OK, I will be the dork and ask. Who and or what the heck is a Fred?
04-13-09, 08:32 PM
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OK, I will be the dork and ask. Who and or what the heck is a Fred?
Well? I am waiting,,, am I a fred???
04-13-09, 08:52 PM
#2
Squeaky Wheel
Last edited by woodway; 04-13-09 at 09:04 PM.
04-13-09, 08:59 PM
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OK this sort of helps but I need the full picture.
Hey,,, thats it! got a picture???
Hey,,, thats it! got a picture???
04-13-09, 09:13 PM
#5
Reeks of aged cotton duck
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You may be a Fred... but none of us will ever be THE Fred.
The Fred was Fred Birchmore from Athens, Georgia... an adventurer who rode his single speed bicycle around the world back in the mid 1930's. (Extra credit for anyone who knows why he named his bike "Bucephalus"). During his bike trip, he was reputed to be the first white man to make it out of Afghanistan alive since Marco Polo. He also hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Inca Trail in Peru both solo.
One of his most famous incidents came in South America during his bicycle circumnavigation. He apparently was penniless and starving out in the jungle... until he came upon a huge snake. He killed and ate the snake, skinned it and sold the skin at a village for enough cash to get him further down the road. Check Amazon for the books that he wrote about his adventures.
His marks still show in his hometown of Athens, GA in a massive stone wall that he built by hand when Fred was in his 70's... a wall 14 feet high in some places and dug 4 feet into the ground.
Here's to Fred:
The Fred was Fred Birchmore from Athens, Georgia... an adventurer who rode his single speed bicycle around the world back in the mid 1930's. (Extra credit for anyone who knows why he named his bike "Bucephalus"). During his bike trip, he was reputed to be the first white man to make it out of Afghanistan alive since Marco Polo. He also hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Inca Trail in Peru both solo.
One of his most famous incidents came in South America during his bicycle circumnavigation. He apparently was penniless and starving out in the jungle... until he came upon a huge snake. He killed and ate the snake, skinned it and sold the skin at a village for enough cash to get him further down the road. Check Amazon for the books that he wrote about his adventures.
His marks still show in his hometown of Athens, GA in a massive stone wall that he built by hand when Fred was in his 70's... a wall 14 feet high in some places and dug 4 feet into the ground.
Here's to Fred:
04-13-09, 09:49 PM
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WoW, You will never know how glad I am that I asked! "THANK YOU"!!!
Ron.
Ron.
04-13-09, 09:50 PM
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You may be a Fred... but none of us will ever be THE Fred.
The Fred was Fred Birchmore from Athens, Georgia... an adventurer who rode his single speed bicycle around the world back in the mid 1930's. (Extra credit for anyone who knows why he named his bike "Bucephalus"). During his bike trip, he was reputed to be the first white man to make it out of Afghanistan alive since Marco Polo. He also hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Inca Trail in Peru both solo.
One of his most famous incidents came in South America during his bicycle circumnavigation. He apparently was penniless and starving out in the jungle... until he came upon a huge snake. He killed and ate the snake, skinned it and sold the skin at a village for enough cash to get him further down the road. Check Amazon for the books that he wrote about his adventures.
His marks still show in his hometown of Athens, GA in a massive stone wall that he built by hand when Fred was in his 70's... a wall 14 feet high in some places and dug 4 feet into the ground.
Here's to Fred:
The Fred was Fred Birchmore from Athens, Georgia... an adventurer who rode his single speed bicycle around the world back in the mid 1930's. (Extra credit for anyone who knows why he named his bike "Bucephalus"). During his bike trip, he was reputed to be the first white man to make it out of Afghanistan alive since Marco Polo. He also hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Inca Trail in Peru both solo.
One of his most famous incidents came in South America during his bicycle circumnavigation. He apparently was penniless and starving out in the jungle... until he came upon a huge snake. He killed and ate the snake, skinned it and sold the skin at a village for enough cash to get him further down the road. Check Amazon for the books that he wrote about his adventures.
His marks still show in his hometown of Athens, GA in a massive stone wall that he built by hand when Fred was in his 70's... a wall 14 feet high in some places and dug 4 feet into the ground.
Here's to Fred:
And Fred is still alive. 95 or 96.
Note the snake skin across his bike.
My favorite story is when he inadvertently won the bike race in Italy.
04-13-09, 10:25 PM
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Use the thread search function and you'll bring up quite a few on this very subject. But, Hydrated is spot-on re Fred Birchmore(RIP)...THE original Fred. He's as legendary among cyclists as Sheldon Brown(RIP) is well known. His book is out of print and copies go for 50.00US and up.
So, I'll try to explain. Roadie in 'full kit'...NOT 'Fred'...unless he's 20-50 lbs overweight and in full kit riding an IF, Litespeed or Merlin. Fred: Usually has fenders, rack, bags, lights(DIY), thermos, 'old school' Bell helmet, knee-high socks, reflective vest, helmet mount mirror and touring shoes. All on an old steelframe roadbike or a hybrid. The term can be self-deprecating or derisive depending on who's using it and in what context.
Being that you're on the commuting forum there's a pretty good chance you're a 'Fred'. So, be proud, be audacious, be punctual, but above all be 'Fred'.
I've got no illuisons. I'm a Fred. Have always been a Fred. Will always be a Fred.
So, I'll try to explain. Roadie in 'full kit'...NOT 'Fred'...unless he's 20-50 lbs overweight and in full kit riding an IF, Litespeed or Merlin. Fred: Usually has fenders, rack, bags, lights(DIY), thermos, 'old school' Bell helmet, knee-high socks, reflective vest, helmet mount mirror and touring shoes. All on an old steelframe roadbike or a hybrid. The term can be self-deprecating or derisive depending on who's using it and in what context.
Being that you're on the commuting forum there's a pretty good chance you're a 'Fred'. So, be proud, be audacious, be punctual, but above all be 'Fred'.
I've got no illuisons. I'm a Fred. Have always been a Fred. Will always be a Fred.
04-13-09, 10:30 PM
#10
Velocommuter Commando
You may be a Fred... but none of us will ever be THE Fred.
The Fred was Fred Birchmore from Athens, Georgia... an adventurer who rode his single speed bicycle around the world back in the mid 1930's. (Extra credit for anyone who knows why he named his bike "Bucephalus"). During his bike trip, he was reputed to be the first white man to make it out of Afghanistan alive since Marco Polo. He also hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Inca Trail in Peru both solo.
One of his most famous incidents came in South America during his bicycle circumnavigation. He apparently was penniless and starving out in the jungle... until he came upon a huge snake. He killed and ate the snake, skinned it and sold the skin at a village for enough cash to get him further down the road. Check Amazon for the books that he wrote about his adventures.
His marks still show in his hometown of Athens, GA in a massive stone wall that he built by hand when Fred was in his 70's... a wall 14 feet high in some places and dug 4 feet into the ground.
Here's to Fred:
The Fred was Fred Birchmore from Athens, Georgia... an adventurer who rode his single speed bicycle around the world back in the mid 1930's. (Extra credit for anyone who knows why he named his bike "Bucephalus"). During his bike trip, he was reputed to be the first white man to make it out of Afghanistan alive since Marco Polo. He also hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Inca Trail in Peru both solo.
One of his most famous incidents came in South America during his bicycle circumnavigation. He apparently was penniless and starving out in the jungle... until he came upon a huge snake. He killed and ate the snake, skinned it and sold the skin at a village for enough cash to get him further down the road. Check Amazon for the books that he wrote about his adventures.
His marks still show in his hometown of Athens, GA in a massive stone wall that he built by hand when Fred was in his 70's... a wall 14 feet high in some places and dug 4 feet into the ground.
Here's to Fred:
04-13-09, 10:42 PM
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Use the thread search function and you'll bring up quite a few on this very subject. But, Hydrated is spot-on re Fred Birchmore(RIP)...THE original Fred. He's as legendary among cyclists as Sheldon Brown(RIP) is well known. His book is out of print and copies go for 50.00US and up.
So, I'll try to explain. Roadie in 'full kit'...NOT 'Fred'...unless he's 20-50 lbs overweight and in full kit riding an IF, Litespeed or Merlin. Fred: Usually has fenders, rack, bags, lights(DIY), thermos, 'old school' Bell helmet, knee-high socks, reflective vest, helmet mount mirror and touring shoes. All on an old steelframe roadbike or a hybrid. The term can be self-deprecating or derisive depending on who's using it and in what context.
Being that you're on the commuting forum there's a pretty good chance you're a 'Fred'. So, be proud, be audacious, be punctual, but above all be 'Fred'.
I've got no illuisons. I'm a Fred. Have always been a Fred. Will always be a Fred.
So, I'll try to explain. Roadie in 'full kit'...NOT 'Fred'...unless he's 20-50 lbs overweight and in full kit riding an IF, Litespeed or Merlin. Fred: Usually has fenders, rack, bags, lights(DIY), thermos, 'old school' Bell helmet, knee-high socks, reflective vest, helmet mount mirror and touring shoes. All on an old steelframe roadbike or a hybrid. The term can be self-deprecating or derisive depending on who's using it and in what context.
Being that you're on the commuting forum there's a pretty good chance you're a 'Fred'. So, be proud, be audacious, be punctual, but above all be 'Fred'.
I've got no illuisons. I'm a Fred. Have always been a Fred. Will always be a Fred.
He's still on the right side of the grass.
04-13-09, 10:48 PM
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Use the thread search function and you'll bring up quite a few on this very subject. But, Hydrated is spot-on re Fred Birchmore(RIP)...THE original Fred. He's as legendary among cyclists as Sheldon Brown(RIP) is well known. His book is out of print and copies go for 50.00US and up.
So, I'll try to explain. Roadie in 'full kit'...NOT 'Fred'...unless he's 20-50 lbs overweight and in full kit riding an IF, Litespeed or Merlin. Fred: Usually has fenders, rack, bags, lights(DIY), thermos, 'old school' Bell helmet, knee-high socks, reflective vest, helmet mount mirror and touring shoes. All on an old steelframe roadbike or a hybrid. The term can be self-deprecating or derisive depending on who's using it and in what context.
Being that you're on the commuting forum there's a pretty good chance you're a 'Fred'. So, be proud, be audacious, be punctual, but above all be 'Fred'.
I've got no illuisons. I'm a Fred. Have always been a Fred. Will always be a Fred.
So, I'll try to explain. Roadie in 'full kit'...NOT 'Fred'...unless he's 20-50 lbs overweight and in full kit riding an IF, Litespeed or Merlin. Fred: Usually has fenders, rack, bags, lights(DIY), thermos, 'old school' Bell helmet, knee-high socks, reflective vest, helmet mount mirror and touring shoes. All on an old steelframe roadbike or a hybrid. The term can be self-deprecating or derisive depending on who's using it and in what context.
Being that you're on the commuting forum there's a pretty good chance you're a 'Fred'. So, be proud, be audacious, be punctual, but above all be 'Fred'.
I've got no illuisons. I'm a Fred. Have always been a Fred. Will always be a Fred.
04-13-09, 11:11 PM
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I've read two definitions
1) A tourist on a bike, dressed without regard to bicycling fashion, on a less than perfect bike, who will kick your butt.
2) A poseur roadie.
I think that number 1 was the original. I think that roadies couldn't fathom that a Fred of type one could exist, so they co-opted it and morphed it into form two. Kind of like what happened to the word Nimrod that went from "mighty hunter" to "dork".
To me the classic type one Fred is Freddie Hoffman. He fits the definition to a T and he's an amazing cyclist.
1) A tourist on a bike, dressed without regard to bicycling fashion, on a less than perfect bike, who will kick your butt.
2) A poseur roadie.
I think that number 1 was the original. I think that roadies couldn't fathom that a Fred of type one could exist, so they co-opted it and morphed it into form two. Kind of like what happened to the word Nimrod that went from "mighty hunter" to "dork".
To me the classic type one Fred is Freddie Hoffman. He fits the definition to a T and he's an amazing cyclist.
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04-14-09, 12:49 AM
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hello everyone....
i am a fred, and it has been 3 days since i have fredded....
(is fredded a word? as in "i fredded today" or, "yeah, he was all fredded out.")
i am a fred, and it has been 3 days since i have fredded....
(is fredded a word? as in "i fredded today" or, "yeah, he was all fredded out.")
04-14-09, 01:56 AM
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I think a general rule of thumb is: If you have to ask, you probably are one. And I mean this with the greatest warmth and fondness.
Signed,
Fredda
Signed,
Fredda
04-14-09, 04:36 AM
#17
Reeks of aged cotton duck
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DING DING DING!
We have a winner!
Bucephalus was the name of Alexander the Great's horse.
More Fred Birchmore trivia... when Fred and his wife married nearly 70 years ago, they honeymooned by taking a 4,500 mile tandem bicycle trip around Cuba... surviving mainly on coconut milk and guava pasta. Apparently guava pasta is a fairly nasty concoction to eat.
We have a winner!
Bucephalus was the name of Alexander the Great's horse.
More Fred Birchmore trivia... when Fred and his wife married nearly 70 years ago, they honeymooned by taking a 4,500 mile tandem bicycle trip around Cuba... surviving mainly on coconut milk and guava pasta. Apparently guava pasta is a fairly nasty concoction to eat.
04-14-09, 07:43 AM
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I've read two definitions
1) A tourist on a bike, dressed without regard to bicycling fashion, on a less than perfect bike, who will kick your butt.
2) A poseur roadie.
I think that number 1 was the original. I think that roadies couldn't fathom that a Fred of type one could exist, so they co-opted it and morphed it into form two. Kind of like what happened to the word Nimrod that went from "mighty hunter" to "dork".
1) A tourist on a bike, dressed without regard to bicycling fashion, on a less than perfect bike, who will kick your butt.
2) A poseur roadie.
I think that number 1 was the original. I think that roadies couldn't fathom that a Fred of type one could exist, so they co-opted it and morphed it into form two. Kind of like what happened to the word Nimrod that went from "mighty hunter" to "dork".
The Freddiest Fred I've seen on my commute was some guy with long socks, shorts, and a satin jacket riding a beater mountain bike with a milk crate...who proceeded to completely drop me. Serious respect to that guy.
04-14-09, 08:06 AM
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i was riding in december, cold as all get out (for where i live, anyway....props to you northerners) around 39 degrees or so. i had on a hoodie, a jacket, heavy pants, combat boots, and a watch cap, shivering and cursing the light sprinkle. took me almost 45 minutes to go the 7 miles to work. look up, and see some old dude, fully fredded, sandals with socks, shorts, a wire rack bolted onto the back, and a light shirt, and all that fredness on a walmart pacific with mis-matched rims, grinning from ear to ear and just rolling along like it was 90 degrees.
HE was having fun.
total effin fred-assedness.
HE was having fun.
total effin fred-assedness.
Last edited by anaheim flash; 04-14-09 at 08:12 AM.
04-14-09, 08:19 AM
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Coconut milk does rather horrible things to you as well if thats all you have but we won't go there.
04-14-09, 08:38 AM
#21
L T X B O M P F A N S R
Why do Freds dream about dropping roadies? I take no particular satisfaction in passing slower cyclists.
04-14-09, 08:47 AM
#22
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I outsprinted a guy on a Cervelo a couple weeks ago, look on his face was freaking priceless.
04-14-09, 09:03 AM
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You may be a Fred... but none of us will ever be THE Fred.
The Fred was Fred Birchmore from Athens, Georgia... an adventurer who rode his single speed bicycle around the world back in the mid 1930's. (Extra credit for anyone who knows why he named his bike "Bucephalus"). During his bike trip, he was reputed to be the first white man to make it out of Afghanistan alive since Marco Polo. He also hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Inca Trail in Peru both solo.
One of his most famous incidents came in South America during his bicycle circumnavigation. He apparently was penniless and starving out in the jungle... until he came upon a huge snake. He killed and ate the snake, skinned it and sold the skin at a village for enough cash to get him further down the road. Check Amazon for the books that he wrote about his adventures.
His marks still show in his hometown of Athens, GA in a massive stone wall that he built by hand when Fred was in his 70's... a wall 14 feet high in some places and dug 4 feet into the ground.
Here's to Fred:
The Fred was Fred Birchmore from Athens, Georgia... an adventurer who rode his single speed bicycle around the world back in the mid 1930's. (Extra credit for anyone who knows why he named his bike "Bucephalus"). During his bike trip, he was reputed to be the first white man to make it out of Afghanistan alive since Marco Polo. He also hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Inca Trail in Peru both solo.
One of his most famous incidents came in South America during his bicycle circumnavigation. He apparently was penniless and starving out in the jungle... until he came upon a huge snake. He killed and ate the snake, skinned it and sold the skin at a village for enough cash to get him further down the road. Check Amazon for the books that he wrote about his adventures.
His marks still show in his hometown of Athens, GA in a massive stone wall that he built by hand when Fred was in his 70's... a wall 14 feet high in some places and dug 4 feet into the ground.
Here's to Fred:
04-14-09, 09:15 AM
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A Fred is largely unaware of his or her status as an object of ridicule, and likely unaware of the Fred moniker. While it is common for cyclists to claim varying degrees of "Fredness", such self-derision indicates a higher degree of cycling cultural-awareness and would indicate that the commenter is, in fact, unlikely to be a Fred.
.
Last edited by Stray8; 04-14-09 at 09:19 AM.
04-14-09, 09:27 AM
#25
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