Fred is Dead
01-07-16 | 05:52 AM
#27
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It's too bad that mirrors got the bad "fred" rap. Certainly early mirrors did not work well, but today since there are so many that do work well, I believe everyone should use one. Help make mirrors "cool" but using one yourself.
I use both left and right rearview mirrors, in my case Take-a-Look eyeglass mounted ones… The additional right hand mirror affords a pretty good rearward view, but is particularly useful for:
- Riding on the left-hand side of a one-way street
- Riding in the middle or left lanes of a two-way thoroughfare
- In a rotary
- On a curved road to the right
- When passing entrance/exit ramps from a freeway, with the right hand mirror, I can view the ramps to my right, and stay wide of them, while watching upcoming traffic on my left, all while almost continuously looking straight ahead
- When the sun is directly behind, usually one mirror can be positioned away from the glare of the sun
- When wearing a backpack, usually one mirror has a less-obstructed view over my shoulder.
… I thought: certainly there are the roadies, who are indeed “Beautiful People” and are splendid in their spandex and peletons; and there are Freds, kind of clunky but sincere and loveable. But there is IMO, a large segment of noble cyclists, e.g. tourists and commuters who are neither BP’s nor Fred’s, but certainly serious cyclists….
…my manifesto is, "I am not a Fred you are not a Fred, we ought not be treated this way". So I propose a new name, currently applied to frequent business travelers—ROAD WARRIORS. I AM A ROAD WARRIOR—think Mel Gibson… IMO, the society which exalts roadies and scorns road warriors will have roads only built for cars.
…my manifesto is, "I am not a Fred you are not a Fred, we ought not be treated this way". So I propose a new name, currently applied to frequent business travelers—ROAD WARRIORS. I AM A ROAD WARRIOR—think Mel Gibson… IMO, the society which exalts roadies and scorns road warriors will have roads only built for cars.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 01-07-16 at 06:04 AM.
01-07-16 | 06:19 AM
#28
What happened?
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This picture is one of a person proud of his bike, not a 'Fred'. Fred is indeed dead...RIP.
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01-07-16 | 07:26 AM
#31
meh
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From: Hopkins, MN
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
I would submit that photo in a 'great looking bike' thread myself. The Nuclear Yellow jacket alone is no big deal. If you don't favor mirrors or whatever, leave the subject alone. It's not the Bike Forums Way. I won't do it, even if I have poked fun at it in the past in some fashion. Wear and use whatever you please as long as it doesn't cause problems for others in traffic and your path.
This picture is one of a person proud of his bike, not a 'Fred'. Fred is indeed dead...RIP.
This picture is one of a person proud of his bike, not a 'Fred'. Fred is indeed dead...RIP.
I hope you know I'm making fun of myself while making the same point as you (that's the Hypno Toad in the yellow jacket). I honestly have no *****s to give about Fred or anti-Fred. I see too many riders get hung up on "the right look" and "the right bike". I've laughed out loud at 'cyclists' looking down their noses at me (reference the yellow jacket and orange bike) while talking at stop lights. I had a B-Group do this to me on my PM commute one day, I kept with them for about 2 miles, at the next stop light, they had some new respect.
Me... I'm a chameleon with bikes, some days I'm a Fred, some days I'm a lycranaut, some days I'm a hipster, some days I'm a lumberjack, some days I'm riding in a suit on a Divvy.... So what?!
Ride what you love, don't judge what works for others, and enjoy the ride.
01-07-16 | 07:37 AM
#32
- Soli Deo Gloria -
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From: Northwest Georgia
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I was taught that a Fred the guy who shows up with the best gear but can't ride - $300 helmet on backwards, titanium clipless pedals but doesn't clip in the whole ride, Dura Ace but stays in one gear, etc.
01-07-16 | 07:55 AM
#33
meh
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From: Hopkins, MN
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
At the risk of being a total a-hole... So this guy qualifies as Fred for you:
It appears both definitions are 'correct':
fred
1) n. a person who spends a lot of money on his bike and clothing, but still can't ride. "What a fred -- too much Lycra and titanium and not enough skill." Synonym for poser. Occasionally called a "barney".
2) n. a person who has a mishmash of old gear, does't care at all about technology or fashion, didn't race or follow racing, etc. Often identified by chainring marks on white calf socks. 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. This term is from road touring and, according to popular myth, "Fred" was a well-known grumpy old touring rider, who really was named Fred.
1) n. a person who spends a lot of money on his bike and clothing, but still can't ride. "What a fred -- too much Lycra and titanium and not enough skill." Synonym for poser. Occasionally called a "barney".
2) n. a person who has a mishmash of old gear, does't care at all about technology or fashion, didn't race or follow racing, etc. Often identified by chainring marks on white calf socks. 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. This term is from road touring and, according to popular myth, "Fred" was a well-known grumpy old touring rider, who really was named Fred.
(this pic is a screen-capture from my helmet mounted GoPro, I honestly didn't realize what I was seeing until I was well past him. If I'd hit a red light and he caught up, I would have kindly helped him with proper use of the helmet... cause I'm not 100% a d!ck)
01-07-16 | 08:07 AM
#34
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From: Louisville, KY
Nah, poseurs is the appropriate name for posers. Gotta give them the frenchified spelling to befit their status.
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01-07-16 | 08:09 AM
#35
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01-07-16 | 08:16 AM
#36
Vain, But Lacking Talent
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From: Denton, TX
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At the risk of being a total a-hole... So this guy qualifies as Fred for you:
It appears both definitions are 'correct':
Reference - BicycleSource.com
(this pic is a screen-capture from my helmet mounted GoPro, I honestly didn't realize what I was seeing until I was well past him. If I'd hit a red light and he caught up, I would have kindly helped him with proper use of the helmet... cause I'm not 100% a d!ck)
It appears both definitions are 'correct':
Reference - BicycleSource.com
(this pic is a screen-capture from my helmet mounted GoPro, I honestly didn't realize what I was seeing until I was well past him. If I'd hit a red light and he caught up, I would have kindly helped him with proper use of the helmet... cause I'm not 100% a d!ck)
As for the first definition, that would be a poser, or as BikeSnobNYC calls it: a Nu-Fred. Definitely getting the right "look" according to "the rules" but totally out of their element in every way possible. Mashing a higher gear and appearing totally destroyed while other guys in the group cruise at 18 mph and chat, really blowing themselves up in the first few miles of a 30 mile group ride to show off, riding erratically in a pace line because they've never seen one, etc. I will never accept that this sort of rider can be called a Fred, but for a lot of people, it's completely interchangeable with Poser.
I think the important thing here is the we nail it down so that we can continue to classify and put individuals in a box so they seem less human to us, therefore making ourselves feel more important and exclusive.
01-07-16 | 08:26 AM
#37
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Fred isn't just a term for a certain type of cyclist.
Fred was a guy. Who rode his bike around the world. He was a bit of a weight weenie, tried to ride across the desert, in Syria maybe, bonked and needed help because he didn't bring enough food - to cut down on weight. Story has it the guy won a race he didn't enter in Italy; lots and lots of miles. The Smithsonian had an exhibit dedicated to him.
I'd rather be thought of as a guy who rides his bike a lot than as a poseur. Not that there's anything wrong with posing...
Fred was a guy. Who rode his bike around the world. He was a bit of a weight weenie, tried to ride across the desert, in Syria maybe, bonked and needed help because he didn't bring enough food - to cut down on weight. Story has it the guy won a race he didn't enter in Italy; lots and lots of miles. The Smithsonian had an exhibit dedicated to him.
I'd rather be thought of as a guy who rides his bike a lot than as a poseur. Not that there's anything wrong with posing...
Fred Birchmore?s Amazing Bicycle Trip Around the World | History | Smithsonian
https://www.libs.uga.edu/blog/wp-cont.../04/clr050.jpg
Last edited by Stravacyclist79; 01-08-16 at 10:06 AM.
01-07-16 | 08:27 AM
#38
meh
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From: Hopkins, MN
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Hear, hear! I need every advantage to help me feel important!
01-07-16 | 09:00 AM
#40
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From: Heart Of Texas
Bikes: '85, '86 , '87 , '88 , '89 Centurion Dave Scott Ironman.
Just a rumor, he was a nerd, appearantlly now a poser. Opinions vary.
On a serious note: I'm seriously considering a helmet mirror. Didn't need them or want them in the 80s. But the distractions of cell phones, texting, Facebook, Twitter, etc has changed my mind. Seriously.
On a serious note: I'm seriously considering a helmet mirror. Didn't need them or want them in the 80s. But the distractions of cell phones, texting, Facebook, Twitter, etc has changed my mind. Seriously.
Last edited by texaspandj; 01-07-16 at 09:06 AM.
01-07-16 | 10:28 PM
#42
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01-08-16 | 12:45 AM
#43
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01-08-16 | 01:01 AM
#44
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01-08-16 | 08:25 AM
#45
meh
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Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
01-08-16 | 09:32 AM
#47
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From: Wilmington, DE
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I use a Take-A-Look on my (sun)glasses. Feels weird to ride without a mirror these days after more than decade with one.
01-08-16 | 10:17 AM
#48
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On a serious note, when riding with someone of lesser ability than yourself (for everyone here, that means anyone aside from Pros), a mirror is quite useful to help you maintain the max pace that your riding partner can manage. It's very easy to keep constant tabs on their gap to your rear wheel without losing focus on the road ahead.
I use a Take-A-Look on my (sun)glasses. Feels weird to ride without a mirror these days after more than decade with one.
I use a Take-A-Look on my (sun)glasses. Feels weird to ride without a mirror these days after more than decade with one.
I use both left and right rearview mirrors, in my case Take-a-Look eyeglass mounted ones...The additional right hand mirror affords a pretty good rearward view, but is particularly useful:…
Addendum: This past weekend I rode with a companion on a low-riding recumbent three-wheel trike. I just deflected my right-hand mirror slightly downwards so I didn’t have to crane my neck upwards to see him. The left-hand mirror was still in place to monitor rearward traffic.
Addendum: This past weekend I rode with a companion on a low-riding recumbent three-wheel trike. I just deflected my right-hand mirror slightly downwards so I didn’t have to crane my neck upwards to see him. The left-hand mirror was still in place to monitor rearward traffic.
01-08-16 | 10:25 AM
#49
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From: Wilmington, DE
Bikes: 2016 Hong Fu FM-079-F, 1984 Trek 660, 2005 Iron Horse Warrior Expert, 2009 Pedal Force CX1, 2016 Islabikes Beinn 20 (son's)
Interesting application for dual mirror use. My kid is pretty low to the ground on a his 14" wheeled bike, too. I might consider the dual mirror approach if we get to the point of single file riding while he's still young. I ride next to him now while he's still learning the ropes.
