Ride Gatherings for newbies!

[Dave WilsonMember]

Tip for newbies!

:blush: (I can’t believe I’m admtting to this but maybe I’m not the only one?) :blush:

A couple of months ago I finally signed up so I could say hello and introduce myself to the Old Bull Community with the hope of joining future rides. Since then I have often checked the forum, mostly from my phone, and have enjoyed the ride reports that are posted every week.

However, I just wasn’t feeling the love as I could see heaps of ride reports, but I assumed the rides weren’t pre advertised. There was very litle offered in the “Adventure Ride Gatherings” sub-forum.

“Miserable bastards!” I thought!

I quietly decided the members were a cliquey group who liked to organise their gatherings in secret and then punish me with their tales of misfortune and adventure after their stealthy forays into the unknown.

What I didn’t realise until yesterday (which is a frightening reflection of my intelligence) is that there are a number of website sub-forums that are only viewable if and when you sign in. Ride Gatherings is one of them…and lo and behold…those secret rides I thought were only for the chosen few have been offered freely to all.

Not so miserable bastards after all…..Can I take this opportunity to offer my sincere apologies for the bitterness, the anger, and particularly for those thoughts that hinted of unbridled revenge that have sent bitter vibes to long term members. I was wrong…

So… if you’re new and looking to hook up for a ride with other Old Bull Members make sure you sign in to make the Ride Gatherings sub forum available.

Sometimes I scare even myself…

[GregMember]

Yeah Jnr we did that for a reason a few years ago

Maybe we should undo it?

Mods your thoughts, maybe PM me?

TB

[Dave WilsonMember]

I guessed TB there was probably good reason and don’t see it as a big problem. If my post is not appropriate then feel free to delete it. I just thought there may be others who have made the same mistake as me. It is more likely due to the fact that I am rarely at a computer to actually login and so have not made the connection until a comment made by a moderator in a recent post. It’s all good.

[Dwayne OMember]

TrailBoss wrote:

Yeah Jnr we did that for a reason a few years ago

Maybe we should undo it?

Mods your thoughts, maybe PM me?

TB

Maybe food for thought mate ???
If the peeps can`t see upcoming rides posted they can`t attend any unless invited by an existing member I guess :whistle:
Then to see ride reports (especially ones in their own area) could be a bit offputting at times and stopping guys & gals from joining in and having a great time ,,,

Sorry Junior for contributing to you having those terrible thought mate :S
We really are a nice bunch, sometimes disturbing :silly: , but we are genuinely a fun group

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[terryjhaynesMember]

What about if you just put up where it’s visible to all,that you can only look into ride gatherings if you are a member of OBT.
Just a thought.
Cheers Teza.

[GarryMember]

TrailBoss wrote:

Yeah Jnr we did that for a reason a few years ago

Maybe we should undo it?

Mods your thoughts, maybe PM me?

TB

TB, just for what it is worth I would suggest leaving the ride gatherings and the reports forums hidden as a minimum but maybe changing the description to ‘Sign in to see our rides’, or posting something along those lines somewhere on the ‘free’ site’.

The reason why I usggest this is that I was once a looooong time back a moderator of a road bike forum in the Illawarra region and we used to have an ‘open’ forum. It wasn’t long before we started to get some very unwanted attention, both from police who were aware of a ride gathering and thus would turn up to ‘inspect’ the bikes or the roads on which we were to ride, or more of an issue was the mindless toolset that would turn up, behave like total wankers and ruin it for everyone.

We quickly decided to ‘close’ the ride and report forums from public display and whilst occasionally we still had police appear on the roads we were to ride, we totally stopped the toolset from turning up.

From our view the were not an issue if all was legal as if we had an unlicensed or unregistered rider with us, they were soon weeded out (remembering this is road riding) and did not cause us issues (two many unlicensed road riders around)

For dirt it may not be as big an issue but by hiding the forum and organisation you do stop the mindless toolset from possibly appearing and ruining your ride.

My thoughts anyway

EDIT. Teza’s idea is a good one.

Perhaps a calendar on the left that indicates a ride is occuring near (as an example) Wauchope, with a link to sign in to view full details

Gaz

[Dwayne OMember]

Now this has created some discussion :laugh:

Being free and easy to join the forum means it`s just as easy for any so called ” tools ” to join in as well.
That usually sorts itself out anyway and they soon see that they don`t fit in

Just my opinion of course, but I do feel sorry for anyone that misses out on opportunity to join in and suss out the group or groups we have on here.

Even though it is Free to join (unlike the way some forums are heading) some people may just feel pressured by needing to join up first and wonder if there are any hidden conditions, agendas etc etc
Then they take the easy option and give us a miss totally.

One such example is the recent KRR Rally that James & I attended at Frying Pan.
It is run by the BMW Touring Club of NSW and has been going on for 32 yrs now. I presumed it was for BMW club members and BMW owners only until I emailed the organiser. Ended up being open to anyone and was a fantastic event with great people, with no pressure whatsoever to join their club
James & I were hesitant on the way up and had a plan B to bail and camp elsewhwere if needed, but ended up having a ball. I reckon we will both be back next year too

There`s no easy straight forward answer is there ????

[GregMember]

It happened because it was bringing attention from sources that created problems for events that we ran, attempted to run and had ran

TB

[Brett WilliamsMember]

Too many potential a-holes if rides were open to the general viewing public. I have no problem with it the way it is. Perhaps Tezzas idea??
My 2c worth.
Cheers budge

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

I think from memory that one of the other concerns at the time was that we were advertising where we were leaving unattended vehicles in sometimes isolated areas which could be advertising for some low lifes to come around and steal cars or break into them.

[GregMember]

Jeffro wrote:

I think from memory that one of the other concerns at the time was that we were advertising where we were leaving unattended vehicles in sometimes isolated areas which could be advertising for some low lifes to come around and steal cars or break into them.

That was one of about 8 good reasons

It will stay the way it is for now

TB

[scott bockingMember]

Good discussion.
Organised rides are for OBT members so therefore only members can see them. Ride reports are public so non members can see what thy are missing out on.

STM

[Nick JacksonMember]

A clear Ride Gatherings tab that leads to a sign on page sounds like a good idea but I think it should be for members eyes only , it’s free to join so no worries their and if your too shy to join your no going to turn up to a 20 rider trail ride !!

Nick

[glennMember]

Obt ride gathering should be for obt members. Everyone else can lick my slip on.

[peteMember]

I was leaning towards putting it back to public view but you guys have made some good points and now I’m all for keeping it for members only.

Old Bulls making sense ???? I never would have thought :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

PTW

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