Blogs - does anyone read them?? Is anyone interested??

Kirky

Hi all,

Question for you, does anyone read cycling blogs?? The reason I ask is that I'm considering starting one, but if people aren't interested - then what's the point!!??!!

To give you a bit of a picture, I'm 31 (nearly 32) with two young children and another one due any day now. I've been involved in cycling since my early teens (racing at a decent level as a junior) but am now over-weight and very unfit, so want to get back into it and start racing again. But because of work and family pressure's (and the fact that I know how far from fit I am!!) I'm suffering from a complete lack of motivation - so I'm hoping that telling other people what I'm up to (or not up to!!) will help to motivate me and see me get back into racing next year. I also work in the bike industry, so will give a bit of an insight to that (without being a constant advert!!).

Had a quick google search and didn't come up with much - so wondered if there might be a market for this kind of thing?? What do you think?? Worth writing a blog in the evenings instead of surfing eBay - or will no one bother reading it??

And also, how do you go about advertising a blog?? Other than on here!!

KIRKY

Cleat Eastwood

Start one. You never know who reads blogs, or how people come to find them, theyre like little gems in the dirt.

Theres a guy who posts on here has a blog about his efforts to get from down 39stone

http://theamazing39stonecyclist.wordpress.com/

he's proved a huge inspiration to peeps to the extent that he may be a torch bearer for the olympic torch.

Everyones situation is different and your view on the world is as interesting as anyone elses. Write about bikes, life or whatevr grinds your gears.

Give it a go chap, the internet world's your oyster.

cooldad

Nope.

Pokerface

I think you have to write a blog for yourself, not for other people. Or if you write it for others - don't expect anyone to read it.

I write one (half to enlighten people on the ups and downs I face as a disabled cyclist - and half to have something to look back on one day). If people read it and like it - that's great. If not, so be it.

I 'advertise mine' in my signature and link my posts to my Facebook page. And lots of people stumble across it via various web searches.

Hoopdriver

I've just started a blog http://www.My-Bicycle-and-I.com and so far (a couple of weeks down the track) I am certainly enjoying the writing of it. I am a magazine writer by profession who just doesn't usually get the opportunity to write about bicycles and cycling for the publications I work for, and this provides me with an outlet.

I am not a very internet savvy person and so I sought help from those who are, and with their assistance set up a Wordpress site. Once it was explained how to post and edit, it was all pretty easy. One of the more challenging things is getting good illustrations and photos to accompany the words - I know from my magazine background that this kind of thing is important and takes a fair bit of time and imagination.

Good luck with it.

Kirky

Thanks for the replies guys - much appreciated. I actually expected more replies along the lines of cooldad's (appreciate the honesty), so was glad I got some encouragement!!

Have started my blog, and will see how it develops with time - Pokerface, I think you're right though I need to write it for me and if people like it then great. And congratulations by the way on your worlds win - I'll never be that good!!!!!

Hoopdriver - thanks for the heads up on wordpress, have gone for that and will try and get it looking better as I work my way around it a bit more!! But for now, at least I've started it!!

Kirky

Eyorerox

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/
http://chicksandbikes.blogspot.com/
http://www.fyxomatosis.com/

tlw1

Pokerface wrote:

I think you have to write a blog for yourself, not for other people. Or if you write it for others - don't expect anyone to read it.

I write one (half to enlighten people on the ups and downs I face as a disabled cyclist - and half to have something to look back on one day). If people read it and like it - that's great. If not, so be it.

I 'advertise mine' in my signature and link my posts to my Facebook page. And lots of people stumble across it via various web searches.

But Colin you haven't achieved anything worth writing about this year

DIESELDOG

I wrote on a blog almost every day earlier this year, nothing cycling related more an outlet for me to help me deal with what was happening in my life at the time.

I found it very cathartic but also made the mistake of posting the link in my profile and when someone on here read it they came to the conclussion that I was barking mad. :oops:

I don't blog on that site anymore as I now have my own website but have yet to start rambling on that one due to work and other stuff.

Love n hugs

DD

Pokerface

matthew h wrote:

But Colin you haven't achieved anything worth writing about this year

You're right - it's all gonna happen for me next year though. 8)

tlw1

Pokerface wrote:

matthew h wrote:

But Colin you haven't achieved anything worth writing about this year

You're right - it's all gonna happen for me next year though. 8)

Bike radar spring fling?

Dan_K

I write one but it's more for my own outlet rather than anything else. I've always enjoyed writing but have never been good enough at it to make a living.

If people choose to read my ramblings, it's up to them! You always get doubters in life but it all comes down to personal choice. If you think it will help you and you enjoy doing it, why not?!

I did London to Paris last year and I found it helped me get some worries off my chest about what i'd signed up to. I think it helps to set a "public" target and then you feel motivated to do it which can help with training and just getting out. I didn't want to be at the back of the group so I pushed myself and benefited from the extra pressure.

I don't bother with advertising or anything like that as I write for me rather than to make a profit. I've found that it's something I really enjoy doing. Don't be worried about writing something every day, just write when you feel you have something you want to share.

Best of luck, I look forward to reading it!

Ben6899

I reckon you should just start one and see where it goes. Nothing to lose, really.