Fred's Road Table Manners Tips???

[Miranda]

Ok, this lonely riding new "Fred" needs some etiquette feedback on the road.

Alright, no matter how good my riding would get, I'm not a show-boat-it kinda gal, so I would never make fun of anyone else for anything--so why I care at all, I guess I can say I just don't want to unknowingly look overly stupid either--if this makes any sense??? The riding skills themselves are primary, but I sense this vibe that "etiquette" of certain things come into play...guess I need some bike table manners advice???

Not been riding long, just when I think I am getting a lil better, I still feel like a moran and wonder will I even get the gutts that I'm "OK enough" to show up for joinng a club group ride. I know, I know, this is really one of the best things for me that will help me get better, aka first hand feedback from other cyclists, but here is what happened tonight on my loop, that made me think... OK, I gotta get some feedback on some my suspect "Fred" issues.

On my new loop, I think I finally discovered a good common cycling road for some clubs because I'm plugging along, thinking hey, ok, I'm gonna make my new time, and then...ZOOM, out around the corner comes a mass of cyclist--all guys, and my first thought was, Cool! Look at all those bikes--I wanna play!, and then I thought, OMG...how am I gonna get my moran self away from THAT blaze? Then I reached down and turned off my "chick rigged music sew job device" I have affixed to my top tube to listen to tunes--hoping they won't notice, cuz I think one roadie guy I know said to me that the bike should be as "naked" looking as possible, and he wouldn't be caught dead riding with me like "that"--aka, extra junk on my bike.

I found indoor spinning first, then road cycling. I like music in spinning, so without people for company outside, I made this device holder thing to incorporate music as my company--it not so loud that I can't hear cars behind me, but loud enough without traffic, you can. I have heard some people just use one earplug with the Ipod, but that would be too distracting/noise drowning for me personally--so I have these tiny speaker things in my device set up. I know the aquant roadie guy thinks it's Fred retarded for sure...OK, do I need to ditch this off my bike before being seen in "cycling public"?

Other "junk" as the roadie guy would say is this... I have a FireFly tail light blinky thing on my saddle bag that I bought with my RoadID after about having a truck hit me at dusk--also I have the reflector bands, one for each ankle, and a wrist ID. Also, I left the saddle post reflector from the manufacturer on the seat post. The roadie guy said when he first saw my bike...OMG! It has "reflectors" on it, NO-not on your road bike--take those OFF! So, I did for most, but left one on the seatpost after the truck incident. Do I need to ditch this stuff?

Ok, here's the kicker to tonight's tale... The huge pack I saw above, split into two directions, so one passed me head on, and the other went the other way--I said/waved hello, ok fine...then as I turned around to head back, a third pack must have come around because as I am moving along listening to my Fred music device, and I look over to the lead guy saying hello as he passes me, then the rest of the line--which, biggie--the only woman out of the whole mass was someone I know from the gym! She recognizes me and says hi, how ya doing? I reply, hello, fine, plugging along...the last guy offers up "last rider in the line?", meaning that I could join, which was sweet I thought--which actually at first, I kept up--then there was a bunch up of traffic that seperated me--I stayed back because I wasn't sure on the rules of which rider gets back over where in the line to resume single file, and I surely didn't want to "Fred" cause a wreck for all of us! So, they went on and I took it home alone.

Now, I might add the g/f from the gym is a triathelete training for a full ironman I know coming up in about a month--so, in JMHO, she is one chick bad-a$$! And yet always so humble, and sweet to answer my questions when I run into her. So, I didn't feel all so bad about not being able to keep up. Just wondering about my other stuff. Oh, I love working out with the guys at the gym and spinning, and would be happy to ride with them, as well as any ladies. So, it's not the guy thing, just the dork part on my end. Drrrrrr.... what say ye wise women? Thanks!

[KnottedYet]

Do what you like with your bike.

Don't listen to the fashionista-boy.

(I not only have reflectors still on my bike; I also have reflective sidewall tires, reflective tape and stickers, blinky lights, yellow panniers, yellow vest with reflective tape, and yellow helmet with reflective tape, AND I wear wrist and ankle bands AND *two* road IDs.) (Oh, and I have a bell on my handlebar. And a saddle with springs. And fenders.)

[Grog]

I'm with Knot, do what you want on your bike. And keep those reflectors (unless they look like they'll fall out).

However I'm not sure "last rider" meant you could join. I would recommend against joining a paceline without being explicitly invited. Riding a paceline can be very dangerous, and requires a lot of trust in one's skills, and in those of the others. Outsiders are normally not welcome, in my neck of the woods at least.

If you join a club ride, disclosing from the start that you're a beginner with group riding will help, they're going to teach you the basics.

I don't know how your speakers are holding to your bike, but you might not want to keep them on during a group ride if there's even the most remote risk that they would fall (or that anything else would fall off). It would also probably not be considered polite to have music on during a group ride.

Ride on!

[smilingcat]

Hi Miranda,

There are different types of cycling clubs. If you just want to ride to improve your skill and find new friends, try the touring type club. They always love new members no matter what your skill levels are.

Have and don't have on bike comes down to safety. Like Grog says, you should put away your music so that you can hear cars, directions, warnings, instructions from other riders.

{added}
just remembered, I know a guy who has a bicycle bell on his road bike. Really strong good rider. He says it's his way of staying grounded and not take it too seriously. The bell is really loud. He uses it when he passes other cyclists. Some take it with good humor. When I first heard it, I went WHATTT??? Bike bell?? and looked all around.
{/added}

keep your blinkie on the saddle and reflectors if you want. Nothing wrong with that. Make sure they don't come loose. Check with LBS for organized rides and join. You'll have excuses to have pastries, donuts, cakes, coffee, latte on the weekend.

Smilingcat

[mimitabby]

I can't imagine riding with music. I don't want to miss the whisper of a car tire
or the hiss of my own tire going flat. There's already so much noise I have to filter out, it would feel suicidal to play music while I am outside riding.

[IFjane]

I can't imagine riding with music. I don't want to miss the whisper of a car tire
or the hiss of my own tire going flat. There's already so much noise I have to filter out, it would feel suicidal to play music while I am outside riding.

I agree. My son's girlfriend rides with her iPod and both earplugs in. It scares me to death! Besides, I ride out in the country - I love hearing the birds and cows and horses and tractors and tree frogs and......gee, it's noisy out there!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I would say (opinion follows).....

Lose the music...it can be dangerous and distracting.
Keep all the stuff that makes you feel safer and more visible to traffic when you ride.
Forget the people who tell you what to do with your own bike. Who died and made them king brain?? Tell them they get to decide what they want on their OWN bikes, as do you.

Sounds like you are having some GOOD TIMES on your bike!

Signed,
My name is Lisa and I am a Fred.

[twinkie]

What's a Fred?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

What's a Fred?

Definition:
fred n.
1) a person who spends a lot of money on his bike and clothing, but still can't ride. "What a Fred -- too much Lycra and titanium and not enough skill." Synonym for poser. Occasionally called a "barney".
2) (from roadriding) a person who has a mishmash of old gear, does't care at all about technology or fashion, didn't race or follow racing, etc. Often identified by chainring marks on white calf socks. Used by "serious" roadies to disparage utility cyclists and touring riders, especially after these totally unfashionable "freds" drop the "serious" roadies on hills because the "serious" guys were really posers. According to popular myth, "Fred" was a well-known grumpy old touring rider, who really was named Fred.

Oddly, these two definitions seem to contradict each other. I think of a Fred as being more like definition #2.

[bikerchick68]

http://www.bicyclesource.com/you/cul...glossary.shtml

twinkie- scroll down to the "f's" and read about Fred...

Miranda... I agree with everyone else on the music thing... as to the rest, yeah, I agree with the ladies here too. I ride with a blinky tail-light for safety too... and weekend before last I did a 154 mile ride on Sat followed by 55 miles on Sun... am I a Fred? Maybe... but girl, I can ride!

and if I get hit by a car, well, then I CAN'T ride. So you do whatever it is that makes you safe.

your male friend, IMHO, sounds like he is trying to keep up with the Joneses of cycling... rather than enjoying the ride... got a lil bit of the "bike snob" thing going. I could be wrong, but that's what it sounds like from what you've described...

[Kuota Rider]

Hey Miranda - "Bike snob" sounds like an appropriate name to me also. You need to do what you can to feel safe. If that means surrounding yourself in mirrors and reflectors and "blinky things" then so be it. There have been many cycling accidents due to the fact that the bicyclist "wasn't seen". As far as the music.....to me, a definate no no. I can understand why you do it, I just don't think it is safe either. It makes it really easy for a car to "surprise" you.
As far as ride groups, check with your local bike shop (if you have one). They will usually have literature a rides and groups you can join ranging from "newbies" to "hard core roadies". Good luck with your riding and above all, have fun.

Karen

[Miranda]

Thanks ladies for your feedback.

Valids points about my Fred music device--think it has to be the death of it--just miss the beat alone. I would rather have human riding companions, vs electronic ones in the end. I guess point in case, eventhough I can hear car engines, I did NOT hear that paceline leader until the guy spoke up while right next to my head--so that about seals the deal.

Buddies and music is part of what spinning class does for my fix, plus just the beat gives me an added push to pedal faster/harder. Maybe this is some sign of pedaling sickness, but even while driving in my car and I hear music with a good beat, it just makes my legs want to spin in circles--kinda makes it hard to drive that way, so I refrain to my mind only.

HOWEVER...I will say, something that made me want to pedal even harder than music, was watching that paceline leave me. I know I am not with their skills--but eventhough intimidating, it is a motivation to try and "get there" in others. On the cyling list of "dreams", for today.

Yeah...about my Mr. Cycling-Jones roadie guy aquaint...he is a pretty good rider that I know of, and has some good advice, but I think snubbing people because of what they ride, wear, etc. is in the wrong spirit, and definately not me at the heart.

OH...and an after the fact "Fred Realization" for me about the offer to join up, I see now that the guy was trying to say that HE was the last in line and that I could expect no one else to pass me, safety-wise, fyi....DRRRRR ...Fred for me there! or just maybe "Freduian slip" wishful thinking.

[Zen]

You can ride in my paceline, just stay about ten feet ahead or behind pacelines scare the p out of me.


[edit] Upon rereading your original post, I see you kept up! You'll be in a paceline before you know it!

[KnottedYet]

OH...and an after the fact "Fred Realization" for me about the offer to join up, I see now that the guy was trying to say that HE was the last in line and that I could expect no one else to pass me, safety-wise,

I thought that, but since I wasn't there I didn't want to say what I was thinking.

[jobob]

Miranda, let me clue you in on something ...

I've gone on a few club rides with some really hardcore long-distance riders. The kind that do double centuries on alternating weekends for fun.

One thing I've noticed is that a large number of these folks use CamelBaks, have helmets with visors, wear mountain bike shoes, have triple cranksets and/or mountain bike casettes on their bikes, have lots of reflective stuff on their bikes and on themselves, and carry moderately large saddlebags.

All the things that get poo-poohed by self-proclaimed "serious" roadies as being "fred".

Well, these long-distance riders are about as "serious" as one can get (serious in the dedication/motivation/ability sense - the ones I've met for the most part have great senses of humor), and while I use what I like and generally don't give a rat's azz about what others think, it's a real eye-opener to see that these people I look up to find that "fred" things work for them as well.

Hope this helps. - Jo.