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I used to be a full member but found i never actually read the mag.
I think the stating of Free or Full under the name adds nothing to the forum and does seem to be designed to create a two tier system to drive up subscriptions to "be in the club" which i understand 100%. But it also isn't that inclusive and may, in a small way, run counter to a broader and more lively debate.
I think the stating of Free or Full under the name adds nothing to the forum
It was previously a different colour icon and does help when troubleshooting user problems.
Before my time so I'll take your word for it! However the way I see Mark communicate on here I can't imagine him saying it, or tolerating other staff doing so?
That was back in more relaxed times, I think Mark had the tag ‘resident grumpy’ next to his name
I used to be a full member but found i never actually read the mag.
That was the dilemma I reached. I have a level of empathy with the history and nature of STW which kept me contributing on and off but I've read all of the 10 page wilderness exploration articles with many, many photos padding the pages out that I can be bothered to read these days. It's a quality coffee table mag, no doubt about it, I just find there's nothing new to read in it any more - and the wife keeps moving it off the coffee table.
So if the magazine isn't of interest and I don't engage with the site much other than the odd thread, then it's just a charitable donation to keep the staffers in food at night ... and to be fair there are more worthy charities out there that can use the money (no offence meant).
Obviously YMMV, as we used to say in the good old days.
I used to be a full member but found i never actually read the mag.
That was the dilemma I reached. I have a level of empathy with the history and nature of STW which kept me contributing on and off but I've read all of the 10 page wilderness exploration articles with many, many photos padding the pages out that I can be bothered to read these days. It's a quality coffee table mag, no doubt about it, I just find there's nothing new to read in it any more - and the wife keeps moving it off the coffee table.
So if the magazine isn't of interest and I don't engage with the site much other than the odd thread, then it's just a charitable donation to keep the staffers in food at night ... and to be fair there are more worthy charities out there that can use the money (no offence meant).
Obviously YMMV, as we used to say in the good old days.
For me it's basically that, i don't want to be the one to see someone out of a job, so for the case of being 'nice' i pay a Sub... it's also for the advert removal, but it's certainly not for the magazine or articles i'm afraid. I think i've read the PDF about 3 times over the years, i did find the odd article in there to read, but not a lot for me. I am a fairly specific case though in my MTB scope of interests.
My profile says i've been a member since 2012, but I've had an account for way longer than that, and have been reading the mag on and off, in digital and print, since 2004.
Afraid I can't add anything more upbeat to much of what is being said...it's been a very long time since i've found much of genuine interest to read. It is a mix of how the magazine, media, and the sport has evolved over time. The forum is definitely a declining interest for me, and that goes in tandem with interest in the magazine. It's clunky and not very useable on my phone, there are some topics of discussion that are like a corner of a locals pub you very much want to avoid - it's extremely tiresome as are the members involved. The cycling topics don't vary that much, or more likely I just don't care about other people's maintenance oddities or spending recommendations any more!
I've also been actively 'quiet quitting' internet time-sucks for a couple of years now, and this forum is part of that. I also don't care very much about the constant churn of marginal bike products I will never want to own, and especially bikes that cost thousands more than I ever want or could spend. I also couldn't give a flying fig about e-bikes. Probably most (if not all) of it is down to middle-age and the elements that form my particular interests. I'm still a bit unhealthily obsessed by bikes and riding, but the forum and mag no longer cater to much of my needs any longer, so I don't have a sub nor read or use the forum much.
I wish STW well though, don't get me wrong; that's just how things are for me at the moment, and the past few couple of years.
TL:DR - Dear John "it's not you, it's me" letter 😆
similarly to a few other recent posts, I think I have moved on from where I was 10 or 15 years ago with it all. I have been a subscriber for a long time, and do have a decent flick through the magazine when it lands, but there is little in it that is of much interest to me. I'm now in my late 50's I seem to ride mainly gravel, then road, and don't actually own a proper MTB anymore.
The forum has been a great help, support and entertainer for me over the years, and I do hope it keeps going. I think these days I get more out of some of the chat threads, EV's pensions etc, which is probably a reflection on the stage of life I am at. I do still come on to ask the odd bike tech specific question and always find the answers generally very useful.
I like the ad free looks of it, and appreciate that my subscription goes towards the sustainability of the whole stw business so I'll keep it going for now for sure.
There also seems to be a lot of folk on here who don't actually ride anymore, and seem to stick around not for any love of cycling, but to make snarky comments act holier than thou or generally stir shit up. They contribute nothing interesting, cycling related, so far as I can see. This is both strange and annoying, what with it being a forum that is supposed to be about cycling.
@el_boufador speaking as someone who unfortunately had to stop cycling years ago, please do not tar us all with the same brush. Actually, you've inspired me to start a cycling thread but unsure whether there will be any responses! After 20 years of riding bikes how can one not be interested in anything bike or racing related.
There also seems to be a lot of folk on here who don't actually ride anymore, and seem to stick around not for any love of cycling, but to make snarky comments act holier than thou or generally stir shit up. They contribute nothing interesting, cycling related, so far as I can see. This is both strange and annoying, what with it being a forum that is supposed to be about cycling.
Sticks hand up! 🙋♂️
Although I hope I'm not considered one of the argumentative ones who stirs shit up! 😬
I haven't cycled for years (high blood pressure put an end to it for me), but I've been with STW since the beginning and I've never found an online place with quite the mix of people we have here.
There also seems to be a lot of folk on here who don't actually ride anymore, and seem to stick around not for any love of cycling, but to make snarky comments act holier than thou or generally stir shit up. They contribute nothing interesting, cycling related, so far as I can see. This is both strange and annoying, what with it being a forum that is supposed to be about cycling.
I’ve not ridden for years, I still love cycling but I lost interest in it and many other things due to my mental health. There is those who like you say have an attitude but it’s not just non cyclists and we do try to prevent that behaviour. There is a cycling forum and a chat forum though, I spend most of my time on the chat now.
TL:DR - Dear John "it's not you, it's me" letter
Although to be fair, STW have changed too. You've just grown apart, you're not who you were. You want different things....
(for those who can remember - change is not a bad thing)
A subscriber since circa 2012 but was a gift membership , paid each year by my wife for my Christmas gift ,so still listed as a free member!
Still read the mag, its ok, but having been reading it for so long its a credit really that I do.
Some good chat on here. And a late comer , just the last few years
More of a reader than that "active" on posts.
Interesting insights and the odd bit of really useful advice makes it worthwhile.
Fading interest a bit in the forum but is that me or the forum or too much screentime as part of lifestyle?
I suppose its like owning a football season ticket, you need to see a few bad games before seeing a classic one!
Some great threads with some good insight and view points.
There also seems to be a lot of folk on here who don't actually ride anymore, and seem to stick around not for any love of cycling, but to make snarky comments act holier than thou or generally stir shit up. They contribute nothing interesting, cycling related, so far as I can see. This is both strange and annoying, what with it being a forum that is supposed to be about cycling.
@el_boufador speaking as someone who unfortunately had to stop cycling years ago, please do not tar us all with the same brush. Actually, you've inspired me to start a cycling thread but unsure whether there will be any responses! After 20 years of riding bikes how can one not be interested in anything bike or racing related.
I haven’t managed to get on a bike since 2020 due to SPMS paralysing my body from the feet upwards, it’s done my legs totally and is now going to work on my arms/hands etc, I still like to talk shit on here though and if it winds up “certain” members who I consider as dicks then so be it.
Last time I managed to get on my bafang throttle equipped conversion on my cove hummer was one night late in 2020, I went out a run along the coast here in Galloway and hit a rabbit hole and fell off, I couldn’t get back on the bike and with no phone signal I was stuck, unable to move so I spent a rather cold night till I was found the next day, to be honest if I was offered 24hrs to ride as I was able to 20 years ago, fit/healthy (within reason) and able to ride then I’d take it, when the 24hrs was up I’d happily ride off a cliff to the rocks below.
To all those who moan/complain about cycling/not cycling etc…..you don’t know just how ****ing lucky you are, quit yer ****ing griping and go ride.
😉
I hit 53 this year and bought an Audi, an e-Bike, and did a 80+ mile road ride. I feel I could revive the forum all on my lonesome by announcing these facts as individual topics.
I hit 53 this year and bought an Audi, an e-Bike, and did a 80+ mile road ride. I feel I could revive the forum all on my lonesome by announcing these facts as individual topics.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's STW man! The world's crappiest superhero! 😉
This needs a meme.I hit 53 this year and bought an Audi, an e-Bike, and did a 80+ mile road ride. I feel I could revive the forum all on my lonesome by announcing these facts as individual topics.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's STW man! The world's crappiest superhero! 😉
I hit 53 this year and bought an Audi, an e-Bike, and did a 80+ mile road ride. I feel I could revive the forum all on my lonesome by announcing these facts as individual topics.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's STW man! The world's crappiest superhero! 😉
Tw*tman.
Jamie was the freeloader tag owner. Nice fella.
To all above who responded to my post above - all fair points and well made.
It's more the toxic combination of not having any interest/contribution related to cycling AND also regularly acting a knob that I was reacting to.
But I could have thought about that a bit more and explained it better.
Disappointed - my 'tag' or nickname was still in my profile until recently - just checked and it's gone.
Was baldfatb***ard or something like that. Cheers guys 🤣
Jamie was the freeloader tag owner. Nice fella.
What happened to Jamie? Always seemed to be a cheerful soul. Hope he's doing well
He eventually sold his Volvo.
There also seems to be a lot of folk on here who don't actually ride anymore, and seem to stick around not for any love of cycling, but to make snarky comments act holier than thou or generally stir shit up. They contribute nothing interesting, cycling related, so far as I can see. This is both strange and annoying, what with it being a forum that is supposed to be about cycling.
To whoever Cinnamon Girl is originally quoting:
That’s why there’s two fora, a cycling one, for cycling, and a chat one, for everything else. As it happens, when I was doing a lot of cycling, I was hardly ever on the cycling forum anyway, because I had little of any interest to talk about, because I just went out riding my bikes.
I stopped cycling after a cycling-related incident caused a knee injury that’s left me with a permanently debilitating knee condition, resulting in a complete loss of confidence on a bike.
Now, I’ve actually got one of my bikes in the shop being serviced, along with the forks, and my other single-speed will be joining it shortly.
The funny thing is, I’ll still have sod-all to talk about on the cycling forum, because I don’t do Strava, or anything performance related, I do archery for that; I ride my bike/s to get out into the countryside without using my car.
You seem to be relatively new here, otherwise you’d realise that those of us who’ve been here since before the Great Hack* have ALWAYS talked about every subject going other than cycling.
*That’s over twenty years, for those paying attention. And that comment was really very condescending and patronising.
If you want the cycling chat, go to the cycling forum, where all your needs will be addressed.
😘
You seem to be relatively new here, otherwise you’d realise that those of us who’ve been here since before the Great Hack* have ALWAYS talked about every subject going other than cycling.
CG has been here a very long time, and The Great Hack was 2009?
What happened to Jamie? Always seemed to be a cheerful soul. Hope he's doing well
CG has been here a very long time, and The Great Hack was 2009?
I Think CZ was talking to...
To whoever Cinnamon Girl is originally quoting:
I don’t use the forum anywhere as much as I used to as it basically stops my laptop from running when I have a forum tab open. Chrome can show resource usage of inactive tabs and Singletrack is typically over 800mb.
Please see my previous post up there to clarify slightly what I meant but, well, erm...
There also seems to be a lot of folk on here who don't actually ride anymore, and seem to stick around not for any love of cycling, but to make snarky comments act holier than thou or generally stir shit up.
Ahem
(Edit: it's me you're quoting, here since 2001/2, baby. 🤟)
A long read on the current state of forums https://www.hagerty.com/media/great-reads/did-facebook-kill-the-car-forum/
Interesting read.
Is STW on Discord?
Perhaps the forum could be parsed out to searchable lump and moving onto to something else.... Or back to a BBS ?;-)
What about Reddit ?.... But it all belongs to someone 🙁
I tried to log back in last year, but couldn’t recall my deets, so signed up again.
How about an e-mail to tech if it's the password that's a problem. And even if you can't remember your pseudo you can probably remember some old threads you to contributed to and Google those to find yourself. Or is it that you'd rather that those of us with good memories don't remember who you are and you'd like to dissociate yourself from all that stuff you posted that hasn't aged well? Or was provocation such as:
being interested in politics is a mental illness btw
I doubt I'm one of those you remember as "decent spuds" 😉 I'm trying to remember someone who posted 18 times on their own thread before it even made a page.
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/off-topic/forum-question-mark/#post-13585603
Welcome back all the same. 🙂
Euro and Euro II, logical enough 🙂 In answer to one of your questions the search sort of works and you can even find posts by member name so it's easy to find your old self - the first thing I found you'd posted was about accidentally using a blue golf tee instead of a medical applicator or something like that - I thought it best not to look further. The pic had better be good after all of these teasers ! 🙂
Ive gotten a little* better at reading the room
You reckon?
However, I’m still here to ‘talk crap and make fun of ****
Ever met anyone with cerebral palsy? Ask them what they think of that word. ISTR there are people on here with the condition or spouses or parents of those that do. Just a thought.
That's the kind of half apology that frankly I detest. Putting the emphasis back on the person who'd been offended because they should have a thicker skin.
If you started moshing at a pensioner's tea dance and caused a load of injuries would you say it's their fault because you can mosh at a death metal gig and no-one gets annoyed? That it's their problem for not being more able to withstand the bumps?
Thanks @theotherjonv. And thanks to the mod who has seemingly now added that word to the swear filter. Normally I think the swear filter on here is a little OTT when it comes to everyday expletives we all use. When it comes to perjorative words for those with disabilities or serous health conditions, not so much. The idea that people with a disability should just develop a thicker skin when others bandy about insults mocking that disability is incredible to me.
I’m glad a few words can get you worked up.
People went to prison a few months ago because of a few words. They're not harmless.
You probably will be able to wind me up, by being a bit of a **** - I tend to bite at that. That's not swear filtered BTW, allowing you to choose your own word to go in there.
The bit in aquamarine is an allegory more than an analogy, suggesting that because you or you in some environments can say things that people don't find offensive doesn't mean they aren't offensive in others. And saying they are only offensive because people should have thicker skins is like saying it's the pensioners faults for being frail.
How long till we need Euro III I wonder?
Did Mark track down and hire Euro to bring back some of the old spice to the forum? If so he's getting his moneys worth and reminding some of the old giffers that them old days maybe weren't as rosey as they remember 😀
Still awaiting their response.
Sorry to disappoint, I don't see that going anywhere useful. No offence 🙂
That’s a long winded response for someone who is thick skinned.
In the two weeks since this thread started I’ve been looking a bit more critically at the forum. I think it is in a very healthy state, d.i.y. enquiries, mechanical help, legal assistance, choice of cars, wildlife, nice photos, politics, mental health are just some of the topics that have been covered.
Perhaps someone could start a thread on the side effects of strong pain medication too?
Just to be clear, I didn't take offence at your comment, I didn't see it before it was bleeped and while I can guess, I don't know.
My contention is with the non-apology type of apology, which you said you understood. The rest, basically about an intent to pick fights and wind people up, that's what you got warned for.
thanks to the mod who has seemingly now added that word to the swear filter
It may have changed with the new forum, but on the previous incarnation the mods only had read-only access to the filter, changes had to be made by tech / admin.
(can’t see the reacts and I’m not bloody paying to see them).
This being a paid feature is news to me. As is the existence of a "flounce emoji"
The bottom line is that deliberately trolling to provoke a reaction is against the forum T&C's and will net you a warning in the first instance and a ban if you persist after being asked to stop. The perceived or actual dermatological depth of the recipient is not relevant, it's the site rules.
There are long-serving users for whom debating with each other is basically sport, but this is entered to with agreement and concession from all parties concerned. If you stroll into a pub you haven't been in for 10 years and shout "you're all bastards!" then it's only ever going to go one way now, isn't it.
Just checking..... the last page and a bit of this thread is just an example of why people think this forum is dying, yes? Trolling, people taking offence at non-apologies, sanctimonious posts, and all without being even vaguely interesting. If we could just get a bit of an argument debate in here about, I don't know, helmets or dogs, then I think we could just close the door and turn off the lights on the rest of the site.
All we need now is a summary of the thread in the form of a haiku containing fish puns and the journey will be complete.
All we need now is a summary of the thread in the form of a haiku containing fish puns and the journey will be complete.
Chat GPT, write a haiku containing fish puns!
Deep in the sea's depths,
fin-tastic waves ebb and flow,
scale new heights with gills
There are long-serving users for whom debating with each other is basically sport,
Which is one of the things I find bloody tedious..... TJ v Ernie springs to mind.
Just don’t look at threads that annoy you? There’s plenty of variety and choice!
There are long-serving users for whom debating with each other is basically sport,
Which is one of the things I find bloody tedious..... TJ v Ernie springs to mind.
I have recently stopped doing this by and large. One answer and shut up
Ok, well I came to say I find the forum to be slow and sometimes difficult to navigate.
I've not been around here long enough to know if it's dying or not, always seems to be someone around to answer my inane questions and posits.
Cheers guys
I think I am off. I have got increasingly irritated by the car club. I don't see the point in spending time being annoyed by the views of people who would be better off on Piston Heads.
I used to use the forum a lot, and was a subscriber for a few years. I've not really been riding bikes beyond the odd bimble and have focused on other hobbies for the last couple of years. I'm due to move house soon and will hopefully be doing a lot more riding so I've dipped my toe back in to see what's what these days...
I don't want to shit on what the mag/forum staff do - I know they all work incredibly hard to keep the lights on, providing us with content and a platform for discussion. BUT, the forum is virtually unusable for a non-subscriber, on PC or mobile device, it's so slow I usually give up after a minute, and the ads (which I know are necessary) completely kill the experience.
Or they could moderate out posts about dangerous driving behaviour and speeding.
It's not appropriate on a cycling forum.
Or they could moderate out posts about dangerous driving behaviour and speeding.
It's not appropriate on a cycling forum.
Sounds interesting...can you link to it?
The forum is like treacle to navigate around - on a PC it is easy to open topics in new tabs to speed the navigation but it still makes it unattractive to visit.
Or they could moderate out posts about dangerous driving behaviour and speeding.
It's not appropriate on a cycling forum.
It's well documented of course that the best way to combat poor behaviour is to pretend that it doesn't exist.
Forums aren't what they used to be that's for sure. That's not just this one, that's all forums. It's kinda sad, but the internet is definitely a mostly very centralised beast these days. I think the forums are still pretty decent by and large. Bit slow, but that's probably mostly due to Wordpress and size of forums (istr this is bbpress or something similar). I have been a lurker for a long time and recently grabbed a new username in an attempt to be a bit more active. It's a pretty decent place compared to some parts of the internet.
Can I say again how much I love the induction sound off my Z4 3.0i hope that doesn't annoy anyone but above 3500 rpm with the foam taken out it is loud, my partner is not so keen
I'm not a K9 fan so never read a thread about a 🐕 but I do love cats
This forum is dead. It's filled with ads I looked at 20 seconds ago everyone with an opinion is dead or banned. It's a dull regurgitation of my day...
Forums aren't what they used to be that's for sure. That's not just this one, that's all forums.
I agree with this. I use a coup0le of others and they are dying as well - far worse than this one is
Minor point but I'm enjoying the new image posting capabilities, am trying to put together some decent rides to justify more ride reports now that they're a much quicker thing to write. Satisfies the frustrated guidebook author in me and hopefully keeps the forum vaguely on topic (if we extend the topic to road riding and gravel riding also... 😆 )
We should have a weekly ride report competition or something.