General tips (on how not to be a Fred)?
01-25-12 | 09:21 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Florida
General tips (on how not to be a Fred)?
I'm just wondering if anyone has any general advice, mostly related to the style of your bike and whatnot. A list of guidelines, basically. I've been lurking a bit and people seem to criticize others for things I don't really understand. General style tips on what not to do with: saddle angle, bar angle, drop, etc. would be nice, but any little hints would be appreciated.
I realize that most of the stuff is common sense, but I'm just asking for clarification. What makes you cringe when you look at a bike? Or what are some behaviours on group rides that are generally frowned upon?
Thanks for tolerating my lack of knowledge on what seems like second nature to most of you
I realize that most of the stuff is common sense, but I'm just asking for clarification. What makes you cringe when you look at a bike? Or what are some behaviours on group rides that are generally frowned upon?
Thanks for tolerating my lack of knowledge on what seems like second nature to most of you
01-25-12 | 10:42 PM
#4
Bike Sorceress
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 453
From: MPLS
Bikes: Yes
Don't do this with your bars, and I think you are good. I'd say that how the bike feels and functions is far more important that what others think about it's appearance. Sure, often setting it up properly will tend to look the way they want, but not always.
01-25-12 | 11:19 PM
#5
Carpe Velo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 18
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Bikes: 2000 Bianchi Veloce, '88 Schwinn Prologue, '90 Bianchi Volpe,'94 Yokota Grizzly Peak, Yokota Enterprise, '16 Diamondback Haanjo, '91 Bianchi Boardwalk, Ellsworth cruiser
Don't do this with your bars, and I think you are good.
01-26-12 | 12:40 AM
#7
[IMG]https://i4.photobucke
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
From: Inland Empire, CA
I'm a proud partial Fred still learning some basics not to be a full Fred. I have been told not to leave caps on the valve stems, guess that is an uber Fred thing. Some frowned upon items pointed out to me are my mountain bike shoes and pedals, I’m keeping them. I finally switched over to the tight bike shorts, the baggy ones were getting more stares than the tight ones. Another thing road bikers like is “flipping the stem,” didn’t work for me. If you have not yet gone clipless, do, this moves you up a couple non-Fred stages. Learn as much bicycle lingo as possible; saying the wrong things is a big Fred label.
This video has a lot of bike lingo, learn all the phrases.....
https://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13275602450311
This video has a lot of bike lingo, learn all the phrases.....
https://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13275602450311
Last edited by jeepseahawk; 01-26-12 at 12:45 AM.
01-26-12 | 12:58 AM
#8
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27,266
Likes: 150
From: YEG
Bikes: See my sig...
Fred... we should all aspire to this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_(bicycling)
He just celebrated his 100th birthday.
https://www.athensmove.com/life/life-...red-birchmore/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_(bicycling)
He just celebrated his 100th birthday.
https://www.athensmove.com/life/life-...red-birchmore/
01-26-12 | 01:08 AM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 1
From: NZ
Bikes: More than 1, but, less than S-1
Would you prefer to be a "Poseur"? Fred's have the whole soul cycling thing figured out. Trust me.....
__________________
Birth Certificate, Passport, Marriage License Driver's License and Residency Permit all say I'm a Fred. I guess there's no denying it.
Birth Certificate, Passport, Marriage License Driver's License and Residency Permit all say I'm a Fred. I guess there's no denying it.
01-26-12 | 01:25 AM
#10
Banned
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,804
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Giant Innova, Nishiki Sebring, Trek 7.5FX
Hello everyone!
My name is Fred and I am the proud owner of this cool-looking bicycle.
I am here to show the entire cycling world, how to get its swag on!
Thank you,
Fred
My name is Fred and I am the proud owner of this cool-looking bicycle.
I am here to show the entire cycling world, how to get its swag on!
Thank you,
Fred
Last edited by SlimRider; 01-26-12 at 05:25 AM.
01-26-12 | 02:30 AM
#13
In Real Life
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 52,159
Likes: 772
From: Down under down under
Bikes: Lots
+1
Why would anyone want to stop looking like a Fred?
Why would anyone want to stop looking like a Fred?
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
01-26-12 | 05:59 AM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 1
From: Warwick, UK
Bikes: 2000-something 3 speed commuter, 1990-something Raleigh Scorpion
In the UK, an early usage of the word is the more common—used by 'serious' roadies (cyclists who ride racing bicycles, and may themselves participate in competitive events) to refer to (stereotypically) bearded, sandal-wearing, cyclists without any high-tech gear. These Freds are not generally total novice cyclists, and often ride fairly frequently. This usage still survives in the US. David Bernstein, presenter of The FredCast says the term is "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."
Sounds to me like a 'Fred' is just an ordinary cyclist who posers like to mock for not being what they deem to be a real cyclist on a 'real' bike. Just roll with it and see who's laughing when they can't keep up with you.
01-26-12 | 08:23 AM
#15
Fred-ish
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
+1. And to go one step further than bigfred, if you're worried about being a Fred, you're not one because Freds don't care. You might be a poseur though - they really care about looks.
01-26-12 | 09:32 AM
#17
Banned
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,804
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Giant Innova, Nishiki Sebring, Trek 7.5FX
Don't do this with your bars, and I think you are good. I'd say that how the bike feels and functions is far more important that what others think about it's appearance. Sure, often setting it up properly will tend to look the way they want, but not always.
To me, they look sweeeeeet!
- Fred
01-26-12 | 10:12 AM
#18
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Bikes: Raleigh Venture 3.0
01-26-12 | 10:26 AM
#19
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
+1
If you're a little different than everyone else, so be it. I rode with the fast group for last Saturday's breakfast ride... on a 29-year-old steel bike and wearing jeans. Let the haters hate. (Actually, it drew comments of wonder more than anything else.)
If you're a little different than everyone else, so be it. I rode with the fast group for last Saturday's breakfast ride... on a 29-year-old steel bike and wearing jeans. Let the haters hate. (Actually, it drew comments of wonder more than anything else.)
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
01-26-12 | 11:27 AM
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
Likes: 649
From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
I'm just wondering if anyone has any general advice, mostly related to the style of your bike and whatnot. A list of guidelines, basically. I've been lurking a bit and people seem to criticize others for things I don't really understand. General style tips on what not to do with: saddle angle, bar angle, drop, etc. would be nice, but any little hints would be appreciated.
01-26-12 | 12:56 PM
#22
carpe diem
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Fenton, MI
Bikes: CAAD 9 , Schwinn World, Prologue, Madison , Sports Tourer ; Ironman , Opus lll , Allez , Peugeot 753, Trek 531 (2) , Assenmacher ( custom)
Yesterday , I was riding south and my daughter passed me in her car , heading north. Later , I texted her and asked if I looked looked like a "Fred". She said at first, she didn't think it was me because I looked like a real cyclist ! I'm making progress !
