Is CycleChat & Recreational Rides a dead forum?

[Vapin' Joe]

Maybe as the forum members age they ride their bikes less and less for various reasons?

They then use the forum more as a general topic and social base.

And let's face it: forums aren't a young person's thing these days, so the trend is inevitable.

You've described me to a T there. I was a long time enthusiastic cyclist when I joined C+ and then transferred here when the former went pear shaped. But the years have passed, the only climbs I do now are the stairs and the bikes are gone. I still come here because I take an interest in cycling and socially I like the craic.

 

[PaulSB]

I take a passing interest in the forum but that's about it. In terms of your specific ride I've only noticed 3/4 of the people in your tag list posting on CC.

 

[Webbo2]

For me living in North Yorkshire it’s too far to ride to and back home. But it’s far too short to consider driving to then ride, sorry.
Make 70 miles plus and the it would be much more attractive to me.

 

[Oldhippy]

A long way from me and I tend to annoy people by endless photo stops. I do look though.

 

[Domus]

I looked Colin, however, I have concert tickets for the 24th, the 7th of Feb is our Golden Wedding anniversary and we are heading down to the South Coast that day so the 31st we are celebrating early with the family. Sorry

 

[ColinJ]

For me living in North Yorkshire it’s too far to ride to and back home. But it’s far too short to consider driving to then ride, sorry.
Make 70 miles plus and the it would be much more attractive to me.

Understandable.

I will be doing a 100 km (62 miles) flat ride from Garforth some time in the spring. That might be of more interest?

I will definitely be doing at least one hilly 70+ miler in the summer to 'celebrate' turning 70 this month.

I looked Colin, however, I have concert tickets for the 24th, the 7th of Feb is our Golden Wedding anniversary and we are heading down to the South Coast that day so the 31st we are celebrating early with the family. Sorry

Oh well, have fun! You never know, the weather could be so bad that my ride gets put back even further than 7th Feb!

 

[PaulSB]

If I can offer a well intentioned observation, not criticism. I do read the majority of these threads as an interest in others cycling activity and the thought I might one day join one. My initial thought, though I said nothing, is the same as @Webbo2. There are several things for those who have to travel to consider. I've presumed a 9.00am start.

I live 30 miles from Hebden Bridge station, to be sure of arriving on time I'd need to leave at 07.15 latest to drive over - as you know it's tortuous drive. A train from Blackburn, my preferred option, means leaving home at 06.30 and costs £12 return. Allowing four hours ride time plus say 45 minutes in the cafe that puts us back in Hebden Bridge at +/- 14.00, the next train home would see me back by 16.00. Overall that's a big effort, 9½ hours out, at least £20 spent, for a 40 mile bike ride.

The other factor for me is the route. I can climb but since the RTC I'm slower than I like to be. The route will prove to be 40 miles/4000+ feet - RWGPS planning is never accurate on ascent - which in my book is a hard winter ride. I would struggle on my winter bike so I'd bring the summer bike you advise against. Then RWGPS shows 5½ miles of unpaved surfaces. On a carbon road bike? No thanks!!!

I must emphasise this is not criticism but everything which went through my mind when I read your opening question in this thread. There need to be strong reasons to attract people to go as opposed, if I'm honest, to strong reasons not to.

 

[ColinJ]

[Wrong view count]

Ah, so it is another of those little bugs creeping into the forum software then!

It suddenly leapt up to 9 yesterday and is now stuck again!

 

[ColinJ]

I take a passing interest in the forum but that's about it. In terms of your specific ride I've only noticed 3/4 of the people in your tag list posting on CC.

I added people who said in the past that they would like to come on future rides but didn't always spot the ride threads in time.

 

[Binky]

... passed on, no more, ceased to be, expired and gone to meet its maker, a stiff, bereft of life, resting in peace?!

I took last year off from organising forum rides and in that time the CycleChat & Recreational Rides forum seems to have virtually died!

My new ride thread has only had 1 view since I started it yesterday. I was looking at other recent ride threads and hardly anyone has looked at them either.

I wonder if people just stopped looking in the rides forum*** because so little was going on there? If so, it is a shame! Actually riding with other forum members is (IMHO) A Good Thing, which we should encourage.

I know that this is not the most pleasant time of year (in the UK) to be riding our bikes, but a forum ride could be extra motivation to get off the couch (or turbo trainer!) and get frozen and soaked have some cycling fun with other forum members.

Post your opinion below. If you are interested, also take a look at my ride thread (and the others) in the rides forum.



*** Which is why I have started this thread in General Chat instead!

Unless people are riding lots but not saying so it appears the vast majority on this forum hardly ride.
I'm a regular on the Retirement forum and it seems only a couple ride there.

Again, it could be people just don't bother to mention if they ride but seeing as this entire forum is ultimately about cycling it's a bit disappointing how few seem to do it.

 

[Oldhippy]

I ride regularly but the only group near me are the head down bum up 80 milers in all the gear and I am the go for a leisurely adventure stop for photos often type of which I know no one around here who would be remotely interested in this.

 

[Drago]

I ride moderately frequently, but rarerely far any more. Almost all utility mileage. Increasing age gets in the way, as does not having to commute any more, and having nowhere to go in general.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Maybe as the forum members age they ride their bikes less and less for various reasons?

Or maybe just aren’t into group rides that much.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Unless people are riding lots but not saying so it appears the vast majority on this forum hardly ride.

I think very few of us talk about riding on here. We mostly arse about talking about other stuff. Cycling is great to do, but dull to talk about, unless it is some tour or some such. Not many are touring all the time.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Back to the OP the sub forum is a bit of a backwater because CC isn't a vehicle for organising rides that much. I think there's only really @ColinJ who does this. That and The Fridays.

In the post-Simon days the Fridays tend to conduct much of their business elsewhere, but do post ride threads and updates here.

BITD I organised a ride using the forum and, as a result ended up riding with weirdos from the internet and some very weird stalking-related things happened. At the coffee stop a bloke appeared dramatically from the shadows, identified one of the riders, and accused him of being a cad, a bounder and possibly a bluebeard. He may have been wearing a cloak and shouted "j'accuse!" but perhaps my memory has embroidered things a little. Never again.