Very good point. If we would explore that a bit maybe we can come a objective description. It seems as if name calling is more the perview of the insecure cyclist. Secure cyclist don't tend to use the term Fred or Poser when describing another rider. More than likely it is how you describe someone that puts you in the Fred Box or the Poser Box. In these forums it seems as if Freds know all about what a poser looks like and Posers know all about what a Fred is. The rest of us don't think about it much. Yes we have group divisions like Roadies, Commuters, utility cyclists, Cruisers and Mountain Bikers but people who are serious about cycling and belong to those groups don't often define someone else as a Fred or Poser.

It seems as if the authority on Posers might be a Fred and the authority on Freds might be a poser.