General Cycling Discussion - What does "dont be a fred" mean??

I'm probably a FRED for asking this question. I think it means don't be a geek or a butthole, what I really don't know, do the letters in FRED have meaning, like Flippin ****** Educated Doofuss, or is FRED a real geeky guy on tv that everybody refers to when someone is being stupid. I was always told, the only stupid question is one you don't ask......:eek: anyway let me have it...:geek:

I mostly hear the term on the internet, not in real life. Either means someone who has all the equipment but isn't any good anyway, or someone that that doesn't dress the part but is really pretty good. So if you have a $5,000 bicycle and ride 13 mph, you're a fred. If you show up on your 1972 Schwin with flipflops and pass everyone, you're also a fred, but the other kind.

I think originally it referred to unsophisticated cyclists. There is a newer definition for people who spend lots of money and dress up fancy but can't ride, but the word "poseur" already exists for them. ;)

Poser: Those that dress(and talk) like they can......and you've never actually seen them ride, because they don't. VERY common in the dirt bike world.

Our dirt bike races:
First row: Pros. All dressed up in sponsor gear. Looking good and riding better than that.
Next few rows: Very good riders that can almost keep up with the pros, yet have little/no sponsorship. All their money goes into the bike and getting there. No money for good-looking gear. Can ride great.

Last few rows: Posers. Look like they belong on the first row but that is the last time you see them....until you lap them.

Fred is a........ a nerd, a geek, a wallflower, a clumsy person,oddball ,etc.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/774028-What-is-quot-Freddy-quot-with-regards-to-Bikes 3 pages of this discussion done for ya already ;) there's lots more if you use the search feature too.

I mostly hear the term on the internet, not in real life. Either means someone who has all the equipment but isn't any good anyway, or someone that that doesn't dress the part but is really pretty good. So if you have a $5,000 bicycle and ride 13 mph, you're a fred. If you show up on your 1972 Schwin with flipflops and pass everyone, you're also a fred, but the other kind.

That is the problem with the term, it has become the generic insult. Sooner or later some fool is going to call Eddy or Bernard a Fred.

It is a term used by an individual who gets their rocks off labeling other people. The individual hurling such names have self esteem issues and really don't feel good about themselves so they endeavor to bring other people down.

I'm Fred.

The definition of Fred (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_(bicycling)).

Relish in your Fredness.

Freds are riders who eschew the racer wannabee paradigm for practicality. Practical items like rear view mirrors, capacious seat bags, frame mounted pumps, dork disks, etc... are the Fred's hallmarks.

Freds are riders who eschew the racer wannabee paradigm for practicality. Practical items like rear view mirrors, capacious seat bags, frame mounted pumps, dork disks, etc... are the Fred's hallmarks.

Yes!! Bring out your inner Fred!

frame mounted pumps,

Frame pump? Doh, ok, yes I'm a Fred.:D

check out my frame pump, under the top tube where it belongs.:p

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/MountainShots/102710F.jpg

Reminds me of a term that I used to use when I was into Sport Bikes... Squid: This was the person who liked to ride in a wife beater and flip flops (of course, no helmet) who had 3" chicken strips on each side of the rear tire. Meaning all about "looking good" and possibly going fast in a straight line, but they couldn't couldn't corner, thus the fresh rubber along the edges of the rear tire.

rear view mirrors,

Check.


capacious seat bags,

Check.


frame mounted pumps,

Check.


dork disks,

Ewww, no, that went too far. Dork discs are for dorks!

Proudly Fredly. I wave at drivers, too!

Proudly Fredly. I wave at drivers, too!

I wave at oncoming bicyclists--they aren't quite as hip as my motorcycle brethren.

I mostly hear the term on the internet, not in real life. Either means someone who has all the equipment but isn't any good anyway, or someone that that doesn't dress the part but is really pretty good. So if you have a $5,000 bicycle and ride 13 mph, you're a fred. If you show up on your 1972 Schwin with flipflops and pass everyone, you're also a fred, but the other kind.


Freds are riders who eschew the racer wannabee paradigm for practicality. Practical items like rear view mirrors, capacious seat bags, frame mounted pumps, dork disks, etc... are the Fred's hallmarks.

Does that make me two kinds of Fred? I passed two spandex clad roadies on a climb a few weeks ago on my hybrid complete with 700x42 tires, heavy steel hybrid frame, complete with front and rear lights in strobe even though this was about 3pm. I was waring my usual work attire, ankle boots and Carhartts, and carried a backpack full of clothes and tupperware.

To give them the benefit of a doubt though, I have no idea how hard they had rode at that point. I was about 3 mi into my 5mi ride home.

I am a Fred, even have the shape of Fred Flintstone, long torso, skinny little legs. Since we are talking about terms, how about someone letting me know what "the 41" means. I have searched but "41" is too short for the search function.
Let me clarify that I am the slow Fred without proper bike equipment/attire.

Do I qualify with 2 of these, never stated all or just 1.


Check.



Check.



Check.



Ewww, no, that went too far. Dork discs are for dorks!

HOLYCRAP, there is more to this "FRED" thing than I ever imagined. Thank You everyone for taking the time to explain it to me. I have a headlight, a tail light, a rack and bag, I guess I will have to change my name to FRED:fred:

I am a Fred, even have the shape of Fred Flintstone, long torso, skinny little legs. Since we are talking about terms, how about someone letting me know what "the 41" means. I have searched but "41" is too short for the search function.
Let me clarify that I am the slow Fred without proper bike equipment/attire.

The "41" is specific to www.bikeforums.net and relates to the road cycling sub-forum. For example, we arw currently posting in the "7".

You will see the number in the URL.

It is a term used by an individual who gets their rocks off labeling other people. The individual hurling such names have self esteem issues and really don't feel good about themselves so they endeavor to bring other people down.

I like this thought.

A Fred is a conspiracy theorist. Cycling is a conspiracy of Freds. Freds are the 99%.

In the UK it usually means someone who has 15 lights, hi-viz jacket, helmet (adorned with lights), waterproofs on in summer, etc, but will ride on the pavement, never check for traffic at junctions.

The definition of Fred (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_(bicycling)).

Interesting. The story about Fred Birchmore was cool.

HOLYCRAP, there is more to this "FRED" thing than I ever imagined. Thank You everyone for taking the time to explain it to me. I have a headlight, a tail light, a rack and bag, I guess I will have to change my name to FRED:fred:

Not so fast buddy. You need at least 5 more accessories before you are qualified for Fred memebership. Right now, you are just a Fred-posser :) And if it's your commuter bike then you can forget it.

Ask pcad, he seems to think he is the expert for just about anything.

Fred: A once derogatory term used by road cyclists that has now come to represent the seeking of solutions without regard for style and convention.

It was pretty Fred when I just zip tied a plastic milk crate to my rear rack, but it worked fine when I needed to thow something in and go.

I wave at oncoming bicyclists--they aren't quite as hip as my motorcycle brethren.

Right on, brother. Always seems strange to me, practically every motorcyclist I pass waves back at me (even Harley riders and I ride a sportbike). Cyclists either ignore me or give an awkward, eyes averted nod. Where's the love? :)

I agree, most motorcyclists my whole life wave or nod when you pass except the faux bad boys of course. Cyclists seem freakishly weird about acknowledging another humans existence I have yet to figure it out.

Fenders
Racks
Every
Day

not the original definition but the one I embrace.

I have heard Fredness implied because I have an attached rear-view mirror on the shifters of my road bike.

On many roads around here, it's very helpful, so if being Fred is wrong, I don't want to be right.

This Fred thing makes me sad. I'm so Freddish I'm not even a real Fred. Just a wannabe Fred. Sheesh!

The definition of Fred (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_(bicycling)).

Damn! I'm a freakin' fred!!!!! Thanks bud.:notamused:

FRED = Flashing Rear End Device

In the US railroad world it is the flashing red light/big box that hangs on the rear coupler of the last car of the consist (train). It senses air pressure in the brake line and continually sends a signal to the head end (locomotive/engineer) telling them things are OK at the tail end. If the air pressure in the brake line diminishes the FRED can cause an emergency brake application and the whole train comes to a screeching halt. Modern FREDs can also receive a radio signal from the locomotive and apply the brakes starting from the rear - that allows the train to stop more quickly because it takes about 10 - 15 seconds per car in the consist for the brake application to propagate thru the consist. If the FRED applies the brake from the rear, simultaneous with the application from the front (locomotive) the entire train can be brought to a safe and speedy stop in about 1/2 the time.

I think it is obvious how a FRED in a peloton or pace line can work in a very similar fashion as on a railroad. A FRED can really mess up progress.

The definition of Fred (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_(bicycling)).

Thanks for that link. A Fred I've always gathered had a certain 'je ne sais quoi' that covered a great many things [and don't we all have a little Fred in us I wonder]. People sort of know.

One Fred I have a pet peeve for is the guy riding on the wrong side of the road, usually on a WalMart special, with blue jeans and work boots. I realize the guy is probably just trying to get to work, but 'wrong' side dispells severe ignorance.

I wonder how I have been a Fred?