What is a Fred?
11-23-14, 08:29 PM
#51
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11-23-14, 09:05 PM
#52
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For me, "fred" is synonymous with "really uncool" and I would describe a fred as someone wearing ill fitting, low end clothing, possibly a mirror somewhere, visor helmet, mountain bike pedals on a road bike, and misplaced accessories. Clip on aero bars with a rider more upright than I am on the tops of my bars, and going 15mph on flats is maybe the most fred thing I can think of. Basically anyone who buys every accessory and none of it makes sense is a fred.
Cliff's notes: walk into performance bike and you'll immediately be able to define "fred".
Cliff's notes: walk into performance bike and you'll immediately be able to define "fred".
11-24-14, 10:57 AM
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I suspect that this sums it up. The exact definition is likely in the head of the person making the assessment/judgement. Having accessories, clothing, bike-type or bike-mods that would be considered 'uncool' by the 'in-bicyclist-crowd'. The most common usage that I've heard usually involves accessories &/or bike modifications - the more of these equals more 'Fred'.
I'm fairly certain that a guy I saw recently would qualify via most roadie definitions: long wheelbase recumbent, permanent panniers, flag, large mirrors & two-way radio headset permanently installed in helmet.
As mentioned earlier, for many 'cool' types, any recumbent immediately qualifies.
I'm fairly certain that a guy I saw recently would qualify via most roadie definitions: long wheelbase recumbent, permanent panniers, flag, large mirrors & two-way radio headset permanently installed in helmet.
As mentioned earlier, for many 'cool' types, any recumbent immediately qualifies.
11-25-14, 08:22 AM
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bmc
May I give you some free advice here. If you happen to come up against a bent rider on the bike above, make a right turn so you are not embarrassed!!!!!! But then----------------the embarrassment will be short lived as he will drop you like like a hot poker.
May I give you some free advice here. If you happen to come up against a bent rider on the bike above, make a right turn so you are not embarrassed!!!!!! But then----------------the embarrassment will be short lived as he will drop you like like a hot poker.
11-25-14, 08:26 AM
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Actually a fred is someone that dont give a damn about what others think---------most people dont think anyway. BTW people that buy the "kit" to impress others will have a pretty thin wallet.
11-25-14, 08:53 AM
#63
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11-25-14, 02:46 PM
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A Fred is the guy that shoaled past me at two lights in a row during my commute home last night: he rode a CAAD with tons of lights, panniers, wore full kit and stood in front of me at each red light with his arm sticking out to the left for the entire time.
11-25-14, 03:38 PM
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It is amazing how many varying definitions of Fred have been presented.
@t x Props to the guy for holding his arm out that long.
@t x Props to the guy for holding his arm out that long.
11-26-14, 02:50 PM
#70
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That's it: I TOTALLY NEED A JERSEY WITH FRED WRITTEN ON IT. Irony! ...does that make me a hipsterfred?
11-27-14, 03:04 PM
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11-28-14, 12:01 AM
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I first heard of 'Freds' in snarky remarks on bikesnobnyc, a blog that,like Seinfeld, is about nothing. In a presumed position of superiority, the Bikesnob..Eban Schwartz or somesuch... has a regular blog posting series where he disparages anybody or everybody for anything related to cycling. His humor wore thin, quickly, for me.
Freds may have older or more curious roots, but thats where I first heard the phrase. I dislike the judgemental position labeling someone a 'Fred' entails. Cycling is what you need it to be. I don't like art critics, either.
Freds may have older or more curious roots, but thats where I first heard the phrase. I dislike the judgemental position labeling someone a 'Fred' entails. Cycling is what you need it to be. I don't like art critics, either.
11-29-14, 11:07 PM
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I first heard of 'Freds' in snarky remarks on bikesnobnyc, a blog that,like Seinfeld, is about nothing. In a presumed position of superiority, the Bikesnob..Eban Schwartz or somesuch... has a regular blog posting series where he disparages anybody or everybody for anything related to cycling. His humor wore thin, quickly, for me.
Freds may have older or more curious roots, but thats where I first heard the phrase. I dislike the judgemental position labeling someone a 'Fred' entails. Cycling is what you need it to be. I don't like art critics, either.
Freds may have older or more curious roots, but thats where I first heard the phrase. I dislike the judgemental position labeling someone a 'Fred' entails. Cycling is what you need it to be. I don't like art critics, either.
11-29-14, 11:56 PM
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so ... it's like morons and maniacs when driving. Anyone going faster than me is a maniac, and anyone slower is a moron.
The cyclist who spend more on kit than me are the poseurs, and the ones who spend less are the Freds?
Once again the centre of the universe is found and I am already here.
11-30-14, 06:37 AM
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Yep! This. I will remember this line.
so ... it's like morons and maniacs when driving. Anyone going faster than me is a maniac, and anyone slower is a moron.
The cyclist who spend more on kit than me are the poseurs, and the ones who spend less are the Freds?
Once again the centre of the universe is found and I am already here.
so ... it's like morons and maniacs when driving. Anyone going faster than me is a maniac, and anyone slower is a moron.
The cyclist who spend more on kit than me are the poseurs, and the ones who spend less are the Freds?
Once again the centre of the universe is found and I am already here.
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My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.