What’s happened to OBT?

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

As someone who hasn’t been able to ride much this last 3 years or so due to always working away I lived my riding life vicariously through this site until I could get home again for a ride myself. It is disappointing the way it has dropped off but as has been said, things change, peoples lives and priorities change and I guess the difficulties of stopping to get pictures and edit videos and write detailed reports becomes a chore for many once the novelty wears off (I know it did for me).

When I first took up dirt bikes again about 10 years ago after not having had a bike since I was about 13 years old I didn’t have anyone to ride with and didn’t know the first thing about tyres, tyre pressures, suspension setup, maintenance schedules (maintenance fullstop really). I had no idea how to change a tyre , I carried no tools, no spares nothing, not even water.

None of my mates rode bikes and I would just head bush on my own not knowing where to go and just exploring the bush tracks and got myself into some tight scrapes along the way. On a number of occasions I found myself going down nasty hills only to find I had to go back the way I came. Lucky I was pretty fit back then because I had to skulldrag that TT600 up and over big rocks and steps that I had no hope of ever riding up.

It was mainly through this site and the people on it that I begun to learn about simple things like tyre pressures, what minimum tools to carry, how to change a tyre, what sort of maintenance to do and when and not to mention the improved riding skills I picked up watching others ((Boony excluded) can’t have you go a whole thread without at least one shot mate). And of course met some terrific people along the way

Hopefully the site can continue long term even if it doesn’t get the patronage it used to so we can still meet up occasionally even if not as often. Many of us are part of other sites as well of course but this is still the first place I look everyday to get my riding fix.

[DeanMember]

I tend to agree with all that has been said above. I dont ride as much as I once did,starting to get aches and pains in area’s that I never really used to as well.dont get me wrong, still love the riding and the banter and OBT once took up a considerable amount of my time (which didnt help with my work output :whistle: ) I dont think ive lead a ride for over two years or more I guess the job gets in the way a lot. Ive have met a heap of people and consider them all mates and I have OBT to thank for that. Ive ridden in area’s that I never would have otherwise and have shown others tracks that Ive helped put in and built bridges and mesh for etc and got a huge buzz out of it. I will never forget the ride and camp we had at Dungog a few years ago. I am not a face book type,dont need the drama and crap that comes along with it,I get my dirtbike fix,from OBT DBW,Gasgas cafe Husky and the Yamaha IT forum. I like to think I make a positive contribution and enjoy listening to what other people have to say. Without TB’s and Chris’s dedication and efforts this site would not have been possible, I hope its just a faze and things start picking up again.
let the good times roll
Ollie

[glennMember]

Wattagans,(first old bulls ride, thanks for the shed floor beagle), loue or what I can remember of it, sunny corner ( yeah nuff said about that road trip), Dungog, best camp site in the world, the vertical trails and loosing a rider I could have done without that, the epic trip to victoria for menaces 40th,(WOW) Coffs Darlington ride and lantana man??? the first OBT Nundle ride and leading it still pretty well stung from the night before :sick: the other Nundle rides I led and the cells/mount sea view rides, Wauchope, who can forget the bus trip from the club and the bloody goat at the farm stay,, just a very small touch on the memories this bloody site has given me, I appreciate that life changes and we all get tied up with other stuff but there is no comparison to this site as a friendship making laugh a minute way to spend my time. I aint going anywhere, I had to pull out of the Nundle ride this year due to having a knee doctored up but there will be more.

Ohh yeah ,,,get stuffed Jeffro

Boony

[Mark BuntingMember]

I’m one of the people that moved to a different area and found people I hope to be life long friends and riding mates through this site.

I, like others have had a couple of lean riding years due to study, career change, kids racing and family life. I don’t log on nearly as much as I used to, but I still like to know OBT is there when I want it and am able to engage. I really hope it is able to continue.

Kram

[scott bockingMember]

Last weekend in November I am hosting a ride that everyone is welcome to join. The lawyers said it was ok so it is on
I am paying staff 22 hours to cover me for the 3 days so I will be making the most of it. The trails are primo, the accommodation is top shelf and I will get loose every night.
My life and riding have headed in a different direction so this is the last OBT ride I will be hosting.
Your call!

STM

[Nick JacksonMember]

singletrackmind wrote:

Last weekend in November I am hosting a ride that everyone is welcome to join. The lawyers said it was ok so it is on
I am paying staff 22 hours to cover me for the 3 days so I will be making the most of it. The trails are primo, the accommodation is top shelf and I will get loose every night.
My life and riding have headed in a different direction so this is the last OBT ride I will be hosting.
Your call!

STM

Yeah sounds really shit STM !!

See ya there

[DeanMember]

Love to be there mate as I am sure it would be truly epic 👿 Unfortunatley the timing for me is not good :S Heading to sunshine coast on the 12th for a week to celebrate the big 5 OHHH then a week of work which I have a few commitments to then the last week before going on leave again. ahhh Fuckit ill cyu there :woohoo:

Ollie

[GregMember]

singletrackmind wrote:

Last weekend in November I am hosting a ride that everyone is welcome to join. The lawyers said it was ok so it is on
I am paying staff 22 hours to cover me for the 3 days so I will be making the most of it. The trails are primo, the accommodation is top shelf and I will get loose every night.
My life and riding have headed in a different direction so this is the last OBT ride I will be hosting.
Your call!

STM

Fuck it I am a maybe again :woohoo:

TB

[SteveMember]

I think the reason its been quite is because every one is at my fundraiser.
For people that have trouble reaching orgasm .
Text me if you carnt come

sorry

[ChrisMember]

Wow nice to logon and see some action, TB has said everything that needs to be said, I would love to get involved again and get the site back to where it was, I actually have a little more time but less finances and every month is a struggle for me to pay the $185.00 it costs to run + the additional expenses of software upgrades/domain renewals etc, thanks to some generous members the costs have been covered for the past 2 months THANK YOU!, however I still have a huge investment both financially and time wise to see that all go to shit would be very dissapointing, I have plenty of ideas and there has been plenty of updates and new technology that I could intergrate into the site, unfortunately some of these cost money. With changes to peoples personal/work lives it is also a challenge to find new people that may be interested to moderate the forums which from a legal perspective has to be done. I am also developing some new sites that may help pay some of the expenses. what would really be good if members could make a small donation occassionaly out of 4k odd members $5.00 here or there would be a huge help, if we could cover the costs that would then give me an opportunity to do all the upgrades/new tech without having to worry that the site is going to close down and my effort would be wasted. Maybe now my health is better I might be able to organise a ride or two
My .2c Cheers Chris.

[ChrisMember]

It has also been discussed to integrate google ads into the forums whats people thoughts on that, I can’t think of any site I visit that doesn’t have ads these days maybe that is a better way to fund rather than ask for donations.

Chris.

[Adrian SnowdenMember]

toes wrote:

I think the reason its been quite is because every one is at my fundraiser.
For people that have trouble reaching orgasm .
Text me if you carnt come

Toes I’m sure this will be an event you will be able to pull off!

sorry

[Adrian SnowdenMember]

Chris. Thanks for letting us know the costs. I’m happy to throw in now but I reckon long term google ads would be more sustainable

[Adrian SnowdenMember]

Chris. Thanks for letting us know the costs. I’m happy to throw in now but I reckon long term google ads would be more sustainable

[ChrisMember]

Thanks Snowy, no need to say it twice though I hate the fact that we have to ask for donations so any one else got any ideas?

Cheers
Chris.

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