1) Nu-Fred blows by me in bike lane; 2) Nu-Fred comes into corner too hot; 3) Nu-Fred crashes self in crosswalk. Must be Bike Month.

Tis the season for watching out for more riders now that winter has taken a break.

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on May 18, 2011 at 3:24am

Having pushed a stroller myself, I would bet a significant sum that Sarah waited until the way was clear for a block or so in either direction, crossed, and was startled to find that the great Fausto Coppi of Chicago couldn't be bothered to slow down his epic 18 mph pace.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 18, 2011 at 4:47am

They used to be weekend warriors I thought. A guy who drives from the suburbs to ride his bike wears a neon yellow suit with a number or sponsor on the back and rides at full capacity the length of the bike trail screaming "ON YOUR LEFT,YOUR LEFT,LEFT!!! then slamming on the brakes and getting extremely angry because someone else is on the path.

 

The people who buy into messenger culture are just posers.
Jennifer said:

I thought a Nu-Fred was a person who buys into bike messenger culture the way a regular Fred buys into bike racing culture. But money can't buy skill or experience, only parts and accessories.

S said:
A Fred is a term used by road cyclists for those cyclists that have more money than brains or fitness.  Basically think of the guys you see on the LFP on 7k bikes and decked out in the full kit of some pro team or ralpha or something similar.  Usually it's someone that just started cycling seriously as well. A Nu-Fred is a recently minted Fred.

Fred Noinaj said:
Okay, first off, what is a "Nu-Fred"?
Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on May 25, 2011 at 2:16am

I'm coining a new term for the lycra speedy groups on the LFP.

Lakefront Lance...



Mike Zumwalt said:

They used to be weekend warriors I thought. A guy who drives from the suburbs to ride his bike wears a neon yellow suit with a number or sponsor on the back and rides at full capacity the length of the bike trail screaming "ON YOUR LEFT,YOUR LEFT,LEFT!!! then slamming on the brakes and getting extremely angry because someone else is on the path.

 

The people who buy into messenger culture are just posers.
Jennifer said:

I thought a Nu-Fred was a person who buys into bike messenger culture the way a regular Fred buys into bike racing culture. But money can't buy skill or experience, only parts and accessories.

S said:
A Fred is a term used by road cyclists for those cyclists that have more money than brains or fitness.  Basically think of the guys you see on the LFP on 7k bikes and decked out in the full kit of some pro team or ralpha or something similar.  Usually it's someone that just started cycling seriously as well. A Nu-Fred is a recently minted Fred.

Fred Noinaj said:
Okay, first off, what is a "Nu-Fred"?
Permalink Reply by Finch on May 25, 2011 at 3:46am

I have always called them Lancies.

 


in it to win it said:

I'm coining a new term for the lycra speedy groups on the LFP.

Lakefront Lance...



Permalink Reply by S on May 25, 2011 at 5:07am
I've used the term pathletes since the majority of them don't actually compete in any cycling competitions despite the fact that they may have every single pro team kit out there and team edition bikes that don't make sense for anyone except for racers.

Finch said:

I have always called them Lancies.

 


in it to win it said:

I'm coining a new term for the lycra speedy groups on the LFP.

Lakefront Lance...



Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 25, 2011 at 5:21am

Anything worth doing at all is prone to those doing it in excess.   And those that do it tend to clump into groups with their own social structure and dress code.  It's the same with bicycles as it is with other activities like motorcycling.  People get more into the fashion of the thing than actually doing the thing itself.  

 

I know of a couple that went to a motorcycle ride sponsored by the Honda Riders Club of America and were not allowed to ride with the group because their riding suits and helmets were not matching and didn't fit in with the image they were trying to present on the road!  I'm sure that this same thing goes on for Harley riders if they were to show up at one of their silly toy runs without enough tattoos or ripped-sleeve T-shirts.  

 

I guess Nu-Fred social gatherings are the same.  If you show up for a training ride with a race team jersey from last-years season and the wrong sponsor logos you might get kicked out of the group and would have to bomb down LFP alone. 

S said:

I've used the term pathletes since the majority of them don't actually compete in any cycling competitions despite the fact that they may have every single pro team kit out there and team edition bikes that don't make sense for anyone except for racers.

Finch said:

I have always called them Lancies.

 


in it to win it said:

I'm coining a new term for the lycra speedy groups on the LFP.

Lakefront Lance...



Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on May 25, 2013 at 7:45am

How do you know they just haven't changed out of their lycra and are hidden under thermals and wool and such?

Jus sayin

Permalink Reply by Jason on May 25, 2013 at 4:23pm



Zoetrope said:

How do you know they just haven't changed out of their lycra and are hidden under thermals and wool and such?

Jus sayin

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on May 26, 2013 at 7:07am

Now more earlier than the Late Ride, is the Bike the Drive event marking off the Nu-Fred season of salmoning, sidewalk riding, no-light ninjas.

Permalink Reply by Vitaliy on May 26, 2013 at 7:37am

This new chapter, after BTD, should be interesting because people will feel a new granted power when they wear the "Sorry cars: now it's our turn" shirts.

Can someone comment on BTD in the light of these "Nu-Freds", "fairies", "spandicks", w/e?

Permalink Reply by David P. on May 26, 2013 at 10:20am

Shoaling is something that's midly annoying (then I think about it a little bit, and I decide it's a bit funny) but something I can easily live with. But a particular variety of shoaling that I've experienced a number of times in the last couple of weeks is the cyclist who will shoal me/whomever, then gaze deeply into their iPhone/whatever, setting themselves up to be totally snoozing when the light goes green. The I/whoever pass them again; repeat at next light.

I take this intra-cultural sniping thing lightly (it's present just about everywhere.) I don't take it too seriously, and it (as Bitching About Other People) can be a bit of a stress reliever. Making fun of Freds is, well, a bit fun, as long as you don't take yourself too seriously and recognize your own Fredliness, whatever its degree. The first time I did the Lowell 50 in Michigan, there was the field full of guys mostly in brightly-colored spandex and such on a veriety of bikes, mostly CX and MTB; and then there I was, the guy riding a bike with a basket on the front and wearing knickers and rainbow-striped knee socks. That's pretty Fredly. If all of this gets to you too much, go visit the GIF thread or, better yet, go ride you bike. Just don't be That Guy.

Permalink Reply by Dovah Cat on May 26, 2013 at 3:26pm
It really doesn't matter who someone's trying to be as long as they're not putting anyone in danger. I almost hit a girl posing for an Instagram around the corner on that narrow bit of path by the aquarium. She and a friend set their bikes in one lane and were modeling in the other. Sure, some faster cyclists don't seem to respect the basic flow of the path, but many slower cyclists are just as dangerous. Weaving in and out of the lanes, stopping randomly and generally staying in the way makes for the worst congestion. There are certainly times when blazing through on one's aero bars is potentially disastrous, but if a cyclist is respecting space and playing nicely, I don't see the issue. I've only lived here a year, but the LFP seems to be the best place to get a few miles in before/after work or enjoy relatively car free rides. The stink about "Freds" makes little sense to me when things like bike cars and Segway tours crowd the path and cause accidents. (as an aside, signs clearly warning pedestrians of bike traffic on the path seem necessary, even though the consideration should be pretty self-evident)

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