Fred?

[KnottedYet]

I remember reading an article in Bicycling about 20-25 years ago where the writer was describing a "Fred" (not the term he used, though) he encountered on his ride who was wearing BLACK socks. Cuz then white sox were fashionable, so black socks were the faux pas.

Mr. Black Socks kicked the author's butt, so he was appropriately chagrined for judging someone based on their appearance.

[7rider]

I remember reading an article in Bicycling about 20-25 years ago where the writer was describing a "Fred" (not the term he used, though) he encountered on his ride who was wearing BLACK socks. Cuz then white sox were fashionable, so black socks were the faux pas.

Mr. Black Socks kicked the author's butt, so he was appropriately chagrined for judging someone based on their appearance.

I remember that article...or something like it. "In pursuit of Black Socks" stays in my mind. The author spent his entire lunch ride chasing him down -- "I think he was drafting off a truck" -- with no luck. A classic piece of pro-Fredism.

So...after skimming this thread....it seems that Fred is humanity. Fred is us. And if we can't poke a little fun at ourselves once in a while, what's the point?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Regina, that little bunny bottom in your avatar is TOO CUTE.

[Tater]

I am a Fred/Doris/Wilma or whatever you want to call me, but I don't care! I do what I do because it works for me.

- My helmet has a visor. I need all the sun protection I can get, if I have to look up a bit further to see from my position on the bike, fine. It also works well in the rain for keeping drops off my glasses because I cannot do contacts. My helmet also has a mirror!

- I will wear a Camelbak on rides longer than forty miles. Where I ride, I don't often have the option of stopping at a Kwik Mart for water, 'cause they don't exist.

- I wear black socks! I have a 'thing' about wearing white socks on the bike. Most likely because by the time I get home, they aren't white anymore. Black hides dirt, grime, and whatnot better.

I embrace my Fredness!

[KnottedYet]

- I wear black socks! I have a 'thing' about wearing white socks on the bike. Most likely because by the time I get home, they aren't white anymore. Black hides dirt, grime, and whatnot better.

I embrace my Fredness!

The "Black Socks" article we were talking about was 20 or 25 years ago! Tain't nothing "wrong" with black socks nowadays!

Socks are so much cooler and more interesting now than when I was a young 'un. When I was a kid we didn't have nifty pictures and colors on our socks! And we had to pedal uphill thru the snow barefoot both ways to school...

[Crankin]

This is why I only ride with groups that have a higher percentage of "Fredisms." Seriously, I don't think I commit any Fred like things with my attire, but I do have a carbon bike with a triple. So does my husband (he has gone from a double to a compact double to a triple). I wear a mountain helmet because it's one of the few that fits me, but I rip the visor off as soon as I get it. I have one reflector on the back of my bike, in case I'm out at dawn or dusk. Right now I have a fender on my bike (see my previous ride reports), but it will probably come off today.
On my ride Saturday, the chair person of the bike committee was wearing regular baggy shorts. His underwear was showing out of the top. Since I was sweeping, this was not a pretty sight. He rides a clunky hybrid, with a huge pannier. I'm pretty sure he could leave me in the dust on this bike, which is why I never say anything about Fred....

[Aggie_Ama]

Robyn- If a triple on carbon makes you a Fred, then I am one too! But you know, the hills in Texas are STEEP and when I drop some *manly* guy on one because I have a triple I am proud to be a "Fred". Somehow I think men find it okay for women to ride a triple, like we aren't strong enough to keep up on a double.

[SouthernBelle]

I too have a triple on a carbon.

As to the speaking thing that Mr. Silver bought up:

Sat. before last I decided to ride to my not so LBS, about a 50 mile out and back. About half way there I heard 'on your left' the front end of a bike club group ride. They had a regroup on up, so I stopped to chat as I had ridden with one of them before. As other riders came up to the re-group, all were very friendly and they invited me to join them. I told them I would tag along for a few, but not to worry about dropping me. The last riders trail in, including a woman who is very active in the local club and prides herself on keeping up with the fast guys. All she said to me was , "Who are you?" (the inflection was who the hell are you).

In retrospect it's funny, but sad.

I hope she's not the membership chair.

[amymisk]

I have read this thread with great joy and laughter!

I too must be a Fred since I ride my carbon bike with a triple and have a visor on my helmet!

I do agree with the Fred is humanity comment. If we can't poke fun at ourselves, why are we here?

[KnottedYet]

Why I love Rivendell...

Oh my oh my, they have all the cool bike stuff that is so hard to find because it's "out of fashion!"

Someone posted about the current trend of "Rivendellizing" other bikes, which just gave me a warm cozy glow and made me smile.

Sounds like Nerdy-Fred is in style enough (anti-style?) that Poseur-Fred is wafting toward us?

(seems as though there are two definitions of Fred, so I shortened them to Nerdy <out of fashion and functional> and Poseur <slave to fashion for appearance not function>)