Passing out of the 'Fred' stage - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

06-10-2004, 04:01 PM

Think I can now see the "light at the end of the Fred tunnel", if I can
mangle a metaphor.

Today I rode hills again for the fourth day in a row and the legs feel just
fine (maybe the long winter and spring of long slow distance had primed me,
especially the week of long faster distance I did in Va Beach end of last
month).

I'm spinning pretty good all the time, and today I looked down and my knees
are only 5 inches apart - definitely not Fred territory! (my hip injury
predisposes me to having the left leg flair out at times - the spinning is
-definitely- helping the injury, BTW!).

Got in and out of my toeclips without looking several times today, (thanks
FK). ;-)

I've now merged my am and pm rides into one long ride at every possible
occasion, always trying to get in -at least- an hour per day.

I've completed a half-century (but only on the old BSO)

The weight has dropped more than 40lbs since I started, and the aero-belly
is fading fast.

I've finally got my test contact lenses and picked up some wrap around
sunglasses - so I'm stream-lining.

And of course, I have a real bike, so I no longer seem to have those
ride-shortening aches and pains (butt, triceps, hands, hot-foot - all gone)

All I need is the blue fairy to tap me with her wand to turn me into a real
'biker boy', eh? <g>

-B
Saying my prayers each night - think that'll help? ;-D

06-10-2004, 05:07 PM

Badger_South wrote:

> Think I can now see the "light at the end of the Fred tunnel", if I can
> mangle a metaphor.
>
> Today I rode hills again for the fourth day in a row and the legs feel just
> fine (maybe the long winter and spring of long slow distance had primed me,
> especially the week of long faster distance I did in Va Beach end of last
> month).
>
> I'm spinning pretty good all the time, and today I looked down and my knees
> are only 5 inches apart - definitely not Fred territory! (my hip injury
> predisposes me to having the left leg flair out at times - the spinning is
> -definitely- helping the injury, BTW!).
>
> Got in and out of my toeclips without looking several times today, (thanks
> FK). ;-)

Why would you want to leave the "Kingdom of Fred"?

As a Fred, you also get to climb all those hills wearing
a cotton T and jean cutoffs; perhaps pedaling in Tevas
constrained by toe clips.

You might even climb that hill on your 35 pound bike faster
than "Joe Tour" on his Ti Seven, clad in colorful lycra and
spandex.

The "awe factor" can be quite heady!

SMH

06-10-2004, 05:07 PM

Badger_South wrote:

> Think I can now see the "light at the end of the Fred tunnel", if I can
> mangle a metaphor.
>
> Today I rode hills again for the fourth day in a row and the legs feel just
> fine (maybe the long winter and spring of long slow distance had primed me,
> especially the week of long faster distance I did in Va Beach end of last
> month).
>
> I'm spinning pretty good all the time, and today I looked down and my knees
> are only 5 inches apart - definitely not Fred territory! (my hip injury
> predisposes me to having the left leg flair out at times - the spinning is
> -definitely- helping the injury, BTW!).
>
> Got in and out of my toeclips without looking several times today, (thanks
> FK). ;-)

Why would you want to leave the "Kingdom of Fred"?

As a Fred, you also get to climb all those hills wearing
a cotton T and jean cutoffs; perhaps pedaling in Tevas
constrained by toe clips.

You might even climb that hill on your 35 pound bike faster
than "Joe Tour" on his Ti Seven, clad in colorful lycra and
spandex.

The "awe factor" can be quite heady!

SMH

06-10-2004, 05:07 PM

Badger_South wrote:

> Think I can now see the "light at the end of the Fred tunnel", if I can
> mangle a metaphor.
>
> Today I rode hills again for the fourth day in a row and the legs feel just
> fine (maybe the long winter and spring of long slow distance had primed me,
> especially the week of long faster distance I did in Va Beach end of last
> month).
>
> I'm spinning pretty good all the time, and today I looked down and my knees
> are only 5 inches apart - definitely not Fred territory! (my hip injury
> predisposes me to having the left leg flair out at times - the spinning is
> -definitely- helping the injury, BTW!).
>
> Got in and out of my toeclips without looking several times today, (thanks
> FK). ;-)

Why would you want to leave the "Kingdom of Fred"?

As a Fred, you also get to climb all those hills wearing
a cotton T and jean cutoffs; perhaps pedaling in Tevas
constrained by toe clips.

You might even climb that hill on your 35 pound bike faster
than "Joe Tour" on his Ti Seven, clad in colorful lycra and
spandex.

The "awe factor" can be quite heady!

SMH

06-10-2004, 05:07 PM

Badger_South wrote:

> Think I can now see the "light at the end of the Fred tunnel", if I can
> mangle a metaphor.
>
> Today I rode hills again for the fourth day in a row and the legs feel just
> fine (maybe the long winter and spring of long slow distance had primed me,
> especially the week of long faster distance I did in Va Beach end of last
> month).
>
> I'm spinning pretty good all the time, and today I looked down and my knees
> are only 5 inches apart - definitely not Fred territory! (my hip injury
> predisposes me to having the left leg flair out at times - the spinning is
> -definitely- helping the injury, BTW!).
>
> Got in and out of my toeclips without looking several times today, (thanks
> FK). ;-)

Why would you want to leave the "Kingdom of Fred"?

As a Fred, you also get to climb all those hills wearing
a cotton T and jean cutoffs; perhaps pedaling in Tevas
constrained by toe clips.

You might even climb that hill on your 35 pound bike faster
than "Joe Tour" on his Ti Seven, clad in colorful lycra and
spandex.

The "awe factor" can be quite heady!

SMH

06-10-2004, 05:07 PM

Badger_South wrote:

> Think I can now see the "light at the end of the Fred tunnel", if I can
> mangle a metaphor.
>
> Today I rode hills again for the fourth day in a row and the legs feel just
> fine (maybe the long winter and spring of long slow distance had primed me,
> especially the week of long faster distance I did in Va Beach end of last
> month).
>
> I'm spinning pretty good all the time, and today I looked down and my knees
> are only 5 inches apart - definitely not Fred territory! (my hip injury
> predisposes me to having the left leg flair out at times - the spinning is
> -definitely- helping the injury, BTW!).
>
> Got in and out of my toeclips without looking several times today, (thanks
> FK). ;-)

Why would you want to leave the "Kingdom of Fred"?

As a Fred, you also get to climb all those hills wearing
a cotton T and jean cutoffs; perhaps pedaling in Tevas
constrained by toe clips.

You might even climb that hill on your 35 pound bike faster
than "Joe Tour" on his Ti Seven, clad in colorful lycra and
spandex.

The "awe factor" can be quite heady!

SMH

06-10-2004, 06:20 PM

"Badger_South" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> Think I can now see the "light at the end of the Fred tunnel", if I can
> mangle a metaphor.
>
Using toeclips still pegs you as a Fred, unless you're riding a classic bike
and wearing wool. Then you're a retrogrouch. :-) Seriously, have you
considered an SPD-type pedal? You can get them with fairly wide platforms,
and they're double sided, so it's easy to clip in. I ride an ancient pair of
Look MTB pedals, and clipping in is super easy. They're discontinued, but I
think Crank Brothers makes the Candy SL, which is very similar in platform
size. Much easier to deal with SPDs than clips in traffic, IMHO.

06-10-2004, 06:20 PM

"Badger_South" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> Think I can now see the "light at the end of the Fred tunnel", if I can
> mangle a metaphor.
>
Using toeclips still pegs you as a Fred, unless you're riding a classic bike
and wearing wool. Then you're a retrogrouch. :-) Seriously, have you
considered an SPD-type pedal? You can get them with fairly wide platforms,
and they're double sided, so it's easy to clip in. I ride an ancient pair of
Look MTB pedals, and clipping in is super easy. They're discontinued, but I
think Crank Brothers makes the Candy SL, which is very similar in platform
size. Much easier to deal with SPDs than clips in traffic, IMHO.

06-10-2004, 06:20 PM

"Badger_South" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> Think I can now see the "light at the end of the Fred tunnel", if I can
> mangle a metaphor.
>
Using toeclips still pegs you as a Fred, unless you're riding a classic bike
and wearing wool. Then you're a retrogrouch. :-) Seriously, have you
considered an SPD-type pedal? You can get them with fairly wide platforms,
and they're double sided, so it's easy to clip in. I ride an ancient pair of
Look MTB pedals, and clipping in is super easy. They're discontinued, but I
think Crank Brothers makes the Candy SL, which is very similar in platform
size. Much easier to deal with SPDs than clips in traffic, IMHO.

06-10-2004, 06:20 PM

"Badger_South" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> Think I can now see the "light at the end of the Fred tunnel", if I can
> mangle a metaphor.
>
Using toeclips still pegs you as a Fred, unless you're riding a classic bike
and wearing wool. Then you're a retrogrouch. :-) Seriously, have you
considered an SPD-type pedal? You can get them with fairly wide platforms,
and they're double sided, so it's easy to clip in. I ride an ancient pair of
Look MTB pedals, and clipping in is super easy. They're discontinued, but I
think Crank Brothers makes the Candy SL, which is very similar in platform
size. Much easier to deal with SPDs than clips in traffic, IMHO.