Ewoud Dronkert <
[email protected]> wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
> On 4 May 2004 04:49:53 -0700, Joe Keenan wrote:
> >3. FRED? My email is
[email protected] Always
> > willing to learn. How do you define a FRED?
>
>
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3n6kd0%24cek%40overl-
> oad.lbl.gov
Interesting definition by way of anecdote.
I'd suggest a couple others justifying the Fred label.
Someone who goes out and buys everything of their favorite
rider and/or team (could apply to any sport really) and
believes that automatically justifies some recognition as a
master player of the sport.
Or..
Another anecdote:
On last Sunday's group ride there final up-hill stretch
where myself and a few other riders got dropped. I know I'm
not able to maintain the pace of the group hammers so,
knowing the particular grade well, I establish a steady
tempo I know can get me home quick enough, and without
unnecessary suffering. I pick up an older rider immediately
and for the most part he remains on my wheel as we approach
another pair dropped by the group. They attach to my back
wheel, too and we proceed up the grade, occasionally one or
another comes up to take a pull but fade after a few turns
and I resume the position at the front. I'm not out to drop
anyone and am fine with the others drafting, it's not a race
as far as I'm concerned. Most of the remaining miles go like
this, though I find one rider did drop off somewhere (could
have taken a different route home for all I know.) We catch
up to another dropped rider about a mile to the end and he
latches on to the train, we'll call him 'F' After turning
off the main road we catch up to some of the leaders who are
waiting for us and proceed towards a last tiny hill. As
we're slowly going up, 'F' comes sprinting past everyone for
the sign at the top of the hill (once there he eased off.)
It seemed utterly silly and pointless.
The older fellow I rode up with and who managed to follow
the tempo and take a few pulls was a former pro, who once
won the San Bruno Hillclimb. Definitely a classy rider, no
silly stunts and no bad words about anyone else, the kind of
rider I'd prefer to be among, rather than the last minute
Hot-Dog or those who can't take a turn and gripe about
others riding. (I don't know what went on behind me, but I
guess the old pro took the best positions on my wheel to
draft and another rider didn't like it.)
