What is "Freddy" with regards to Bikes?
#26
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Does riding a Fredly bike make you a Fred? If so, I'm guilty as charged.
#27
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If it matters to you that you might be a Fred - you aren't. Freds don't care what you ride, but like it if you do. Freds ride their bikes with whatever gear they deem necessary without worrying about weight, color coordination, or the latest and greatest doodad. Freds just ride, and can usually be identified readily by the bugs that adorn their grins as they do so. IMHO.
#28
CRIKEY!!!!!!!
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The path of the righteous commuter is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish cager and the tyranny of evil roadies. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the newbie commuter cyclist through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the builder of ridiculously bright DIY bicycle lights. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brother commuter. And you will know I am a Fred when I lay my vengeance upon thee...
#29
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... I have recently stopped wearing my cool Primal, iZumi, etc... $75 cycling jerseys and now rotate among 8 identical hi-vis yellow C9 shirts...
I think I'm a Wilma
I think I'm a Wilma
#30
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#31
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#32
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[QUOTE=Cyclaholic;13342072]The path of the righteous commuter is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish cager and the tyranny of evil roadies. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the newbie commuter cyclist through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the builder of ridiculously bright DIY bicycle lights. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brother commuter. And you will know I am a Fred when I lay my vengeance upon thee...
So you think that's funny, do ya?
- Slim
PS.
Some might get a giggle out of it
So you think that's funny, do ya?
- Slim
PS.
Some might get a giggle out of it
Last edited by SlimRider; 10-10-11 at 08:27 AM.
#33
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It's funny how there are a few different interpretations of the word and each one is used by a certain group of cyclist to knock a different type of rider.
I don't consider you a fred unless you have a full carbon fiber road bike and you're terribly out of shape, but still trying to wear spandex.
utility riders with racks/fenders/bells? that's just smart
bearded hippies dropping roadies in the dust? that's just awesome
I don't consider you a fred unless you have a full carbon fiber road bike and you're terribly out of shape, but still trying to wear spandex.
utility riders with racks/fenders/bells? that's just smart
bearded hippies dropping roadies in the dust? that's just awesome
#34
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Oh, crap!
I just found this, in an old (2009) thread on Fred:
"Do you by any chance listen to your ipod when riding? Do you wear a giro helmet by chance? Do you enjoy wearing lycra? Do you see Lance Armstrong in your rear view mirror when riding? Better yet, do you have a rear view mirror mounted on any of your bikes?"
Okay, no mirror (yet, give me time, I swore I'd never have panniers, either, now I'm proud to rock 'em...), but yeah, I bought a Giro this summer, have my iPhone mounted on my stem of my 29er that I ride to work on, and I do wear close to cycle-specific gear (not quite, I don't think my lumpy self should be in full-on lycra)... Oh yeah, and Lance? Yeah, not going to start anything in the BF about him, but no, he doesn't ride on my trips...
Yeah, I'm a Wilma... and no chance am I posting pics of me!
I just found this, in an old (2009) thread on Fred:
"Do you by any chance listen to your ipod when riding? Do you wear a giro helmet by chance? Do you enjoy wearing lycra? Do you see Lance Armstrong in your rear view mirror when riding? Better yet, do you have a rear view mirror mounted on any of your bikes?"
Okay, no mirror (yet, give me time, I swore I'd never have panniers, either, now I'm proud to rock 'em...), but yeah, I bought a Giro this summer, have my iPhone mounted on my stem of my 29er that I ride to work on, and I do wear close to cycle-specific gear (not quite, I don't think my lumpy self should be in full-on lycra)... Oh yeah, and Lance? Yeah, not going to start anything in the BF about him, but no, he doesn't ride on my trips...
Yeah, I'm a Wilma... and no chance am I posting pics of me!
#35
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"Fredliness" is a state of mind, it's utilitarian and practical. It's selfish in a good way because it doesn't care what you think. It's pure and it's about enjoying a ride without bending to anyone elses idea of how it should be done. Competative racers hate Freds because Freds are having more fun and not taking things too seriously. It's a mistake to think it's all about the bike, a bike can look like a Fred's bike but it only really becomes Fredly when the Fred gets on and rides it (at 10MPH).
#36
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Expecting to get my first real live road bike today, but am proud to be Fred. My CX bike helps me commute, ride the roads, and actually do CX races, just changing outfits (rack, fenders, lights, etc) depending on what the day requires. And I have learned that getting my ass handed to me by other riders only happens in their minds - I ain't racing them....I race against me.
#37
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Personally I ride mountain bikes, carbon bikes, TT bikes, touring bikes, commuter bikes, fixie/SS, etc….and I have the associated gear that make sense. I don’t wear my TT spandex when I am out touring and I don’t have bags on my TT bike. Fenders make perfect sense on my commuter, but not on my carbon group ride bike. Funny thing….when I am on a group ride, I am Fred cause my friends know I have fenders, headlights, racks on my commuter bike and when I am touring with friends, I am a Fred because I actually own and use the word “kit” and ride carbon….and pretty much all of them say I am an “old” hipster wanna-be cause I like to ride around on my fixie/SS at 45 yrs old.. I guess the moral to the story is we are all Fred according to someone else. Personally I am cool with whatever you want to ride as long as you’re riding. Saving gas, getting healthy and saving your life, etc….as long as you’re pedaling, it’s all good.
Just don’t be a poser. There is nothing worse that the guy who buys all the gear to play the part but doesn’t put in the saddle time. I have seen “that guy” who should not be wearing spandex rolling around on the $5000 race bike and I have seen the guy with the brand new touring rig with high end bags and electronics who’s idea of a “tour” is 20 miles.
Just don’t be a poser. There is nothing worse that the guy who buys all the gear to play the part but doesn’t put in the saddle time. I have seen “that guy” who should not be wearing spandex rolling around on the $5000 race bike and I have seen the guy with the brand new touring rig with high end bags and electronics who’s idea of a “tour” is 20 miles.
#38
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Somebody rocking a 90's mountain bike with clip-on aeros sounds more like a lone wolf to me.
#39
a.k.a., Point Five Dude
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I am a dyed in the wool Fred but to remove any doubts regarding my 'fredhood' I mounted this on my rear rack:
Now even non-cyclists know that I'm a dork. My nine year old son thinks it's great.
Now even non-cyclists know that I'm a dork. My nine year old son thinks it's great.
#40
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"Fredliness" is a state of mind, it's utilitarian and practical. It's selfish in a good way because it doesn't care what you think. It's pure and it's about enjoying a ride without bending to anyone elses idea of how it should be done. Competative racers hate Freds because Freds are having more fun and not taking things too seriously. It's a mistake to think it's all about the bike, a bike can look like a Fred's bike but it only really becomes Fredly when the Fred gets on and rides it (at 10MPH).
#41
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#42
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a "Fred" is someone who is often someone who is more comfortable on their bike (because they use what works for them regardless of how "cool" it is) or has more discretionary income to spend on their hobby than the person using the term to describe him/her.
#43
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Personally I think it's pretty big of me to go out of my way to make rollerbladers feel like normal people. It's a public service that I provide at no charge.
#44
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"Fredliness" is a state of mind, it's utilitarian and practical. It's selfish in a good way because it doesn't care what you think. It's pure and it's about enjoying a ride without bending to anyone elses idea of how it should be done. Competative racers hate Freds because Freds are having more fun and not taking things too seriously. It's a mistake to think it's all about the bike, a bike can look like a Fred's bike but it only really becomes Fredly when the Fred gets on and rides it (at 10MPH).
#45
Hogosha Sekai
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I always thought Fred's definition changes depending which part of the forum your in, hell depending on the context a lot of people on this site seem to revel in being a "Fred" I know over in SS/FG it seems a fred is more someone riding in a full kit and showing off all accessories/unneeded bells and whistles to everyone he can... I'm pretty sure I'm a C&V Fred since I take old bikes and do modernish things to them... but yeah a fred can be a compliment depending on who your talking to and what context, to the generalized insult that everyone gets a different image in their head of (probably why it can also be a compliment).
And if that's a fred, I'm proud to be one.
If it matters to you that you might be a Fred - you aren't. Freds don't care what you ride, but like it if you do. Freds ride their bikes with whatever gear they deem necessary without worrying about weight, color coordination, or the latest and greatest doodad. Freds just ride, and can usually be identified readily by the bugs that adorn their grins as they do so. IMHO.
#46
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I am not entirely sure either, but from what I gather it's anything that makes the bike uncool or practical and arguably safer. Things like fenders, racks and panniers, reflective gear, lights, bells are all considered to be Fred. From what I can gather it's anything that doesn't align with the current fixed gear trend or possibly road cycling as a sport.
No, that's a poseur, almost exactly the opposite of a Fred.
#47
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Panniers are practical, though. I am all for panniers, and have always had some on my utility/touring bikes. Someone who puts them on a road bike, though, is absolutely a Fred.
#48
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#49
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#50
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Fred Talkin':
You're not a real Fred until you can get down with a brand new Trek Madone, decked out with Easy Rider Handlebars and a Banana Seat!
...Yeah! That's what I'm talkin' bout!
< Walks over into the corner, flips his kick-stand, and then folds his arms uptight!>
- Slim
You're not a real Fred until you can get down with a brand new Trek Madone, decked out with Easy Rider Handlebars and a Banana Seat!
...Yeah! That's what I'm talkin' bout!
< Walks over into the corner, flips his kick-stand, and then folds his arms uptight!>
- Slim
Last edited by SlimRider; 10-10-11 at 05:30 PM.