Bike Hub 2022: Year in Review

[Nick]

1 hour ago, Eddy Gordo said:

Isnt/ wasnt that the goal with all the changes to the forum? More focus on classifieds and less off topic forum topics.

The increased focus we’ve given the Classifieds has grown that section dramatically but I don’t believe that there’s an attributable link to that focus decreasing the forum activity.

We’ve give the forums the focus it needs including updating the platform and removing non-cycling related discussions.

The off topic conversations did account for a significant amount of the activity but the downward trend existed before we made those changes. We're also confident that focussing the conversation on cycling and losing the rage engagement of the political off topic conversations has improved the quality.

There’s honestly little more to focus on when it comes to the forums. The platform largely runs itself.

The article content took the biggest hit when we shifted focus to the Classifieds.

[Nick]

13 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

Very revealing, more people with less to say but more to sell

This is exactly what we’ve been saying for years. Our attempts to explain the comments on ads decision comes to mind.

It is a silent majority and loud minority situation and has been for many years already.

That said, we really do appreciate the value of the Forums and would hate to see it disappear. Although numbers are decreasing, we’re confident that it still has a meaningful place amongst all the other platforms now available.

[Fred van Vlaanderen]

1 hour ago, Nick said:

This is exactly what we’ve been saying for years. Our attempts to explain the comments on ads decision comes to mind.

It is a silent majority and loud minority situation and has been for many years already.

That said, we really do appreciate the value of the Forums and would hate to see it disappear. Although numbers are decreasing, we’re confident that it still has a meaningful place amongst all the other platforms now available.

I can attest to the value of reading the forums. I don’t comment too regularly, so would probably fit into the the silent majority category, but the amount of time I spend reading and enjoying the forum commentary is significant. 

[DieselnDust]

2 hours ago, Nick said:

This is exactly what we’ve been saying for years. Our attempts to explain the comments on ads decision comes to mind.

It is a silent majority and loud minority situation and has been for many years already.

That said, we really do appreciate the value of the Forums and would hate to see it disappear. Although numbers are decreasing, we’re confident that it still has a meaningful place amongst all the other platforms now available.

well quality of conversation has improved and as you say less meaningless conflict. Mission accomplished with an overall better experience👍

[Shebeen]

3 hours ago, Nick said:

The increased focus we’ve given the Classifieds has grown that section dramatically but I don’t believe that there’s an attributable link to that focus decreasing the forum activity.

We’ve give the forums the focus it needs including updating the platform and removing non-cycling related discussions.

The off topic conversations did account for a significant amount of the activity but the downward trend existed before we made those changes. We're also confident that focussing the conversation on cycling and losing the rage engagement of the political off topic conversations has improved the quality.

There’s honestly little more to focus on when it comes to the forums. The platform largely runs itself.

The article content took the biggest hit when we shifted focus to the Classifieds.

Just take out the chit chat/NCR sections out of the stats and then you would get a decent apples vs apples comparison to view.

Might be a bit of work, but i guess it would be a useful thing to see. 

 

[Matt]

32 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

Just take out the chit chat/NCR sections out of the stats and then you would get a decent apples vs apples comparison to view.

Might be a bit of work, but i guess it would be a useful thing to see. 

 

A few clicks gets us that view, and it re-affirms what @Nick mentions. The decline in forum activity was occurring well before we began to focus more on Classifieds and before the narrowing of NCR scope.

As others have suggested, with more platforms available to do many of the things previously done on Bike Hub it's not surprising. WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Strava, etc. all have a place and are often better suited to specific use cases, e.g. organising a social/club ride, live-streaming or live-tweeting events, or even sharing memes with mates.

Forum post data (excluding non-cycling sections)
From comparison with earlier "Year in review" articles Non-cycling posts typically made up 25-40% of total annual posts.

[Vetseun]

Congratulations to all the winners

[MORNE]

2 hours ago, Vetseun said:

Congratulations to all the winners

W(h)iners 

….(introspection)

☺️

[Hairy]

On 12/15/2022 at 2:36 PM, Frosty said:

Updated graph from 2021.

Looks like I have basically halved my posting for 2022 ... 2023 will prob. see this drop by 50% or more again.

[Hairy]

On 12/15/2022 at 2:43 PM, Frosty said:

The number of posts per year for the top 10.
The lowest year for posts.

That is a very interesting decline from 2015 to 2022?

[Hairy]

On 12/15/2022 at 4:06 PM, Jewbacca said:

There is also far less spatty stuff where 5 people spend 7 pages having a go at each other.

I reckon that plus the chit chat made up a lot of unconstructive activity

Can't believe I had 11 more posts than you .... Damned song of the Day and Motorcycling threads is where I spent most of my time with a bit of a contribution in the I have an Idea thread .... next year I will come in with less than you

[Hairy]

23 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

My comprehensive insurance premium has jumped 17% and I had No claims.

my Mtb premium has jumped R149 (22%) and the roadie R96(30%)

risk profile has changed due to the increase in car breaking and bike jackings.

my cat premium jumped from R1470 to R1853. This is due to cat parts price inflation and work from home being cancelled so again the risk profile has changed.

yet CEO’s are earning more and delivering less 

When I looked earlier in the year, it was cheaper to insure my motorbike than my MTB that is worth far less than the motorbike.

[Hairy]

6 hours ago, Nick said:

This is exactly what we’ve been saying for years. Our attempts to explain the comments on ads decision comes to mind.

It is a silent majority and loud minority situation and has been for many years already.

That said, we really do appreciate the value of the Forums and would hate to see it disappear. Although numbers are decreasing, we’re confident that it still has a meaningful place amongst all the other platforms now available.

I have seen some adds of late that are shockers RE content, pricing, etc ... but have just left it there and not bothered anymore

[Hairy]

4 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

well quality of conversation has improved and as you say less meaningless conflict. Mission accomplished with an overall better experience👍

That has been a big positive. 👍

[DieselnDust]

35 minutes ago, Hairy said:

That is a very interesting decline from 2015 to 2022?

Mostly due to the acceptance of 29ers.. 

[mecheng89]

On 12/15/2022 at 11:37 AM, Nick said:

And importantly, the most active forum users for 2022 are... 🍿

Top 10 Topic Starters:

1. OVERDRIVE  44
2. Steady Spin  20
3. Ruben Hechter  17
4. The Ouzo  16
5. love2fly  12
6. Shebeen  12
7. JJDT   11 
8. mecheng89  11
9. Stephan  11
10. esCape-ist  10

Top 10 Comment Posters:

1. ChrisF  1 929
2. DieselnDust  1 744
3. Frosty  1 718
4. The Ouzo  1 312
5. 'Dale  1 113
6. Hairy  1 061
7. Jewbacca  1 050
8. MORNE  993
9. Steady Spin  857
10. Shebeen  825 

Glad to see I made the Top 10 of a list, again, lol.