A routes and ride planning sub-forum?

[King Boonen]

How about it?

I'm planning a JoGLE next year, a trip to Flanders and possibly the Alps if I can kick my brother into shape. It would be great to have a place to discuss and plan these trips and then report back with experiences and advice once I have done it.


It could allow people to discuss sportives/audax's etc. they might be riding.

It would be a great place to talk about classic routes, the kind of thing you see in Cyclist and Rouleur, discussing climbs, tours, following race routes etc.


Maybe it'll fall flat but I think i could be a positive contribution. A recent experience with one particular poster showed that, while they were judged to be stirring up trouble in the clinic (and were a sock puppet) their input in an on and off-topic discussion in another thread was very valuable. Lots of people argue on here, but I know from MTB forums that when people are discussing rides there are very few arguments and the positive side of posters always seems to come out.

Basically it's nearly always nice and friendly.

 

[BigMac]

This would be very good. We have this in forumciclismo.net, a Portuguese forum, and it works like a charm. I second this request.

 

[Race Radio]

Great idea. Would be nice to have a portion of the forum that is collaborative instead of confrontational

 

[Netserk]

I'm not sure there would be enough traffic to merit that. Other than that, it does indeed sound good.

 

[King Boonen]

I'm not sure there would be enough traffic to merit that. Other than that, it does indeed sound good.

There doesn't really need to be a lot of traffic though does there? Just look at the MTB and Track sub-forums...

 

[Netserk]

There doesn't really need to be a lot of traffic though does there? Just look at the MTB and Track sub-forums...

And because of those I don't think we need another 'dead' section. Devil's advocate: What's next? A woman section? A Sky doping section? An Armstrong section? An other sports section?

 

[King Boonen]

And because of those I don't think we need another 'dead' section. Devil's advocate: What's next? A woman section? A Sky doping section? An Armstrong section? An other sports section?

I'm talking about a section that is applicable across all cycling, would provide a useful resource and encourage discussion friendly discussion between people who love riding their bikes. There is currently only one forum these posts could fit in, the General forum, which is a complete catch-all and would make actually looking for them a pain. This is a cycling forum, I find it surprising anyone would be against having a section dedicated to... well... actually getting out and cycling.

The examples you give are either single topic discussions or not relevant to a cycling forum (I have no idea why you would suggest a womans section, that one really is puzzling?).

As others have noted, there are similar sections on many websites that are well used.

 

[Luigi_Max]

I'm talking about a section that is applicable across all cycling, would provide a useful resource and encourage discussion friendly discussion between people who love riding their bikes. There is currently only one forum these posts could fit in, the General forum, which is a complete catch-all and would make actually looking for them a pain. This is a cycling forum, I find it surprising anyone would be against having a section dedicated to... well... actually getting out and cycling.

The examples you give are either single topic discussions or not relevant to a cycling forum (I have no idea why you would suggest a womans section, that one really is puzzling?).

As others have noted, there are similar sections on many websites that are well used.

I am pretty sure he meant a section about women's cycling as opposed to a section about women in general.

However the suggestion sounds like a good one.

 

[King Boonen]

I am pretty sure he meant a section about women's cycling as opposed to a section about women in general.

However the suggestion sounds like a good one.

I know, I just don't see why anyone would want a distinguishing section. Women's riding is the same as mens riding and can be discussed in the same forums.

I just thought it was a particularly bad example to pick.

 

[Netserk]

I have seen a women sub-forum on other fora, which is why I used that as an example.

 

[King Boonen]

I have seen a women sub-forum on other fora, which is why I used that as an example.

Fair enough.

 

[del1962]

Why not just create a thread in the general road section and see how it goes?

 

[Race Radio]

As there are no real costs in adding a section like this I can't see how it would hurt.

Would be interesting to share ideas on routes or stories like this one.

http://blog.strava.com/in-search-of-a-tunnel-in-the-sky-8417/

 

[King Boonen]

Why not just create a thread in the general road section and see how it goes?

Because it's designed to fail that way. How can you have a discussion about route planning or rides for a myriad different rides in a single thread? It would be like having a single thread to discuss the whole of the three grand tours including months of build up and post race analysis.

 

[King Boonen]

As there are no real costs in adding a section like this I can't see how it would hurt.

Would be interesting to share ideas on routes or stories like this one.

http://blog.strava.com/in-search-of-a-tunnel-in-the-sky-8417/

That's exactly the kind of thing I'd like to see and discuss. Even if it gets very little traffic it keeps it all in one area and makes it easy to find and look through.

 

[red_flanders]

And because of those I don't think we need another 'dead' section. Devil's advocate: What's next? A woman section? A Sky doping section? An Armstrong section? An other sports section?

I think any sub-forum idea can be discussed on its own merits, without any danger of a slippery slope.

 

[red_flanders]

Great idea. Would be nice to have a portion of the forum that is collaborative instead of confrontational

Very good point.

 

[42x16ss]

I say go ahead! You could even have stickied threads for various countries/regions. I've been in Menaggio, Italy for the last week and could share some incredible routes and climbs we've found within a days ride and will be in Norway next week. Bring it on I say.

 

[King Boonen]

I say go ahead! You could even have stickied threads for various countries/regions. I've been in Menaggio, Italy for the last week and could share some incredible routes and climbs we've found within a days ride and will be in Norway next week. Bring it on I say.

That'd be awesome, it's those kind of stories that make me want to get out on the bike and ride hard so I can plan trips and tours. That's exactly the kind of thing I think this forum is missing.

 

[Archibald]

Considering that there are a few threads each year about attending Flanders/Roubaix and the Tour, etc, and the "who here races" thread, I can't see why it wouldn't work. Rides, Sportives/Race attendance, meet-ups, etc... all in one box for the social folk.
Sub-forum to General or the Cafe?

Don't forget to plug CN kit for when folks ride together

 

[hiero2]

Great idea. Would be nice to have a portion of the forum that is collaborative instead of confrontational

I'm not sure there would be enough traffic to merit that. Other than that, it does indeed sound good.

Why not just create a thread in the general road section and see how it goes?

As there are no real costs in adding a section like this I can't see how it would hurt.

Would be interesting to share ideas on routes or stories like this one.

http://blog.strava.com/in-search-of-a-tunnel-in-the-sky-8417/

Because it's designed to fail that way. How can you have a discussion about route planning or rides for a myriad different rides in a single thread? It would be like having a single thread to discuss the whole of the three grand tours including months of build up and post race analysis.

First off - no.

Ok, now we have gotten that out of the way, let's talk about how you might actually, in reality, make your idea happen.

1. Start a thread.
2. Get some response.
3. Get a LOT of response.
4. Evaluate #3. If you get a LOT of response, the powers who be at the board will consider a new section.
5. Be extremely persuasive with the "powers that be" over the forum. Eg, Daniel. Convince him, and you've made your mark. But, I really think you will need to do well at #3 to convince Dan.
6. Good luck. And best wishes from me.

 

[King Boonen]

First off - no.

Ok, now we have gotten that out of the way, let's talk about how you might actually, in reality, make your idea happen.

1. Start a thread.
2. Get some response.
3. Get a LOT of response.
4. Evaluate #3. If you get a LOT of response, the powers who be at the board will consider a new section.
5. Be extremely persuasive with the "powers that be" over the forum. Eg, Daniel. Convince him, and you've made your mark. But, I really think you will need to do well at #3 to convince Dan.
6. Good luck. And best wishes from me.

Err... No. I've pointed out why I won't start a single thread that could encompass routes from all over the world, it would be a massive mess and very difficult to search and hold any type of real conversation.

There is a large knowledge base on this forum, with many people who ride bikes all over the world and I think it could be a great resource and even an asset to cycling news.

But I'm not going to start some kind of petition or lobby group and try and convince people in charge, if they don't want to do it that's up to them.

It works very well on other sites, the evidence is already out there. If they don't want it here I believe that's their loss.

 

[Granville57]

First off - no.

Since you're no longer a mod, would you mind refraining from all the "mod" stuff? Thanks.

 

[hiero2]

Since you're no longer a mod, would you mind refraining from all the "mod" stuff? Thanks.

Perhaps in going for brevity at the start, I mispoke, or misled as to my meaning. The simple "no" answer does not mean "no, you can't do that". It does mean " - aren't likely to get any joy trying to accomplish that goal" - as in extremely unlikely, imo. Just offering the benefit of my experience, based on conversations held in the past.

Because, if somebody likes the idea, then I think they SHOULD pursue it. Thought I made that clear, apologies if I did not. But I still think the best option to accomplish the stated goal is to generate traffic as I've said. I'm not saying one should not ask anyway - but the person they need to ask is Dan. And probably need to ask him directly, via email, if they want it to happen.

 

[King Boonen]

Have a look through here:

http://inrng.com/roads

Yes, inrng is a high quality writer and we couldn't expect everyone to produce posts of his quality. But it is impossible to read any of those and not be inspired.

Again, I think it would be a huge asset.