearing special biking gloves
--adequate maps (shows weakness and fear)
--anything that adds any weight at all to your bike

[silver]

I didn't mean to offend or be offensive.

I just wanted to clarify something that some take way too seriously. Even when Mr. Silver heard me talking in jest, it clearly left an impact on him.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

--wider tires than 23mm, or Kevlar tires to prevent flats, or any size tire other than 700's
--regular (non-clipless) shoes and pedals
--non-Lycra/Spandex bottoms
--interruptor brakes
--bells
--mirrors
--headlights or fixed lights of any kind (small Blinkies "might" be considered ok in the rain or twilight IF they are removed while not in use) (!)
--ample saddlebags or panniers...nothing but the absolute smallest toolbag possible
--any handlebars other than drop bars
--"regular" food snacks like p&jsanwiches or Fig Newtons (not specifically manufactured for sport purposes)
--cycling tops that are not polyesther with giant garish designs and brand logos on them
--cushy padded "girly" saddles
--"regular" everyday socks of any kind
--plastic spoke protector discs
--hairy legs or arms might go in this list (non-aerodynamic, must be shaved!)
--wearing underwear under your shorts
--not wearing special biking gloves
--adequate maps (shows weakness and fear)
--anything that adds any weight at all to your bike

FWIW, I am guilty of more than half of the above listed "offenses".

[Veronica]

You weren't offensive Silver. Goodness, it would take way more than that to truly offend me.

Labels are just silly, reminds me of junior high.

V.

[mimitabby]

That's funny, I thought Fred was the guy with the super race bike,
the team jersey/shorts/race helmet, all the bells and whistles that
rides 10 miles on a flat road and doesn't know how to fix his own flat tires.

[kelownagirl]

yeah me too. Kinda like the guy who buys all the expensive golf stuff or ski stuff and can't do either...

[Mr. Bloom]

That's funny, I thought Fred was the guy with the super race bike,
the team jersey/shorts/race helmet, all the bells and whistles that
rides 10 miles on a flat road and doesn't know how to fix his own flat tires.

Well Mimi, I guess that would be ME

Yesterday, Silver discovered that I had my inner tube, and this really nifty high tech universal tool, but absolutely NO LOW TECH TIRE LEVERS

Call me FRED

[Brandi]

That's funny, I thought Fred was the guy with the super race bike,
the team jersey/shorts/race helmet, all the bells and whistles that
rides 10 miles on a flat road and doesn't know how to fix his own flat tires.

I concur with the added note. I thought everything had to be the same color i.e. colthes, helmet, shoes etc.. had to all be the same color. I thought that is what a Fred was?

[aicabsolut]

Well, I guess "Fred" could include just about anything that obsessesive roadies don't do. But remember not all "roadies" are obsessive or snobby about what's cool and what isn't. Personally, I think that the very act of deciding what's uncool is in itself uncool. (and i suspect you agree, re:function over style).

So with that in mind, and in the spirit of finding some amusement in it's silliness, fashion obsessed roadies might make fun of most anything, like:

--wider tires than 23mm, or Kevlar tires to prevent flats, or any size tire other than 700's
--regular (non-clipless) shoes and pedals
--non-Lycra/Spandex bottoms
--interruptor brakes
--bells
--mirrors
--headlights or fixed lights of any kind (small Blinkies "might" be considered ok in the rain or twilight IF they are removed while not in use) (!)
--ample saddlebags or panniers...nothing but the absolute smallest toolbag possible
--any handlebars other than drop bars
--"regular" food snacks like p&jsanwiches or Fig Newtons (not specifically manufactured for sport purposes)
--cycling tops that are not polyesther with giant garish designs and brand logos on them
--cushy padded "girly" saddles
--"regular" everyday socks of any kind
--plastic spoke protector discs
--hairy legs or arms might go in this list (non-aerodynamic, must be shaved!)
--wearing underwear under your shorts
--not wearing special biking gloves
--adequate maps (shows weakness and fear)
--anything that adds any weight at all to your bike

You forgot Jersey underneath bibs.

(i am also guilty of a few "fred" offenses)

I saw something very interesting a few weeks back that may be the ultimate Fred: TT bike with Zipp 404s and all sorts of aero bling...bike's owner in aero helmet, booties, and skinsuit. ... *drumroll* .. Plus a triple.

(this was not an uphill TT).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You forgot Jersey underneath bibs.

(i am also guilty of a few "fred" offenses)

I saw something very interesting a few weeks back that may be the ultimate Fred: TT bike with Zipp 404s and all sorts of aero bling...bike's owner in aero helmet, booties, and skinsuit. ... *drumroll* .. Plus a triple.

(this was not an uphill TT).

OK, I am SO Fred that I don't even know why either of these things are "Fred"!!!

[aicabsolut]

OK, I am SO Fred that I don't even know why either of these things are "Fred"!!!

I understand the bathroom ease of wearing your bibs outside your jersey, but it's like wearing your underwear on the outside.

As for the TT bike...the setup was screaming hotshot OCP cyclist, but why worry about shaving off a few grams here and there and getting more aero with all your gear if you're, presumably, going to be switching into the granny gear for a TT not involving anything approaching a mountain.


As for the camelbak, someone DID race with one on Sunday. And she almost beat me!

Of course, I have a "dork disc," stock wheels, and my bottle cages aren't carbon.

[Tuckervill]

Dawn dish detergent takes off the tattoos!

Simple Green does, too.

Karen

[Trekhawk]

As for the TT bike...the setup was screaming hotshot OCP cyclist, but why worry about shaving off a few grams here and there and getting more aero with all your gear if you're, presumably, going to be switching into the granny gear for a TT not involving anything approaching a mountain.

Perhaps he doesn't intend on using the granny in his TT but cant afford a separate bike for this discipline. Maybe his one bike has to fit all riding situations. If people are riding and having fun then thats all that matters at least to me.