kind of a "running of the freds" this morning
 

i really hate to make a thread like this, because i really don't like this whole "Fred" thing. anything that stratifies also divides....and also i am as big of a poseur (see: flickr) as the next guy so i'm definitely not one to judge.

but: this morning in central park must have been the first day that the temperature was above most cyclists' threshold because it was a mob scene. I usually am in the park by 5:30 and it's quiet and peaceful. usually, only the more dedicated people are up that early, so you can get in a quiet, peaceful, safe ride.....but not this morning. tons of expensive bikes, everybody racing everybody. I was in an 18mph paceline, just doing laps.

on every uphill, i hear a chorus of CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK
on every downhill, it's ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR RIGHT

then, there was a section where it's easy to get kind of fast, and a delivery truck was parked in one lane. of course, since everyone was going WAY too fast, it was a major panic and some poor guy crashed.

i was kind of stunned by the chaos and poor etiquette.

Lol my brother rides in central park often, he tells me it's a madhouse most of the time. Sounds like fun to me.

"Fred"? I've heard it and thought it was the screen name of a guy organizing the Michigan Mountain Mayhem ride.
I'll be a newb and ask, what's a Fred?

it is usually fun - lots of experienced riders, great location, nice varied terrain, and sometimes its cool to be in silent competition with everyone around you. this morning was just dangerous.

i also don't ride in late afternoon / evening because of all the runners. CP has a sidewalk, a bike lane, and two car lanes.
the runners use the bike lane to run.
then of course there are the NYCers who have to be different, so they run backwards on the edge of the bike lane or in the street.
of course, they are wearing all black and very difficult to see, and coming AT you.

it's a term that insecure cyclists use to accuse another cyclist of being inauthentic (e.g. not a "real cyclist" or not as "real" as they are) and imply that they are a "true" cyclist. this comes up a lot when you ask a question about color preference on an expensive bike.

Ahhh, elitism. Got it. Thanks!

In my opinion and by experience here in the states the etiquette kind'a sucks big time. Don't know what else to tell you. Here the weather is pretty nice and a bunch of suckers with mirrors, bells and who knows what else moving around saying at your left, right above and below. Freds everywhere. rather see a poseur than a fred due to the fact that the poseur probably wont get mad even if you are riding at is wheel or if you dont say a sh...T when you are passing them.

TOday i heard a sucker saying i dont want you near me... i went like W..T..F?? THen i asked him twice what he said and he changed the phrase to something else maybe because he thought i was going to hit him in the face or something. Poseur is way more tolerable than a fred in my opinion.

Nice bike my friend.

:)

Okay so correct me if I'm wrong, (this is the intrawebs after all). A poseur is someone who dresses up and buys the gear to look and act "pro". A Fred is a poseur with attitude?

Precisely why I don't miss Central Park in the spring and summer for riding; heck I haven't ridden there in a few years because the only time I would be able to is when the yahoos are out. I've been tempted to ride up to 110th through the park, so who knows maybe I will next week but the greenway is a more direct route for me.

I've always thought of a "fred" as a dorky roadie and the "poseur", as you put it, a roadie who plays pro-dress-up.

Freds are as authentic as they come since they're busy testing/using all sorts of gadgets to make riding more practical for themselves. They might not be the sleekest looking or riding racing bikes but most know their stuff. For me a poser is more than just someone who wears lycra, it's someone who gets an expensive bike and gear to fit in rather than use it for its intended purpose.

Sounds more like 'the running of the poseurs'.

From Wiki...

"Fred" is a derisive term used by "serious" road cyclists to describe other cyclists who do not conform to serious road cyclists' norms with regard to dress and equipment, and appear amateurish to them. The term is generally reserved for men, while the rare female Fred is sometimes called a "Doris."

Ummmmmm (head sctratch....) on every uphill I CLICK CLICK CLICK into a lower gear too. Am I doing something wrong here?

The Freds are the elite. Even within our ranks, there are elite Freds such as mollusk.

I am a super elite Fred, though I've shortened my title out of modesty.

jorge, may i suggest a few laps around CP in the winter. it's actually quite nice as no one is out. on the flipside, the cold does slow the bike down quite a bit...

my man, i believe you just described the typical poseur cyclist. the on your left/right is by far the most annoying. more often than not, it rattles the rider ahead. the only time it's worth shouting something is when people veer off and is about to push you off the curbs or into a sign...

that said, yours truly will be doing intervals in CP later, most likely towing a bunch of poseurs who can't handle bikes...

Who the hell wrote that? Most women riders are Freds -- just as is the case with the men.

Fueled by drinking gallons of haterade and typically found posting Fred threads on the internet to gain a sense of self worth.

Enjoy

Isn't your sig a monty python quote?

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...esbrothers.jpg

I hate Road Nazis....

As an active poster in the 50+ sub forum I invite you to peruse some of the threads posted therein. This is the essence of Fred. These youngsters on the 41 are mere Freddys compared to the mature well developed Fred-ness you will find there.

Now ask about the 41.

go smoke a stogey, frederico.

I always thought Freds are them folks riding their mixte with sandals and pay exorbitant amount of money for a "vintage" Schwinn 10-speed.

Eff no. I'm far more partial to schwagadelic 'bents imported from the Netherlands.

I do own a custom steel commuter though...

CP is nice in the winter because when it is below freezing, it is comforting to know that you are never more than a few miles from the end of the loop. I think that the last time I did laps in the park was January.

The winter is nice because the greenway is my highway. I used to ride in CP regularly when I lived in Manhattan, sometimes doing a few laps there then riding to PP for a couple of laps when I was in the mood to venture around. I don't mind the multitude of riders but the level of ego and inexperience can be a bit much in CP when the masses are out.