Fred

This topic has 24 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 7 months ago by jrenaut.

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November 7, 2014 at 4:43 pm #1014150

ShawnoftheDread
Participant

That’s not a Fred. Freds have carbon bikes, matching kits, and no calves.

November 7, 2014 at 4:45 pm #1014151

Harry Meatmotor
Participant

yeah, concur – if anything that’s Wilma-lite.

November 7, 2014 at 4:46 pm #1014152

wheelswings
Participant

Uh oh. That’s a picture of me! :+) Sort of. Despite bicycle-commuting daily for a decade.

Actually, when I was truly “a Fred,” my green-ness as a cyclist was most apparent in a way that others could not see…for months I had this strong urge to put on my seatbelt. I’d get on my bike and then stall for a moment, going through this absurd mental exercise thinking I had to buckle up.

November 7, 2014 at 4:52 pm #1014153

cyclingfool
Participant

Fred seems to be the most poorly defined term I encounter in cycling circles, with two opposite definitions. I regularly encounter it as meaning both AND types.

November 7, 2014 at 5:07 pm #1014157

americancyclo
Participant

I think the illustration is more along the lines of someone with a ‘prepper‘ mentality and an accessory problem.

November 7, 2014 at 5:08 pm #1014158

rcannon100
Participant

I think it is the former. It follows, I believe, the mantra of “If I buy $5000 golf clubs, I am Tiger Woods.” (The Dread version of the definition)

November 7, 2014 at 5:15 pm #1014160

ShawnoftheDread
Participant

I would call the illustration Bike Geek.

November 7, 2014 at 5:17 pm #1014163

Orestes Munn
Participant

@ShawnoftheDread 99035 wrote:

I would call the illustration Bike Geek.

Especially the smile. Freds don’t smile.

November 7, 2014 at 5:20 pm #1014164

baiskeli
Participant

I did notice this morning that rcannon has two identical lights mounted on his handlebars. Fred!

November 7, 2014 at 5:27 pm #1014165

Dickie
Participant

http://biskey7.wordpress.com/2011/04/02/bicycling-are-you-a-fred/

November 7, 2014 at 5:35 pm #1014166

DismalScientist
Participant

The Fred (of the bikegeek type) in the cartoon should be running disc brakes.

November 7, 2014 at 5:48 pm #1014168

Orestes Munn
Participant

She’s not wearing yellow. That’s contributory negligence.

November 7, 2014 at 5:58 pm #1014169

Geoff
Participant

@Dickie 99040 wrote:

http://biskey7.wordpress.com/2011/04/02/bicycling-are-you-a-fred/

Liked the article, especially these last lines:
“Sacrificing some, or ignoring completely, concerns of speed or traditional roadie/sport cyclist style, these type of Freds are more concerned with practical concerns like comfort, safety, versatility, maintenance, being able to quickly transition to time and culture on/off the bicycle, etc. Freds of this type can be well aware of their fredness, once they are aware of the concept, and often embrace it wholeheartedly.”

I am all about being practical, and wish to wholeheartedly embrace my fredness.

November 7, 2014 at 6:31 pm #1014170

Arlingtonrider
Participant

The person depicted in the original post of this thread is me. No doubt about it. I’m missing a few things, like the cupholders, fenders and a mirror, but I make up for that by rocking two (2) bells on my handlebars.

November 7, 2014 at 6:38 pm #1014171

sethpo
Participant

I went through a mental safety device counting exercise riding home last night in the dark:

— two headlights
— one white blinky light on fork
— three rear-facing red blinky lights
— two side-facing red blinky lights on top tube for a grand total of 8 blinky lights (not counting spare in my trunk bag along w/ extra batteries)
— neon yellow reflective safety vest
— neon yellow pannier cover w/ reflective tape
— and for good measure, a reflective ankle band wrapped around my headset and frame

Oh and a helmet mounted mirror and random reflective bits on my clothing and reflectors on my wheels and a reflective “whitewall” stripe around my tires. And a bell.

So yup.
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