Fred?

[aicabsolut]

OK, I am SO Fred that I don't even know why either of these things are "Fred"!!!

I understand the bathroom ease of wearing your bibs outside your jersey, but it's like wearing your underwear on the outside.

As for the TT bike...the setup was screaming hotshot OCP cyclist, but why worry about shaving off a few grams here and there and getting more aero with all your gear if you're, presumably, going to be switching into the granny gear for a TT not involving anything approaching a mountain.


As for the camelbak, someone DID race with one on Sunday. And she almost beat me!

Of course, I have a "dork disc," stock wheels, and my bottle cages aren't carbon.

[Tuckervill]

Dawn dish detergent takes off the tattoos!

Simple Green does, too.

Karen

[kelownagirl]

I guess I am fred too because I don't even understand why a triple and TT gear is bad? Is a triple fred-like? I WISH I had more gears on the triple on my road bike, especially on the last hill home....

I like my visor because I can't wear sunglasses.

I still have the cheater pedals on my clipless pedals.

Mr. Silver - I only smile and say hi to half the people I meet but only because I'm shy, and/or I'm so focussed on climbing a hill or keeping up with DH.

[silver]

Ok, I think the Fred thing about the triple in the TT is this.....The cyclist was gone to great lengths to make himself as light and aerodynamic as possible but he's got extra weight on the bike in the triple cassette that he doesn't need. I believe that in general, Serious "elitist" roadies would consider using a triple as Fred.

I think....

[Batbike]

I don't think it is a FRED-thing to wear a visor on a helmet ... there is a VERY practical reason why visor's are not advised with road bikes, assuming the drop bar position, because you are lower on the handlebars and with a visor on your helmet, it forces you to lift your neck higher, causing possible excess muscle neck strain or shoulder strain ... on mountain bikes, you are more upright and it is not a problem.

A cycling cap under a helmet is advised for road riding because the cap bill is smaller than a visor but can still shield sun, rain, heat, etc., but not force a road cyclist to lift neck up as far ... so is the theroy.

IMO ... Fred is fun and willing to take a chance to PROVE cycling elite is NOT "all that" ... individuality and showing who is "boss" is ALL THAT -- that is why FRED doesn't conform to cycle elite protocal, but will happily wear white tube socks with a chainring tattoo, a tucked-in jersey, and flatfoot pedals, all the while LEAVING the peloton in the dust ... you gotta LOVE FRED!

[Trekhawk]

As for the TT bike...the setup was screaming hotshot OCP cyclist, but why worry about shaving off a few grams here and there and getting more aero with all your gear if you're, presumably, going to be switching into the granny gear for a TT not involving anything approaching a mountain.

Perhaps he doesn't intend on using the granny in his TT but cant afford a separate bike for this discipline. Maybe his one bike has to fit all riding situations. If people are riding and having fun then thats all that matters at least to me.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Can someone please explain to this clueless Fredette what the heck TT and OCP means?? (top tube? obsessive compulsive paceline?...)

[Fredwina]

Can someone please explain to this clueless Fredette what the heck TT and OCP means?? (top tube? obsessive compulsive paceline?...)

Close
TT = Time trail - form of racing where you race by yourself (vs in a pack) for best time over a course riders usually start a minute apart
OCP _ obsessive compulsive poser an example would be someone with a Trek Madone, full Discovery Channel kit (outfit), down to gloves and helmet, but gets dropped within a block on a group ride

[aicabsolut]

Perhaps he doesn't intend on using the granny in his TT but cant afford a separate bike for this discipline. Maybe his one bike has to fit all riding situations. If people are riding and having fun then thats all that matters at least to me.

This was a TT geometry bike. From frame to seatpost to aerobars. Not a standard road bike. We were all thinking...daaaamn, look at that pimped out bike. Teammate goes up to videotape it. Comes back laughing. Tells us to take a closer look. Yep. Triple. The only question: WHY?

I was doing the same TT with my basic road bike with no aerobars or anything because it was my first one and I didn't have time to practice or the cash. Of course, for a guy who has shelled out that much on parts (even if it wasn't a TT-specific bike), I don't think the money for new chainrings was an issue.

On any other bike, we wouldn't have cared. If you need a triple, go for it.

Raven explained my point better.

[Grog]

Who knows, maybe Mr. TT has knee issues that prevent him from pushing big gears on an uphill, but likes to do time trials anyway? He especially likes very hilly time trials? There has to be a reason why that triple chainring is there, because the shop people have certainly tried to talk him out of it!!

I tend to find good reasons to everything.

I find this a pretty good conversation. It makes me think that I wish my bike club (a women's club) was more Doris-friendly. It's been pushing real hard to develop female racers, which is GREAT, but I think it makes us look inaccessible to a lot of riders. I'll keep meditating about that.

[aicabsolut]

Could be. Who knows. I think he was racing in the ultra-newb men's collegiate category. Why you need Zipp 404's for that, I dunno. Maybe he likes to spin 150rpms . Some guy wearing jeans and riding a fixie schooled a lot of people in that TT.

[KnottedYet]

Some guy wearing jeans and riding a fixie schooled a lot of people in that TT.

Oh, yeah...

[Ninabike]

Another triple on a carbon checking in. I also have black socks!!

[Grog]

Could be. Who knows. I think he was racing in the ultra-newb men's collegiate category. Why you need Zipp 404's for that, I dunno. Maybe he likes to spin 150rpms . Some guy wearing jeans and riding a fixie schooled a lot of people in that TT.

Maybe it was his triathlon bike? I know a few long-distance triathlon bike courses where I'd be happy to have a triple!!!!!!

[aicabsolut]

Maybe it was his triathlon bike? I know a few long-distance triathlon bike courses where I'd be happy to have a triple!!!!!!

Hmm..good point. But if you were a guy, would you still use a triple, or would that be "Fred"? (seems us women can get away with them a little easier huh?) Still, as far as weight and aerodynamics, a compact double makes the most sense if you need the smaller gears.