This makes the fourth attempt to post this. All the previous ones ended with a blank page, after several minutes waiting for it to load. So...wishing myself luck here...

Anyway, here's my tale:

I had an out-of-bike experience today.

I was pedaling along on Harbor Boulevard, when up ahead I spotted an older guy on a MTB. As I got closer, I became nonplussed (and I don't get nonplussed too often!). This guy was the spitting image of ME, six months ago.

He was a Clydesdale, of course. He was making his way on a shiney new MTB but his progress was painfully slow. He was clearly a Fred, as well -- nothing he wore but his helmet was related to cycling. As I passed him, I was astonished how much he looked like me a while back -- were we twins, separated at the LBS?

His expression was a combination of exhaustion and delight. Though he had no speed, he had determination. He was obviously new to cycling, but, despite the effort it demanded, having a ball.

I felt a sense of kinship and briefly considered pacing him, perhaps to engage in conversation, perhaps to bond with a fellow traveler at a simliar junction in life.

Yes, I considered all that, and then came to my senses, and hammered. Soon, he was yesterday's news. I dropped him like a lead pipe.

What a Fred!

Former nice guy turns roadshark....its a Darwinian world out there.. San Diego will soon to be littered with Fred carcasses.....I kinda miss the old DeeGee who stopped to help old ladies and stuff...even ones without Perfect Butts.

Yup, Big Paulie, we were just too nice, created a monster that's terrorizing the streets of San Diego...stomping on newbies, smushing egos, leering at Butts, wearing pink socks. Who'da thought?

Hey -- someone hijacked my account, posted as me, and even changed my avatar! How do I get a moderator to check this out?

Agree about still the difficulty in posting. But that was not a new rider- you have turned into a time traveller and it was you last year. Do you remember being passed by a fit Fred last year on one of your earlier rides?

You did right in not talking to him and breezing past him on your celest. Last time I stopped to talk to a rider on the trails- I never saw him again. Must be something about other dimensions and not meeting each other.

Welcome to the Fredlight zone.

Insightful post! Reminder to self....do not take my bike to San Diego to avoid getting dropped by Gary!!

Seriously, another good and different way of measuring progress.

on my frist ride i stop about ten [10] times my frist ride was a mile, it was a gooooooood mile.

Wow! I've been off the forums for a few months and expected some things would have changed. But gary...using terms like pacing, then Hammering and dropping other riders? what the hell? You're making me feel like I'm not worthy.........

aj

aj, I don't know what's come over me. I must have drank the kool-aid from BF or something. I'm almost unbearable to live with now -- and I live alone!

In two months, I will become a Sophomore. My freshman year as a cyclist is rapidly coming to a close.

You used the word peleton too? And a new avatar...is that you introducing The Beatles?

It's good to be back. I've missed you geezers. I was spending way too much time on the computer and getting nothing done, so I turned off the computer for a couple of months and did, well, nothing.

aj

Welcome back! Not much has changed, except that DnvrFox has a curse out on me for unknown reasons, I'm scheming to get even with Cheeseflavor (over what I can't remember), and Cheeseflavor is out to get DnvrFox.

And yes, that's me introducing the Beatles a few years ago in my new avatar. Thanks for noticing!

doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo

I was dropped like a FRED today by a couple of young riders on the Hennepin Canal Bike Path. One was riding a Kawasaki Ninja and the other a Honda. My legs could were not in good enough shape to get my Cypress up to 35 MPH to keep up.