User Unfriendly

[slccyclist]

I'm sorry guys, but I know that you put a lot of time into this redesign, and you probably think that you were making it better. But, it's not. It's really, really bad. It's very difficult to find things now. I used to be able to get my road cycling-related news all in one place. Now, I'm not sure where to look. I used to be able to look in one place for a very comprehensive listing of recent races, together with their results and stories. Now, it's far more limited and, worse, when you pull up a race, you don't get the complete results in a user friendly format. It's now very hard to read results, and if you want more than the top ten, you've got to go deeper. Race results was, really, the one thing that set you apart from other cycling sites (Velonews.com, for example) because your results were so comprehensive. Now, there's nothing that sets you apart except a user unfriendly site. I'm afraid that if it stays like this, my visits are going drop off significantly.

 

[stefan]

I'm sorry guys, but I know that you put a lot of time into this redesign, and you probably think that you were making it better. But, it's not. It's really, really bad. It's very difficult to find things now. I used to be able to get my road cycling-related news all in one place. Now, I'm not sure where to look. I used to be able to look in one place for a very comprehensive listing of recent races, together with their results and stories. Now, it's far more limited and, worse, when you pull up a race, you don't get the complete results in a user friendly format. It's now very hard to read results, and if you want more than the top ten, you've got to go deeper. Race results was, really, the one thing that set you apart from other cycling sites (Velonews.com, for example) because your results were so comprehensive. Now, there's nothing that sets you apart except a user unfriendly site. I'm afraid that if it stays like this, my visits are going drop off significantly.

All road-related news and races: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road

Comprehensive results: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/73rd-tour-de-suisse-2009-upt/stages/stage-5/report

..and now with extra RSS goodness, too.

 

[titan_90]

All road-related news and races: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road

Yeah with spoilers, are you people really that stupid not to listen to your readers

 

[toppermost]

Future is completley deaf

Hello Stefan. I hate to get personal, but how long have you been with Future? Was it before cyclingnews was bought by the company? I have been "in the family" since around 2003, 2002 perhaps.

Future bought CN and promised improvements to its format. This did not happen. Its been totally changed and the "rightful owners" the consumers are demanding its restoration.

I have yet to see anyone address the very simple, yet profound question of the day: It does not matter how many neat little bells and whistles you put onto the new format. Its the entire format itself that people dont like.

 

[stefan]

Hello Stefan. I hate to get personal, but how long have you been with Future? Was it before cyclingnews was bought by the company? I have been "in the family" since around 2003, 2002 perhaps.

Future bought CN and promised improvements to its format. This did not happen. Its been totally changed and the "rightful owners" the consumers are demanding its restoration.

I have yet to see anyone address the very simple, yet profound question of the day: It does not matter how many neat little bells and whistles you put onto the new format. Its the entire format itself that people dont like.

Hi topper -

I'll deal with technical queries only. Editorial, design and policy issues is someone else's responsibility.

 

[edrake77]

I have to agree with slccyclist. I expectthat a lot of effort was put into the redesign, but sadly, it misses the mark. As a regular vistor, I am disappointed. I used to visit Cyclingnews mutliple times per day. Your advantage, in my eyes, was the content you provided. Maybe it's all still there now, but it definitely is harder to find and navigate. Since the change, I have been visiting VeloNews.com more frequently. Additionally, I increasingly use my mobile device (blackberry) to access internet sites. Previously, the "old" site was a bit cumbersome on a blackberry but tolerable. However, the new site is abysmal on a mobile device - too many clicks, too much scrolling down to get to the content. (A great sport mobile site is espn.com's mobile version. Take a lesson from them)

 

[kkonty]

I am willing to give it a shot and expect it might grow on me a little but i would like to point to a few things because right now it is driving me crazy:

1. before the redesign i could look at the "Stages" of tour de suissie, and see a map and profile, now the stages page is just blank and its not clear where to go.
2. i sometimes prefer to read the live report ("complete report") instead of the actual report and really liked how in the previous cyclingnews you get read it without reading a headline that spoiled it.
3. for stage races, there used to be a table listing all stages where you could click on details, live report, results, et cetera it was a very easy navigation tool.
4. you have realy put the pictures off to the side, having them right there with the report or easily accessible is preferable.

 

[andymac]

Previously, the "old" site was a bit cumbersome on a blackberry but tolerable. However, the new site is abysmal on a mobile device - too many clicks, too much scrolling down to get to the content. (A great sport mobile site is espn.com's mobile version. Take a lesson from them)

Agreed. This really does need sorting.

This site is improving even the past week has shown a marked improvement. Getting used to the navigation is a bit of an issue. Beauty of the old version was its simplicity. Maybe a little 90s but it worked. Take a look at Velonews.com. Not a patch on CN but their layout is simple and navigable. No annoying flash animations there.

The beauty of CN was content and accessable content. CN needs to improve the accesability of the content that we want. NEWS, Interviews and upto theminute reports on the race that finished 2 minutes ago on the other side of the world.

I'm not a fan of the home page;I can get all that rubbish at Radar. The page that I 'see' as the true home page is the road racing page. In fact my URL to CN jumps straight to that page.

Glad to see live reports on todays T d S. Great win for Cav. I had thought live reports had gone but sooo pleased to see them back.

And the BIG mistake you guys made was making it look like Bike Radar. You need to move away and give this site its own identity.

I have faith that this site will improve. To be honest maybe it was launched just a little too early.

Andy 'initially p**** off, but coming round'

 

[Contralamontre]

quote from Stefan Kruger

Hi topper -

I'll deal with technical queries only. Editorial, design and policy issues is someone else's responsibility.
__________________
Stefan Kruger
Head of Development, Online
Future Publishing, Bath, UK

.......
Well if I have developed such an abysmal site I wouldnt want to put my name to it....... If this is the best Mr Kruger can do he wont last long...... it is just dreadful - or maybe they answered one of those spam e mails for "your own website for $200."

 

[Opichi]

New Format

Slccyclist stated all very well. I turn to CN 1st thing when I'm looking to catch myself up on the news, issues and most importantly, the results. (This does happen daily.)

I applaud the want to move forward, but, information, not web tech is what makes you the virtual cycling "bible." Most certainly it is very unpleasant with a communicating dark fruit.

Do please always keep pushing, yet, from one who loves the sport, knows the pain over a climb, the sweet smells and colours of a morning ride and a catapult from a draft...it comes down to two wheels--two legs.

Robin

 

[stefan]

Well if I have developed such an abysmal site I wouldnt want to put my name to it....... If this is the best Mr Kruger can do he wont last long...... it is just dreadful - or maybe they answered one of those spam e mails for "your own website for $200."

Heh

Time will tell, eh?