bryroth

When I first got my first road bike a few guys on here gave me some grief over having a triple, since it implies that I'm a fred (which I am). But I've got a 7-speed. I went to upgrade my shifters today and found out that it's a 10-speed world out there.

So does that mean that the guys on here who are so proud of losing the triple are all sporting 20 gears? If so: you still suck you freds.

Szczuldo

yea they have 20, but at least they don't have 21. Which you still do so you just got your post handed right back at you. Oh and the only difference between 7 and 10 speed is 10 speed gives smoother results since cogs can be only 1 tooth apart as opposed to 2-4.

datlas 

Don't lump all BFers together. Also there is nothing wrong with being a fred, there are "good" freds and "bad" freds,

And I ride a double, with six (count 'em SIX) gears in back....vintage from the 80's.

Doug

Retro Grouch 

A man visited a hooker. She looked at him and asked: "Who do you think you're going to satisfy with that little thing?" Answer: "Me."

If you're satisfied with your bike why do you care what other people think?

bryroth

I was just sayin...

And I put myself into the noobie/ fred category. As for why I care? Don't know the answer to that one I suppose. I just thought it was funny.

Retro Grouch 

Next time they ask, tell 'em the hooker story.

shundaroni

Come on, you've seen the guys that use the use term "Fred." They are forever doomed to be society's "Minkus." I'll be a Fred all day, so long as I'm not confused for a Minkus.

the beef

I've never heard the term 'Fred' outside of BF

umd

Um... no. It's not about the number of gears, its about the range of gearing. A triple implies that you are too weak to push a harder gear up a climb. That's why it's "fred". Of course a compact double yields similar gearing. I don't really care what you have, if you need a lower gear then you need a lower gear. But don't try to turn the tables and say people with 20 speeds (2x10) are freds because they have almost as many gears as you (3x7). You are still going to have much lower gearing than someone with a standard double. I just got into road biking recently, so its not like I could go out and buy a new bike with 7 speeds. It's just what bikes come with now, it doesn't make you better than anyone else.

Dr.L'Ling

+1

umd

+1. I just rode with a bunch of guys today that the BF brain trust would probably label as freds. Helmet mirrors, headset spacers and valve stem caps abounded. But they were a bunch of really cool guys (and a few women) and I had a good ride, although there was a lot more stopping a regrouping than I usually like.

Dr.L'Ling

Yeah I've never heard fred used outside of BF either. However, I AM spreading it haha. I don't take the whole fred thing seriously, seeing as I am one, but I find it humorous after hanging around here

blanqui

In the words of Henry Rollins, "get a grip get a grip and keep it." Why do you care if some BF jokers called you a fred?

MONGO!

Last race I was in, the guy that won it had a helmet mirror.

bsyptak

Where have you been the last 15 years or so?

w4ta

I'm in the South Bay of Los Angeles, and I've heard "Fred" tossed around a bit... so, I think it extends beyond BF.

slacker00

My bike is has 3x7 gears, and it suits me fine. I'm not training for the TDF or anything. I just log my 132 miles/week and riding is fun. When I can stay off the front of the "B" group at the local club ride, then I'll think about dropping a grand for a "real" racing bike and enter some serious races. But, I know that may never happen for me, and I'm ok with that.

Bikedud

I'm suffuring from a massive identity crisis-
Wednesday I rode a vintage 7 speed triple- Fred
Friday I rode a 9 speed triple- Fred?
Today I road a 10 speed compact- Fred??

blanqui

bike thief?

bryroth

Thanks for the answers. Just to clarify- this post was originally meant in good humor. Though thanks to UMD for clearing up exactly why I am still more Fred than the doubles (at least within the confines of this forum).

big john

I have a triple with a 10 speed which gives me 30. I have seen a number of compact double setups with much lower gears than I have.

The term 'Fred' goes way back, I've been told the 70s, but I remember it in the 80s.

umd

Bad humor doesn't translate very well on the internet. A lot of people think they are funny that aren't. You should watch last comic standing. Edit: I DO NOT think that a triple makes someone a "Fred". I've ridden with a guy on occasion that has won Furnace Creek 508, who rides a triple. He is a beast, can motor strong all day and drop most of the riders on bikeforums at will. He wouldn't win any USCF races I'm sure but a "Fred" he is not.

operator

It would've been good humour if 21 was actually less than 20.

sfrider 

If I ran a 7 speed I'd probably want a triple, too.

roadwarrior

I haven't heard of a lot of things outside of BF. But in the store, it's always easy to tell if a person's been on this forum.