Newb question - What/Who is Fred?

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10-09-08 | 05:40 PM

#26

Mr_Christopher

Thread Starter

insert witty comment here

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 846

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From: Dallas Texas

Bikes: 2016 Specialized AWOL, 2011 Electra Bike Ticino, '09 Trek 7.2 FX, Peugeot UE 18

10-09-08 | 05:45 PM

#27

caloso

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 40,863

Likes: 3,115

From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

What a Fred!

10-09-08 | 05:47 PM

#28

Mr_Christopher

Thread Starter

insert witty comment here

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 846

Likes: 0

From: Dallas Texas

Bikes: 2016 Specialized AWOL, 2011 Electra Bike Ticino, '09 Trek 7.2 FX, Peugeot UE 18

10-09-08 | 05:49 PM

#29

caloso

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 40,863

Likes: 3,115

From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

10-09-08 | 05:58 PM

#30

Mr_Christopher

Thread Starter

insert witty comment here

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 846

Likes: 0

From: Dallas Texas

Bikes: 2016 Specialized AWOL, 2011 Electra Bike Ticino, '09 Trek 7.2 FX, Peugeot UE 18

Fred got action!

10-09-08 | 05:58 PM

#31

sonatageek

Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 2,766

Likes: 7

From: Cleveland,Ohio

I can sum up my bikes and my outfit as....

Yabba Dabba Doo!!!

10-09-08 | 06:00 PM

#32

Mr_Christopher

Thread Starter

insert witty comment here

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 846

Likes: 0

From: Dallas Texas

Bikes: 2016 Specialized AWOL, 2011 Electra Bike Ticino, '09 Trek 7.2 FX, Peugeot UE 18

The greatest Fred EVAH!

10-09-08 | 06:02 PM

#33

RedC

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 766

Likes: 0

From: Sebring, Florida

Bikes: Trek Navigator, LeMond Buenos Aires, Madone 5.9, S-Works Roubaix

One of the great things about starting to ride a bicycle at 66 is I'm really enjoying what I'm doing and I don't really care what anyone thinks of me. I show up on Saturday mornings ride with some of the roadies and although I usually have the heaviest bicycle in the group the fact that I'm hanging with the leaders (of the "C" ride) at the end has caused them to treat me with respect.

10-09-08 | 09:33 PM

#34

Andy_K

Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 15,103

Likes: 4,737

From: Beaverton, OR

Bikes: Yes

Karl Marx hanging with a Fred:

10-10-08 | 12:08 AM

#35

kweichsel

is a cheesehead

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 85

Likes: 0

From: H2O town (MA)

Bikes: 2002 Jamis Quest, 2007 IRO Rob Roy

I always thought the evolution of Fred was:

1. Freddy Fender

2. Freddy Fenders

3. Fred with fenders

Alas, now I learn that Planet Bike has renamed their fenders. The chain is broken!

10-10-08 | 08:20 AM

#36

ChikkenNoodul

Newbie

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

From: Boston

Bikes: '95 Balance AL-250

Here's an article from '94 about "Fred"

https://www.adventurecorps.com/way/freds.html

10-10-08 | 09:25 AM

#37

chipcom

Infamous Member

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 24,360

Likes: 7

From: Ohio

Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hickeydog

Your first def was that of an OCP.

OCP is a BF invention from a only couple of years ago.

__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey

10-10-08 | 10:20 AM

#38

DanKMTB

Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 110

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by unkchunk

fred

1) n. a person who spends a lot of money on his bike and clothing, but still can't ride. "What a fred -- too much Lycra and titanium and not enough skill." Synonym for poser. Occasionally called a "barney".

2) n. a person who has a mishmash of old gear, does't care at all about technology or fashion, didn't race or follow racing, etc. Often identified by chainring marks on white calf socks. Used by "serious" roadies to disparage utility cyclists and touring riders, especially after these totally unfashionable "freds" drop the "serious" roadies on hills because the "serious" guys were really posers. This term is from road touring and, according to popular myth, "Fred" was a well-known grumpy old touring rider, who really was named Fred.

You mean like the guy bringing up the rear here, in one of my favorite cycling pics of all time?

10-10-08 | 10:44 AM

#39

ryker

Slow mechanic

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 238

Likes: 0

From: Calgary

www.urbandictionary.com has to be your goto site for questions like this

10-10-08 | 08:11 PM

#40

TexasEdit

Member

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

I am a 20-mile rt commuter whose daily driver is a Giant Cyprus; at times I've put areo bars on the riser handlebars because it is comfortable; I bungee cord my backpack with my work clothes to my rear rack; I recently rode an MS 150 carrying my gear in an old, grey Cannondale handlebar bag.

Worst of all, my bike has a kickstand.

I am Fred.

10-11-08 | 08:20 AM

#41

benda18

Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 458

Likes: 0

From: Durham, NC

Bikes: LHT + FreeRadical

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasEdit

...Worst of all, my bike has a kickstand.

oh snap!

10-11-08 | 08:39 AM

#42

rugerben

Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 1,509

Likes: 5

Quote:

Who is Fred?

(opens up the peep slot in the door)

Fred?
Fred who?
Who's asking?
How do you know about Fred?
You a g-man? Cop?

10-11-08 | 09:09 AM

#43

Grim

Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 2,978

Likes: 4

From: Atlanta

Bikes: Cannondale T700s and a few others

Fred Birchmore is a DOG and is alive and well in his mid 90's in Athens GA. His bike "Bucephelus" that he rode around the world is in the Smithsonian.
https://books.google.com/books?id=bU9...sult#PPA154,M1

https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/meta/html...elcome&Welcome

https://www.onlineathens.com/stories/...70721041.shtml

https://content.sos.state.ga.us/cdm4/...ISOBOX=1&REC=1

https://content.sos.state.ga.us/cdm4/...ISOBOX=1&REC=1

Its funny but he really did end up wining a bike race in I think it was Italy and he didn't know he was in it LOL. That's where the story of the old "Fred" on a beat up bike with a bunch of gear passing everybody came from.

10-12-08 | 10:44 AM

#44

alpinist

Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 385

Likes: 0

From: Seattle

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro 26, Novara Strada, Novara Forza

What if I wear black socks?

10-12-08 | 06:06 PM

#45

777arty

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 61

Likes: 0

From: Detroit

Bikes: kona smoke, POS Heinz 57

i've always imaged fred as:

"Fred Willard in full spandex/race trim, pulling up to John Candy asking to race"

wasn't that in a movie? LOL

M

12-12-08 | 08:34 AM

#46

judkins1970

Lost In Tennessee!

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 149

Likes: 0

could this be a fred???

Attached Images

bushbiking.jpg (22.7 KB, 69 views)

12-12-08 | 09:56 AM

#47

Pinyon

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 1,380

Likes: 0

From: Northern Colorado

Most of us are Freds. I'm a Fred. I sense another "I am Sparticus" moment coming...

12-12-08 | 10:09 AM

#48

LanceMach

PopCycle

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 87

Likes: 0

From: SF East Bay

Bikes: Bianchi Eros (06), Bianch Boardwalk (nice old steel commuter), Gary Fisher Gitche Gumee, Trek "Antelope" 820 (ancient!)

BE the Fred

12-12-08 | 10:31 AM

#49

neilfein

Senior Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 3,798

Likes: 1

From: Highland Park, NJ, USA

Bikes: "Hildy", a Novara Randonee touring bike; a 16-speed Bike Friday Tikit; and a Specialized Stumpjumper frame-based built-up MTB, now serving as the kid-carrier, grocery-getter.

This dashboard is Fred: