I think to them.... I am a fredthe fenders
the rack
the backpack
the beater bike
the utilitarian nature of my bikes
the kids behind me in the trialer
the type of gear I choose to wear when I ride
all of these things make the peacocks think that I am a fred
even if I am riding faster, further, or pulling a trailer holding 80 pounds worth of kid.... I am still a fred
honestly....
the backpack is enough to label the tribe
nevermind the good sense in a hydration system, tools, pump, and tubes
that backpack is "fred wear!"
funny
by definition 1 I think that most of the peacocks I see are freds
definition number 2 is more what I have come to understand what the roadies mean when they look at me and silently call me a "fred"From the bike slang dictionary (see definition 2):
fred n. 1) a person who spends a lot of money on his bike and clothing, but still can't ride. "What a Fred -- too much Lycra and titanium and not enough skill." Synonym for poser. Occasionally called a "barney". 2) (from roadriding) a person who has a mishmash of old gear, does't care at all about technology or fashion, didn't race or follow racing, etc. Often identified by chainring marks on white calf socks. Used by "serious" roadies to disparage utility cyclists and touring riders, especially after these totally unfashionable "freds" drop the "serious" roadies on hills because the "serious" guys were really posers. According to popular myth, "Fred" was a well-known grumpy old touring rider, who really was named Fred.
what they do not know is that I am not just a fred, but also a mountainbiker
but.... to the roadie.... any discipline in cycling other than road riding is less serious and also less respectable
I have always found great pleasure in the synopsis of the cycling categories on the official site from the 2004 summer olympics
pretty funny stuff!Description
Three Cycling disciplines are included in the Olympic Games sports programme: Road cycling, Track cycling, and Mountain Bike.Road Cycling is considered by many people as the top cycling discipline, as it takes place on public highways, with courses that contain uphills and downhills as well as straight stretches and technically difficult turns.
Track cycling is more specialised and more complex than other Cycling disciplines. It consists of short-, medium-, and long-distance events, where speed, endurance and tactics are important factors in gaining the victory.
Mountain Bike started in the US (California) in the mid- 1970’s as a form of entertainment and recreation. It rapidly developed into one of the most thrilling international sports.
I think the author of that description of that web page may be the person who things that "road cycling is considered by many people as the top cycling discipline"
once I a was at a engagement announcement for a couple
the man in the couple was a Cat 2 roadie
so there were a good number of road cyclists there
in making a social loop I tried to strike up conversation with the various cyclists
I kid you not... each and everyone of them told me an anecdote of the one time they went mountainbiking a decade prior
like that is viable
wonder how interested they would have been had I thought to tell them an anecdote about me riding a century a decade ago?
not much of a story there
exactly
(hold on.... if I rode a century... I would tell it here... nevermind I am rambling agian)
there is nothing wrong with being a fred
that is like having a hunter for sport snub a person who hunts for food for survival
seems that the sport hunter has lost "site" of the root of his sport
the times have changed
there was a time where the people rode less expensive gear
when there was a certain humility
trying no to have a bike too far above an individual's level was common
now... look at the aids ride... lots of carbon fiber TREKS out ther
great for the bike shop!
a little over the top
great for cycling as a whole