Looking at it from the outside, I don't think there is a distinct line separating roadies from cyclists who just ride road bicycles on the road, but just as with everything from running to kayaking, there will be a group who see themselves as truly serious and elite. They will see those will all the latest and greatest gear, but who are not in top physical shape, as posers, or poseurs. Even roadies seem unable to agree on the definition of a Fred.

There is even a book out now, on Roadies. I found it entertaining, and learned some things about the Roadie culture. I know I cannot be a true Roadie, with my current job and schedule, because I cannot get enough sleep to recover from the intensity level of training rides needed to be a true Roadie. I also tend to like retro bikes, without the latest/greatest gruppos, and wear looser pants and shorts over my lycra most of the time, so I don't look like a Roadie. A Roadie would be likely to see me as a Fred. For that matter, I am not a commuter, either, but I learn much from reading this part of BF, keeping up to date on commuting issues, finding stuff relevant to my police patrol job. (I may start commuting in cooler weather, if I can build a rig that will discreetly haul all of my equipment back and forth; discretion is an issue, with a shotgun and perhaps a rifle being part of that equipment.)

When I lived by the water, I guess I would have been the sea kayaking equivalent of a Roadie, as I have a very fast boat, three high-end paddles, and had a very low resting pulse of about 40, indicating a quite high level of fitness at the time. (You paddle with your whole body, not just the arms.) Before my knees wore out, I was a serious runner, too. Perhaps, someday, I will have the time to get enough rest to recover from cycling workouts, and can aspire to being a Roadie. If they don't like my choice of pants, though, they might still see me as a Fred. As if I care. I want belt loops and pockets.