Skylark

Addictive personalities don't do well on social media platforms. It's not difficult to keep them in check, the way I get around it is to switch off every notification setting possible, that largely neutralizes them. From then on I only use them when needed, they are handy, especially for groups and the marketplace.

Some of the people rifling through the guys stuff seem to be passerbys who are taking advantage of the situation. And then they saunter on their way leaving him unconscious in the road. Guttersnipes of the lowest level.

Did they require a receipt to replace the bladder 8yrs down the road?

They've done tests on cheapie sunglasses vs all the traditional brands and in terms of UV protection the cheapies just about all passed. I think the technology is so mature it's not difficult or expensive to produce decent lenses any longer.

What is that, an SS tensioner?

The link is dead, maybe it's a private group?

FB marketplace is pretty amazing.

What TNT's nick on Mybb?

Heck you had to strip your bike, wrap up all the parts and ship it to the assessor? That's a lot of work, never heard of that needing to be done, kind of explains why insurers typically use an lbs to avoid needing shipping. Did they reimburse your packaging and shipping costs?

Lol, reading the op again this whole thread is just a storm in a teacup. All that's needed is more moderators, hand out a few warnings and some ban hammers and things will be ship shape chop chop. Why Matt and co would want to manage the forums on top of running the business side is beyond me.

However you frame it the community is starting to impinge on the monetization of the website is what I'm getting. Either because it's distasteful in some regards or taking up too much time. So the solution is seen to be the cutting of the community down to size to accommodate the monetization. Objectively I have not seen that work out well in the past with other forums.

Whatever the case is over monetization of a forum never works, there's a limit to what you can extract and pushing it too far past that point starts to kill the community on which it is based. The fact that we are even having this discussion is ridiculous, "Hey guys having vibrant discussions is getting a bit much and not overtly making us money so we thought best to cut them off". I'm looking at this in a purely objective standpoint, Bikehub as a business wouldn't be here without the vibrant forum that it grew around, would it be sustainable and lucrative if that same forum became a shadow of its former self? From my experience the answer is no. All forums are the same, users came for the info and subject help and stayed for the chit chat. Many also read the chit chat despite not engaging in it themselves.

The argument Matt seemed to make was the traffic is massive but not in a form that affects his bottom line, hence not worth his time or bandwidth. Some say that is due to the way the site drives you to the classifieds landing page which would artificially inflate the traffic to certain areas but that's besides the point. The forum and website is an organic beast, if the forums lose steam and hemorrhages too many users along with their network then the website ie the cash cow will start getting anemic. Would Bikehub be where it is today without its users? Matt basically reckons he's outgrown us, the goose is no longer required because the eggs are now laid of their own accord. My point is that understanding has not served other forums well, those that decided that their commercial needs supersede those of the community. The opposite is actually true, treat the community well and the business side will flourish. Forums are a dying breed, Facebook groups is where it's at, legacy forums need to look after their flock.

I honestly don't understand why Bikehub would want to lose the massive traffic these threads bring, that traffic is an important metric of a websites value in the google ranking and also too advertiser's. And saying those same users are not contributing to the bottom line(even that is questionable) I would think is shortsighted, it would be interesting to see what would happen if they all jump ship, them and their network of referrals. And all that is needed is a few community moderators?? I've seen what happens when site owners try santise forums too much, the website dies a slow death, what was once mighty becomes hollow as the users move elsewhere. Especially in these days of Facebook everything, where groups can meet all your needs conveniently on one website, countless bicycle classified groups and the FB Marketplace. Considering that I would hold on to my userbase with everything I've got, they are the bread and butter of the website, treat them as disposable and they'll naturally do likewise, say goodbye to the goose..

Good point about the battery dying and the consequences, leaving the phone there opens it to thieves who won't think twice about stealing it

If we are going to all move we may as well start our own forum, make our own rules, allow comments on ads [emoji14]

That's clever how did they go about hiding it but still in a manner that you would be able to find it? If you are an honest person wouldn't it be better to just take the phone home with you and then the owner can phone it when they realise it's lost?

If you can fit a kg into your luggage then yes please, when will you be leaving Amsterdam?

Sorry the moderators are on strike, no pay no work.

It's not often your bike falls out of your back pocket, maybe he was out for a run when it happened?

I just worked it out, well played Matt! BikehubPlus = Access to the Off-Topic section This is going to radically increase revenue from you bunch of bloody leeches!!

Or just start a new forum... Which would be sad but Matt is pretty clear he's more focused on the business side than the community.

I don't see why unpaid moderators in the off topic sections won't work?? This forum is unusual in that it doesn't have any whereas the norm is most forums including some enormous ones are policed virtually solely by unpaid moderators/admins. It doesn't make sense for Matt or Nick to moderate the off topic stuff, just watch the forum for a week or 2 and pm a few suitable candidates and take it from there. Problem solved!!

What brand of superglue(CA) is that? Loctite/Pattex make a gel CA with rubber added that is flexible, it works well but not as durable for all shoe repairs especially sole reattachment.

Thanks Shaun, that's a good technique you outlined and proof that wondafix is a suitable glue. I only recently heard about it, it's a hybrid epoxy urethane so strong and flexible, it's the same stuff that Pratley uses in their "it can hold the weight of a bulldozer" marketing thing. Pity I didn't know about it before because a flexible glue that's as strong as epoxy isn't easy to find.