What is a Fred?
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A Fred is an opposite of Spandex Elitist.
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Some claim the term "Fred" refers to Fred Birchmore.
His bike, Bucephalus, is on display in the Smithsonian and he has a trail named after him. Anyone who can ride a 40# steel bike around the world and still be working out at the Y at 99 years of age, has my respect whether he had a lot of cycling fashion sense or not.
I'll admit, I don't ride top end bikes (my general purpose bike is a 21 year old steel flat-bar), wear MTB shoes on my road bike with dual sided pedals, sometimes ride in jean shorts and t-shirts, my sunglasses say Dewalt on the bow, and I'm an overweight 50-year-old. Call me Fred if you want to, I'll take it as a compliment.
RIP Fred Birchmore (died in 2012 at age 100).
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Why did "Fred" start being used to describe poseurs? To me they are complete opposites, so it confuses me why some people started using "Fred" for poseurs. "Fred" once was a term applied to commuter/urban cyclists who characteristically were unconcerned about appearances, who used and attached a lot of practical things to bikes that typically aren't on road racing bikes like bells, mirrors, racks, kickstands etc., and most certainly did *not* wear "full team kit" and did not shave legs. But they ride a lot and are typically quite fit. A poseur on the other hand is all about appearances, buying expensive blingy stuff, but all for show since they aren't actually riding all that much and are often rather slow. It makes no sense to me to use "Fred" to describe two polar opposite classes of riders.
Some history:
Fred (bicycling) - BikeParts Wiki
Some history:
Fred (bicycling) - BikeParts Wiki
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Winifred ?
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Hipsters are neophyte Freds.
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A fred is a bike rider who doesn't have quite the "right" clothing and gear. If, like me, you ride a recumbent, you are automatically a fred. A poseur is a bike rider whose clothing and gear matches a little too well. If your clothing has any logos that you didn't get paid to wear, you are a poseur. The line between the two is so utterly razor thin that NOBODY can do it.
In other words, we are going to laugh at you no matter what you do.
In other words, we are going to laugh at you no matter what you do.
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So if you call someone a Fred it means you are a Fred?
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I consider a Fred to be someone who puts safety and practicality before fashion and coolness. Therefore the definition can vary.
I want to make it to my son's daycare safe then home safe. So this is my bike and what I wear. I feel I am everything but a flag flying Fred.
I want to make it to my son's daycare safe then home safe. So this is my bike and what I wear. I feel I am everything but a flag flying Fred.
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I consider a Fred to be someone who puts safety and practicality before fashion and coolness. Therefore the definition can vary.
I want to make it to my son's daycare safe then home safe. So this is my bike and what I wear. I feel I am everything but a flag flying Fred.
I want to make it to my son's daycare safe then home safe. So this is my bike and what I wear. I feel I am everything but a flag flying Fred.
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I've heard the theory that we're named "Freds" after that fellow who rode around the world. But I don't quite believe that that's really where it came from. (Maybe...I'll admit....but I have doubts)
I think it's a derogatory term placed on us by those who are more into having 'the right equipment/clothing'. I suspect that what the really mean is that we look like Ward Cleaver riding Pee Wee Herman's bike.
Personally, I embrace the term Fred and would not want to be thought of as a 'roadie'. But that's a matter of taste. And no one would ever mistake me for a roadie anyway.
I think it's a derogatory term placed on us by those who are more into having 'the right equipment/clothing'. I suspect that what the really mean is that we look like Ward Cleaver riding Pee Wee Herman's bike.
Personally, I embrace the term Fred and would not want to be thought of as a 'roadie'. But that's a matter of taste. And no one would ever mistake me for a roadie anyway.
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Sometimes I run errands on my bicycle and wear normal shorts over top of my bibs. My Wife now asks if we are going as "Freds" so that she can dress appropriately.
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Sometimes I'll refer to the general cycling community as the collective "Fred" as in, "oh look honey it's a few degrees warmer today so Fred decided to hop on his bike and take a ride around Central Park."
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#43
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Anyone who doesn't spend at least a few grand on a bike.
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This is a fun thread.
I tell my family all the time that I'm pretty sure I'm a Fred. I only ride solo, never done a group ride,, ever. I've ridden with a friend twice and I let him stay three bike lengths ahead the whole time. I usually wear baggy shorts, no helmet and a cycling cap. Cheap dry fit shirts made by Starter that I get at the Walmarks. I don't shave and the sun glasses I use for riding are saftey glasses. My bike is purely stock and has a Schwinn frame pump on it.
I tell my family all the time that I'm pretty sure I'm a Fred. I only ride solo, never done a group ride,, ever. I've ridden with a friend twice and I let him stay three bike lengths ahead the whole time. I usually wear baggy shorts, no helmet and a cycling cap. Cheap dry fit shirts made by Starter that I get at the Walmarks. I don't shave and the sun glasses I use for riding are saftey glasses. My bike is purely stock and has a Schwinn frame pump on it.
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Err... I've dropped a lot of cash on multiple bikes mostly second hand and some cost about $2000 to build. The price of the bike is dependant on how old you want it to be, just what specs you want, and where you are. In South Korea anything imported gets hit with taxes that doubles the price. I won't ride a bike long distance that doesn't have reliable components and they cost.
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#48
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Err... I've dropped a lot of cash on multiple bikes mostly second hand and some cost about $2000 to build. The price of the bike is dependant on how old you want it to be, just what specs you want, and where you are. In South Korea anything imported gets hit with taxes that doubles the price. I won't ride a bike long distance that doesn't have reliable components and they cost.
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A FRED I am proud to call a friend and there could very well be few to none who have come close to his accomplishments......
The Man Who Rode to the Moon (and back) (twice) | Miles 4 Melanoma
The Man Who Rode to the Moon (and back) (twice) | Miles 4 Melanoma