Freds?

[Bethany1]

What exactly is a "Fred" as it was brought up in another forum? I looked it up via Wikipedia and got a laugh, but I'm guessing if you don't fit into a specific category you don't count.

Do we as women do the same thing as guys when it comes to calling someone a "Fred"?

If I buy an expensive bike (was looking at several), get some decent cycling clothes, a nice helmet, but have no experience and go to a bike trail, the "true" cyclers will call me a Fred?

I'd buy a good bike because I know quality. I have decent clothes because biking in jeans and a heavy T-shirt is uncomfortable. I bought gloves so if I fall (and I have) I don't scrape my hands to pieces. So if I go to a bike trail to gain experience and apparently if I don't ride the right way I will get ran over by Fred haters?

No wonder most people don't ride.

[Trek420]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong:

Fred probably rides an old steel Trek, it's steel and quality but old.
Fred might be wearing one of those '70's mushroom helmets.
Fred wears Converse tennies, high white athletic socks and khaki shorts.
Fred has one or more high vis mesh vests with the triangle on the back.
Fred still has the plastic pie plate on his (or her! Fred can be a girl) bike.
Fred has downtube shifters ...

But the real thing that defines Fred is ... Fred will ride sprint and/or climb your freaking legs off! So if you see Fred it's always from behind.

[tangentgirl]

I'd never heard of Fred until just now. From Wikipedia:

The roots of the term "Fred" are unclear, though some believe it originated from[2] a touring rider named Fred Birchmore from Athens, GA. In 1934-35, Birchmore rode around the world on a bicycle he named Bucephalus. Birchmore and Bucephalus traveled approximately 25,000 miles. Bucephalus is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.[3][4][5][6] In one famous incident while touring in Italy, Birchmore passed a bunch of racers during a race he had crossed paths with by chance. And despite going up hill on his loaded 50 pound non-racing bike, he passed the finish line well ahead of the racers. The cheering crowd at the finish line assumed him to be the winner of the race. [7]

Sounds like if anyone's calling anyone else a Fred, they're just jealous.

[luv2climb]

By reading the Road Cycling subforum on BikeForums, I get the impression a Fred is anyone with a practical bike, like commuters and utility cyclists. Also anyone with safety equipment like mirrors, reflectors, refective vests, etc. In other words, those of us who use bikes as more than toys.

While I do take the dork disks off all my bikes as soon as I get them home from the LBS (I keep my derailleurs properly adjusted, so no need for the plastic spoke protector), I left the reflectors on the bikes that are ridden at night. The climbing bikes are stripped down with no reflectors or fenders because they are daytime bikes for climbing hills, so performance is more important.

[Catrin]

I am sure that I have been called a Fred by some fast roadie - I show up to club rides with a Camelbak after all, and two of my three bikes have the plastic pie plate - but I don't worry about it I also don't have drop bars or skinny tires on any of my bikes - including the custom one...

[goldfinch]

Maybe the appropriate woman version would be named Ethyl.

[Owlie]

Maybe the appropriate woman version would be named Ethyl.

(di-)Ethyl Ether?
/chemist

Sounds like "Fred" is not a bad thing to be called.
I'm in the "road geek" group. Road bike, spandex, hydration pack, SPDs, pie plate, lights and reflectors...

[shootingstar]

I've been a Freda for a long time. Over last 18 yrs.

I've never had a bike with dropped down handlebars. And I have 4 bikes.
Nor have I ever cycled with skinny slicks.

C'est la vie.
Meanwhile I have done 500+, 1,000+ kms. touring rides, etc. with packed panniers.

It makes me giggle whenever I hear of roadies who absolutely refuse to ride with panniers. Sure it's not suitable on their road bike frame..but some would just refuse to cycle any bike with a bike rack. That attitude is just ancient.

[Grog]

I think you'll be okay Bethany. Don't worry about it and just go riding! You have the right gear and the right bike, now go and have fun.

[Bethany1]

No worries at all..LOL. I just didn't know some people categorized riders in such a demeaning way.

[wackyjacky1]

Ha ha, I crack up every time I see the phrase "dork disk." Something about it just makes me laugh.

I'm definitely a Fred, I guess. I have a dork disk, front and rear lights, a rear rack for carrying my stuff, and, yes, a reflective vest for when I ride to work in the mornings.

[emily_in_nc]

Signs I am a (happy) Fred:

* My bike has a rack
* My bike has fenders
* My bike is a folder with 20" wheels and not-so-narrow tires
* I ride in Keen Commuter sandals
* I have a visor on my helmet
* I use a Take-a-Look mirror on my sunglasses
* I have a handlebar-mounted "Halt" holder
* I have an airhorn on my bike (Triple bonus score!)

But...I don't have a dork disk.

[Xrayted]

I have the plastic pie plate on my road bike and I'm leaving it there. My name is...

X

thankyouverymuch and I ride a bicycle that I paid for, upkeep, adjust and I'll do what I want. Besides, if you have a bad derail, say from a stick or other object, it could break or throw your chain through your spokes and rip them all out on that side. I've seen it happen. With the disk, usually the chain just gets stuck down between. It's a pain to dig out but the alternative is much worse. My dork disk stays. I've had enough surgery in my lifetime and I can't respoke and true a wheel to save my life.

[tulip]

No worries at all..LOL. I just didn't know some people categorized riders in such a demeaning way.

If it bothers you that people do that, stay away from the Road Forum on Bike Forums. Otherwise, just ride your bike and don't waste your time and energy worrying about what other people think.

[Antaresia]

No worries at all..LOL. I just didn't know some people categorized riders in such a demeaning way.

I was thinking the same thing. I don't think I'd last long in a crowd like that, but I have this weird thing about hanging out with jerks...

aw, who I'm I kidding they'd never hang out with a Fred like me anyway. I have *fun* ringing my old-fashion bike bell (with a neon pink dinosaur on it) when my local hockey team wins a game. That probably isn't cool.