Fred?

[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...

[Grog]

Humm, I'm also very much "function > form", but I must say:

Arm and leg warmers go under the sleeves or shorts, not over.

Jersey goes on top of the bib shorts' suspenders, not under.

Beyond these two fashion rules , other riders can do whatever they want as long as they are safe.

[smilingcat]

Fred (Wilma)

I've never heard of turning up the elastic band. but maybe I'm just sheltered.

I thought Fred was someone with really bad riding style and technique. Cloth and equipment wise I guess I was a Wilma for not switching over to clipless for a long time. I also refused to wear a cycling jersey and stuck with T-shirts for a long time. Now I wear the garish loud jersey. I still might get Southpark jersey with picture of Karmen on front and back. You can find it on TE's website.

Oh the reason for guys to shave their leg is when they crash and have a rasberry, the hair doesn't get in the wound. If it scabs over with matted hair... not a pretty sight.

Shawn

[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

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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

You should have just explained to her that you don't NEED tire levers- that you remove and replace your tire with your BARE HANDS while fixing a flat. (and then promptly go into the basement to practice actually DOING that so you won't be found out at a critical moment)

[smilingcat]

I thought it was always Fred and Wilma from the flintstones. not too bright was the idea or total obliviousness to their sourroundings/status.

Barney I heard too, side kick of Fred. Happy go lucky. Again lack of awareness.

well all I can say is if you are happy riding then that's good. enjoy. but if you are causing problems for others on the road well that's not so good.

And who cares how one is dressed or what they ride. Exceptions are the posers with bad attitude.

[silver]

You should have just explained to her that you don't NEED tire levers- that you remove and replace your tire with your BARE HANDS while fixing a flat. (and then promptly go into the basement to practice actually DOING that so you won't be found out at a critical moment)

Lisa, I think you know him well! But in this instance he wouldn't be able to do this....because I know that he doesn't have any idea HOW to change a tire

It does give me a little bit of smugness. Very soon I will not be able to keep up with him. I struggle even now. He has a lot of up potential and I don't have much. So I'll hang on to this.

[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"!!!