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...