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Fred is everywhere on my commute.

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Old 02-17-09, 03:21 PM
  #51  
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I wear tights with shorts over them for my commute because it's easy, warm, and I don't have to worry about anything getting into the chain. Can I be Posenger Fred, or do I need to get a messenger bag for that?
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Old 02-17-09, 03:41 PM
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Based on the Wikipedia's multiple definitions it appears that 90%+ of riders could be considered Freds, at least the way I read it.

Riding a high $$$ CF road bike slowly while wearing a racing jersey, Fred.

Riding a FG track bike as transportation, Fred.

Commuter or liesure bike use, particularly in lycra & spandex bike gear, Fred

Riding while wearing SPD sandals, Fred

Pewee Herman, definitely Fred

Embrace your Fredness! I am old enough so that I dress the way I want, ride the bikes that I want when I want and wearing what I want and to heck with anyone else's opinion. Based on many of his bikes, and his expressed preference for riding in sandals, Sheldon Brown was totally Fred by many peoples standards. He certainly is a widely admired Fred from what I can see.
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Old 02-17-09, 06:38 PM
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i dont wear spandex/tights when i ride... i rock shorts and a tee usually with a smart***** remark on it and wore spandex on race day... i didnt train everyday. i rode everyday, raced, did a few tri's, race bmx, trails bmx and mtb.... i believe that there are "FREDS" out there.... when someone watches a tour on tv or when they over hear a convo at work and go out and buy a sweet ***** complete and try to jump into a group the first day without being on a bike in years....the guy who spends $$thousands$$ on his bike/s and just rides around town with a smirk on his face.
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Old 02-17-09, 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by CCrew
Is there such a thing as a fixie-fred?
Yes. They "ride" $20 garage sale bikes that they've "fixied" and wear $1,200 worth of "bike clothes." They're not sure what kind of mileage they do not because of the complete lack of accessories like cyclo computers and breaks. No, they're unsure of their mileage because they haven't completed one yet. They rest their bike against poles hoping that someone, anyone really, will ride off with their bike so they won't have to stop before that light at the bottom of the hill on the way home.
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Old 02-17-09, 06:53 PM
  #55  
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...............................................it may be correct that I am everywhere. But, I have never seen you commuting.
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Birth Certificate, Passport, Marriage License Driver's License and Residency Permit all say I'm a Fred. I guess there's no denying it.
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Old 02-17-09, 07:04 PM
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I never understood how "Fred" became a derogatory term. "Fred" is a real person. Of his multiple claims to fame is accidentally ending up in the middle of a bike race in Italy and kicking all their asses. He was in the middle of touring around the world by bike.
The origin of the term was a slam agains slow roadies getting the butt served to them by a guy in full pack on a brick of a bike.

Meet Fred. He is alive and well in Athens GA and just turned 97 last fall.

https://media.www.redandblack.com/med...-2572547.shtml
https://www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/legacybirchmore.html
https://www.onlineathens.com/stories/...70721041.shtml


Read Freds book about riding around the world.
https://www.amazon.com/Around-World-B.../dp/1887813128
Go see Fred's bike in the Smithsonian
https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/meta/html...elcome&Welcome
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Old 02-17-09, 07:09 PM
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Here's the dirty little secret for those of you who ain't managed to figure it out.

We're all freds.

Once you realize and accept that, your sphincter will relax and life won't be so stressful.
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Old 02-17-09, 07:15 PM
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Esophageal sphincter?
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Old 02-17-09, 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Grim
I never understood how "Fred" became a derogatory term. "Fred" is a real person. Of his multiple claims to fame is accidentally ending up in the middle of a bike race in Italy and kicking all their asses. He was in the middle of touring around the world by bike.
The origin of the term was a slam agains slow roadies getting the butt served to them by a guy in full pack on a brick of a bike.

Meet Fred. He is alive and well in Athens GA and just turned 97 last fall.

https://media.www.redandblack.com/med...-2572547.shtml
https://www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/legacybirchmore.html
https://www.onlineathens.com/stories/...70721041.shtml


Read Freds book about riding around the world.
https://www.amazon.com/Around-World-B.../dp/1887813128
Go see Fred's bike in the Smithsonian
https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/meta/html...elcome&Welcome
That man is my hero.
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Old 02-17-09, 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by chipcom
Here's the dirty little secret for those of you who ain't managed to figure it out.

We're all freds.

Once you realize and accept that, your sphincter will relax and life won't be so stressful.
TRUE!
there will always be "that guy" that your group will fly by and chuckle....its been me but i chuckle back and say hey your new order of butt balm came in... ha..... I usually ride by myself but have a small group i enjoy riding with because they enjoy riding and talking about the ride afterwards...being a MTB ride, not road......and not caring about other people.
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Old 02-17-09, 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by crhilton
... accessories like cyclo computers and breaks....
Don't forget break-fred
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Old 02-17-09, 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by NEXUS
You are Mormon-Underwear-Fred.
Well shoot, I was hoping more for something like Awesome-Pants-Fred, but that works too.
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Old 02-17-09, 07:43 PM
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You are Angel-Pants-Fred.
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Old 02-17-09, 07:45 PM
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If you are wearing regular clothes on a loaded commuter bike and you burn past a bunch of roadies then that means you are not Fred but all the ones you passed are.
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Old 02-17-09, 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Grim
I never understood how "Fred" became a derogatory term. "Fred" is a real person. Of his multiple claims to fame is accidentally ending up in the middle of a bike race in Italy and kicking all their asses. He was in the middle of touring around the world by bike.
The origin of the term was a slam agains slow roadies getting the butt served to them by a guy in full pack on a brick of a bike.

Meet Fred. He is alive and well in Athens GA and just turned 97 last fall.

https://media.www.redandblack.com/med...-2572547.shtml
https://www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/legacybirchmore.html
https://www.onlineathens.com/stories/...70721041.shtml


Read Freds book about riding around the world.
https://www.amazon.com/Around-World-B.../dp/1887813128
Go see Fred's bike in the Smithsonian
https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/meta/html...elcome&Welcome
This guy has been my hero for a long time now. He's the reason why I've never perceived the fred label as derogatory, quite the opposite actually, it's a huge compliment.
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Old 02-17-09, 07:51 PM
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But the thing is Fred is not a Fred!
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Old 02-17-09, 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Jonahhobbes
Thank you Cyclaholic I posted this on another forum after I naively asked why more people don't have helmet-mounted mirrors? I received the usual "Lol cuse it's so Fred" comments and was able to smite them with this passage! Thank you again!
LOL, that's gold! ...shortly after that picture of my helmet I fitted a rear view mirror to it.

I'm happy you got some mileage out of it.
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Old 02-17-09, 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Cyclaholic
This guy has been my hero for a long time now. He's the reason why I've never perceived the fred label as derogatory, quite the opposite actually, it's a huge compliment.
I get to Athens Regularly. I'm hoping to meet him soon think it would be cool to get a bunch of Cyclists together for his 100th B-day in 2011.
From all accounts I hear from people who have met him...he sure doesn't show his age and still gets around pretty good. In his mid 70's he built this stone wall by himself.
https://www.onlineathens.com/stories/...09010019.shtml
https://books.google.com/books?id=bU9...sult#PPA154,M1

They have a Trail day in the spring and I plan to hit the next one.
https://spotted.onlineathens.com/gall....php?id=400533

This years billing:
9th Annual Birchmore Trail Day-Join Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division staff and Memorial Park staff for an afternoon hike and activities. You can meet the famous Fred Birchmore, win a prize for hiking the trail and enjoy activities such as leaf rubbings and face paining. Program Date: Sunday, May 17 Program Time: 2:00 p.m. Location: Birchmore Trail head (near the Zoo Operations Center) Fee: Free and open to the public.
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Old 02-17-09, 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by NEXUS
If you are wearing regular clothes on a loaded commuter bike and you burn past a bunch of roadies then that means you are not Fred but all the ones you passed are.
Not if they are stopped.
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Old 02-17-09, 09:28 PM
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I'd rather be a Fred, er, Doris, Wilma whatever, than worry about what people will think of my red milk crate with the red reflectors. It's the only thing that will hold a full sized frozen turkey. That is, when I go shop for a full sized, frozen turkey...
BTW, I saw a capable young fellow pushing a fine looking fixie along the sidewalk in town and I wanted to say, "Why aren't you riding that?" But I was too far away. I'm sure he had his reasons.
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Old 02-17-09, 09:30 PM
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Milk crate doesn't make you Fred though unless you have the pantyhose on.
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Old 02-17-09, 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Grim
I never understood how "Fred" became a derogatory term. "Fred" is a real person. Of his multiple claims to fame is accidentally ending up in the middle of a bike race in Italy and kicking all their asses. He was in the middle of touring around the world by bike.
The origin of the term was a slam agains slow roadies getting the butt served to them by a guy in full pack on a brick of a bike.

Meet Fred. He is alive and well in Athens GA and just turned 97 last fall.

https://media.www.redandblack.com/med...-2572547.shtml
https://www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/legacybirchmore.html
https://www.onlineathens.com/stories/...70721041.shtml


Read Freds book about riding around the world.
https://www.amazon.com/Around-World-B.../dp/1887813128
Go see Fred's bike in the Smithsonian
https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/meta/html...elcome&Welcome
I know Mr. Birchmore.
Great compliment to be called a Fred.
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Old 02-17-09, 09:55 PM
  #73  
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I bet even Lance is Fred at times too.
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Old 02-17-09, 10:25 PM
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nexus is an a-hole fred, or is that fred's a-hole? Guess it's better then being a fried a-hole, or an a-hole fried.
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Old 02-17-09, 10:56 PM
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You are Got-Sand-in-My-Vagina-Fred
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