A Little Help Here

Ya know, I've always been known to be an outcast, a loner. Even as a kid in elementary school I didn't get good marks in the "works well with others" category. It just wasn't really my thing. You could blame it on me having just one sibling and she was six years older than me so I was basically at it on my own growing up. Or, it could just be my personality. Either way, I sure was glad to have some help this past Sunday.

As I continue my training for my first century ride coming up in September (Shenandoah Valley Century) I find myself on longer and longer training rides. This past Sunday was supposed to be a 50-mile ride. As many of you may well know, 50 miles by yourself can be a loooonnnng ride. Every long training ride I've done up until this point has been solo. I can set my own pace and leave when I want to and take a quick break when I want to. I'm not confined by riding in a group. However, my thoughts on that changed over the weekend.

A good friend of mine has been trying to get me to ride with him and we just haven't been able to work it out. But we finally managed to get it done. He was coming off a minor procedure on his back and needed to get back on the bike for his own sanity. I, on the other hand, felt like it would be a great time for us to ride together and learn something about riding. My buddy set up a route for us to ride and I was going to meet him about 15 miles into the ride. Well, due to my lack of map reading skills I ended up misreading the map and taking the way I THOUGHT he laid out the route. My bad! When I finally met up with him I had ridden about 4 extra miles than originally planned. No biggie I thought. I was feeling good and excited to ride with my friend for the first time.

We hopped on our bikes in New Hope and started riding a nice conversational pace. What I didn't realize was that just by riding with him I was keeping my pace and cadence higher than I had previously been doing. I had no clue until I looked down at my computer. I just kinda laughed to myself and kept spinning. Other than this chasing after us out of no where:

and me almost riding into a car head-on to avoid the killer dog we had no major issues. The sun was shining bright and the sky was as blue as could be. About another mile or so into our ride we both looked up and the sky had that Tornado Alley look to it. We thought we would miss the storm or that it would blow through quickly so we kept pedaling. After another 10 minutes passed my buddy said, "Stay on my wheel. We're going to try to push it into Weyers Cave." No problem I thought. I was feeling good and Weyers Cave was only about 5 minutes away. Then we saw what had to be this:

Yeah, that's right. I think it was the lightning bolt that Zeus was missing in the Percy Jackson series. It was at that point my buddy suggested we pull off at the Shenandoah Valley Airport and see if the storm passes. Well, about 30 seconds after we reached the airport and hoped off our bikes the storm blew in. It was more like what I picture monsoon season to look like. We ended up in the airport terminal only to find the roof was leaking in two places and we couldn't see 20 yards in front of us. The layover was good and bad. It gave us a chance to chit chat but it also gave my muscles a chance to cool down and get tight.

As the storm finally passed we jumped back on the bikes and continued our ride. The sun was now out again and we were making good time again. That is until I looked ahead of me and saw a climb that I was definitely not ready for 40 miles into the ride. Not to mention a jacked up pick-up truck was behind me revving the engine. I pulled over and jumped off to stretch out my now aching back and hamstrings before making the climb.

I'm sure that the climb wasn't nearly as bad as I was making it seem in my head but as I started up the climb I heard my legs go, "You idiot! What are you doing?! You're not freakin' Cadel Evans!" But nevertheless, I kept pedaling. This is where I'm so glad that I had a riding partner. I managed to stay focused on his wheel even while he was effortlessly pedaling away from me. I managed to make it to the top and we continued on our journey. Yes, I probably said some things about him in my head that I have to repent for but I'm still glad he was there. He was able to stay with me and keep me going even when I was dying! But he never made fun of me or made me feel like crap because I was an inferior rider. He just kept talking to me and pushing me through it.

So, with that being said, I'm thankful to have given up my loner status for that day. It made a world of difference and it reminded me of just how much fun cycling can be. It reminded me of all the times as a kid me and my buddies were pedaling our BMX bikes all over town. Yes, you had to go over all kinds of terrain but it was fun because you were with your friends. And it's after that Sunday ride that I'm thankful to have a riding buddy once more!

Changing the Game

Well, its about five weeks into my century training and I have to say, things have gone fairly well. My enjoyment from being on the bike has grown exponentially and so has my fitness level. But, as I tend to do from time to time, I managed to become OCD about it. My disorder almost caused me to stop riding...almost.

Let me explain. My sister and I tend to have moments of OCD...you know, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. We go off on tangents and things around us have to be just right. If they're not then we starting freaking out. For example, my sister and I both must place silverware in the dishwasher or drainer in a particular order. Me, I like to put all the sharp knives in one spot, then all the forks, then spoons, and finally butter knives. In my head this is extremely logical because when it's time to put the silverware up I don't have to pick and choose through the different slots for all the forks. I can just get them from one place and put them up. In my OCD world this saves me time. My wife on the other hand, she just puts the silverware any place and that drives me nuts! I can't stand it!

Another tendency of mine is to make sure all the DVDs and Blu-Ray movies are put in their proper boxes and stacked just so. If they're out of order or there is a disc missing from its case then I freak out. I won't stop until I find it and it's all back in the proper place. As you can see, I tend to obsess a little bit. This was a sure-fire recipe for disaster when it came to my training.

Yes, I was and am meticulous when it comes to keeping my training log...almost a little too meticulous. I found myself wanting to give up and pout if I had to miss a day of training because of a family issue or if I couldn't go the required mileage for the day because work caused a shortage in time to ride. I HAD to have my iPhone with me and the MapMyRide app had to be just right for the ride. And if for some reason the app missed a part of the route then I would get frustrated and feel like the ride was unsuccessful. It was a downward spiral.

Then the other day the unthinkable happened. I started telling myself that I don't want to ride anymore and that I didn't want to train. I started going through the list of things that would give me a way out of riding and training. I was supposed to go for an 18 mile ride for pace that particular day and I just didn't want to do it. Then from the depths of within I managed to convince myself to just get up and put my gear on and ride. Only this time I told myself that I would not use the MapMyRide app to monitor the route and elevation. I also told myself that I would not look down at my cycling computer for speed, cadence or mileage. I talked myself into "just riding". And a funny thing happened along the way...I actually enjoyed the ride. Before I was so caught up in meeting training goals and pushing myself through certain training checkpoints. If I failed to meet a training goal then I would be disappointed and would try to make it up the next day. But now, after putting away the goal sheet and technology and just riding I found myself making more headway than before. My overall speed and cadence were faster, climbs were easier, and I found myself just enjoying the scenery. It was great! It was what riding your bike is supposed to be.

Since that day I have not used the MapMyRide app at all. Instead of focusing on a particular amount of miles to ride I simply just pick a route to ride that is roughly about the same distance or maybe a little more and just get after it. I enjoy being in the saddle now. Before it felt like work. Now it feels like play and my performance on the bike is improving because of it.

So, take heed my friends, if you find yourselves in a rut from training then just go out for a ride. Don't worry about the numbers...just ride. You'll be amazed at how much you enjoy riding again.

To Shave or Not to Shave

You had to know that as a Fred I was going to address this issue at some point. Well, after a long few days on the bike I think the time has come to dive right in!

A topic of great debate for recreational cyclists has been whether to shave your legs or not to shave them. I've heard compelling arguments for both sides. I honestly think the choice is yours. I mean, if you want to go ahead and shave your legs so they match with the tan lines you already have on them then be my guest. If you want to ride with legs that look like this:

Well, you can do that too! The choice is yours. Even though your riding buddies may be appalled at that bush sticking out from under your riding shorts. But with hair that thick there's no way you can get road rash, right?

To be honest, when I first got into cycling in 2004 I resisted the temptation to shave my legs. It wasn't that I had some kind of phobia against it. I had shaved my legs in college while playing basketball. We did it for much the same reason that some cyclists shave their legs now...to make them look more muscular. Aesthetics aside, there is a more practical reason to shave your legs: road rash.

It's going to happen, you know it and I know. At some point you're going to bite the dust on your bike and it's going to hurt. There are no two ways around it. Everyone in the world that has ever ridden a bike has taken a spill on the bike. If there's a person out there that has never crashed then I want to meet them. That has to be a Guiness world record. Now that we know you're going down at some point you have to start thinking about the after-effects. You'll have to clean and bandage the wound(s). Cleaning and bandaging will be much easier on the legs if they have been shaved. The bandage tape will stick better and you'll avoid the doctor having to shave your legs if you have to make a trip to the ER. A scene from the cycling documentary, Hell on Wheels, shows former rider Rolf Aldag standing in a hotel bath tub shaving his legs and giving this exact reason for doing it. As a side note, if you've never seen the movie it is available for streaming on Netflix. You can also purchase it by clicking on the Amazon widget link on the right side of this blog.

The million dollar question now is, are you going to do it. And this applies mainly to the male riders...although there are some females out there who shall remain nameless that like to keep their legs hairy. For some reason I just can't see myself cuddling with my wife and feeling her hairy legs against me, but hey, that's just me! Let me know your stance in the comments...do you shave or stay hairy?

No Cure For This Addiction

Before I started cycling I was always told that it was an addiction. Everyone told me that once I started I wouldn't stop. Yeah, yeah...whatever, I thought. In my mind I couldn't fathom that a former football and basketball player would EVER take to cycling. No way was I wearing spandex and other skin tight clothing (mind you, this was when I was in good shape, my shape now is round). I briefly started in the fall of 2004. I continued through the winter and into the spring but then I was offered the job as the head varsity girls' basketball coach at a local high school. Cycling was put on the back burner. Some people considered cycling like this:

Pringles...once you pop you can't stop. Me? I considered it taking cold medicine.

Fast forward roughly seven years. I was fortunate enough to have some very successful years coaching girls' basketball. We've been to the state championship game in Virginia twice and the state semi-finals once. We've won three straight district championships (never lost a district game in that span) and two regional championships. I've won several Coach of the Year awards and been asked to coach in the state all-star game for three years running. With all that being said, something brought me back to the bike.

It all started with me wanting to get back into shape. As a former athlete and now as a coach I needed a goal, something I could train for, strive for. I began doing an internet search and found a duathlon in September of this year. It was more of a sprint type as it started with about two mile run followed by an eight mile bike ride and finished with a three mile run. That was manageable to me. Unfortunately, my knees didn't necessarily agree with the running. After having two knee surgeries (one on each knee) I could run in spurts. Basically, I could play a full court game of basketball at moderate intensity for about an hour and then I had to shut it down. But when I hopped back on that bike it felt like magic. I was drawn to it. I couldn't wait to ride again. I looked forward to getting back on that bike the next day. It was like being a kid again.

The freedom you feel back on the bike is exactly like it was when you were a kid. You could feel the wind blowing on your face and the sun shining on you and you just felt like you could do anything or go anywhere on your bike. It's the same now. That freedom is back and I love it. Maybe the love hit because I feel like my basketball coaching career is nearing an end. Maybe it hit just because I needed that challenge, that goal to push for again. Who really knows. I do know that this time the bug isn't going away. And I've approached this from the same standpoint that I did with coaching basketball. I'm absorbing any and all knowledge about cycling, maintenance, gear, coaching, tactics, etiquette, repair, etc. that I can and I'm loving every minute of it.

With that being said, I've been training for the upcoming Shenandoah Valley Century on September 11th. The event is sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition and is currently in its 29th year. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. This is where I'm glad my degree in Exercise Science and my certification as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA come in handy. I've been able to prepare the right way and do things the right way because of my background knowledge. Is there  more I could learn to make my training more efficient? Absolutely. And believe me, I'll find the information if it's out there. In a future blog post I will share my century training plan as well as some cycling specific weight training exercises.

Other News & Notes


As you can see, the design and look of the blog has changed. Call it a work in progress. But in the upper right hand corner you should find the new logo for the blog. I'd love to have some feedback on the logo. It was simply designed and I thought the idea behind it was pretty cool. Let me know your thoughts.

You can follow the blog on Twitter (@pelotonfred) and we have also created a FaceBook page. Just search Peloton Fred and it should come up.

To all those participating in the 19th Annual Shenandoah Bicycle Festival this weekend, best of luck to you. Ride strong and ride safe! Wish I could be there with you!

Map My Ride & Other News

Continuing with my products push, or my dirty, underhanded way of driving followers to the blog (whichever), I'm taking a look at a nice little app for your mobile phone devices (I use only the best of course, an iPhone...whatelse would a Fred use?!). The MapMyRide app is a nice little addition to your training. I've been using it for about two weeks now and it has been great thus far. My only complaint would be the fact that it drains your phone battery because it's constantly on and using the GPS feature on your phone. It will suck the life right out of your battery if you're not careful! I get around this inconvience by juicing up my phone for about an hour or so before I go out on a ride.

The app allows you to track your rides and create training logs as well. You can also use the MapMyRide website to create a profile and view your friends' routes and rides. They also had a nice little competition going on during the Tour de France. Riders could log one ride for each day of the tour and compete against others for virtual stage wins. So, even if you were riding solo you could compare your ride stats to those across the globe. Nice little feature.

I recommend the app because of its ease of use and its tracking ability. I do know there is a free version on the iTunes store for iPhone users. There is also a version that is ad-free but you'll have to pay for that one. I don't mind the ads so I just downloaded the free version. Works wonders for me! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Other News & Thoughts

The Peloton Fred blog is currently in the process of having a logo designed for the site. I'm finalizing the details now and should have it up (along with a new blog design) by the end of the week. I think it's a pretty cool logo. I'll be curious to hear your thoughts after it's up.

I've added an Amazon widget to the blog showing some of my favorite cycling stuff (movies, books, equipment, tools). You can click on the item and it will take you directly to the Amazon site for purchase. If you click from the blog to Amazon and make a purchase you'll help out good ol' Fred!

Please post comments and thoughts on the blog. I'm always looking for ways to improve. Yes, I still coach high school girls' basketball and as much as I critique the girls during practice and film session I do the same thing with my writing and content. Getting feedback only helps us improve!

That is all...now back to the important stuff..

Safety First

I'll admit it, I was the safety geek growing up. I still am. I find myself constantly reminding my 7-year old about looking both ways before you cross the street, use hand sanitizer, don't dive in the shallow end, don't jump over your brother from the couch to the love seat, etc., etc. I am also a Physical Education teacher and my goal is to teach students how to participate in physical activity safely. I mean, I was the guy that was solely responsible for assigning the fifth grade students to the Safety Patrol team and encouraged them to keep notepads for suggestions on how to improve school safety (and to catch safety violators)! With all that being said, I CANNOT stress the important of safety on the roadways while cycling! Let's face it, most people in automobiles do not respect the bicycle as a vehicle. People on bikes are viewed as a nuisance. So don't think for a moment that some crazy wacko won't run you down and put you in the ditch...or worse. Which brings me to this:

That my friends is a Road ID. It is a simple piece of silicone and a metal plate that could possibly save your life. They come in various styles, sizes and colors. I hadn't really considered what a great (and cheap) investment a Road ID was until I started remembering all the stories of people I know that have been mowed down by cars while cycling. Yes, many people say they carry an ID with them in their jersey pocket while riding but, truth be told, I honestly can't tell you one person I know that does that. What I can tell you is that there are several people that ride that wear Livestrong bracelets. What you see in the picture above is the exact same size as a Livestrong bracelet. If you can rock the yellow band then you shouldn't have a problem rocking a Road ID. I never leave home for a ride without my Road ID now and I don't even realize I have it on until I jump in the shower after my ride. It not only gives me a piece of mind while I'm out riding but my wife also.

So, take it from Mr. Safety Man himself, visit the Road ID site and make the purchase. Lord willing, no one will ever have to check it for your information because of a crash but it never hurts to be prepared. If you go out for a ride with a fix-it kit then consider the Road ID your life-saving fix-it kit on your wrist.

Fred Loves The Aussie

Well, another Tour de France is over and done with and for the first time in history an Aussie has won the tour! Cadel Evans put in a magnificent performance throughout the tour. His BMC teammates worked hard for him when they could and other times Evans simply just did it on his own. He never panicked and he simply put the hammer down during the individual time trial. Congrats to Cadel! The Schleck brothers put up a honorable fight but in the end Cadel Evans just had "it". That "it" is the stuff of champions and it's a well-deserved honor for Cadel!

I also think Alberto Contador showed the heart of a champion to fight back the way he did in the latter stages. Counted down and out early after some crashes and injury, Contador did the only thing he could do at the end...attack. It was a memorable performance, it truly was. Now, the conspiracy theorists in the world will say that Alberto managed to eat some of that tainted beef toward the end of the tour again. Hmm...

In keeping with typical Fred fashion I am wondering how many have rushed out to try and secure this:

Yes, that is the ride Cadel Evans rode to Tour victory this year. For most Freds in the cycling world Trek was the bike of choice simply because Lance Armstrong rode a Trek and if it was good enough for the Texan then it was good enough for Freds all over the world! Well, now that Cadel has won the Tour de France how many Freds out there are rushing to their nearest bike shop to secure the above BMC machine? It's a legit question.

Speaking of rides, I have managed to get a new bike myself. Yes, it is a Trek. I'm an old school Fred after all! I upgraded from this:

To this masterpiece:

I scraped together enough funds to purchase a 2011 Trek Madone 4.5. It was in my budget and still has enough Fred appeal to offend your average cyclist. The Shimano 105 group set hasn't given me any problems thus far and I've managed to put about 250 miles on it in the past two weeks. The saddle was a little rough on the "bootius maximus" (my son's interpretation of gluteus maximus) but I managed to work through it and it's fine for me now. In anti-Fred fashion, I went for the basic Shimano pedals instead of getting the matching 105 pedal set. I'm not quite sure what's wrong with me...I must be losing my Fred-ness. I also had the Bontrager Node 1 computer with the Duo Trap sensor installed and some Race Lite water bottle cages. Also grabbed a Bontrager cycling jersey and shorts. The bike was tailor fit to my size via my main man Kyle at Shenandoah Bicycle Company in Harrisonburg, VA. If you're in need of a bike or some service head on down to SBC! These folks are great and know their stuff! Good folks!

Well, that's it for now folks. Please spread the word about our blog. In the coming days and weeks we plan to add a section for our favorite cycling books, movies and equipment. We're also working on a logo and our own website so please be patient as the blog develops! Until then...Freds (and Friedas) all over the world unite!

Maillot Jaune

In my first post we already covered the fact that I started off my cycling career as a Fred. In fact, I'm still a Fred to most "avid" cyclist. But that's okay, I don't ride my bike in hopes of one day wearing the maillot jaune. Nevertheless, that's exactly how my cycling career started...wearing the coveted yellow jersey of the Tour de France.

See, in the past I was never into cycling like I am now. Yes, I grew up like most kids riding my bike and trying to jump over or off anything I could find. I grew up in the country so we had plenty of dirt to build ramps and jumps for our BMX bikes. And it wasn't until my mom and sister came home with 10-speeds that I first laid eyes on a road bike. I only remember little details about those bikes. I know my sister had a yellow one and my mom had a green one that had John Deere on one of the tubes. I also remember trying to ride them and being scared to fall or wreck knowing that I was going to crush the family jewels since the bike was too big. With all that said, I was a BMX kid trying to do tricks standing on the front and back pegs of my bike.

All that changed in 2004. It was then I was introduced to road cycling. A couple of the guys that worked out in the fitness facility I worked in started having big discussions on the sport of cycling. I would jump in from time to time but it was like they were speaking a foreign language. In fact, they were. Talk of derailleurs, Shimano, and Campy had my head spinning. The only thing I knew about road biking was that Lance Armstrong was a beast (despite allegations) and I wanted one of those little yellow rubber bracelets that everyone seemed to have. So what did I do? I did what any normal Fred would do. I headed down to the local bike shop and pretended I knew what I was talking about. I asked for a Trek like the one Lance Armstrong rode in the Tour. The guy at the bike shop knew I was a Fred. He could hardly contain his laughter (and excitement). He knew he had a sucker walking right in his front door. But the joke was on him! I didn't have the money to buy a Lance bike! Ha! Take that! After looking at the prices of the bikes I walked right on out and began heading to the nearest Wal-Mart. I thought for sure I could find a better deal there.

I never made the trip to Wal-Mart and I passed on even buying a bike at all. I did devour everything I could about the Tour that summer and tried to read and study as much as I could about cycling. I even began training like the cyclists I knew that worked out in the gym. Alas, it was not meant to be. My body type had me fooled. Those guys working out on the stationary bikes were lean and mean. I was a Clydesdale in every sense of the word. I spent my whole life playing basketball and football. At 5'9" I was always told that I had to be stronger and faster than everyone else just to have a shot a playing. So I hit the weights. I was built just right for football and I could take abuse on the basketball court. It all led to me eventually playing college basketball and even having a shot to play professionally overseas. But now, now that the playing days were over I wanted to tackle something new. I wanted to be a roadie. Unfortunately,  my body type was now my worst enemy. I knew I would get dropped on climbs and my best bet was a sprinter but I darn sure didn't look like those guys that (apparently) spoke fluent Italian and French. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

Later that summer my wife, my 4-month old son and I moved to Virginia, a land of rolling hills and big climbs. We moved back into my wife's hometown in the Shenandoah Valley. I saw all these people riding their bikes and they looked like they were having a ball and I wanted to try it. For the first time in my life I wasn't involved in any sports. I wasn't coaching, I wasn't training other athletes. I was teaching elementary Physical Education. I needed an outlet. Cycling was that outlet (or so I thought).

Again, I headed to the local bike shop and met a guy who was a genuine and friendly as he could be. He wanted to help me realize my dreams of becoming a roadie. He helped me get my first bike. Yes, it was a Trek. I mean, c'mon, Lance was dominating the Tour at the time (no needle jokes please) and I darn sure couldn't pronounce Pinarello (still can't). I wanted what Lance rode (enough with the "fanboy" thoughts...I know you're thinking that right now). I was in luck, a person had just traded in a bike and he was looking to get rid of the trade-in. It was mine for 300 bucks. Yes! I was in business. Then he rolled this out:

It was a Trek carbon fiber bike (a Trek ZX 2300 to be exact). I had no idea what I was looking at. I knew carbon fiber were the buzz words in cycling because they were the lightest, stiffest bikes on the market. But I had no clue what the heck a carbon fiber frame even meant. It wasn't the color scheme I wanted but hey, it was carbon and it was 300 dollars. I could live with that. Then the other details started rolling in. It was traded in by a female rider who upgraded to...drum roll please...a Lance bike! She musta been a Frieda! Anyway...the bike was a size 56 (huh??) and it "should" fit me. This was all according to the nice man working at the shop. I'm still looking for this guy by the way. If you see him tell him I want a piece of him! Moving on...the guy said I needed to be fitted for the bike and that the bike fit was unique. Again, I was lost so I just went with it. I needed a pair of riding shorts with nice padding. Okay, cool. I like baggy shorts; I need maximum swingage I told him. No, no, no! That wouldn't do. I needed spandex cycling shorts. Hold up...wait a minute...spandex?! Nah, I only wore those UNDER my basketball shorts or football pants. Nope, he told me, I must wear the spandex because it was aerodynamic. Ok...whatever.

Next up were shoes. Ah yeah...shoes. That was my department. I was a shoe fiend. I had more pairs of shoes than anyone I knew. I waited in line and even took off work to get the latest pair of Jordans. I knew shoes! I walked over to the shoe section and low and behold what did I find...Nike cycling shoes! I want those! Why? Well, they were Nike and I was a man of all things Nike. Never wore another brand of shoes for basketball or football...EVER. And plus, Lance wears Nike cycling shoes. I know, another typical Fred move. Why do you think the blog is called "Peloton Fred"? DUH!

So with my shoes (and cleats) and shorts now on it was time to get fitted. The guy at the shop told me to hop on the bike and he would make sure I was set up right. Mind you, this is the first time EVER I was attempting to use clipless pedals. And what was about to happen was the most epic Fred moment that may ever exist. I hopped on the bike in the store...without it being on an indoor trainer. Yep. I sure did. The guy at the shop had a teenage kid come stand with the front tire between his legs and told him to hold the handlebars and keep me steady. You already know what happens next. I fell. And not just any fall. A truly Fred-ian fall. I couldn't unclip so I fell and knocked over two racks of cycling clothing and landed with a thud right in the middle of the shop. This was on a busy Saturday morning. Everyone was just staring at me. In fact, thinking back to that moment, I swear I heard someone mumble, "Typical Fred," in the background.

After the fall, I managed to keep my balance long enough to get my seat height somewhat properly adjusted and get two water bottles. As I was about to pay for my stuff I was reminded that I didn't have a cycling jersey. And what you are about to see if the greatest piece of work a Fred could ever do. I purchased this:

I know what you're thinking. NO...HE...DIDN'T! Yes...I did. I purchased the coveted Maillot Jaune. I knew nothing of the history behind the jersey. I did know that the leader of the Tour de France wore the jersey and that Lance had worn that thing so many times I stopped counting (that would be 7...again, allegations aside). Plus, to top it off, it was...NIKE! I snatched it up and went home happy as could be. Little did I know that I had committed a cycling sin.

No one bothered to tell me that it's an unwritten rule not to wear the yellow jersey unless you have the cycle game to back it up. Ride after ride, fall after fall (not the season, the literal falling down) I had that yellow jersey on. And time after time other cyclists would pass me on the road and suck their teeth at me as they flew by. "The yellow freakin' jersey!" they seemed to be saying to me. I couldn't even draft behind these guys so, in hindsight, I know that I shouldn't be wearing the thing. But it was all I had at the time. So I continued to wear it proudly all while averaging 8mph on the bike during rides.

If you've made it this far in the entry then you now probably have a good understanding of why I call this blog, "Peloton Fred." If not, don't worry...there's more to come. But to wrap it up...I still have the yellow jersey. No, I don't wear it anymore. I have a greater understanding of the meaning now. I wear a plain jersey or the jersey of my local bike shop on rides now. Also have a Fat Cyclist kit coming in the mail so I'll wear that proudly as well as a part of Team Fatty. The bike? Yep, still have that too. In fact, up until about 2 weeks ago I was still hammering on that thing. There's a reason for that (that's another entry) but she's still in good shape and shifts well.

All in all, just another typical day in the life of a Peloton Fred.

Who & Why?

First off, let me just say thanks for taking the time to visit this blog. Hopefully, you'll get a chance to laugh a little and maybe...just maybe, you'll come back for more. Alas, only time will tell!

Anywho, why Peloton Fred you may ask? Any cycling newbie can figure out what the heck the peloton is, right? Right? If you've spent any time watching the Tour de France then you know exactly what the peloton is, or at least you pretend to know. Now that we have that out of the way, how about the Fred part? Well, according to various cycling slang websites, a "Fred" is someone who is an inexperienced cyclist who usually buys high-end gear when he has no business buying it and has no clue what it means or what to do with it. There are also various other definitions and uses but the bottom line is, a Fred is a newbie cyclist who is wack (More on urban slang later). With those bases covered, it is time to come out of the closet and admit I was a Fred. Actually, I'm probably still a Fred but I'm getting better (I didn't buy the Radio Shack race kit or Leopard Trek kit to go with my new Madone this year)! And no, my real name is not Fred!

Long story short, we were all cycling newbies whether we like to admit it or not. Yes, even the guy with Pinarello bike that was 12 grand that leads all the Thursday evening fast rides. Yep, that guy was once a Fred too! Although, legend has it that he was born while his mother was completing her 417th century ride. We were all Freds or Friedas (for my fellow female roadies) at one and we should remember that. No new cyclist wants to be made fun of while taking a bold step out to join the local club ride. Not only have you ostracized the person but you could turn them off from the sport altogether and that's the real tragedy.

Enough blabbing for today. I'll be sure to post some of my Fred stories in the coming days and I hope you'll share some of yours too! Until then...vive le tour...hey, that's what the guy on the Thursday night ride told me to say!