Commuting - I thought I was a Fred until...

So I am making my evening refueling stop when I see the most amazing sight I have taken in in some time. As I am unlocking up rolls a man on an older schwinn. His bike has dual metal baskets on the rear aptly stuffed with some sort of canvas bags...clothes I assume. He is wearing mid thigh length khaki crocodile hunter shorts along with a t shirt and flourescent green vest. He then chains up his bike and helmet and goes inside. I thought I was a Fred until I laid my eyes on such a magnificent Fred in full strut. I am sure he has no idea of biking forums that people claim to be what he is (someone who just wants to ride). So as I get on my bike with my 50/39/30 chainring and my 11/25 rear casette then turn on my Garmin 305(FOURTIETH b DAY PRESENT:D) then clip in my spd's, I start to ponder my Fredness. I really want to and like being a FRED. But am I truly worthy? Does my quest to build my bike up negate my Fredness? Or can we as Fred's evole into a new age of Fred? All that being said I really admired that guy and realized that he and I are on in the same...commuters. But I still feel really Fredlike:twitchy: Keep on r;)ding

He could probably kick your butt and mine riding flat out on that old Schwinn, probably has legs like a horse and heart and lungs to match. :)

I have embraced my inner fred. I wear an orange safety vest over my shirt and shorts. I wear tennis shoes, and a full face helmet. I have a black shopping bag pannier on the left, a battery box/speed controller on the rear rack, an electric motor on the front wheel hub, and flashing front and rear lights.

Best part is I don't need a car, and I am getting myself back into shape.

Fred powers activate...

No pics!!?? Come on man I wanna see this Obi Fred and his steed.

I'm ok with my Fredness too. I had bought a old Motobecane Nomad and it came with those dual metal baskets. I took them off and replaced with a light rack. I swear that musta shaved about 10 pounds off the bike! It turns out she's actually a fast bike.
Ernest

I'm ok with my Fredness too. I had bought a old Motobecane Nomad and it came with those dual metal baskets. I took them off and replaced with a light rack. I swear that musta shaved about 10 pounds off the bike! It turns out she's actually a fast bike.
Ernest

If you are okay with Fredness, why remove the baskets? They are extremely convenient and functional.

Ah, the joy of Fredness.
For many years I commuted on an old mountain bike with full fenders, studded snow tires in the winter, a generator hub, lights front and back, and a milk crate. I even had little yellow reflector stickers. It was certainly a Fredmobile, but it was super functional.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/Doconabike/commuter%20bike/IMGP6928.jpg?t=1241277945
Now I live in an area with less snow, so I ride a different bike. I still have a soft spot in my heart for my old machine.

Shall we compare Fredness...

To paraphrase an old French philosopher: "Achieving perfect Fred-ness is not when you have nothing left to add to your bike, but nothing left to take away."

Sounds like "Schwinn guy" has you beat by a mile. :thumb:

No pics!!?? Come on man I wanna see this Obi Fred and his steed.


obi fred lol gave me my chuckle for the day

To paraphrase an old French philosopher: "Achieving perfect Fred-ness is not when you have nothing left to add to your bike, but nothing left to take away."

My main commuter steed is a Motobecane Fantom CX w/saddlebags, rack, lights, Topeak Road Morph w/guage, bottle cage, Direct Stop and Airzounds horn. Cable ties hold taillight wires to the frame and a cell phone holder to the headtube for the 'dog arsenal'. 2 Bungee cords for extra clothing, etc. Though the bike has drop hbs and is rather sleek looking for a commute bike AND I wear alot of what could be considered 'roadie' clothing(PI Barrier Jacket, Craft winter tights, Lake winter road shoes, etc.) my bike and attire have been a result of an evolution of experience, fundage availability, aero-dynamics and praticallity. My tires are SMPs after one too many nighttime roadside repairs. My rt commute is 35 miles. I carry a UV spoke wrench and a Park chaintool in my toolkit. My commuter rig has reached a state of 'perfect Fredness' by the above definition.

My Fredness started years ago when I first began cycle commuting in Chicago and my first raingear was 3 Hefty trash bags, two plastic grocery bags for my feet and an old flowered shower cap over my white 'thiftstore' Bell helmet I found for 0.99US. I wore a baseball hat to keep rain out of the 'safety' goggles I got for 3.00 at a hardware store. My winter gear included 2 pairs of wool socks over my hands. I purchased an mtb frame bag for my rb because it was way cheaper than the seatbags a/t lbs. Duct taped my old Cateye hl because it kept popping out of the hb holder.

'Fredness' is a state of mind more than an outward appearance, IMHO. Even though I may APPEAR to be a roadie getting in practical miles by condecending to being a commuter I'm still 'that guy' whose first bike's calipers were frozen. So, I stopped it by jamming my heel between the frame and rear tire. :p Still 'that guy' who had a pair of pliers, 4" crescent wrench, 2 small screwdivers for tire levers, a patch kit and a Zefal old school frame pump for a tool kit. Still 'that guy' who wore a reflective vest 'cause it was cheaper than 'reflective cycling specific clothing'. And still 'that same guy' who used auto radiator hose clamps for his wb cages. :thumb:

My headstone will read: "His given name was Jeffrey, but the name he earned was Fred."

If you are okay with Fredness, why remove the baskets? They are extremely convenient and functional.

Yes yes! They were handy. I just like racks and panniers better. I still have the baskets and may put them back on when needed. They are kinda heavy though.
Ernest

Don't see any 'Fred' there. A long time utility cyclist/commuter maybe. The safety vest is something learned from experience on the road in either low light conditions (dawn and dusk) or riding in a lot of traffic. See a lot of the old timers wear vests, have baskets/eggcrates on their bikes, and carry some extra stuff they feel they need on the ride. The guy is only missing wearing/having a rear view mirror.

It's all good in the end. The bike and clothing is just what the guy wants it to do, be useful when needed (grocery shipping or hauling), being visible to cars/trucks, and wearing clothes they feel are comfy or acceptable in a public setting.

I got the safety vest in killer green with the flashing LED's, dork bands for my jeans. Thats cool I'm a fred too

wait, who is on first and you lost me at the bakery

So my wife and I are going riding with friends last weekend. She asks "you aren't going to wear your boots are you?"..... I didn't even think she noticed. ;)

So my wife and I are going riding with friends last weekend. She asks "you aren't going to wear your boots are you?"..... I didn't even think she noticed. ;)

Cowboy boots?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2057973223_4ebf4a653b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2713139772_66779aff31.jpg

No pics!!?? Come on man I wanna see this Obi Fred and his steed.

Unfortunately the only pic of the obi fred and his steed is in my head. I have never seen him there before but this is a newer stop...although I have heard that true freds are like vampires so probably no pic :lol:

How Fred am I?

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/09SportXRS/Paul-13Apr09.jpg

I got the safety vest in killer green with the flashing LED's, dork bands for my jeans. Thats cool I'm a fred too

LOVE the Ghoulardi avatar, purple knif. :thumb: You've GOTTA be from Cleveland, right? Or, at least NE Ohio?

Ah, the joy of Fredness.
For many years I commuted on an old mountain bike with full fenders, studded snow tires in the winter, a generator hub, lights front and back, and a milk crate. I even had little yellow reflector stickers. It was certainly a Fredmobile, but it was super functional.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/Doconabike/commuter%20bike/IMGP6928.jpg?t=1241277945
Now I live in an area with less snow, so I ride a different bike. I still have a soft spot in my heart for my old machine.


Although I'd be tempted to chide you about your choice of stickers, I gotta say - that's the kind of handlebar I need! (see here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=537520) for thread) Would that kinda bar work with twist shifters?

Nice bike, nice pic by the way :)

Tom

Does FREDness apply to commuter bikes and commuting clothes? I thought it was just for speed demons and such because baskets are for utility and who doesn't own at least one high-vis shirt?

LOVE the Ghoulardi avatar, purple knif. :thumb: You've GOTTA be from Cleveland, right? Or, at least NE Ohio?

Yep I'm a turn blue Ghoulardi fan born and raised in Mansfield, the fun center of Ohio or so it used to be called:) living large in the Pacific Northwest but I wouldn't trade growing up in rural Ohio for anything. We had a creek and woods and big fields where we used to play army and baseball and of course ride bikes as kids then when we discovered what girls were there were other less innocent activities going on. :innocent:

Although I'd be tempted to chide you about your choice of stickers, I gotta say - that's the kind of handlebar I need! (see here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=537520) for thread) Would that kinda bar work with twist shifters?

Nice bike, nice pic by the way :)

Tom

Those handlebars are my favorites. When I moved and sold that bike, I took the old handlebars with me. They are Scott AT-2 LF. For some reason, they are very hard to find. Here's some information.
http://www.bikepro.com/products/handlebars/scott_combo.html

Yep I'm a turn blue Ghoulardi fan born and raised in Mansfield, the fun center of Ohio or so it used to be called:) living large in the Pacific Northwest but I wouldn't trade growing up in rural Ohio for anything. We had a creek and woods and big fields where we used to play army and baseball and of course ride bikes as kids then when we discovered what girls were there were other less innocent activities going on. :innocent:

He was also on a UHF channel in Detroit in the early 70's, but I think he was known as The Ghoul: made fun of Parma, told people to "Scratch glass and turn blue," etc. He has a nce entry as Ghoulardi in Wikipedia.

Are you sure it wasn't chipcom???

Are you sure it wasn't chipcom???

Real freds don't wear helmets...unless it has a bright yellow cover and there is a light mounted to it. :p
http://www.chipcom.net/bikes/fat_fred.jpg

I thought a Fred is a novice. No? Oh, whatever.

We visited Eugene, OR for the first time this past summer. Lots of folks ride bike there. The poor and homeless ride bikes there. I saw one guy whose bike was pulling a trailer, and the trailer was pulling another trailer!

I thought a Fred is a novice. No?

No

He was also on a UHF channel in Detroit in the early 70's, but I think he was known as The Ghoul: made fun of Parma, told people to "Scratch glass and turn blue," etc. He has a nce entry as Ghoulardi in Wikipedia.

Different guy but he was a gofor for The original Ghoulardi his name was Ron something or other. By that time Ernie Anderson the original had gone to hollywood and was doing a lot of commercials and bit parts in movies.

Different guy but he was a gofor for The original Ghoulardi his name was Ron something or other. By that time Ernie Anderson the original had gone to hollywood and was doing a lot of commercials and bit parts in movies.

Thanks for the reply. The Ghoul's schtick certainly sounded a lot like that of Ghoulardi, as described in Wikipeida. It's interesting how many schlocky or semi-serious late-night TV horror film hosts there were in the 1950's to the 70's. In Detroit there was also Mr. X on Shock Theater, and there was a similar guy in Boston though I can't remember his name. Such were important shared experiences, sort of a shared consciousness of the Baby Boomer generation. I certainly remember sneaking downstairs to watch. :eek:

Different guy but he was a gofor for The original Ghoulardi his name was Ron something or other. By that time Ernie Anderson the original had gone to hollywood and was doing a lot of commercials and bit parts in movies.

The Ghoul was Ron Sweet. I saw him about 15 years ago when was going a radio show and attending Cleveland State University. I had a show there at the time.

Agreed. Sounds about par for the course. And don't be too sure the guy knows nothing of BF or other cycling forums. He may be a member here and elsewhere.


Don't see any 'Fred' there. A long time utility cyclist/commuter maybe. The safety vest is something learned from experience on the road in either low light conditions (dawn and dusk) or riding in a lot of traffic. See a lot of the old timers wear vests, have baskets/eggcrates on their bikes, and carry some extra stuff they feel they need on the ride. The guy is only missing wearing/having a rear view mirror.

It's all good in the end. The bike and clothing is just what the guy wants it to do, be useful when needed (grocery shipping or hauling), being visible to cars/trucks, and wearing clothes they feel are comfy or acceptable in a public setting.

The Ghoul was Ron Sweet. I saw him about 15 years ago when was going a radio show and attending Cleveland State University. I had a show there at the time.

Yeah Ron Sweet. I have the book tellin all about how Ghoulardi came about and Cleveland tv in the 60's. It's interesting how they did some pretty techno stuff in those days. Have you read Rotten to the Core by Martin Yant? He was the editor of the Mansfield New Journal in the late 70's its about how corrupt the Richland county sherrifs office was. This took place after I left in 78 but its a good read if you get a chance

I thought a Fred is a novice. No? Oh, whatever.

We visited Eugene, OR for the first time this past summer. Lots of folks ride bike there. The poor and homeless ride bikes there. I saw one guy whose bike was pulling a trailer, and the trailer was pulling another trailer!

Wow, that is what I call a DRIVE TRAIN!

Actually, I thought about this idea the other day - a way to really load up the bicycle transport.

I thought a Fred is a novice. No? Oh, whatever.


No.

If it could even be a fair fight I'd challenge Chip to a King of the Fred's cage match but he's two of me and I believe... an ex-marine.

That does not mean I'd concede as I have that whole Irish thing happening and if I turn that on he might need back up.

Unless he's Irish.

I'm still kind of fast so maybe I am a Freddy and not a Fred and then we won't have to have a cage match and just opt to to share a few pitchers of icy cold beer and nachos after a ride on our fredilicious bikes.

I'm that old guy with no special kit riding a 36 year old road bike that strikes fear into the hearts of all but the most serious roadies or the guy that blows by you on the hot rodded folding bike that makes you ask yourself... how does that guy go so damn fast on something that isn't carbon fibre.

:lol:

And then there's this... ftw.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/stretch1.jpg

You lose Fred points if you didn't build it yourself out of spare parts.

You lose Fred points if you didn't build it yourself out of spare parts.

Bonus points if you are married to a Wilma who loves you even though you are a Fred.

If you are a Fred on a bicycle, chances are you are a Fred in real life too; Beach Fred, Lawn Work Fred, Shopping Fred, Too Casual Party Fred. ... Dirty Underwear Fred.

http://sl.glitter-graphics.net/pub/616/616360i6wb0qnfx7.gif

He was also on a UHF channel in Detroit in the early 70's, but I think he was known as The Ghoul: made fun of Parma, told people to "Scratch glass and turn blue," etc. He has a nce entry as Ghoulardi in Wikipedia.

Yeah, I remember him, too. Different guy, though. The original Ghoulardi was Ernie Anderson who was w/t CBS affiliate in Cleveland in the mid-60s. He moved out to LA and was a 'voiceover' guy in commercials and worked on the Carol Burnett show. Was Tim Conway's straight man in Tim's 'Vegas' act. Remember seeing and hearing him on TV in bit parts and commercials over the years. He had a very distinctive voice. There are several videos of him on youtube that show how innovative and irreverent he was for the times. 'Borrowed' alot of his delivery and 'hipster' jargon from the late, great Lord Buckley. Doesn't detract from his greatness though. I was about 6 a/t time and would laugh myself sick when he'd super-impose himself into the movie and chase the young women around. :eek: Especially Dr. Cyclops...great stuff.

The Ghoul had a much higher pitched voice than Ghoulardi and wasn't nearly as funny or irreverant. The Ghoul was on UHF channel 61 in Cleveland in the 70s. Wore the same outfit...labcoat, frightwig, Wayfarers w/one lense missing, etc. Where are the latenight, scarey movie hosts of today? The best we have here in Nashvegas is the Bat Poet on local cable access...and he REALLY stinks. Doesn't show scarey movies, either. :notamused:

Wow, THREAD DRIFT!!...I called it! :p Or should I have called FRED DRIFT!! Inquiring minds want to know these things.

Well, my Fred powers are no match for most of the posters before me, but I was at the LBS getting my commuter adjusted and I found myself with a small crowd eyeing a new Giant with the Shimano DI2 electronic shifters on it. Ultra skinny full kit guys are test riding it and all excited, and there I am on my steel road bike with rack, lights galore, and dashboard ornaments. My fred powers were so week that day I couldn't even get my derailuer adjusted and had to car-top it over to the LBS for them to straighten it out. One of the full-kit dude's girl thought I had the safest bike she had ever seen, she even pulled her boyfriend away from the high tech stuff to comment on all my nifty lights and handlebar crap. Poor guy is trying to appease her by agreeing, all while he is trying to figure out how he is going to get his hands on a three thousand dollar electronic shifter upgrade.

Bonus points if you are married to a Wilma who loves you even though you are a Fred.

If you are a Fred on a bicycle, chances are you are a Fred in real life too; Beach Fred, Lawn Work Fred, Shopping Fred, Too Casual Party Fred. ... Dirty Underwear Fred.

http://sl.glitter-graphics.net/pub/616/616360i6wb0qnfx7.gif

The Girl loves having her own in house mechanic.

The Girl loves having her own in house mechanic.

Ya, but she still goes to the service center to get her car oil changed. Go figure.

The Ghoul had a much higher pitched voice than Ghoulardi and wasn't nearly as funny or irreverant. The Ghoul was on UHF channel 61 in Cleveland in the 70s. Wore the same outfit...labcoat, frightwig, Wayfarers w/one lense missing, etc. Where are the latenight, scarey movie hosts of today? The best we have here in Nashvegas is the Bat Poet on local cable access...and he REALLY stinks. Doesn't show scarey movies, either. :notamused:

Wow, THREAD DRIFT!!...I called it! :p Or should I have called FRED DRIFT!! Inquiring minds want to know these things.

:lol: Back on post #31 I replied to Stringbreaker:


Thanks for the reply. The Ghoul's schtick certainly sounded a lot like that of Ghoulardi, as described in Wikipeida. It's interesting how many schlocky or semi-serious late-night TV horror film hosts there were in the 1950's to the 70's. In Detroit there was also Mr. X on Shock Theater, and there was a similar guy in Boston though I can't remember his name. Such were important shared experiences, sort of a shared consciousness of the Baby Boomer generation. I certainly remember sneaking downstairs to watch. :eek:

Thanks to you and Stringbreaker for explaining the Ghoul vs Ghoulardi.

Speaking of Fred..er...Thread drift, I just noted that in post #20, you set the drift in motion with your comment to Stringbreaker; does that make you a Threadbreaker? Back in the 1970's I used to read a newspaper column by Sydney Harris called Strictly Personal. Occasionally he would write about "things I discovered while looking up something else," sort of a Sydney Drift. Kurt Vonnegut also wote a memorable line in that same vein, "Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God." :thumb: Personally, I prefer thread drift to inane on-topic posts.

...I really want to and like being a FRED. But am I truly worthy?...

You're suffering from a mild case of pseudofreditis. It's a common ailment but easily treated with any readily available preparation containing pseudoefredine....

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/sudafred.gif



....and it's good for clearing blocked sinuses too. :p