Am I a FRED?
07-28-10 | 04:34 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Poseur Extraordinaire
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 341
Likes: 1
Am I a FRED?
I figure this is the PERFECT group to ask 
- My bike is a Motobecane Fantom CX cyclocross (from BD, price: $570). My only upgrades have been the saddle and some KoolStop brake pads. I don't expect to upgrade anything else unless it breaks.
- To the frame, I've attached a pump and water bottle cage.
- To the seatpost, I've attached a pack and lock
- To the frame, I've also attached a blinky light. Unless I'm riding where it will be 100% (or almost) bright and sunny, the blinky light will be on. I'd rather you think me a Fred than get run over in a shady section of road.
- To the handlebars, I've attached a MirrCycle STI mirror. It's not pretty, but I like to know when a big ass Hummer is coming up behind me.
- To the handlebars, I've also attached a computer (and accordingly, the speed sensor to the fork and magnet to a spoke)
- I wear spandex, mostly pro team stuff (not the real stuff, but Chinese sweatshop knock-offs).
- My helmet is an Atmos. It was a Giro Transfer until recently; I found a brand-new Atmos on craigslist for $50.
- My sustainable flat speed is 18.3 mph (based on 27 minutes for an 8.25 mile loop I do laps on - check my math, please).
- I spin up hills at 6-9 mph
- Regarding my speeds, note that I'm 45 years old and am not trying to prove anything to anyone. I passed someone on the flat last night on the way to a couple of fairly steep hills. We talked for a few seconds. He was obviously younger than me. When we hit the hills, I could see him catching up to me via my mirror; it didn't bother me at all.
- I acknowledge most other cyclists. I ignore those riding in jeans, without helmets, etc., unless I'm forced to say something (in which case I do it politely): "you're riding on the wrong side of the road, my friend" came up just last night.
- I ride in a rural area, so I sometimes blow through stop signs (if no vehicles are around, it's obvious, so I don't stop). Otherwise, I obey the rules of the road. I stop, signal my intentions, give vehicles room when it's safe for me, take the lane when it's safe for me, etc.
So, I figure my doo-dads and pro cycling outfits are more likely to brand me as a Fred then my cycling behavior. Your opinion? FRED or NO FRED? Kind of like "am i hot or not", I guess
- My bike is a Motobecane Fantom CX cyclocross (from BD, price: $570). My only upgrades have been the saddle and some KoolStop brake pads. I don't expect to upgrade anything else unless it breaks.
- To the frame, I've attached a pump and water bottle cage.
- To the seatpost, I've attached a pack and lock
- To the frame, I've also attached a blinky light. Unless I'm riding where it will be 100% (or almost) bright and sunny, the blinky light will be on. I'd rather you think me a Fred than get run over in a shady section of road.
- To the handlebars, I've attached a MirrCycle STI mirror. It's not pretty, but I like to know when a big ass Hummer is coming up behind me.
- To the handlebars, I've also attached a computer (and accordingly, the speed sensor to the fork and magnet to a spoke)
- I wear spandex, mostly pro team stuff (not the real stuff, but Chinese sweatshop knock-offs).
- My helmet is an Atmos. It was a Giro Transfer until recently; I found a brand-new Atmos on craigslist for $50.
- My sustainable flat speed is 18.3 mph (based on 27 minutes for an 8.25 mile loop I do laps on - check my math, please).
- I spin up hills at 6-9 mph
- Regarding my speeds, note that I'm 45 years old and am not trying to prove anything to anyone. I passed someone on the flat last night on the way to a couple of fairly steep hills. We talked for a few seconds. He was obviously younger than me. When we hit the hills, I could see him catching up to me via my mirror; it didn't bother me at all.
- I acknowledge most other cyclists. I ignore those riding in jeans, without helmets, etc., unless I'm forced to say something (in which case I do it politely): "you're riding on the wrong side of the road, my friend" came up just last night.
- I ride in a rural area, so I sometimes blow through stop signs (if no vehicles are around, it's obvious, so I don't stop). Otherwise, I obey the rules of the road. I stop, signal my intentions, give vehicles room when it's safe for me, take the lane when it's safe for me, etc.
So, I figure my doo-dads and pro cycling outfits are more likely to brand me as a Fred then my cycling behavior. Your opinion? FRED or NO FRED? Kind of like "am i hot or not", I guess
07-28-10 | 04:41 PM
#4
Elite Fred
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,953
Likes: 44
From: Edge City
Bikes: 2009 Spooky (cracked frame), 2006 Curtlo, 2002 Lemond (current race bike) Zurich, 1987 Serotta Colorado, 1986 Cannondale for commuting, a 1984 Cannondale on loan to my son
Lots of Fred potential here. And that is not a bad thing.
Get really strong on your bike but don't develop any group riding skills and you will have it down. Then you will be actually dangerous in a fast group ride. That is a bad thing if you insist on doing them.
Get really strong on your bike but don't develop any group riding skills and you will have it down. Then you will be actually dangerous in a fast group ride. That is a bad thing if you insist on doing them.
07-28-10 | 04:49 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 23,208
Likes: 10,653
From: Seattle, WA
Not fred or anti-fred, but confusing.
07-28-10 | 04:50 PM
#6
blah blah blah
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 0
07-28-10 | 04:56 PM
#8
Banned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,387
Likes: 3
From: Santa Barbara, CA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
sure...
In the labeling heirarchy, that usually lands one as a poseur, not a fred.
07-28-10 | 05:02 PM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix SL3, Lynskey Cooper CX
Last edited by MegaTom; 07-28-10 at 07:46 PM. Reason: fix broken link
07-28-10 | 05:41 PM
#12
Has coddling tendencies.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,360
Likes: 59
From: Topanga Canyon
Bikes: 2008 Blue RC8 w/ '09 Rival
The default answer is yes. However, your initial description is o'erladen with complex details, so the final answer is pending. 10 more pages of comments and responses might clear things up.
07-28-10 | 06:18 PM
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
By the classic definition, you don't have enough miles in your legs to be a Fred, but you've certainly got potential.
07-28-10 | 06:23 PM
#20
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 58,788
Likes: 6,186
From: Adrift
Bikes: Have two wheels
You've managed to incorporate quite a few of the common thread topics into one post. Well done.
I think you may be hors categorie.
I think you may be hors categorie.
Last edited by rjones28; 07-28-10 at 06:24 PM. Reason: missing word
07-28-10 | 06:44 PM
#21
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 34,320
Likes: 8,470
From: Hudson Valley, NY
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene '04; Bridgestone RB-1 '92
Just what we need, more freds. Welcome!
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Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
07-28-10 | 06:49 PM
#22
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 21,979
Likes: 1,154
From: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
You're conflicted
Fred: mirror, lock, seat pack if it's bigger than 2 tubes & levers
Poseur: team kit, new helmet
Neutral: blinkie (but fred if it's on during the day), computer, pump
Fred: mirror, lock, seat pack if it's bigger than 2 tubes & levers
Poseur: team kit, new helmet
Neutral: blinkie (but fred if it's on during the day), computer, pump
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Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
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Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
07-28-10 | 07:02 PM
#24
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix SL3, Lynskey Cooper CX
If you have to ask......
....then it really doesn't matter anyway.
Beyond that, most people (even in this thread, no doubt) don't even know what a Fred really is.
....then it really doesn't matter anyway.
Beyond that, most people (even in this thread, no doubt) don't even know what a Fred really is.
07-28-10 | 07:03 PM
#25
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 6
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
Did you pass all of the online Fred courseware and pass the final exam? Do you have a certificate? Do you have sandals?
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey