kind of a "running of the freds" this morning
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 2,781
Bikes: Felt AR1, Cervelo S2
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
kind of a "running of the freds" this morning
i really hate to make a thread like this, because i really don't like this whole "Fred" thing. anything that stratifies also divides....and also i am as big of a poseur (see: flickr) as the next guy so i'm definitely not one to judge.
but: this morning in central park must have been the first day that the temperature was above most cyclists' threshold because it was a mob scene. I usually am in the park by 5:30 and it's quiet and peaceful. usually, only the more dedicated people are up that early, so you can get in a quiet, peaceful, safe ride.....but not this morning. tons of expensive bikes, everybody racing everybody. I was in an 18mph paceline, just doing laps.
on every uphill, i hear a chorus of CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK
on every downhill, it's ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT
then, there was a section where it's easy to get kind of fast, and a delivery truck was parked in one lane. of course, since everyone was going WAY too fast, it was a major panic and some poor guy crashed.
i was kind of stunned by the chaos and poor etiquette.
but: this morning in central park must have been the first day that the temperature was above most cyclists' threshold because it was a mob scene. I usually am in the park by 5:30 and it's quiet and peaceful. usually, only the more dedicated people are up that early, so you can get in a quiet, peaceful, safe ride.....but not this morning. tons of expensive bikes, everybody racing everybody. I was in an 18mph paceline, just doing laps.
on every uphill, i hear a chorus of CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK
on every downhill, it's ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT
then, there was a section where it's easy to get kind of fast, and a delivery truck was parked in one lane. of course, since everyone was going WAY too fast, it was a major panic and some poor guy crashed.
i was kind of stunned by the chaos and poor etiquette.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Posts: 69
Bikes: '93 Rocky Mountain Hammer, '07 Davinci Chicane
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
"Fred"? I've heard it and thought it was the screen name of a guy organizing the Michigan Mountain Mayhem ride.
I'll be a newb and ask, what's a Fred?
I'll be a newb and ask, what's a Fred?
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 2,781
Bikes: Felt AR1, Cervelo S2
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
i also don't ride in late afternoon / evening because of all the runners. CP has a sidewalk, a bike lane, and two car lanes.
the runners use the bike lane to run.
then of course there are the NYCers who have to be different, so they run backwards on the edge of the bike lane or in the street.
of course, they are wearing all black and very difficult to see, and coming AT you.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 2,781
Bikes: Felt AR1, Cervelo S2
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
it's a term that insecure cyclists use to accuse another cyclist of being inauthentic (e.g. not a "real cyclist" or not as "real" as they are) and imply that they are a "true" cyclist. this comes up a lot when you ask a question about color preference on an expensive bike.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Posts: 69
Bikes: '93 Rocky Mountain Hammer, '07 Davinci Chicane
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
it's a term that insecure cyclists use to accuse another cyclist of being inauthentic (e.g. not a "real cyclist" or not as "real" as they are) and imply that they are a "true" cyclist. this comes up a lot when you ask a question about color preference on an expensive bike.
Last edited by davincirider; 05-20-10 at 01:49 PM.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,859
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
In my opinion and by experience here in the states the etiquette kind'a sucks big time. Don't know what else to tell you. Here the weather is pretty nice and a bunch of suckers with mirrors, bells and who knows what else moving around saying at your left, right above and below. Freds everywhere. rather see a poseur than a fred due to the fact that the poseur probably wont get mad even if you are riding at is wheel or if you dont say a sh...T when you are passing them.
TOday i heard a sucker saying i dont want you near me... i went like W..T..F?? THen i asked him twice what he said and he changed the phrase to something else maybe because he thought i was going to hit him in the face or something. Poseur is way more tolerable than a fred in my opinion.
Nice bike my friend.
TOday i heard a sucker saying i dont want you near me... i went like W..T..F?? THen i asked him twice what he said and he changed the phrase to something else maybe because he thought i was going to hit him in the face or something. Poseur is way more tolerable than a fred in my opinion.
Nice bike my friend.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Posts: 69
Bikes: '93 Rocky Mountain Hammer, '07 Davinci Chicane
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Okay so correct me if I'm wrong, (this is the intrawebs after all). A poseur is someone who dresses up and buys the gear to look and act "pro". A Fred is a poseur with attitude?
#9
stole your bike
i really hate to make a thread like this, because i really don't like this whole "Fred" thing. anything that stratifies also divides....and also i am as big of a poseur (see: flickr) as the next guy so i'm definitely not one to judge.
but: this morning in central park must have been the first day that the temperature was above most cyclists' threshold because it was a mob scene. I usually am in the park by 5:30 and it's quiet and peaceful. usually, only the more dedicated people are up that early, so you can get in a quiet, peaceful, safe ride.....but not this morning. tons of expensive bikes, everybody racing everybody. I was in an 18mph paceline, just doing laps.
on every uphill, i hear a chorus of CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK
on every downhill, it's ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT
then, there was a section where it's easy to get kind of fast, and a delivery truck was parked in one lane. of course, since everyone was going WAY too fast, it was a major panic and some poor guy crashed.
i was kind of stunned by the chaos and poor etiquette.
but: this morning in central park must have been the first day that the temperature was above most cyclists' threshold because it was a mob scene. I usually am in the park by 5:30 and it's quiet and peaceful. usually, only the more dedicated people are up that early, so you can get in a quiet, peaceful, safe ride.....but not this morning. tons of expensive bikes, everybody racing everybody. I was in an 18mph paceline, just doing laps.
on every uphill, i hear a chorus of CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK
on every downhill, it's ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT
then, there was a section where it's easy to get kind of fast, and a delivery truck was parked in one lane. of course, since everyone was going WAY too fast, it was a major panic and some poor guy crashed.
i was kind of stunned by the chaos and poor etiquette.
__________________
I like pie
I like pie
#10
Bromptoneer
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 2,942
Bikes: Brompton S2L
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've always thought of a "fred" as a dorky roadie and the "poseur", as you put it, a roadie who plays pro-dress-up.
#11
stole your bike
it's a term that insecure cyclists use to accuse another cyclist of being inauthentic (e.g. not a "real cyclist" or not as "real" as they are) and imply that they are a "true" cyclist. this comes up a lot when you ask a question about color preference on an expensive bike.
__________________
I like pie
I like pie
#12
'09 Synapse Carbon 3
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 727
Bikes: '09 Synapse Carbon 3, R5000, R2000
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sounds more like 'the running of the poseurs'.
From Wiki...
"Fred" is a derisive term used by "serious" road cyclists to describe other cyclists who do not conform to serious road cyclists' norms with regard to dress and equipment, and appear amateurish to them. The term is generally reserved for men, while the rare female Fred is sometimes called a "Doris."
From Wiki...
"Fred" is a derisive term used by "serious" road cyclists to describe other cyclists who do not conform to serious road cyclists' norms with regard to dress and equipment, and appear amateurish to them. The term is generally reserved for men, while the rare female Fred is sometimes called a "Doris."
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: The Dark side of the Moon
Posts: 225
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#14
Portland Fred
it's a term that insecure cyclists use to accuse another cyclist of being inauthentic (e.g. not a "real cyclist" or not as "real" as they are) and imply that they are a "true" cyclist. this comes up a lot when you ask a question about color preference on an expensive bike.
I am a super elite Fred, though I've shortened my title out of modesty.
#15
fuggitivo solitario
Precisely why I don't miss Central Park in the spring and summer for riding; heck I haven't ridden there in a few years because the only time I would be able to is when the yahoos are out. I've been tempted to ride up to 110th through the park, so who knows maybe I will next week but the greenway is a more direct route for me.
i really hate to make a thread like this, because i really don't like this whole "Fred" thing. anything that stratifies also divides....and also i am as big of a poseur (see: flickr) as the next guy so i'm definitely not one to judge.
but: this morning in central park must have been the first day that the temperature was above most cyclists' threshold because it was a mob scene. I usually am in the park by 5:30 and it's quiet and peaceful. usually, only the more dedicated people are up that early, so you can get in a quiet, peaceful, safe ride.....but not this morning. tons of expensive bikes, everybody racing everybody. I was in an 18mph paceline, just doing laps.
on every uphill, i hear a chorus of CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK
on every downhill, it's ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT
then, there was a section where it's easy to get kind of fast, and a delivery truck was parked in one lane. of course, since everyone was going WAY too fast, it was a major panic and some poor guy crashed.
i was kind of stunned by the chaos and poor etiquette.
but: this morning in central park must have been the first day that the temperature was above most cyclists' threshold because it was a mob scene. I usually am in the park by 5:30 and it's quiet and peaceful. usually, only the more dedicated people are up that early, so you can get in a quiet, peaceful, safe ride.....but not this morning. tons of expensive bikes, everybody racing everybody. I was in an 18mph paceline, just doing laps.
on every uphill, i hear a chorus of CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK
on every downhill, it's ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT
then, there was a section where it's easy to get kind of fast, and a delivery truck was parked in one lane. of course, since everyone was going WAY too fast, it was a major panic and some poor guy crashed.
i was kind of stunned by the chaos and poor etiquette.
that said, yours truly will be doing intervals in CP later, most likely towing a bunch of poseurs who can't handle bikes...
#16
Portland Fred
#17
Listen to me
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Lexus Texas
Posts: 2,788
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#19
Portland Fred
#20
Artificial Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Cyberspace
Posts: 7,163
Bikes: Retrospec Judd, Dahon Boardwalk, Specialized Langster
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6732 Post(s)
Liked 5,444 Times
in
3,201 Posts
Now ask about the 41.
__________________
#23
Portland Fred
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NYC - where bicycles go to die
Posts: 1,313
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
CP is nice in the winter because when it is below freezing, it is comforting to know that you are never more than a few miles from the end of the loop. I think that the last time I did laps in the park was January.
#25
stole your bike
The winter is nice because the greenway is my highway. I used to ride in CP regularly when I lived in Manhattan, sometimes doing a few laps there then riding to PP for a couple of laps when I was in the mood to venture around. I don't mind the multitude of riders but the level of ego and inexperience can be a bit much in CP when the masses are out.
__________________
I like pie
I like pie