Fred?

[JamamaSpoke]

I must say that I have One (count em ONE ) cycling jersey that I love to wear. I am not a serious cyclist by any stretch but I am proud to wear this jersey because I feel like I earned it on a biking trip with my husband last summer. (to be honest it is not even a 2005 it is a 2004 because they were only 20 bucks instead of $75!)

IMHO anyone that has enough time to obcess about another clothing has way too much time on their hands.

[mimitabby]

I must say that I have One (count em ONE ) cycling jersey that I love to wear. I am not a serious cyclist by any stretch but I am proud to wear this jersey because I feel like I earned it on a biking trip with my husband last summer. (to be honest it is not even a 2005 it is a 2004 because they were only 20 bucks instead of $75!)

IMHO anyone that has enough time to obsess about another clothing has way too much time on their hands.

It might not be time, it might just be $$.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Yes, I am a mtb'er. When I went over the bars in January I did a face plant plus a full somersault with a half twist (clipped in to boot). The only thing that saved me from a busted nose or a ton of orthodontic work was my visor, which was hanging off my helmet when I finally got up to assess the damage.

Oh, and btw, some people have skin sensitive to the rubber in legs grippers, so they turn them up. That's why the manufacturers print their logos upside down inside the legs.

[DrBee]

There is another bike forum (so named) that frequently discusses Freds and their various attributes. You'll get your fill pretty quickly over there. We had a great discussion of threads here on TE about a year ago:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...highlight=fred

[Eden]

Yes, I am a mtb'er. When I went over the bars in January I did a face plant plus a full somersault with a half twist (clipped in to boot). The only thing that saved me from a busted nose or a ton of orthodontic work was my visor, which was hanging off my helmet when I finally got up to assess the damage.

Oh, and btw, some people have skin sensitive to the rubber in legs grippers, so they turn them up. That's why the manufacturers print their logos upside down inside the legs.

Ahh - but visors on mt bikers are not considered "Fred" at all, maybe even for that very reason?

I've always heard that "Fred" was a guy that would show up to the local shop's fast ride on his old clunky 10 speed wearing ripped cycling shorts, long socks and tennis shoes and badly needing a shower... His most endering trait that made him such a hated figure was that he had no problem hanging with the fast guys.... or even riding the legs off of them. If they couldn't out ride him, they could at least make fun of him.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've always heard that "Fred" was a guy that would show up to the local shop's fast ride on his old clunky 10 speed wearing ripped cycling shorts, long socks and tennis shoes and badly needing a shower... His most endering trait that made him such a hated figure was that he had no problem hanging with the fast guys.... or even riding the legs off of them. If they couldn't out ride him, they could at least make fun of him.

Sounds like the kind of guy I would like. (except for the needing a shower part)

[mimitabby]

Sounds like the kind of guy I would like. (except for the needing a shower part)

ah, come on, Lisa, water is cheap!

[velocilex]

I recently heard that having a chain ring mark on your right leg is tres Fred. Awright! Chalk up another Fred point to me! I'm such a total Fred (or Doris, as the case may be). Occasionally I pass a group of cyclists who are likely the type to point the Fred finger at others and I always make sure to wave and say "Hi!" as I go by.

[JamamaSpoke]

It might not be time, it might just be $$.

It might also be called eliteist

[Starfish]

I am a total Fred:

I turn up my shorts in hot weather because the elastic puts a rash on my legs.

I have three bottle cages on my bike, and a huge, honking air pump (because I can actually get it to inflate tires) on TOP of my top tube, because that is the only place it fits. I will never forget limping home 40 slow miles alone on a soft, booted tire because I had used my last cartridge and my tiny, fashionable pump didn't work for me.

But, here is the best: I have aero bars on the front, and not only a triple, but a mountain derailleur on the back with a huge pie plate of a cassette.

It all works for me at my current level of fitness and the type of riding I like to do.

[mimitabby]

I am a total Fred:

I turn up my shorts in hot weather because the elastic puts a rash on my legs.

I have three bottle cages on my bike, and a huge, honking air pump (because I can actually get it to inflate tires) on TOP of my top tube, because that is the only place it fits. I will never forget limping home 40 slow miles alone on a soft, booted tire because I had used my last cartridge and my tiny, fashionable pump didn't work for me.

But, here is the best: I have aero bars on the front, and not only a triple, but a mountain derailleur on the back with a huge pie plate of a cassette.

It all works for me at my current level of fitness and the type of riding I like to do.

sounds good to me. And it also sounds like you are RIDING and that's what is important.

[spokewench]

You all missed my "FRED" faux pax - wearing a camelback on a road bike, even to race!

I come from mountain biking what can I say!

[Wahine]

First off, I think the term Fred is funny if it's taken how it was intended, to refer to someone who is clueless.

If you've made a conscious decision to skip fashion for function for whatever reason, you're not clueless and not Fred. IMO.

The whole elitest cyclist business is why I don't go on club rides. It frustrates me when people make fun of others who might have a very good reason for doing things the way they do.

Having said that, the triple combined with the full on TT gear cracks me up.

Starfish, you have a very good reason to run your bike the way you do. But the dude that aicabsolut described is clearly clueless.

[Starfish]

Having said that, the triple combined with the full on TT gear cracks me up.

Starfish, you have a very good reason to run your bike the way you do. But the dude that aicabsolut described is clearly clueless.

LOL, well, I do not wear a skin suit or TT helmet on my junkets, it's true!

And, Mr. Silver, I think I agree with you on the maybe 50/50 split of responses. I admit my own acknowledgements of other cyclists can be pretty subtle if I'm really struggling up a hill, or working hard, or really just concentrating to myself. I do try to make some gesture, usually, and definitely if someone says something to me first.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I am a total Fred:

...But, here is the best: I have aero bars on the front, and not only a triple, but a mountain derailleur on the back with a huge pie plate of a cassette.

It all works for me at my current level of fitness and the type of riding I like to do.

Yay I'm with YOU honey!! We have so many giant hills around here...I have major hill gears on my road bike, a triple front, and like you, a mtn. derailleur in the back to handle all those gears. My DH told me that those derailleurs USED to be called simply "touring derailleurs" in the old days...made for touring and very hilly long distance country riding. Then mountain biking became de rigeur and suddenly they started calling them "mtn derailleurs". So there!

Chain ring tattoos?....TOTALLY SEXY! When I occasionally get one, I NEVER wash it off in the shower!

Visor? Heck, aside from keeping the rain off my face it can help keep the SKIN CANCER off my face!!!

Fred rules!!!