As others have said, I'm pretty sure this was tounge-in-cheek but I have to say the following. The "sub-Fred" could very well be the guy that could beat you all down on a bike. There are a LOT of guys down here that ride around on wal-mart special all day long becuase that's their only transportation, I'm guessing with just a tiny bit of focused training these guys could kick some serious butt. I definetly not an elitest and I don't think of myself as a fred (although I'm sure most of you would).

I remember reading an editorial a few years back in "Bicycling" that was called "Mr. Black Socks". It was basically about the preceptions of "Freds" and how that old guy on the steel bike wearing mid-calf black socks was kicking along at a good clip while the author was trying to run him down with his latest carbon technology and lycra/aero whatever....the author never did catch Fred and found a new respect for Mr. Black Socks.

Now, don't we all feel a little more warm and fuzzier?

Chris
"The names's Fred, Fred Black Socks..."