WhyFi

Shared by QBP on facebook today - Bike hand signals are confusing, here's a better, simpler solution

SpeshulEd 

I was totally looking for this article last week but couldn't find it. Someone had posted it on FB, but couldn't remember when they did and couldn't find it on their feed.

bmthom.gis

To me being "Fredly" is taking road cycling too seriously and following the velominati rules. Couple that with absolutely zero knowledge in how to maintain your bike(s) and you have a Fred.

WhyFi

That sounds more like a poseur to me.

jon c. 

It would be the first time I've ever heard of a cop citing someone for not signalling. Around here you might guess signalling was against the law, as infrequently as it is practiced.

k_kibbler

I respectfully disagree. The canonical Fred is someone who has neither regard for The Rules nor convention and kit out their bikes and themselves according to their own whims and needs. I'd bet Freds do more of their own maintenance than Poseurs, even if it is to put bar ends on their upside-down drops and turn signals on their panniers. I respect Freds and their free-spirited ways.

Poseurs send their Dogmas to "bike spas" when they get dirty and to the LBS to fix flats.

EDIT: No offence to Dogmas but they are among the more common of Poseurs' bikes, it seems.

bmthom.gis

That sounds a lot more like a lone wolf. Freds have super expensive bikes and equipment(think team issue bikes amd team kit with the most expensive Garmin amd powertap) ride in fair weather only. They want to look like the pros but their abilities will never catch up to their bikes. The typical Fred can't even fix a flat or doesn't carry a pump

The weekend warrior, the wobbly legged that hibernate from fall until spring. The rider who thinks DI2 will make him faster than the person who is using 105, but it doesn't.

redlude97

your definition of a fred is unlike everyone elses then

caloso

Nope, sorry. You're describing the Poseur, not the Fred.

bmthom.gis

" particularly in the US, a Fred is more often somebody with higher quality and more expensive cycling equipment than his or her talent and commitment would warrant. For example, a stereotypical Fred by this definition would be an individual with little cycling experience who watches the highlights of a few Tour de France stages, then goes to a bike store and purchases a Trek carbon fiber Madone in Team Discovery colors, along with Team Discovery shorts and jersey. Thus outfitted with equipment virtually identical to that which Lance Armstrong used, far more expensive than that used by many high-standard racing cyclists, and more costly than many automobiles, the “Fred” then uses his bicycle merely to ride on a cycling path at 15 mph (24 km/h), something which even the most casual untrained cyclist can manage on an inexpensive hybrid bicycle. Some use “Fred” in a somewhat similar matter, but more synonymous with a roadie poseur. However, a Fred isn’t necessarily someone who intentionally tries to put forth an image of being better or more knowledgeable than they are. Rather, a Fred is an inexperienced or unskilled cyclist who gets some top high-end or copy-cat racing gear for any reason. Unlike most poseurs, a Fred may still ride lacking some fundamental piece of competitive roadie equipment or style."

https://biskey7.wordpress.com/2011/04/02/bicycling-are-you-a-fred/

You're definitions are correct (if you read the link) but mine is too. The short of it is, if you have to ask, you are a Fred.

SpeshulEd 

I think the "chasing the Lance Armstrong dream" definition of Fred died when Lance became more of a punchline than world champion.

Most people I know would call that guy a poseur now, where a Fred would go back to the UK defnition:

In the UK, an early usage of the word is the more common—used by 'serious' roadies to refer to (often) bearded, sandal-wearing, touring cyclists without any high-tech gear.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP] 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."

Red Tornado

My $0.02 on Fredliness....

NOT Fredly
Small saddlebag (sometimes jersey pocket really aren't enough)
Glasses/helmet-mounted mirror (if you're not a racer - safety first)
SPD pedals/shoes (some guys are cash-strapped or simply don't want extra "stuff")
Sleeveless jersey - provided it started life sleeveless (it gets hot in Texas) -- mountain bikers get bonus points for a SS jersey "converted" to sleeveless IMO
Glasses under the helmet straps
Unshaved legs
*Disclaimer:Not guilty of any of the above, but also don't look down my nose at those who are

Fredly
Large saddle bags (don't need to bring your entire tool kit with you)
Sleeveless jersey with arm warmers -- leaving top of shoulder to mid-bicep exposed to the wind/rain/cold (a major pet peeve for me personally - see triathletes do this a lot)
Saddle positioned way too low
Reflectors in the spokes
Tucking the jersey into shorts (might be OK during cold weather if a top layer covers the jersey & top part of shorts)
Baggy shorts on a road ride -unless you're a newbie, but a statute of limitation should still apply at some point
Front of helmet tipped way back, or helmet on backwards (a little tip back if worn over a cycling cap is OK)
Showing up for a road ride with a hybrid bike or mountain bike
Riders who make an effort to observe The Rules
Uptight, arrogant roadies -- you're not as cool as you think you are

That's all I can think of for now....

Seattle Forrest

Fred rode his bike around the world. Supposedly he was mistaken for the winner of an Italian race, the guy was just out riding his bike and passed everybody in the race.

A poseur is somebody on an expensive CF bike and Di2, sitting back with a latte and a cycling cap. A Fred is somebody out on the bike, not caring what anyone else thinks. Maybe a little goofy, but he's a strong rider.

The Smithsonian has an exhibit for Fred.

Fred Birchmore's Amazing Bicycle Trip Around the World | History | Smithsonian

rumrunn6

don't mess with my flag :-)

redlude97

sleeveless and mirrors are always fredly. If the tour guys can ride in qatar with sleeves, you better keep your tan lines sharp

SpeshulEd 

hand signal spinoff topic...

Google patent reveals how driverless cars recognise hand signals | road.cc

RPK79

I don't know if I'm comfortable having lasers shot at me as I ride down the road.

cthenn

Disagree. Leg tan line is macho, arm tan line is just fugly. I tan easily, and I'm sure not going to have a horrible farmers tan on my arms.

f4rrest

I prize my farmers' tan. Once in Hawaii, local surfers gave it props.

redlude97

Its okay to embrace your inner fredliness.

Willbird

Showing up for a road ride with a hybrid bike or mountain bike

I guess I did that, 75 mile ride, it did not specify "road ride"...but it was on roads, I finished the 75mi, and did not finish last either :-). Some folks rode part of the ride and bailed partway due to other commitments too, at that time it was the ONLY bicycle I had :-). Trek 7200 hybrid with 700x35 tires. I'm glad I did it :-).

khuon

I think you should make this totally functional and Fredly. My recommendation would be to replace the flagpole with a full-wave CB antenna on a spring mount, xcvr base-station on the trunk rack, panniers full of batteries and a long coil attached handheld mic clipped to the stem...

Reynolds 

A Fred like this one can drop the all the poseurs. He's no Fred in my book.

SpeshulEd 

100spf sunblock on the arms helps prevent the tan lines...of course, even after a full summer, they still happen.

redlude97

We have local CX/mtb guys show up occasionally to the local crits with knobbies and just crush. Maybe its a PNW thing but those freds can be cool sometimes