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.

[Kano]

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

Perhaps turning up the elastic is related to guys having hairy legs? Maybe the elastic grabs hair and, well, causes discomfort? Unless they shave, maybe that Fred guy had a good suggestion for Mr. Silver ....

Karen in Boise

[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

[midlife]

You wanna know what we called 'Fred' when I was at school...that time of the month

You can always wear a cyclist cap (those euro things that look like they are too small...) under your helmet if you want your eyes shaded...my hubby does - but he's got a shaved noggin! I have one for really hot sunny days, but with all my hair it gets too hot anyway. Visors are cool if you are MTBing (apparently!)

Turning up elastic was very 2005/2006 - that's why all the manufacturers put their name/brand on the elastic!! I think (in Australia anyway, 2006's 'cool' was white arm and leg warmers and booties...personally I think they are a wank -sorry another Aussie expression!!)

But it does depend on the elastic, some grips too tight and is painful and now my legs are slimmer (and I'm so short!) I tend to turn mine up!

It became cool to wear leg warmers over the shorts for a little while here, but I think cos they tended to slide down that fad didn't last!!

Well that's the theory smilingcat about shaving...but really it's cos it makes you look like a real cyclist...oh and for massage. I'm a massuer and I almost refuse to massage hairy legs. Feels awful

[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

[momof4greatkids]

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

Colleen

[Batbike]

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!!

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!