[Closed] Ok mods. Let's be frank are numbers down?

Good weather

I'm Frank and so's my wife

(a) I doubt the Moderators have access to the figures

(b) There are very good reasons Mark/STW might not want the figures to be known.

(c) Mark already said that weather is a major factor. Busiest day was apparently during the Beast fro the East.

I would add that, ironically, I have found the response rate to be quite good in the last number of days. I mean, I have, myself, started a number of threads, and most have them have garnered quite a few responses... and not just by one or two people, either.

I didn't respond to your skatepark thread because, well, skatepark. 😉

That, and it's been pretty nice outside, so I've been getting in as many kms as possible.

I wonder how easy it is for new members to register these days...

Last figures we seen it’s pretty much the same.

Good weather and weekends means posts reduce, office bods are back to work tomorrow so the posts will jump again.

We culled some members and others left who were prolific posters but insisted on break the rules after countless warnings so they finallly got the hammer.

Very easy for new members to sign up looking at the new members about 40 since Friday, sadly lots or spam bots but that come with easy sign up.

What figures Drac?

Page hits, threads created , post totals?

Bit of everything.

Remember, in any business, just like in politics, if you don't like the number, change the way you measure them.

Regardless of what people will say, the mark I eyeball says there are fewer comments on fewer threads.

Used to be, if you didn't get a comment on a thread in 20 minutes, it dropped off the front back. Now you can easily be there half a day, perhaps all day if the wind is blowing in the right direction.

It was just a genuine query not an inflammtory post. We used to see a much higher turn over of posts on the front page. Stupid question is stupid however but does the first page contain more threads than it used to?

Number of posts in the Chat Forum seems much less than it was 6 months ago, some week days the first page barely changes at all there's so little activity. I rarely look at all now at weekends as it's completely dead. I can believe that visitor numbers haven't changed much as the lag on that will be much longer.

I wonder how easy it is for new members to register these days…

Some people seem to start a new account almost weekly so it can't be that hard.

Bit of everything

So posts and threads are at the same level?

^^ "Everything is positive" apart from a minority of usual suspects who take great delight in having a dig whenever the opportunity presents itself.

I'm with footflaps on this, my thoughts are pretty similar to his, which is what compelled me to start this thread in the first place. I know there's been a lot of negativity directed towards the "update" but first and foremost in my mind is the number of regular posters and thread refreshment seems to have massively changed. No point keep painting over the cracks, it would be better yo get back to where we were surely?

I daren't post anymore 'cos otherwise I'll look like a
<div></div>

“Everything is positive” apart from a minority of usual suspects who take great delight in having a dig whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Which interestingly why some have told us the avoid certain threads when said individuals appear.

(a) I doubt the Moderators have access to the figures

(b) There are very good reasons Mark/STW might not want the figures to be known.

We don't have access to any statistical data that I'm aware of.  I don't think the figures are a huge secret though, I could've sworn Mark's posted them previously.

A forum member did a compare-and-contrast a few weeks ago using, uh, Google cache I think, and concluded that posting is down slightly on this time last year.  Though what the weather was like this time last year I couldn't say.

According to Mark overall site impressions are considerably up, though I don't remember now whether that's the site in total or the forum specifically (or both).

Number of posts in the Chat Forum seems much less than it was 6 months ago

I can't possibly fathom why a mountain biking forum might be quieter in May than it is in November.

12 months ago would be a fairer comparison.

We culled some members and others left who were prolific posters but insisted on break the rules after countless warnings so they finallly got the hammer.

Thank you.

It's certainly more pleasant on here now.

According to Mark overall site impressions are considerably up, though I don’t remember now whether that’s the site in total or the forum specifically (or both).

And that is the point really. Site impressions as far as I'm aware is the number of hits? The nice feature where the post button takes you to the wrong pages and gets a few more clicks out of really help

“Everything is positive” apart from a minority of usual suspects who take great delight in having a dig whenever the opportunity presents itself.

“You don’t communicate”

”Here’s some communication”

Thank you.

It’s certainly more pleasant on here now.

You’re welcome it’s also been a lot better for us there’s been a massive reduciton in reported posts.

Again not a dig but how soon before I don't have to clear cookies to be able to log in?

It is a bit of a nuisance but still do it from time to time..

Not sure WCA did you try the fix in the ‘Forum Update” post although that did seem to work once the cookie experience some people seem to have issues again but the same fix cured it.

When the most active thread that is actually vaguely connected to cycling is this s###fest  https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/unreasonable-or-unfit-for-purpose/page/3/ you can sort of understand why really.

It’s clearly more static, no doubt about it

I wonder sometimes why people get so bothered about the the number of “posts” and “posters” on the forum.

Its a forum with members, some post, some don’t. Some have little to say, some have a lot to say.

I’m unsure why it makes any difference how many posts are, erm.. posted or how many members this place has.

I will say I’m glad of the bans and cull, plenty of reasons why they were deserved. And I would offer we are seeing more posts from different people now than in the previous incarnation of the forum.. and I think that’s a good thing.

Moderting on here must be a full time job, I’m glad it’s all calmed down a bit and people can at least spend sometime doing other stuff more pleasant.

I wonder sometimes why people get so bothered about the the number of “posts” and “posters” on the forum.

For some they are worried in case the forum dies as they like to come here. Others it’s so they can gloat in their own self importance.

There are definitely less threads being started ,replied to and argued on...not necessarily a bad thing. 🙂

Thank you.

It’s certainly more pleasant on here now.

It seems more beige to me.

Others it’s so they can gloat in their own self importance.

Who are you referring to?

I’m impotent...

Haha! Nice Perchy

I for one have certainly skipped over more topics recently....there's been a lot of antagonism and professionally offended. Even quite interesting posts that I would previously have contributed to have descended into ridiculous points-scoring and deliberate mis-quoting.

I like to think of STW as one of thoses particularly friendly pubs where strangers just mingle naturally. But there has been more and more people who in real life I would turn my back on and try to ignore.

In view of that, I don't actually know who got banned or encouraged to leave. Am I allowed to ask?

Gloaters or butt lickers? What’s worse?

Yeah, come on, dish the dirt, who got banned?😀

You know the people who used to post a lot and now don't?  Them.

A forum member did a compare-and-contrast a few weeks ago

this was me. I am that sad.

Using  https://web.archive.org/ you can look at snapshots of the forum in the past and look at the post count. Check two dates and then work out the average per day between them. Then compare it to the current post average per day.

It appears the average post count per day between 6th May 2017 and 19th May 2017 was 816 posts in the bike forum and 1140 in the chat forum. Between 9th May 2018 and today (13th May) we have averaged 500 posts a day in the bike and 730 in the chat.

So that's a drop of a little more that a third in the chat and a bit more in the bike. That specific sample is too short to be accurate as I've noticed weekends significantly effect posting and 9th-13th is a short time period with a weekend.

We culled some members and others left who were prolific posters but insisted on break the rules after countless warnings so they finallly got the hammer.

I don't recall any rouge bike forum user (rather than chat) worthy of a ban to blame the drop on and it does seems that the bike section is worse hit than the chat. I've sampled various other time sections and results are consistent so I don't think you can blame the weather. Also compared other previous years, especially around the explosion of Facebook and nothing then wrenched away people bothering to post quite like the forum upgrade has'.

I am more positive than I was - it is a lot more useable now that is used to be although search and post history are real downers.

I got very fed up on here for a while, not through the update, but from a group of posters who would seemingly pop up and derail any thread.

Hopefully they all got the hammer, I'm fine with people having differing opinions or being a bit sarky, but I just didn't want to read the pathetic sneering negativity anymore

Would rather have more of the awesome stuff this place has done over the years rather than the shitbaggery of recent times

It does seem quieter, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As long as it keeps ticking over I’m happy. Honestly don’t know what I’d do at times like this (holding a cranky 6 month old who’s just fallen asleep) if it wasn’t for this place.

On weather and posting...

It seems to me that posts should really increase when it's decent weather, folk go out and about and we get to read about it. Or folk want ideas on where to go. Or parts wear is higher so there is more maintenance going on and folk want advice on how to do stuff or, simply, tyre choice. I can understand that the Chat forum might work in the other way with folk posting because they are bored, aren't riding etc. I suppose it would take some much larger sample, better analysis of posting patterns etc but maybe there is something amiss if it really is busier in the colder/wetter months.

Those figures ^^ feel about right. Notably down on number and (for me) threads of interest. 😢

Yep they do kind of feel how this place is moving, I hope it gets busier again as that is what made/makes this place tick.

We don’t have access to any statistical data that I’m aware of.  I don’t think the figures are a huge secret though, I could’ve sworn Mark’s posted them previously.

Unless anyone has some other actual numbers then I guess that is where it's going, be interesting to see if things pick up again in terms of posts/posters/users. Numbers are in the detail too, everyone loves to quote the figures they like as being in the right direction.

Drac

“You don’t communicate”

”Here’s some communication”

I don't think people have suggested you and Tag Team mate Cougar (ewww that is a wrestling line up we don't want to see) don't communicate, the issue is that you don't have the info to address some of the questions.

I haven't been on here for a good few weeks but have popped back on to sell some stuff.  Have noticed that the classifieds are very sparse!

It's sparse in here now - I'm having to supplement general STW browsing with Pinkbike and Pistonheads for Eastenders distraction nowadays.

It's probably me but it seems a bit boring now.

It lacks something. Not sure what.

I still come here, but don't hang about long these days.

*most boring half-flounce post ever*

zzzz

I think it's more boring now too. The genuinely funny banter seems to be in shorter supply

Perchy????!!!!!

What????!!!!

So who's still here, alive and posting, from the old school originals and the young upstarts.?

Is this an inside job to get the post count up???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m still here, young upstart that I am, but much of what I post involves riffing off funny stuff that others post.

Slim pickings lately.

Slim pickings lately.

I know the bots are rubbish without decent training

Just need to have more interesting topics to discuss as most have been done to death.

I can increase the number of forum posting but someone needs to pay me to do so as I ain't earning enough.

😀

<span style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.4px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">So who’s still here, alive and posting, from the old school originals and the young upstarts.?</span>

I can't be arsed anymore.

^FFS.

OK, who upgraded the language file on the chewkw bot?

Today is the first day in two weeks I was able to log in. Might put others off?

"OK, who upgraded the language file on the chewkw bot?"

Does not compute ...   😀

p/s: ... I will make myself invinsible now ... to much work to do.  No sleep etc ...

it's OK the roubles are in the post

I will make myself invinsible

That’s worrying.

That’s worrying.

😀

convert

this was me. I am that sad.

As an analyst, I applaud your work 👍

I’ve sampled various other time sections and results are consistent so I don’t think you can blame the weather.

Why not? People go outside when the weather is nicer no matter if they talk about bikes or what’s best a pressure cooker or slow cooker.

Interesting thing has happened in the 7 hours since the OP posted the chat forum became busier, Sunday evenings end of the weekend people come to the forum.

I’m still here, and have been since before the great hack. I don’t know what kind of poster I would be classified as, but I do know that my history has always been a bit ‘ebb and flow’, while the forum has gone through periodic dry spells, as well as cranky ones.

The current situation is no bother. Just keep posting and eventually someone will say something funny or inflammatory to get us all going again.

Swings and roundabouts, innit?

Why not? People go outside when the weather is nicer no matter if they talk about bikes or what’s best a pressure cooker or slow cooker.

I don't think you understood what I meant. I meant I have repeatedly sampled periods this year with periods last year and the result stays very close to exactly the same drop from one year to the next irrespective of what the weather was like in 2017 or 2018. The weather is not a significant factor. What is irrefutable is that there are less posts last year than this by a greater margin of change than any year in donkeys (didn't go back as far as the great hack). But December 2016 was about the same as December 2015. Something seems to have happened at the beginning of this year. Draw your own conclusion as to what event that was that changed user behaviour.

Sorry misread what you posted and thought you said chat shouldn’t be down too dud to the weather.

Anyway up or down this place has been through worse so it will survive waiting on software patches.

IMO the weather should only affect people for part of a day, just because someone rides it doesn't mean they're riding for 24 hours... There will be posts, thoughts, ideas, problems etc that come from the riding. So the good weather should bring about the same number really?

Sunday evenings end of the weekend people come to the forum.

For sure, my not so stealth ad for a Gravel Dash spot has been pushed off the first page!

I wonder if amongst the banned and the flounced we’ve lost a few key thread-starters. There are lots of regular posters but I’d imagine most people seldom start a new topic even if they are reading and contributing the threads frequently.

the funny new arrangement with post /thread history is a bit of a conversation killer too. You can’t readily see what conversations you’ve been a part of and whether they’ve moved on- I just forget.

I've been reading STW since Issue 1 (even had some stuff published in it) and posting on the forum almost since it began and although it's always been my first port of call for a bit of banter it has never been a very attractive, user-friendly forum in the same way as Cycle Chat, where I spend much more time nowadays.

I bumped into some of the guys doing the Jennride in Ambleside on Saturday and as far as I know there hasn't been anything on here about that, meaning, presumably, that they all meet and organise through some other social medium. This strikes me as odd because STW has always been a promoter of bike-packing.

And yes, web fora seem to be increaingly populated by the professionally-offended, people wanting to score points and demonstrate their impeccable PC credentials whereas my memory is that lots more interesting practical things used to be discussed. Maybe Youtube's "how to" videos have killed that off?

Also, sorry to say this, but I do believe mountain biking is flatlining where road cycling has grown in the last few years.

Re. the banhammerage, I know there are some forumites partial to a bit of HMHB so I'll just leave this here:

Weavers’ cottages devoid of tenants
A market town that lacks quintessence
That’s Chatteris without your presence
Three good butchers, two fine chandlers
An indoor pool and a first class cake shop
Ofsted plaudits, envy of the Fens
Prick barriers at both ends
But what’s Chatteris if you’re not there?
What’s Chatteris if you’re not there?
What’s Chatteris if you’re not there?
What’s Chatteris if you’re not there?
What’s Chatteris if you’re not there?
What’s Chatteris if you’re not there?
I may as well be in Ely or St.Ives

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/jennride-south-lakes-bike-packing-edition-2018/

it has never been a very attractive, user-friendly forum in the same way as Cycle Chat

You're having a giraffe surely? Cycle chats forum is horrid, moving avatars, sub forums to make sure everyone knows their niche... Terrible