Biggziff

Coming home from church, riding a new prospective route I came upon a guy riding what can only be described as "Complete and utter Fred-wear" Guy easily in his late 50's, heavy (good on him for getting out on the bike!), riding a Disco Trek and adorned head to toe with Disco kit. TT helmet, every pocket in the jersey packed with stuff... everything matching....he looked like a pro....well..like a pro dressed him. Riding along at about 6 mph on the flats, seat adjusted so low that his knees turned way out at the top of every stroke..truly terrible fitting, although the frame appeared to be about the right size. Anyway...he was out there riding...trying to get in shape and he looked like a million, or that he had spent a million..

Inspired me to order 2 new jerseys from Performance....the $30 ones...and to get out and ride twice today...

Wish I had a camera...

Hipcycler

You're kidding about the TT helmet, right?

Biggziff

nope....it's really what I noticed first about him.

Again..props to him for trying, but the man needs a role model and a fitter.

pelotonracer

Wait, was it one of those new Giro "Advantage" TT helmets? That would have been sooo cool...

SingleSpeeDemon

I saw his brother riding last week at Station Square in Pittsburgh. Did your guy have knee socks too?

Biggziff

Dunno...was blue and yellow and had the big "tail" on it. Looked cool.

FrankBattle 

Agh! I was shrugging until the part about his knees sticking out. At that point, you should have shot him and stolen his bike.

I couldn't care any less what people wear, ride or have on their heads, but having your knees stick out is about as .. well, taboo as they come.

But yeah, good on him for getting out and riding. Someone probably told him the attire would make him go fast.

But the knees out bizness .. blech!

Biggziff

LOL..no..he was fully disco...

Brandy

Awww...poor guy. It's hard to come into this sport and know what's "cool" and what's not. Good for him for getting out there! Hopefully he'll realize that his saddle is too low (I'm sure his knees will speak to him) and he takes care of that. Now be nice!

Biggziff

Only had the .45 Gold Cup in the car with squib, IDPA loads...prolly would have bounced off that killer jersey.

Maybe I should have stopped and recommended he go get fitted...my good deed for the day?

Biggziff

Agreed....he *was* out there...riding..and I was in my car..so...

oujeep1

this has been argued here before, but full disco gear to me is not fred. Fred is a t shirt, cotton of course, when it is 110 degrees, cut off blue jeans, tennis shoes, helmet with visor and mirror, and, dare I say it, a camel back-oh, i said it , i can't take it back! Full disco gear is ocp to me. just imho.

Biggziff

My bad...replace fred with OCP and I'm good.

DataJunkie

Holy crap! Dare I leave on a bike ride to the library today? All my cycling gear is dirty and I will be riding in baggy shorts and a t-shirt. What will they ever think of me!

Hipcycler

TT helmet?

It still blows me away.

Who the heck wears a TT helmet!

Last year I raced in the Midwest Time Trial Championships, and I think out of the entire field there I only 1-2 TT helmets being used....in an organized race! This guy was just riding? Wow. Must have been quite a sight to see.

Biggziff

I did it last night...rode my MTB with a buddy who has recently had gastric bypass surgery and is trying to get some exercise. Sandals, baggies, etc. Passed a guy riding an older italian job wearing cutoffs, Chuck Taylors and white tube socks...

ramtaajogi

i dont think a camelbak is fred, nor is a t-shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, helmet w/ visor. you described a person who wants to ride, but cant afford/doesnt know whats good for him. i thought a fred was someone who buys/rides stuff thats too good for his level

smoke

that's interesting. wind tunnel studies have found that TT helmets make a much larger difference than previously thought. at all the time trials i go to, i'd say that at least half the people are using them

smoke

zimbo

Gotta give the guy his props for being out there.

I own a TT helmet, but other than during a race I can only see myself wearing a TT helmet outside if I were working on my TT form for an upcoming time trial. And I'd only do it once. Or maybe twice. But only just to make sure my form was correct.

--Steve

ravenmore

I came across a guy a while back in full TT gear on the road. Disk wheel, skin suit, and yes, a TT helmet. He at least was pretty fit looking and was maybe actually training for a TT or a Tri event.

Today coming home on my ride I saw a guy decked out in Livestrong gear head to toe. It looked good but really stood out. He was helping someone with a flat. He also looked REALLY fit. I went by and didn't think anything of it. A few miles later I wondered if it was Lance.... Doh!

Tequila Joe

Pfftt! Just dial it up to 400W ....

SaintAndrew

that kind of how i feel too. a fred tried really hard to be a real cyclist, whereas the guy wearing cutoffs and a t-shirt is just doing his thing- there's no pretense.

godspiral

For beginners, the right saddle height is one that lets them put both feet flat on the ground while sitting. The advanced position puts them at tippytoe height.

FrankBattle 

Remember riding your tricycle .. 6 months after you had outgrown it? Remember how funny you felt? With your knees out and all .. As an adult, there is absolutely no need for this.

As for clothes, wear whatever the hell you want. I'll still wave at you when we ride by each other; at that point, we have something in common. For the life of me, I can't figure out this snobbery.

jrennie

+1
When I first got my LG rocket helmet I was worried about the tail digging into my back when in the aero position, so I went for a ride on my tri-bike with TT helmet to check the fit. It was something I wouldn't do again as its hard to see traffic and make sudden course changes.