Bicycle Tutor - No longer free access to videos

[Manonabike]

Is Alex onto a winner? I guess there is so much information / videos on the net at the moment that he might be okay to begin with (loyal followers) but eventually most people will find their way to free videos on youtube and other places.

I think he said in a facebook message that advertising as a source of income did not work for him, despite of having millions of visitors a year.

If the cost of hosting the videos was too big maybe perhaps hosting them in youtube could be a solution......

I have used the site in the past but I also combine it with other videos I find in the net so I guess I will miss it but not enough to pay for it.

 

[zizou]

That is disappointing i found the videos really helpful when doing some tinkering last month and didnt mind donating to the site as a thanks - but nearly $50 for a years access is steep. Plenty of free alternatives on youtube, they might not be so good but t.hey will be good enough particularly when used alongside the park tools website.

 

[ianrauk]

This is very disappointing.
Can't see it working for him now.

 

[longers]

I'm selling a bike to a friend on monday and was going to suggest the Bicycle Tutor if he has any issues. Guess I won't then.

 

[Davidc]

I decided to buy the videos some time ago, and they've been very useful. Hope that still gives me access to the new ones as they appear.

Although useful nearly all of the information is available on Sheldon Brown, and as the OP says the information's on YouTube and elsewhere.

 

[Cheule]

I've donated a dollar to him in the past. Damn I want my money back now :-)

 

[Manonabike]

After some exposure on American TV, I think it was CNN that mentioned his site as a place to learn how to fix your bike, he is now trying to fulfil the American dream

When you compare what he wants for access to his videos and the cost to subscribing to Euro Sports for example then you would think he has some tough times ahead to make it work.

 

[MacB]

That's a shame but good luck to him, he's going to have to vastly increase the video content if he wants to earn out of this. I'll only join if there's more to it, I've watched the 49 he has available, and donated, but I'm beyond the sort of general info he does now. Queries I have now tend to be item specific and not answered by a video that shows how things work in theory.

 

[Maz]

It'll be a shame - I've used his vids many times and they're really useful.

 

[Zoiders]

I could see him getting picked up by one of the networks, the US is big on the how-to programs, home improvement and mechanics, that sort of stuff.

 

[Maz]

I could see him getting picked up by one of the networks, the US is big on the how-to programs, home improvement and mechanics, that sort of stuff.

Imagine him being a car mechanic...

"In this tutorial, I'll be showing you how to change a timing belt. As there are so many timing belts on the market, I'll be concentrating on the most widely available Shimano timing belts. For this job you will need: An 18mm cone spanner,..."

 

[philipbh]

I could see him getting picked up by one of the networks, the US is big on the how-to programs, home improvement and mechanics, that sort of stuff.

Just what I was thinking - The New Yankee Bikeshop - on Discovery Home & Leisure

 

[Manonabike]

Just what I was thinking - The New Yankee Bikeshop - on Discovery Home & Leisure

He does not have a tv program as you normally see on tv but his website was mentioned in the news.... See here

I like his videos too and I will miss some of them but I cannot justify paying to see them when I can find the same information for free. A donation is fine and I'm happy to donate if I feel that is the right thing to do.

I'm not one of those people that want everything for nothing, for example, I always buy software that comes on a free trial if I find that I will make use of it. In this case, there are plenty of alternative sources to find what you are looking for and in many cases, you will only find that kind of help in youtube.

I might be wrong here but it seems to me he is trying to brake new ground here cause I cannot think of any other website that will charge you for a similar service..... I have not tried to look for information on car maintenance so it's possible that somebody is already doing this, however, I always found free information on computer maintenance, software maintenance and even house appliances. I'm sure I have also seen free information on gardening, house maintenance, building maintenance, etc...... that is what so wonderful about the internet, free information for just about anything one wants to learn.

 

[redjedi]

It's a bit disappointing, as they were very helpful video but I won't be paying a monthly fee to see them.

I don't know why he can't make advertising work seeing as he used to get millions of hits, although I never remember seeing much advertising on his site.

 

[rg520bike]

Is Alex onto a winner? I guess there is so much information / videos on the net at the moment that he might be okay to begin with (loyal followers) but eventually most people will find their way to free videos on youtube and other places.

I think he said in a facebook message that advertising as a source of income did not work for him, despite of having millions of visitors a year.

If the cost of hosting the videos was too big maybe perhaps hosting them in youtube could be a solution......

I have used the site in the past but I also combine it with other videos I find in the net so I guess I will miss it but not enough to pay for it.