Requiem

navrig2

This forum is slowly, but surely, dying. The amount of posting compared to 5-6 years ago is much, much, much less.

The change seemed to coincide with the new format and the increase in adverts but, I suspect, lots of other forums are going the same way.

Pity as forums are much better at sharing valuable knowledge than social media channels.

webboo

The two other forums I use UKBouldering and UKClimbing seem to be thriving. Maybe it’s to do with the general down turn in cycling.

ugo.santalucia

There seem to be fewer people asking genuine questions about cycling and equipment, as compared to a few years ago. That can be because of the explosion of videos... most seem to prefer watching a video on Youtube, rather than asking questions or talking about things. Majority of topics barely touch cycling issues, to the point that one wonders whether this is a cycling forum or a current affairs one. I post a small fraction of what I used to and most of "my generation", those who joined 15 years ago or more, have left. Generally speaking, it is no longer an interesting place to talk about bicycles... in fairness other cycling fora are worse.
Times have changed... Blogs are a thing of the past... Facebook is a thing of the past...

vincesummerskRoxcBTr

It happens with a lot of fora or group pages, lots of activity when newish, gradually numbers decline and other fora take over.

navrig2

ugo.santalucia said:

There seem to be fewer people asking genuine questions about cycling and equipment, as compared to a few years ago. That can be because of the explosion of videos... most seem to prefer watching a video on Youtube, rather than asking questions or talking about things. Majority of topics barely touch cycling issues, to the point that one wonders whether this is a cycling forum or a current affairs one. I post a small fraction of what I used to and most of "my generation", those who joined 15 years ago or more, have left. Generally speaking, it is no longer an interesting place to talk about bicycles... in fairness other cycling fora are worse.
Times have changed... Blogs are a thing of the past... Facebook is a thing of the past...

Agree with most of this. Even the non-cycling threads (Bottom Bracket) have become unusable with the ".....Day......" gibberish!

seanoconn

navrig2 said:

ugo.santalucia said:

There seem to be fewer people asking genuine questions about cycling and equipment, as compared to a few years ago. That can be because of the explosion of videos... most seem to prefer watching a video on Youtube, rather than asking questions or talking about things. Majority of topics barely touch cycling issues, to the point that one wonders whether this is a cycling forum or a current affairs one. I post a small fraction of what I used to and most of "my generation", those who joined 15 years ago or more, have left. Generally speaking, it is no longer an interesting place to talk about bicycles... in fairness other cycling fora are worse.
Times have changed... Blogs are a thing of the past... Facebook is a thing of the past...

Agree with most of this. Even the non-cycling threads (Bottom Bracket) have become unusable with the ".....Day......" gibberish!

Think you’re getting your forum sections mixed up. Bottom Bracket has always been gibberish. Fuckwitt

First.Aspect

The thing that dismayed me most about club runs is that, on the cafe stop, people talked about bikes.

Past a certain point, it's just not interesting.

There are always people who want to pass on their knowledge, and some whonget off on being the most whatever in the room, but after a while its just ssdd.

First.Aspect

And much of the cake stop stuff is interesting, and an illustration of the diverse range of while middle class males attracted to cycling.

pinno

navrig2 said:

This forum is slowly, but surely, dying. The amount of posting compared to 5-6 years ago is much, much, much less.

The change seemed to coincide with the new format and the increase in adverts but, I suspect, lots of other forums are going the same way.

Pity as forums are much better at sharing valuable knowledge than social media channels.

Many on here have seen it, done it, got the T shirt.

For someone so critical, you have averaged less than 1 post every 2 days over 10 years.

seanoconn

pinno said:

navrig2 said:

This forum is slowly, but surely, dying. The amount of posting compared to 5-6 years ago is much, much, much less.

The change seemed to coincide with the new format and the increase in adverts but, I suspect, lots of other forums are going the same way.

Pity as forums are much better at sharing valuable knowledge than social media channels.

Many on here have seen it, done it, got the T shirt.

For someone so critical, you have averaged less than 1 post every 2 days over 10 years.

Agreed that navrig2 is a waste of space but you do realise by your rationale, we are all subservient to Mr Rick Chasey.

Stevo_666

navrig2 said:

ugo.santalucia said:

There seem to be fewer people asking genuine questions about cycling and equipment, as compared to a few years ago. That can be because of the explosion of videos... most seem to prefer watching a video on Youtube, rather than asking questions or talking about things. Majority of topics barely touch cycling issues, to the point that one wonders whether this is a cycling forum or a current affairs one. I post a small fraction of what I used to and most of "my generation", those who joined 15 years ago or more, have left. Generally speaking, it is no longer an interesting place to talk about bicycles... in fairness other cycling fora are worse.
Times have changed... Blogs are a thing of the past... Facebook is a thing of the past...

Agree with most of this. Even the non-cycling threads (Bottom Bracket) have become unusable with the ".....Day......" gibberish!

Its a bit of fun and little social club. Glad you don't join in the gibberish...

Stevo_666

seanoconn said:

pinno said:

navrig2 said:

This forum is slowly, but surely, dying. The amount of posting compared to 5-6 years ago is much, much, much less.

The change seemed to coincide with the new format and the increase in adverts but, I suspect, lots of other forums are going the same way.

Pity as forums are much better at sharing valuable knowledge than social media channels.

Many on here have seen it, done it, got the T shirt.

For someone so critical, you have averaged less than 1 post every 2 days over 10 years.

Agreed that navrig2 is a waste of space but you do realise by your rationale, we are all subservient to Mr Rick Chasey.

Well if it's about post count...

seanoconn

Stevo_666 said:

seanoconn said:

pinno said:

navrig2 said:

This forum is slowly, but surely, dying. The amount of posting compared to 5-6 years ago is much, much, much less.

The change seemed to coincide with the new format and the increase in adverts but, I suspect, lots of other forums are going the same way.

Pity as forums are much better at sharing valuable knowledge than social media channels.

Many on here have seen it, done it, got the T shirt.

For someone so critical, you have averaged less than 1 post every 2 days over 10 years.

Agreed that navrig2 is a waste of space but you do realise by your rationale, we are all subservient to Mr Rick Chasey.

Well if it's about post count...

11k is about the sweet spot for quantity/quality 👍

ugo.santalucia

the other thing is that technology has moved so fast that most have given up caring about bikes. Used to be the case that people bought bikes and tinkered with them, upgraded parts and components and asked lots of questions... right now I suspect the (not very many) bikes sold are used as such... it is fast becoming a market similar to the motor vehicles one... even the prices are getting very similar. I wonder how companies like Park Tools, which rely heavily on people tinkering with their bikes, are doing.

pblakeney

ugo.santalucia said:

...
I wonder how companies like Park Tools, which rely heavily on people tinkering with their bikes, are doing.

Not very well from my limited sample of one.
I got all my tools 12 years ago and haven't needed to buy any since.

ugo.santalucia

pblakeney said:

ugo.santalucia said:

...
I wonder how companies like Park Tools, which rely heavily on people tinkering with their bikes, are doing.

Not very well from my limited sample of one.
I got all my tools 12 years ago and haven't needed to buy any since.

My wife was looking for a present, so I thought the Park Tool bearing press thingy with all the bits could be nice... 300 quid or so... then I also thought I'm probably going to use it once per year... so I redirected her towards some rather posh bar tape (still 10 times cheaper).

veronese68

ugo.santalucia said:

the other thing is that technology has moved so fast that most have given up caring about bikes. Used to be the case that people bought bikes and tinkered with them, upgraded parts and components and asked lots of questions... right now I suspect the (not very many) bikes sold are used as such... it is fast becoming a market similar to the motor vehicles one... even the prices are getting very similar. I wonder how companies like Park Tools, which rely heavily on people tinkering with their bikes, are doing.

I think we're being pushed into it. I have no desire to have a bike with internal cables as it just adds to the hassle when tinkering, similarly I don't want to have to plug my bike into a computer. I'd still have a go, but I suspect I'm more prepared to do so than the majority of 'normal' people. I'd say people on here are outliers for tinkering with bikes.

vincesummerskRoxcBTr

People who do their own bike maintenance do seem to be in a minority, especially amongst new cyclists.

daniel_b

I used to do all my own bike maintenance, and even built a couple of bikes up from scratch.

Having a family means my time is far less available, so although I can still manage small jobs, most others I need to outsource. Combine that with the fact I have hydraulic brakes (Never gotten a handle or tried the whole bleeding of brakes thing etc) and fully internal cabling on one of my bikes, and you can see how things for me will go.

Perhaps a lot like modern non ev cars, usually the engine bays are almost completely inaccessible, with the exception of water/oil/screenwash etc.

They are trying to push you towards dealer servicing, and I half wonder in some way if the fully internal cabling and hydraulics is to push people to their bike shops.

Admittedly electronic gears are pretty much fit and forget (Unless the battery fails), and you could also argue hydraulics are low maintenance too.

Stevo_666

seanoconn said:

Stevo_666 said:

seanoconn said:

pinno said:

navrig2 said:

This forum is slowly, but surely, dying. The amount of posting compared to 5-6 years ago is much, much, much less.

The change seemed to coincide with the new format and the increase in adverts but, I suspect, lots of other forums are going the same way.

Pity as forums are much better at sharing valuable knowledge than social media channels.

Many on here have seen it, done it, got the T shirt.

For someone so critical, you have averaged less than 1 post every 2 days over 10 years.

Agreed that navrig2 is a waste of space but you do realise by your rationale, we are all subservient to Mr Rick Chasey.

Well if it's about post count...

11k is about the sweet spot for quantity/quality 👍

You'll be past it soon

navrig2

https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21041977#Comment_21041977

Too busy cycling.......