rydabent

Sorry to say the term "Fred" comes from a tiny percentage of fully kitted snobs that seem to have unlimited funds. They try to impress others with their $5000+ bikes and their expensive kit.

Im sorry to say they just wasted all that money, because it doesnt impress me at all.

The bottom line is that an expensive bike and a full kit does NOT make you fast.

dcwldct

I feel like Fredness is relative to the cycling environment. In other words, commuter Fred is quite different from roadie Fred.
The common factor seems to be kit/bike/accessories or behavior not particularly suited or appropriate to the cycling task or environment at hand. The typical "fred" that I picture is riding helmetless on a sidewalk the wrong way against traffic on a hybrid with under-inflated tires.
Of course, the roadie guy I passed last night probably falls into the Fred category as well. He was kitted out in full team GB gear on a bike that probably cost several times what mine did and was riding erratically, slowly, and completely unable to hold his line.

bobwysiwyg

Having read this thread, I'm confident I satisfy the definition in someone's eyes.

wphamilton

I don't know, I don't really look at their bikes or what they're wearing. If they pass me up when I'm not loafing I just figure them for fast.

I'll admit to one vanity though: I did put a brass bell on my road bike to stake my claim to Fredliness. (Fred-ness? Fredity?) And I know how to use it

dynodonn 

Years ago, when I got dropped by a "Fredricka" on an old English 3 speed with a horribly squeaky chain, I knew then and there that something had to be terribly wrong with the bike that I was riding at the time, especially when I was "maxed out". An updated and better fitting bicycle was added to my list of possessions shortly thereafter.

Flinstone

So what is Mr. Flinstone's first name? That's right, and I fit the bill in the unshaved roadie interpretation of the word, but I can drop your carbon bike behind my stone-wheeled 4 seater (I'll give you about an 8 stroke head-start while I get reved up).

No seriously, and I'm really not that fast (but I'm getting faster), but I do often have young "kids" on carbon and apparently sponsored(by the look of it), very clearly feel the need to "drop" me on the trails (don't you have to be in a group to get dropped?) This often happens up short hills, with them standing the whole way, only for me to race by them when they blow up 10 minutes later, not that I cared to change anything about how I ride at either encounter. Most of the riders I encounter are actually very friendly and encouraging, not competitive with strangers. It's weird to blatantly compete with a stranger. I mean you have no idea what they've been through that day and even if you did, so what?

CliffordK

I've never felt the need to ride around looking like a billboard.

I presume most of the jerseys you see are actually BOUGHT.

Maelochs

"Fred" is any cyclist who doesn't look like you ... and thus doesn't reinforce your sense of doing it right ... if you are the sort that would need that (and thus the sort who would classify others superficially.)

"Dropped" means "I stretched my imaginary bike-peen so that briefly it was longer than some other person's ... despite the fact that only people who call others 'Fred' even have bike-peens."

It's all about the "jocks" and "jock-wannabes" calling kids "nerd" and "loser" in the halls in high school ... except the jocks and wannabes now have adult bodies.

On other words, it is about that group of people who should thank the rest of us for existing, because without us they'd have no imaginary standard by which they could feel like special members of the exclusive club ... and they'd have to confront their actual beings and see where they were lacking.

Happily, most people here seem to understand that people who talk about 'dropping" some "Fred" ( "I gave him 'The Look" and dialed up to 400 watts") are some of the most comical figures on or off a bicycle. Those that don't are all the funnier because of that.

Maybe I should make a "Too slow to catch Fred" jersey.

PepeM

I'm always curious. When someone passes you, how do you determine that they 'felt the need to drop you' as opposed to, say, them just riding in whichever way they want.

ypsetihw

when it is obvious they've just blown a gasket chasing and passing you, while making eye contact with a bit of smugness about them, I am fairly certain that, as far as they are concerned, you are in a race with them, and they have just won. it appeared that he was trying to show off by poaching a pass and interpreting it as getting the KOM on the whole city. this is especially true when, upon returning the favor, these people tend to disappear, or act like you aren't there when you meet at the next light. it's mostly the competitive look on their face and the fact that they refuse to actually interact like humans, with words and interaction beyond flying by with their flannel flapping in the breeze.

I'm all about the informal sprint around town, and I'll gladly accept the challenge or a wheelsucker if I'm moving particularly well through traffic. but if you're gonna play with me, at least chat me up before or after. we are both obviously into bikes. we are both capable of riding at least somewhat fast for some period (however short) of time, why not say hi? better yet, why not propose an actual informal race, and we can meander to an appropriate street for such shenanigans where traffic is of little concern and some guidelines can be set for this "competition?" this is what I do when I drag race people in my car . . .

I had a very spirited commute a couple weeks ago with a random guy, and after passing eachother back and forth for a while, we started chatting, and ended up taking turns pulling on the ride home. it was my fastest commute "average speed" to date, and if I see him around, I'll happily say hi again. I had fun AND met another local cyclist. Also, he was an actual capable cyclist with some group riding etiquette.

dsaul

This place needs a "LIKE" button.

indyfabz

Duh. This is BF. Many members can read minds. At least they think they can.

PepeM

Wasn't really referring to you, I actually found your story pretty hilarious. Just a general thing I've noticed. Of course, no BF member has ever lost one of these casual races, even though they did not want to be involved and weren't even trying.

PepeM

Reminds me of that time I was doing some 'Race-winning intervals' on the same stretch of road someone else was riding. I must have passed him, sprinting, three or four times just to be overtaken by him during my rest period. I hope he posted the story of how hard he dropped me without even trying while I was trying so hard to beat him somewhere.

maartendc

I agree with you.

I think this whole thread is also about people with $5000 bikes who get self conscious when they are not the fastest person on the road. They feel foolish when they get passed by someone with a crappy bike or not wearing Lycra.

Who cares? All people have the right to bike with the outfit they want and at what speed they want. You should respect everyone.

I am from Belgium, where little old ladies ride their bikes to the shop, kids ride their bike to school, and people race their bike on group rides in the weekend. Just because someone isn't on a $5000 bike or going slowly doesn't make them any less of a cyclist.

This thread is dumb.

ypsetihw

no NEVER! lol

we don't want to try because we know that having a BF user name adds 13% to your FTP. it's science. and it's not fair for other riders.

PepeM

I just keep posting to get the Vo2max boost that comes with reaching 3,000 posts.

ypsetihw

It started out as just a little story I wrote while having a beer because I literally have nothing better to do than this lol.

I do find it interesting and somewhat telling of the BF community that this post has gotten FAR AND AWAY more responses, and spurred more discussion, than any other thread I've started.

mprelaw

^^

kickstart

That's not entirely accurate, I almost always loose as I don't play the game, and avoid locations popular with the weekend warriors.

FullGas

doesn't seem to be a consensus on what a 'fred' is...

is it a dorky older dude with a gas-pipe clunker bike, ancient, yellowing Bell helmet with a mirror on both sides, knee-high tube socks, and cut-off denim overalls that's deceptively fast...

or is it a fully-kitted faux racer with an expensive bike that's of only average ability...?

when that's decided, I'll take a shot at ridiculing whatever it is that's being discussed.

I-Like-To-Bike

Ability is irrelevant with this definition.

caloso

This is me about once a week.

netman9718

My daughter calls me a Fred because I use the valve stem caps that comes with the tube.

Metacortex

https://vimeo.com/5036151