what is a fred?
09-07-12 | 05:10 PM
#2
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
They're like the Trekkies of the cycling world.
09-07-12 | 05:11 PM
#3
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
"Fred" is a perjoritive name for a rider on a bike cheaper than yours and dressed worse than you. 
09-07-12 | 05:43 PM
#5
Carpe Velo
Joined: Dec 2011
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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
09-07-12 | 05:43 PM
#6
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From: Warwick, UK
Bikes: 2000-something 3 speed commuter, 1990-something Raleigh Scorpion
I read it as a descriptor of a typical utility cyclist, who might ride an old bike kitted out with numerous lights, mirrors, crate on the back etc, ridden by someone who just sees it as a mode of transport. It seems to be mainly a derogatory term used by the poser sunday cyclists who need to make themselves feel better when the 'fred' passes them. 
09-07-12 | 06:02 PM
#7
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From: San Jose, California
Bikes: 2001 Tommasini Sintesi w/ Campagnolo Daytona 10 Speed
Wrong forum!!!
=8-)
=8-)
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5000+ wheels built since 1984...
Disclaimer:
1. I do not claim to be an expert in bicycle mechanics despite my experience.
2. I like anyone will comment in other areas.
3. I do not own the preexisting concepts of DISH and ERD.
4. I will provide information as I always have to others that I believe will help them protect themselves from unscrupulous mechanics.
5. My all time favorite book is:
Kahane, Howard. Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life
5000+ wheels built since 1984...
Disclaimer:
1. I do not claim to be an expert in bicycle mechanics despite my experience.
2. I like anyone will comment in other areas.
3. I do not own the preexisting concepts of DISH and ERD.
4. I will provide information as I always have to others that I believe will help them protect themselves from unscrupulous mechanics.
5. My all time favorite book is:
Kahane, Howard. Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life
09-07-12 | 08:28 PM
#8
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From: On the bridge with Picard
Bikes: Specialized Allez, Specialized Sirrus
Moved from Mechanics to General.
09-07-12 | 09:46 PM
#9
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My bike has fenders, front and rear blinky lights, a grocery rack, alloy pedals, a bell, kickstand, and a Brooks B17 saddle (not pictured, new addition). The trailer has 2 reflectors and 3 blinky lights in addition to the flag. Am I a Fred? I don't have a beard and I don't ride in sandals.
09-08-12 | 10:34 AM
#12
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From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Originally Posted by yo spiff 
09-08-12 | 12:03 PM
#13
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From: Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex
Bikes: 2013 Haro FL Comp 29er MTB.
It seems as if the authority on Posers might be a Fred and the authority on Freds might be a poser.
09-08-12 | 12:30 PM
#14
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From: Punta Gorda, FL
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix road bike, Stumpjumper Comp hardtail, Trance X2 FS mountainbike
I've described it before - but here goes again!
FRED - Flashing Rear End Device
Used on American railroads - mounted on the last (rear) car of a mainline train. Used to monitor air pressure in the brake line and will automatically slam on the brakes for the entire train if the air pressure is lost. When FRED senses a problem in the train ahead of it - it causes the entire train to come to a halt.
So - in the bicycling world a FRED is the guy in the Peloton who can, by some weird action, cause the entire Peloton to come to a screeching halt
Hope this helps
FRED - Flashing Rear End Device
Used on American railroads - mounted on the last (rear) car of a mainline train. Used to monitor air pressure in the brake line and will automatically slam on the brakes for the entire train if the air pressure is lost. When FRED senses a problem in the train ahead of it - it causes the entire train to come to a halt.
So - in the bicycling world a FRED is the guy in the Peloton who can, by some weird action, cause the entire Peloton to come to a screeching halt
Hope this helps
09-08-12 | 12:42 PM
#15
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
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From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Very good point. If we would explore that a bit maybe we can come a objective description. It seems as if name calling is more the perview of the insecure cyclist. Secure cyclist don't tend to use the term Fred or Poser when describing another rider. More than likely it is how you describe someone that puts you in the Fred Box or the Poser Box. In these forums it seems as if Freds know all about what a poser looks like and Posers know all about what a Fred is. The rest of us don't think about it much. Yes we have group divisions like Roadies, Commuters, utility cyclists, Cruisers and Mountain Bikers but people who are serious about cycling and belong to those groups don't often define someone else as a Fred or Poser.
It seems as if the authority on Posers might be a Fred and the authority on Freds might be a poser.
It seems as if the authority on Posers might be a Fred and the authority on Freds might be a poser.
Any volunteers here to fill that roll?
09-08-12 | 01:31 PM
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,049
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From: Warwick, UK
Bikes: 2000-something 3 speed commuter, 1990-something Raleigh Scorpion
I've described it before - but here goes again!
FRED - Flashing Rear End Device
Used on American railroads - mounted on the last (rear) car of a mainline train. Used to monitor air pressure in the brake line and will automatically slam on the brakes for the entire train if the air pressure is lost. When FRED senses a problem in the train ahead of it - it causes the entire train to come to a halt.
So - in the bicycling world a FRED is the guy in the Peloton who can, by some weird action, cause the entire Peloton to come to a screeching halt
Hope this helps
FRED - Flashing Rear End Device
Used on American railroads - mounted on the last (rear) car of a mainline train. Used to monitor air pressure in the brake line and will automatically slam on the brakes for the entire train if the air pressure is lost. When FRED senses a problem in the train ahead of it - it causes the entire train to come to a halt.
So - in the bicycling world a FRED is the guy in the Peloton who can, by some weird action, cause the entire Peloton to come to a screeching halt
Hope this helps
09-08-12 | 03:09 PM
#17
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From: Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex
Bikes: 2013 Haro FL Comp 29er MTB.
That actually makes sense. Following along that line, the only person who would be an authority on a Fred-Poser (posing as a Fred) would have to be a Poser AND a Fred. The rest of us would be less than authoritative on one or the other.
Any volunteers here to fill that roll?
Any volunteers here to fill that roll?
09-08-12 | 04:48 PM
#18
Artificial Member
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: The Cloud
Bikes: Retrospec Judd, Dahon Boardwalk, Specialized Langster
I'm not young but a couple of years ago I met a man that was definitely older than me.
I can't remember how we started talking bikes but this guy tells me - I believed every word of it looking at at his wiry old body and deeply tanned face - that he gets up in the morning and gets on a beach cruiser style bike and will ride for hours and when he's tired find a telephone at a convenience store or wherever (no cell phone mind you) and call his wife to come pick him and the bike up. No plan, no bike clothes or shoes, no nothing. Just rides until he can't.
This is a real Fred.
I like Fred.
I can't remember how we started talking bikes but this guy tells me - I believed every word of it looking at at his wiry old body and deeply tanned face - that he gets up in the morning and gets on a beach cruiser style bike and will ride for hours and when he's tired find a telephone at a convenience store or wherever (no cell phone mind you) and call his wife to come pick him and the bike up. No plan, no bike clothes or shoes, no nothing. Just rides until he can't.
This is a real Fred.
I like Fred.
09-08-12 | 11:39 PM
#19
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 378
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From: Carson City, NV
Bikes: Schwinn Trailwise, Surly Pugsley
Hmmm, here I thought my name was Bill...but then I read this:
and then looked at the cockpit of my bike which looks like this:
and concluded that my name is Fred. I too like to head out without any special bike clothes except for a helmet and see where I wind up.
A third use of the term exists. In this usage, a "Fred" is a cyclist who has a ton of cycling gear, especially of the utilitarian "uncool" kind, like mirrors, powerful lights, fenders, bells/horns, heavy leather seats, racks, reflective gear, bags, baskets, etc. The gear and bike may be put together by kludgey homemade solutions, like duct-taped flashlights to the handlebar.[1] This type of Fred is a bike geek who likes/needs lots of gear (even if it is modified stuff not intended for bikes). Sacrificing some, or ignoring completely, concerns of speed or traditional roadie/sport cyclist style, these type of Freds are more concerned with practical concerns like comfort, safety, versatility, maintenance, being able to quickly transition to time and culture on/off the bicycle, etc. These cyclists may be well aware of their fredness, once they are aware of the concept, and often embrace it wholeheartedly
and concluded that my name is Fred. I too like to head out without any special bike clothes except for a helmet and see where I wind up.
09-09-12 | 12:09 AM
#21
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From: Carson City, NV
Bikes: Schwinn Trailwise, Surly Pugsley
09-09-12 | 12:16 AM
#22
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From: Incheon, South Korea
Bikes: Nothing amazing... cheap old 21 speed mtb
They sure do and they look really good. There's nothing like a well used and personalized bike!
Having no car these are my only transportation so they need to fill their roles well.
09-09-12 | 06:06 AM
#23
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
It's good that you ride a bicycle. If the cops find out that you have the wrong name on your driver's license there could be trouble.
09-09-12 | 06:40 AM
#24
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From: Carson City, NV
Bikes: Schwinn Trailwise, Surly Pugsley
09-09-12 | 07:35 PM
#25
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My bike has fenders, front and rear blinky lights, a grocery rack, alloy pedals, a bell, kickstand, and a Brooks B17 saddle (not pictured, new addition). The trailer has 2 reflectors and 3 blinky lights in addition to the flag. Am I a Fred? I don't have a beard and I don't ride in sandals.