What's a Fred?

[Aggie_Ama]

Wildhawk- Great post. Riding is for fun and I don't certainly don't want to go back to high school either. I would rather ride with a "fred" than an uppity person any day.

I hate to say I also feel there can be a lot of snobbery and prejudice in road cycling. I have a triple on my carbon bike and am looking at making the puppy gears even easier, so what? My helmet doesn't match my bike and sometimes I still tat myself with the chain ring? So what? I have also done multiple centuries, a couple of two day MS150s and some of the harder rides in the southwest. I may not look like it to some, so why should I judge?

Personally if I see an obvious newbie I give an audible "Howdy". And I wave to everyone, even if a lot of people look but won't wave back.

I have found the mountain bikers seem to be very embracing everyone, even those of us who feel like Freds. When I run into a male racer on the road all he does is blow by me without acknowledging me, maybe he is a jerk or maybe he is just in the zone but it still feels uppity. Last weekend I was mountain biking and this guy who was very good (and had a big racing team kit) gave me some encouragement on the trail. This isn't the first time it has happened out there either. Something about dirt seems to humble everyone a bit.