Fred?

[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.

[jobob]

Hee hee. As I was riding the brevet last weekend, I saw many bikes with fenders, lots of reflective tape, and Big Whonking Saddlebags.

I quipped to SadieKate, "I'm among my people!!!"