[Closed] Crowd funded new forum?

How about we ask Mark nicely to price up the improvements we would like and we crowd fund to get those changes implemented?

If a new forum was required (and it isn't), surely the best option would be to open source the code so all you know-it-alls can put your time where your mouths are and do it yourselves?

The mobile forum front page hysterically awful. Sure the dev team is small, but who signed off on a design where you can't see the OP, or the thread title, which are the only two things when determining whether it's worth clicking on, so you end up wasting time clicking on something you don't want to read and........ohhhh...I see

you end up wasting time clicking on something you don't want to read and........ohhhh...I see

clicking on a thread twice in order to get to the last page.

reducing the number of posts per page from 40 to 35.

Gotta keep the page count up now.

Get out of town. The forum's perfect. Have you seen other fora? Massive GIF avatars, rambling signatures, nested cocking quotes... I could go on?

Pop your catastro-truck into reverse, as you've overshot the middle ground.

I pay for my P. However, I’d happily pay more to have “ stickies “ so the main forums don’t get cluttered up with the daily shit threads, what lights, tubeless, x1, my gears don’t work etc.

Jamie - Member
Pop your catastro-truck into reverse, as you've overshot the middle ground.

Aint no reverse gear on this catastro-truck partner. No brakes neither... no siree!

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I'd like a Magnetodog emoji for when something is so awesome a 'like' button just won't do.

I also like the current setup. Straightforward to use, quick to load.

As others have noted, a link to last page on mobile (longer thread titles hide the current one) would be all I'd like to see changed. I use Google to search the site mostly anyway.

The main things I like are that it's text-based and low bandwidth; I can use it with any data connection, on any device.

We all agree that the current forum is rubbish and needs an update.

I really like the existing forum, best one I've found so far.

Very clean interface, no signatures with stupid giffs in them.

I never use the mobile site, always request desktop version. Then it's fine.

The main things I like are that it's text-based and [b]low bandwidth[/b]; I can use it with any data connection, on any device.

Someone's using an adblocker then.

footflaps - Member

I really like the existing forum, best one I've found so far.

Very clean interface, no signatures with stupid giffs in them.

Again, just to clarify, functional buttons and features need not mean animated giffs in signatures or avatars. The moderators or forum admins can disable these features while retaining other wonderful features.

Someone's using an adblocker then.

If you pay the tiny sum they ask for a 'P' you can switch them off.

If you pay the tiny sum they ask for a 'P' you can switch them off.

I know.

The user who posted what I quoted did not have a P, ergo see my previous post.

The user who posted what I quoted did not have a P

Bloody freeloader! 😉

Bloody freeloader!

They're a blight on the forum.

footflaps - Member

If you pay the tiny sum they ask for a 'P' you can switch them off.

If the premier "P" allowed you to have an avatar, embed instagram pics, functional quote buttons and other "amazing" new fangled features I would pay it.

The magazine is worthless to me.

If the premier "P" allowed you to have an avatar, embed instagram pics, functional quote buttons and other "amazing" new fangled features I would pay it.

Avatars add no value and just ruin the clean look of the place.....

Just two things:

1) last post read button
2) sort out the horrendous mobile view. Luckily I have a tab in chrome which appears to be glitched and only ever shows the desktop view of any site so this is now my Singletrack tab. However, I want a new phone but this would mean losing the glitched tab. Choice is between shiny new phone and or not having to use shit mobile version of site.

I would be over the moon to get something as clean and nice to use as the Bearbones forum.

We should leap to conclusions about someone's character by the contents of their posts, not some crappy avatar and a list of ego chariots.

Keep it clean.
🙂

As an aside, surely it would be fairly simple for a third party to write an app for this wouldn't it? Might be against STW t&cs I guess.

Only one suggestion - introduce a dedicated 'politics' forum and move all existing political threads onto it.

Only one suggestion - introduce a dedicated 'politics' forum and move all existing political threads onto it.

Then once they're all in there, seal up the doors, attach an anchor and chuck it in the sea 😀

footflaps - Member

If the premier "P" allowed you to have an avatar, embed instagram pics, functional quote buttons and other "amazing" new fangled features I would pay it.

Avatars add no value and just ruin the clean look of the place.....

Avatars would increase recognition and and familiarity between forum members which would lead to less bickering because people would remember they had some common ground with a forum member previously or they would quickly remember they'd had fruitless engagements before.

It's easier to form an association with an image than trying to discern whether you once had a good discussion with perceypanther or pantherpeter or Drj or Drz and so on.

And also...wait for it.....indivdual users could choose whether to switch them on or off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

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Avatars would increase recognition and and familiarity between forum members which would lead to less bickering because

Unless two people had the same avatars.....fight

Why would people not just go to a forum that discuss bikes instead of changing the software where the same ten post

I'd genuinely hate to see signatures or avatars on here.

They add nothing and just decrease the signal to noise ratio.

It's easier to form an association with an image than trying to discern whether you once had a good discussion with perceypanther or pantherpeter or Drj or Drz and so on.

Personally I find it a lot easier associate with a static name rather than going "Oh yeah, this Minion guy is the same guy that used have Asterix as his avatar before he had the rabbit with a pancake on its head."

indivdual users could choose whether to switch them on or off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

True. Would they also get to switch off pointless conversations about avatars?

I like the way the "Skip to top" button stands out compared to other forums I use.

That's my lot.

GrahamS - Member

Personally I find it a lot easier associate with a static name rather than going "Oh yeah, this Minion guy is the same guy that used have Asterix as his avatar before he had the rabbit with a pancake on its head."

You would have the name AND the avatar to assist your recollection. There could also be forum guidelines that avatars could be locked for a year, or mod reviewed etc. And once again, you could decide to switch them off so it would be no skin off your nose. The people who would appreciate a forum with avatars could have it and those who want to pretend there is some kind infered of intellectual superiority associated with a forum that doesn't have avatars could have a forum without them.

Amazing. Mindblown.gif etc

True. Would they also get to switch off pointless conversations about avatars?

No those are mandatory.

Yeah I use Opera mini on the latest Android phone with the inbuilt ad blocker - never get ads.

If it ain't broken don't fix it.

😛

An ignore button would be good too.

I’d like a timer to boot me off STW, as getting pins and needles in my legs sat on the bog “reading” this thread. Might even enable me to actually ride one of my bikes then as well 😯

Upgrade is like saying you are driving a perfectly capable BMW M5 now for your family but you want to "upgrade" to a Mercedes C class to accommodate your neighbours.

😆

Well whatever floats your boat jimjam, but that sounds like a lot of extra hassle with adding/enforcing rules, ensuring hosted images are appropriate, coding and maintaining a new set of post/thread layouts and additional server bandwidth all just to support something that quite a lot of users have explicitly said they don't want.

Personally I'd rather see the effort spent elsewhere, like sorting out the mobile layout and (re-)implementing the Last Read functionality.

Regarding quotes and ignore function. The STW killfile plugin for Chrome provides both of these. Not a perfect solution but saves waiting for them to implement it.

The software this forum is run on is appalling.
Always will be.
Mark has already stated he cant be bothered (to pay for it) despite the fact that it is the forum that drives the mag sales not the mag that drives the forum visits.
Without the forum - the magazine would nose dive. Let’s face it - plenty have already stated that they binned off the mag subscription as they’d already read/googled/etc the contents before it ever arrived on their doormat.
Could run this on vBulletin or phpbb software - or even simple machines, all of which are free(so Mark wouldn’t be paying for it), massively functional and can be configured with every single thing that has been requested by hundreds of users over the years.
Want to sell something? Then subscribe/P
Technical know how stickies - P
Want to talk bollocks - then feel free.
Guarantee the revenue would go up instead of asking for a donation and hoping its a day without a Y in it and a westerly wind ....

THere is no valid excuse for the utter tripe that this forum is run and poor features other than ignorance and empty promises.

Could run this on vBulletin or phpbb software

Pretty sure it already runs on a customised version of phpBB (at least it used to last time I cared enough to find out)

THere is no valid excuse for the utter tripe that this forum is run and poor features other than ignorance and empty promises.

We must be using different forums, this one works fine for me. One of the cleanest UIs I've come across.

If thats the case Graham then there is absolutely no reason for the lack of features available as they are all a basic part of that software!

Foot flaps = you’re one of the most vociferous when it comes to not wanting change here so no surprise with that comment.
Far more want features that are a given on just about every other forum out there yet are ignored.
Time and time and time again.
That alone should show you were priorities lie with those in. Singletrack Towers......
Hiow many pages did the “Forum update” thread run too before it was locked?
Was anything done?
Nope.
This forum is part of a commercial enterprise - it isn’t a “freebie” tacked on somewhere despite what the sticky says.
It’s about time it and its members were shown the respect that being part of that should have,
They want people to pay for a P - then damn well make it a proper functioning platform, without all the rogue ads, redirects, spam and other boilloclks that are a daily occurrence here. A proper sales section with restricted access, stickies, Know hows, etc.
It really is not hard - options in a dashboard - on or off.
If it isn’t - then hand it over to the Mods and those members who actually have an interest in running it, the P is for the magazine only (ets face it, there is nothing for the forum to having the P in the real world ) and then you can also stop moaning about anyone who might say something to make Aunty Mable blush becasue it isn’t linked to the magazine and ergo there’s no responsibility so as we’re all adults (well Chewk and Perchy aside) reduce the PG filter and add decent functionality.

I think we should just keep it simple, four rooms: a boxing ring room, a bedroom, a hot tub room and one with a wood burner. All on suite of course.

Far more want features that are a given on just about every other forum out there yet are ignored.

Or sure about that. The only thing frequently asked for was a PM function and we have that now.

The rest tends to be people saying "We want this" and others saying "No we don't"

They want people to pay for a P - then damn well make it a proper functioning platform..

You are shouting down the opinion of those of us that [i]already[/i] pay for a P (e.g. footflaps, me).

I agree the rogue ads are not on. But they slip through on every forum.

But avatars, sigs, post counts, ranks and all that other fluff and guff? No thanks.

It really is not hard - options in a dashboard - on or off.

AIUI It's considerably harder than that. This forum is heavily customised, hence why it doesn't look like every other generic blue/white phpBB forum out there.

The only thing frequently asked for was a PM function and we have that now.

It's a fairly poor implementation, tho.

TBH I used to be an idealistic young buck like HammyUK, but I just gave up. End of the day, I use an adblocker due to the sheer invasiveness of the adverts, and accept it is what it is. It sucks, but I am not paying for it, so cannot moan. If it changes, then as I have always said, I'll pony up.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to go click 5 times when once would do 8)

we’re all adults (well Chewk and Perchy aside)

My mum says I'm not allowed to play with you anymore.

Was there a front page poll I missed? It seems OK to me, but then I remember Newsgroups.

damn well make it a proper functioning platform, without all the rogue ads, redirects, spam and other boilloclks that are a daily occurrence here

No redirects, spam, ads etc when you have a P.

None

Ever.

Why don't they have a trial p period?

Sorry to seem so mean, but there are other cycling forums out there with all these shiny/annoying features that are being asked for. I don't know the page click/visitor count for the rest of them but they seem fairly dead to me - unless it's something like MTBR with a worldwide audience.

Maybe, just maybe,folk are here because they rather like the current implementation, which in turn leads to better content etc.

There are some annoying issues (especially the mobile view) that really need to be fixed though and just repeating the "it's hard" mantra really isn't good enough. We've had almost a year of the current problems. That's been more than enough time to fix them - especially when we were told that backing them out wasn't on.

[quote=mickmcd ]Why don't they have a trial p period?

Something short term like £1.49 gives you a months trial?

Edit: that reminds me. As a Premier member I should be able to gift a free months trial to anyone on the forum but the function appears to be broken....

https://singletrackmag.com/premier/friend-voucher/

Is it working for other P members?

Maybe, just maybe,folk are here because they rather like the current implementation, which in turn leads to better content etc.

Maybe, just maybe, is one of the most annoying introductions, maybe.

Is it working for other P members?

I've just sent one to Jamie.

I gave him one once - or was it TSY or Yunki - back when I wished to pay for this place

[quote=weeksy ]Is it working for other P members?

I've just sent one to Jamie.

He got once got one off me too. Bloody freeloader!

Avatars? I'm reminded of Marcus Brigstock's quip:

The whole space shuttle launch thing would be much more impressive if the astronauts leant out of the windows and waved some sparklers. 🙄

He got once got one off me too. Bloody freeloader!

It's the forum equivalent of sofa surfing 😀

Duno, I put your email Addy from profile in the link above. I guess you get something via mail to click?

Nope. Nothing my end. Maybe Onion's right, and it is broken?

Thanks btw.

Edit: One sec....found it in Gmail's spam.

Edit: Ah well.

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Something short term like £1.49 gives you a months trial?

It was tongue in cheek

Between it's almost free and there are other places if your not happy I'm unsure what else there would be to add

If the premier "P" allowed you to have an avatar

Only if the avatar was assigned at random from a selection of animated gifs of crashing audis, burning wood ovens, self inflicted axe wounds, badger sealant spaf and picolax fallout.

, embed instagram pics

Much like how Sainsbury's keeps the rifraf out of Waitrose, Pinkbike exists for a reason.

functional quote buttons

Seems to work OK here

and other "amazing" new fangled features I would pay it.

New fangled features like the internet equivalent of 27.5/650b, boost148, 35mm bars, PF92 bottom brackets, etc? They always go down well.

I'd like a Magnetodog emoji for when something is so awesome a 'like' button just won't do.

This times lots. I'd also like a dislike button for when you want to register an objection to a post but know that no matter how much effort you put in to the reply the poster will continue to be an arrogant, unpleasant, empathy devoid cockwomble, ignore facts and make shit up (see Brexit thread).

I like the simplicity of this forum, it is easy to read and if you pony up for a P fairly clean and easy to use.

I would like to see the mobile version improved (last page, full title and OP name) and the ability to log in [u]before [/u]all of the shite loads after you have been logged out.

I’m a Mod on two other forums and a full paying member on a third so not fresh faced by a long way!
The argument about this being a heavily modified version Doesn’t stand up.
A skin is a skin.
The options are still there - it’s the steadfast refusal to implement them that grates.
Page clicks, poor mobile implementation etc is no excuse.

I used to subscribe, found the £15 not even worth bothering about.. thought I’d support the forum and because I enjoy/endure hanging around here thought it peanuts.
Then the constant log in/out shake it all about happened and despite threads complaining the issue never got fixed, occasionally Mods would intervene and try to assist but no real answer was given as to why we had to keep logging in every couple of days/a week or so..
Just gave up complaining in the end, especially when the only answer to the issue was “doesn’t happen to me, you must be a moron” or “yeah, like whatevs” when we all know being booted out means you have to log back in again and there for logs it as another “impression/unique user” stat for the ad revenue/sales negotiations.. for instance I posted on here this morning logged in..then this afternoon had to log back in again .. on the same device.

So I stopped the subs.

Still get booted out the same amount of times, but now I just don’t care because I’m not paying for any subs and I revoked my right to complain.

Feel much happier now.

bikebouy - I know it's no comfort to you but I'm one of those in the [i]"never/rarely happens to me"[/i] camp. It's certainly a bizarre one and seems to defy rational explanation. I know that the Mods did try to help out to the best of their abilities but yeah, it maybe needs someone with a bit more technical know how/system access to get to the bottom of it.

we all know being booted out means you have to log back in again and there for logs it as another “impression/unique user” stat for the ad revenue/sales negotiations..

That's not how unique user stats normally work.

...this afternoon had to log back in again .. on the same device.

Same device. Same IP address. So not a new unique user impression whether you are logged in or not.

I inderstand, they did try I’m not saying they didn’t.
But there is a rational explanation for it and oddly the explanation given wasn’t the real answer.

But still, the forum does provide a helluva lot of interest and varied topics of which I think we’re all the better for it.

I’m not an old fuddy duddy I just like things simple and easy to use . In its current format it does just that, it works and there are some little annoying issues that are pretty much easy to rectify either by the user or STW themselves.

I’m not an old fuddy duddy I just like things simple and easy to use . In its current format it does just that, it works and there are some little annoying issues that are pretty much easy to rectify either by the user or STW themselves.

+1

It's 100x better than Pink Bike etc, which is what the OP seems to want it to become.

The clean, simple UI keeps out the teenagers, who can't cope with it's simplicity.

jimjam - Member
I've not read the whole thread but I'm sure someone else has already pointed out that we are already crowd funding the forum with clickthrough ads for Russian brides, viruses and websites offering to explain how we make £1000 a day

the only advert I can see is one for some odd knitted cap/beret thing right at the top of the page.

They know the STW demographic well.....

+1 Countzero

I use Google as my search engine with Safari on my iPad and haven't had one redirect. I get an occasional, as in once a week, auto log out. No big deal.

I went on Pink Bike once. Just once, it's painful on the eyes, can't say I'll be rushing back.

The plain styling with no avatars etc is very useful for work 😉

Not all forums have to look the same. One of the best are the [url= https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/ ]UK Climbing forums[/url] which is completely bespoke software. No embedded images for a start, you just have to link to them. They've added like/dislike buttons since I last used it.

UKclimbing may look nice but some of the residents make most of the more fringe posters on here look sane, compassionate and balanced by comparison.

A mate of mine from Uni posted on there in the mid-2000's asking if anyone in Sheffield could lend him a Hilti for the weekend to put a bolt on the lip of Parthian Shot as he wanted to climb it but it looked a bit dicey. He got actual death threats, had his posting history stalked so people could work out who he was in real life so they could come and have a "chat" and had to ask for his account to be deleted in the end. The admins offered him the option of using the server history if he wanted to go to the police 😕

Admittedly bolting grit should carry the death penalty but aught really be decided by jury not forum members.

MTB probably 2 years from peak
Forums have limited lifespans and many good ones die a death dramatically
Forget funding - prepare for sale before market peaks

Que?

Sorry if I've missed it but what's wrong with this forum?

With Keycahin in iOS logging back in is hardly a chore ?

It is a little bit of a joke that STW forum software / “experience” is so much worse than the old MTB-Britain, although I do appreciate Mark’s point about image hosting liability.

Yes STW shpuld definitely do a “sh.t pub it’s the people” t-shirt 🙂

[quote=bikebouy ]I inderstand, they did try I’m not saying they didn’t.
But there is a rational explanation for it and oddly the explanation given wasn’t the real answer.

Care to share? 😀

I mentioned it in my above post.

Anyway, I like the way some abbreviations posted change to something less interesting.

MTB probably 2 years from peak Forums have limited lifespans... Blah blah blah

You do know nothing you write makes any sense, right?

when we all know being booted out means you have to log back in again and there for logs it as another “impression/unique user” stat for the ad revenue/sales negotiations.. for instance I posted on here this morning logged in..then this afternoon had to log back in again .. on the same device.

You just made that up, it doesn’t work like that.

I really don't why some people are complaining because the forum functions work perfectly for me. Never a problem at all and so easy to use.

Okay, I don't have a smartphone or use one ... 😆

Sure it doesn’t.
You said that last time, but failed to give a reasoned answer.

But still, a new log in means something to someone for sure 😆

I'd like it 22.4% stiffer but more vertically compliant

PS whoever has probably done that gag in previous pages, apols.