Am I a Fred?
05-27-20, 11:13 AM
#26
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05-27-20, 11:24 AM
#29
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Point of order:
IMO order a different drop bar, don't try to gain a hand position by altering the mounting rotation of the bar in the stem. The reason bars come with tick marks where the stem mounts isn't so one can Fred-it-up by swinging that sucker skywards. The reason is so you can match the bar mounting up to the stem/headtube angle your bike has.
If having a piece of bar between the bottom of the drops and the hooks is a thing for you, order a bar like that.
Otherwise, I wouldn't rotate the bar up like that. It's either a bad solution to having the wrong bar, or a fit coordinate problem.
It's a geometry and forces thing. Imagine using the bar for leverage to do hard work using the hooks..........you're going to be racking the steering back and forth and may crash. Using the bottom of the drops means the force goes up/down through the bar, not affecting steering.
IMO order a different drop bar, don't try to gain a hand position by altering the mounting rotation of the bar in the stem. The reason bars come with tick marks where the stem mounts isn't so one can Fred-it-up by swinging that sucker skywards. The reason is so you can match the bar mounting up to the stem/headtube angle your bike has.
If having a piece of bar between the bottom of the drops and the hooks is a thing for you, order a bar like that.
Otherwise, I wouldn't rotate the bar up like that. It's either a bad solution to having the wrong bar, or a fit coordinate problem.
It's a geometry and forces thing. Imagine using the bar for leverage to do hard work using the hooks..........you're going to be racking the steering back and forth and may crash. Using the bottom of the drops means the force goes up/down through the bar, not affecting steering.
Here's another picture. Note the Fredy cell phone holder and rear view mirror.
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05-27-20, 11:56 AM
#30
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Ahhh, you're right! Optical illusion. I also was sitting funny on the couch and had the screen tilted some. Good show.
Dude, I did the same cellphone thing for a LONG time on a really nice road race bike. I think it took me almost smashing the phone somehow once to finally bite and get the computer. Then it was all downhill from there!
Dude, I did the same cellphone thing for a LONG time on a really nice road race bike. I think it took me almost smashing the phone somehow once to finally bite and get the computer. Then it was all downhill from there!
05-27-20, 11:57 AM
#31
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05-27-20, 01:06 PM
#32
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I know pros with training kit some would consider very "Fred", as well as seeing a multitude of pro (not people I know) bikes with non-slammed stems.
Really doesn't matter...
If you're fast you're fast, if you're slow you're slow. Kit won't add power to your motor.
Really doesn't matter...
If you're fast you're fast, if you're slow you're slow. Kit won't add power to your motor.
05-27-20, 01:59 PM
#33
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Now there's where you're wrong--my kit is a can of spinach and.... Guh guh guhguhguh!
05-27-20, 05:13 PM
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05-27-20, 05:22 PM
#36
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You should really rotate the drops upward, double wrap them with handlebar tape, and add a handlebar bag, or you're only a "Fred Wannabe".
05-27-20, 08:11 PM
#37
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You get +2 Fred points for the mini-pump attached to the frame.
But you get +5 points for the valve stem caps. That's a moderate infraction.
Just put the miles on that steed and in all sorts of weather. Then you're a bad@ss and can dress her up anyway you see fit.
But you get +5 points for the valve stem caps. That's a moderate infraction.
Just put the miles on that steed and in all sorts of weather. Then you're a bad@ss and can dress her up anyway you see fit.
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05-28-20, 07:02 AM
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I'm going to toss out another type of "Fred" that I'll admit to being. You've got your hobbyist racers, but lots don't seem to go full race-day kit hog wild in training. I do. TT is my hobby so riding the race setup in the winds is key. I'm not a pro, nowhere close. But, the kit makes you fast if you use it right.
It feels pretty "Fred" like to be zipping up your skinsuit and rolling out on a bike with a disc wheel out of the parking lot while families go into the park for a picnic. I can only imagine how ludicrous it looks.
It feels pretty "Fred" like to be zipping up your skinsuit and rolling out on a bike with a disc wheel out of the parking lot while families go into the park for a picnic. I can only imagine how ludicrous it looks.
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05-28-20, 08:14 AM
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Since you asked the question that proves that you care about other's opinions so that clearly makes you a Fred.
The interesting thing is that there is a body of riders who may set up their bike exactly the same and who do exactly the same things as you do, but who are also so confident in themselves that they don't care what anybody else thinks. They are therefore, non-freds.
The interesting thing is that there is a body of riders who may set up their bike exactly the same and who do exactly the same things as you do, but who are also so confident in themselves that they don't care what anybody else thinks. They are therefore, non-freds.
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05-28-20, 09:35 AM
#40
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+1..yep.
Set up what works for you and ride your bike...and someone else's views on that ranks well below the top 1000 things I care about.
With biking for 40+ years I'm well familiar with "the attitude" of "well quaffed" riders. BTDT...still doing that with respect to riding good equipment. Eventually, for many..not all, one grows up about such "attitude" things. Today.."the attitude"..and I see it all the time.. gets chalked up to being young and ignorant..or just ignorant.
If smugness gets you to a better place in your life..good for you..there's lots of folks that are a mile wide and an inch deep.
Set up what works for you and ride your bike...and someone else's views on that ranks well below the top 1000 things I care about.
With biking for 40+ years I'm well familiar with "the attitude" of "well quaffed" riders. BTDT...still doing that with respect to riding good equipment. Eventually, for many..not all, one grows up about such "attitude" things. Today.."the attitude"..and I see it all the time.. gets chalked up to being young and ignorant..or just ignorant.
If smugness gets you to a better place in your life..good for you..there's lots of folks that are a mile wide and an inch deep.
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05-28-20, 07:41 PM
#44
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05-28-20, 10:49 PM
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Funny you should mention that. I do see cars-full of young ladies staring at me smiling broadly and poking each other when they pass me. It's almost embarrassing what a chick magnet that trike is for a guy my age.
05-28-20, 11:12 PM
#47
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The Fred family tree had many branches. Deep in Fred history, Fred showed up for a club ride in gym shorts, gym shoes, tee shirt, with a POS bike, then proceeded to drop the group. This is the root of roadie Fred phobia.
You aren't that Fred.
Wanting to spin the story to their favor, roadies have twisted the story of Fred to be an equipment challenged goofball, dropping (no pun intended) the part where Fred kicked their butts.
You are not that Fred, despite iffy bar angle and valve caps.
Then there's the Fred line who has the best and newest high dollar equipment, but lacks ability.
You are not that Fred.
Another construct is the Fred who takes poor photos of their steed, violating the basic rules of drive side, big ring, valve stems down, crankarm level.
You are that Fred.
You aren't that Fred.
Wanting to spin the story to their favor, roadies have twisted the story of Fred to be an equipment challenged goofball, dropping (no pun intended) the part where Fred kicked their butts.
You are not that Fred, despite iffy bar angle and valve caps.
Then there's the Fred line who has the best and newest high dollar equipment, but lacks ability.
You are not that Fred.
Another construct is the Fred who takes poor photos of their steed, violating the basic rules of drive side, big ring, valve stems down, crankarm level.
You are that Fred.
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05-30-20, 06:56 AM
#50
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I'm going to toss out another type of "Fred" that I'll admit to being. You've got your hobbyist racers, but lots don't seem to go full race-day kit hog wild in training. I do. TT is my hobby so riding the race setup in the winds is key. I'm not a pro, nowhere close. But, the kit makes you fast if you use it right.
It feels pretty "Fred" like to be zipping up your skinsuit and rolling out on a bike with a disc wheel out of the parking lot while families go into the park for a picnic. I can only imagine how ludicrous it looks.
It feels pretty "Fred" like to be zipping up your skinsuit and rolling out on a bike with a disc wheel out of the parking lot while families go into the park for a picnic. I can only imagine how ludicrous it looks.
