Fred?

[JamamaSpoke]

I must say that I have One (count em ONE ) cycling jersey that I love to wear. I am not a serious cyclist by any stretch but I am proud to wear this jersey because I feel like I earned it on a biking trip with my husband last summer. (to be honest it is not even a 2005 it is a 2004 because they were only 20 bucks instead of $75!)

IMHO anyone that has enough time to obcess about another clothing has way too much time on their hands.

[mimitabby]

I must say that I have One (count em ONE ) cycling jersey that I love to wear. I am not a serious cyclist by any stretch but I am proud to wear this jersey because I feel like I earned it on a biking trip with my husband last summer. (to be honest it is not even a 2005 it is a 2004 because they were only 20 bucks instead of $75!)

IMHO anyone that has enough time to obsess about another clothing has way too much time on their hands.

It might not be time, it might just be $$.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Yes, I am a mtb'er. When I went over the bars in January I did a face plant plus a full somersault with a half twist (clipped in to boot). The only thing that saved me from a busted nose or a ton of orthodontic work was my visor, which was hanging off my helmet when I finally got up to assess the damage.

Oh, and btw, some people have skin sensitive to the rubber in legs grippers, so they turn them up. That's why the manufacturers print their logos upside down inside the legs.

[DrBee]

There is another bike forum (so named) that frequently discusses Freds and their various attributes. You'll get your fill pretty quickly over there. We had a great discussion of threads here on TE about a year ago:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...highlight=fred

[Batbike]

FRED has been around for a LONG LONG time ...

Glossary of Biking Terms and Slang

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

fred
1) n. 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) n. 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. This term is from road touring and, according to popular myth, "Fred" was a well-known grumpy old touring rider, who really was named Fred.

other info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_(bicycling)

[Batbike]

Fred (bicycling)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Fred" is a derisive term used by cyclists to describe other cyclists, usually male, that appear amateurish and oblivious to cycling culture.

The exact qualities that define one as a "Fred" vary widely among regions and cyclists, but recently, particularly in the US, a Fred is somebody with higher quality and more expensive gear than his or her talent would warrant. For example:

A person watches the highlights of a few Tour de France stages, goes to a bike store and buys a Trek carbon fiber Madone in Team Discovery colors, along with Team Discovery shorts and jersey, and then rides it on a cycling path at 15 mph (25 km/h).
Such a person would be a prototypical Fred, especially if the jersey is yellow.

In the UK the earlier usage is more common—used by 'serious' roadies to refer to (often) bearded, sandal wearing, touring cyclists. The rare female Fred is a Doris.

This usage still survives in the US - David Bernstein, presenter of The FredCast says the term is "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."


[edit] Is a Fred just a poseur?
A Fred is generally too naive to be considered a poseur. A Fred is largely unaware of his or her status as an object of ridicule, and likely unaware of the Fred moniker. While it is common for cyclists to claim varying degrees of "Fredness", such self-derision indicates a higher degree of cycling cultural-awareness and would indicate that the commenter is, in fact, unlikely to be a Fred.


[edit] Word origin
The roots of the term "Fred" are unclear, though it purportedly originated from[1] a grumpy old touring rider named Fred.

This cycling-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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[Eden]

Yes, I am a mtb'er. When I went over the bars in January I did a face plant plus a full somersault with a half twist (clipped in to boot). The only thing that saved me from a busted nose or a ton of orthodontic work was my visor, which was hanging off my helmet when I finally got up to assess the damage.

Oh, and btw, some people have skin sensitive to the rubber in legs grippers, so they turn them up. That's why the manufacturers print their logos upside down inside the legs.

Ahh - but visors on mt bikers are not considered "Fred" at all, maybe even for that very reason?

I've always heard that "Fred" was a guy that would show up to the local shop's fast ride on his old clunky 10 speed wearing ripped cycling shorts, long socks and tennis shoes and badly needing a shower... His most endering trait that made him such a hated figure was that he had no problem hanging with the fast guys.... or even riding the legs off of them. If they couldn't out ride him, they could at least make fun of him.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well Mimi, I guess that would be ME

Yesterday, Silver discovered that I had my inner tube, and this really nifty high tech universal tool, but absolutely NO LOW TECH TIRE LEVERS

Call me FRED

You should have just explained to her that you don't NEED tire levers- that you remove and replace your tire with your BARE HANDS while fixing a flat. (and then promptly go into the basement to practice actually DOING that so you won't be found out at a critical moment)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've always heard that "Fred" was a guy that would show up to the local shop's fast ride on his old clunky 10 speed wearing ripped cycling shorts, long socks and tennis shoes and badly needing a shower... His most endering trait that made him such a hated figure was that he had no problem hanging with the fast guys.... or even riding the legs off of them. If they couldn't out ride him, they could at least make fun of him.

Sounds like the kind of guy I would like. (except for the needing a shower part)

[mimitabby]

Sounds like the kind of guy I would like. (except for the needing a shower part)

ah, come on, Lisa, water is cheap!

[velocilex]

I recently heard that having a chain ring mark on your right leg is tres Fred. Awright! Chalk up another Fred point to me! I'm such a total Fred (or Doris, as the case may be). Occasionally I pass a group of cyclists who are likely the type to point the Fred finger at others and I always make sure to wave and say "Hi!" as I go by.

[smilingcat]

I thought it was always Fred and Wilma from the flintstones. not too bright was the idea or total obliviousness to their sourroundings/status.

Barney I heard too, side kick of Fred. Happy go lucky. Again lack of awareness.

well all I can say is if you are happy riding then that's good. enjoy. but if you are causing problems for others on the road well that's not so good.

And who cares how one is dressed or what they ride. Exceptions are the posers with bad attitude.

[RoadRaven]

LOL...

May I just add to this?

My boss is a triathelete... his name is

... drrrrrrrum rrrrroll....

FRED!

[GLC1968]

The term 'FRED' just makes me laugh. I can certainly imagine the most 'elitist' of the roadies referring to all the rest of us recreational riders as 'Fred's...but still...I find it funny. If someone wants to think less of me because of what I wear or how I ride, then let them. That just makes me feel better about myself and less about them!

I work with a guy who picked up cycling a number of years ago to lose weight. He helped encourage me to ride with the guys at work when I first bought my bike and we both are now organizers of our company's MS150 team. BUT, he is constantly teasing me that my bike with my matching water bottles and my matching jacket makes me a Fred. I snort back that NO, it just makes me a woman. Of course, this is pretty funny coming from a guy who is well over 250 lbs and yet rides on fancy racing wheels to save weight. Every ride over 60 miles he breaks a spoke...and he calls ME Fred.

[aicabsolut]

Well, I guess "Fred" could include just about anything that obsessesive roadies don't do. But remember not all "roadies" are obsessive or snobby about what's cool and what isn't. Personally, I think that the very act of deciding what's uncool is in itself uncool. (and i suspect you agree, re:function over style).

So with that in mind, and in the spirit of finding some amusement in it's silliness, fashion obsessed roadies might make fun of most anything, like:

--wider tires than 23mm, or Kevlar tires to prevent flats, or any size tire other than 700's
--regular (non-clipless) shoes and pedals
--non-Lycra/Spandex bottoms
--interruptor brakes
--bells
--mirrors
--headlights or fixed lights of any kind (small Blinkies "might" be considered ok in the rain or twilight IF they are removed while not in use) (!)
--ample saddlebags or panniers...nothing but the absolute smallest toolbag possible
--any handlebars other than drop bars
--"regular" food snacks like p&jsanwiches or Fig Newtons (not specifically manufactured for sport purposes)
--cycling tops that are not polyesther with giant garish designs and brand logos on them
--cushy padded "girly" saddles
--"regular" everyday socks of any kind
--plastic spoke protector discs
--hairy legs or arms might go in this list (non-aerodynamic, must be shaved!)
--wearing underwear under your shorts
--not wearing special biking gloves
--adequate maps (shows weakness and fear)
--anything that adds any weight at all to your bike

You forgot Jersey underneath bibs.

(i am also guilty of a few "fred" offenses)

I saw something very interesting a few weeks back that may be the ultimate Fred: TT bike with Zipp 404s and all sorts of aero bling...bike's owner in aero helmet, booties, and skinsuit. ... *drumroll* .. Plus a triple.

(this was not an uphill TT).