Freds?

[PamNY]

I have a name for cyclists without lights but it's not Fred and it's not nice.

[Geonz]

Last Monday Channel 15 came out to do photo shoots of our ride (I can't find where/if they did a story, which I wanted to see, because this is the local station that aired a story after cycling fatalities and serious injuries where they interviewed a council member who lectured cyclists that they all needed to ride as close to the curb as possible... the fact that the two crashes happened to cyclists riding on the sidewalk didn't seem to matter...)
... I came there from work... street clothes and my Xtracycle. Everybody else (which I don't think is that common) was pretty much lycra kit and sleek road bike ... I figured I could find the video if they put it online and say "Find the Fred!!!" Since the previous week's ride had been in brutal winds and people had said they'd gone out too fast, the pace was slow enough for me to spend time in the lead, too

[shootingstar]

... I came there from work... street clothes and my Xtracycle. Everybody else (which I don't think is that common) was pretty much lycra kit and sleek road bike ... I figured I could find the video if they put it online and say "Find the Fred!!!" Since the previous week's ride had been in brutal winds and people had said they'd gone out too fast, the pace was slow enough for me to spend time in the lead, too

There goes Freda on video.

[grey]

Well, I still have the dork disk on my road bike. It's not huge so I don't care... I also have a mtb saddle on my bike - it's shaped right, lightweight... and has a fox on it. I also have the super-bright DiNotte lights and a rearview mirror. And when I ride alone, I wear screaming yellow or orange. Bite me.

I have a name for cyclists without lights but it's not Fred and it's not nice.

Probably the same as what I called the lady I saw riding her bike in the fast lane of a 4-way highway today. No, she wasn't fast. No, she wasn't turning. No, she wasn't in the middle of the lane, she was close to the double yellow line. No mirrors, no lights, five cars all piled up behind her. I was driving the opposite direction and changed myself to the slow lane. But she had a helmet, and was smiling.

[Velocivixen]

The female version of a "Fred" is a "Wilma". I understand it to be the one who buys a super expensive bike (way beyond their riding abilities), and ALL THE GEAR you can think of to go with it, trying to look like they "belong", when in fact they have very little in the way of biking skill or technique. They are just trying way too hard. They're "wannabes".

I don't think they're the ones who are actually trying, but look like dorks. Not sure what they're called.

[tprevost]

The female version of a "Fred" is a "Wilma". I understand it to be the one who buys a super expensive bike (way beyond their riding abilities), and ALL THE GEAR you can think of to go with it, trying to look like they "belong", when in fact they have very little in the way of biking skill or technique. They are just trying way too hard. They're "wannabes".

I don't think they're the ones who are actually trying, but look like dorks. Not sure what they're called.

That's not a Fred, those peeps are Posers ... All the bling but nothing to back it up...

[luv2climb]

Just so nobody thinks I was making fun of Freds, I am a Fred for the most part. I don't own any high-end bikes, I have tons of LED lights front and rear, reflectors, mirrors (two on my Worksman Port-O-Trike), kickstands on both my folding bikes and my Trek 7000 hybrid, and racks and rack trunks on my newest folding bike and the Trek. I also have large seat bags on my road bike and Specialized Sirrus hybrid.

I also wear a Take-A-Look eyeglass mirror when riding the road bike, Sirrus, or folding bikes (the only bikes in my fleet that don't have mirrors on the handlebars).

I have bells on all my bikes too. Even the road bike.

[Velocivixen]

Accd. to Wikipedia it depends on what region you live in regarding the use & meaning of the term "Fred". Personally I haven't actually heard anyone use it and I could care less.

I've got kick stand, fenders, rack, bell, handle bar rear view mirror, bike computer, rear view mirror on my helmet, head light and two blinky tail lights! And this is all on my leisure bike!!! I love it and that's all that matters.

[smilingcat]

Fred and Wilma. Reference is from The Flintstones. So a guy could also be a Barney.

The circle of riders I rode with, these terms were derogatory and demeaning.

Poser was a person dressed to look like they were in full kit (racing outfit to look like they belonged to a club/team).

Fred has multiple meanings and I think all of them have been mentioned. The source of the term "Fred" seems to have multiple sources as well.

If you wish to apply the term to yourself, please use "Wilma".

Happy riding!!