What's a Fred?

[Flur]

I've seen this come up in a few threads, so I have to ask... what's a "Fred"?

[SadieKate]

Here you go. Boy, I'm doing well at procrastinating today.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...highlight=fred

[squirrell]

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

Is there a woman version of Fred--Fredericka maybe?

[Flur]

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.

[TrekTheKaty]

Here you go. Boy, I'm doing well at procrastinating today.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...highlight=fred

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.

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 :-)

[bounceswoosh]

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.

Your LBS guy/gal needs to learn some manners!

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.

[andtckrtoo]

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.

[wildhawk]

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.

[vinbek]

I've always called the black chain ring marks on your leg a Fred!