Fred?

[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.

[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"!!!

[Fredwina]

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

Well, I have to comment here!
You left out some
wearing a helmet with a visor(esp road riding)
using SPD pedals on road bike (who, me? )
Copious use of reflective tape (Maybe I should a pic of the helmet I wore on the 300K I did Saturday. I think it scores a 100 on the Fred-o-meter)
and of course - the dreaded chain ring tattoo

[mimitabby]

I am a visor user too. Sheesh, it helps keep a little rain off your face. why is THAT Fred?

[Tuckervill]

I get a chain ring tattoo every time I ride, because of what I have to do to keep the dog in the yard while I open the gate, get me and the bike through and then close the gate.

I guess I *could* get off the bike, but that's too much trouble.

Karen

[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!

[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!!!

[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.

[wannaduacentury]

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

My helmet is a mtn bike helmet and I use it for everything, I love the visor-even for road trips, I usually ignore those petty comments. I'm also prone to wear my camelbak on the road too, even if it's more mtn bikish. I like to have water, so that's more important than "style". I do want a new helmet though, soon. I want a bright color-yellow would go. Jennifer

[Mr. Bloom]

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

Lisa, I've found that my chain ring tattoos last for a week. Ivory Soap won't get it off!

I use Ivory since my skin remains sensitive despite the abuse I took during my early membership on this forum

Silver uses the more manly "Safeguard"

[Mr. Bloom]

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.

Slight Hijack:

OK, I know I'm new. But whenever I pass cyclists, I wave, nod, say "hi"...something. Even if I'm working hard....

Half the time I get a friendly response, half the time...I'm ignored. What's the deal? Are these the real FREDs who are so self-absorbed that they're rude?

So, is the 50%/50% experience common or unusual to my area?

[Gowest]

OK, so it appears we all have a little Fred in us. I remember my first group (friends) ride on my road bike and I had the reflectors and camelback - so I am a Fred as well. I will never forget my friend David for delicately pointing these things out to me.......mind you he has red round reflector dangling off the back of his seat that I call the hemrrhoid reflector......

Has anyone ever listened to the podcast called the "Fredcast"?? It is full of wonderful and funny cycling information. I thought for the longest time the guy doing the podcast was named Fred.....duh - then someone told me what a "Fred" was and I got the name of the podcast...........

This thread is really funny - we can all identify!!!!!