Forum updates, info, costings and plans

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Some people need to put some effort in, after Weeksy, Yorick has top post count, how many times does he post about sunshine and cheap beer?
KFB is 2nd, I'm a lowly 5th, anyone under 4000 posts needs to up their game

I post about bike rides all year round. No bugger else does

I know, I was only pulling your leg.

[MrLongbeard]

Some people need to put some effort in, after Weeksy, Yorick has top post count, how many times does he post about sunshine and cheap beer?
KFB is 2nd, I'm a lowly 5th, anyone under 4000 posts needs to up their game

Quality over quantity sunshine, quality always outs

[KungFooBob]

Imagine if Yozza and me both got proper jobs!

[weeksy]

Imagine if Yozza and me both got proper jobs!

God forbid i ever do, this place would be shut down before a week on Friday.

[Yorick]

Imagine if Yozza and me both got proper jobs!

A job? Fark right off.

[weeksy]

Wow.... just been reading on another forum

Totting up the numbers since I took on the forum nearly a year ago, the combination of merchandise sales, bit of sponsorship ******, kick back from ******** subscriptions and the affiliate deal with *******, the £1200/year rent has been met.

I'm going to do a deal with an insurance company for a similar kick back deal, but I guess there's no harm in having a crowd fund page too for folk who don't want a subscription to ****, or some merchandise, or want to shop at *******.

Either i'm doing something right in terms of forum costings, or i'm missing out somewhere... but £1200 a year is a chunk of change.

If our bills reach that figure, we'll be out of business for sure.

We're not exactly over-flowing with forum funds currently.... but the wolf is far from the door and locked in a cage with an Almax

Well that was ace to see, one of our rival forums did som crowdfunding and raised £1300 in 24 hours for hosting.

It really goes to show how much forums mean to some people. Well, us people.

I've met most of my closest friends on forums, my wife was introduced to me by Nicki and Docca, therefore by proxy my boy came due to the forum.

[weeksy]

I just renewed rttl.co.uk for our use. I'm not actually sure the shortened name has really taken off how i'd have liked, but the cost of renewal isn't ridiculous so may as well go with it.

[weeksy]

Well after a bit of a new year nightmare couple of days it appears all is stable again. Site working well, quickly and happily.

After chatting to out web guy about transferring to a new provider it sounded to me like it could bring a level of complexity. So I think as long as everyone is happy then we'll do the next year with our current ISP.

[G.P]

Some people need to put some effort in, after Weeksy, Yorick has top post count, how many times does he post about sunshine and cheap beer?
KFB is 2nd, I'm a lowly 5th, anyone under 4000 posts needs to up their game

True, Life and work ot in the way lately - I'm only finishing work now - 21.30

I promise to try harder in 2022 and more than happy to contribute to costs x

[weeksy]

So we're moving into the time now where we'll be renewing our hosting for the next 12 months.

Even though we had our issues over Xmas/NY i'm going to stick with our current provider again for another year. In general it's been very good and stable... So to save the messing about, i'm going to stick for now.

I don't know at this stage if there's any change in costings due to any outside forces as per the world we're in currently... but hopefully not.

Don't forget though guys. This site is NOT FREE.... There's a cost associated and it's nice when people stick their hands in their pockets and help out with Subscriptions on a yearly basis. It's a small price to pay for the hosting, time, money and effort that we put in here, along with the upkeep, updates etc... So if you've not renewed and are not a member, then get on the case and get it sorted.

Unlike most sites i run this on a completely advert free basis and completely 'open' to everyone. So it relies upon good-will and the good nature of the members. I could quite easily restrict the site so non-paid members miss out on everything apart from a few basic sections, but that's not why we're here... we're here to improve the community, not restrict it...

There's also the 'donation' button, which of course you're all more than welcome to use to throw a few quid in the pot, once a month, once a year, once every 5 years, whatever works for you.... it's all welcome.

We've got another 6 weeks or so before the actual date and i'm still massively curious to see how many posts we hit for the 2 year period and then compare it to how we did in year 1... We finished year 1 on just under 60,000... I think we'll likely hit approx 140,000 posts by the start of the 3rd year... That's quite a chunk more in year 2 than in the first year.

I have to say though guys, you're doing a great job There's very little of the shit i want to stay away from, the bickering, arguing and name calling.. I thank each and every one of you for that and sticking to the rules, which makes my life and the other Moderators (who rarely get thanked) 1000 times easier.

[weeksy]

Just 1 month to go before we end up at the end of our 2nd year of RTTL. I should be getting the renewal stuff through from the Service Provider any time soon.

I can see us making the 140,000 post mark by the start of the next working year... which is pretty damn epic !

Keep it coming gang.

[weeksy]

There's been a massive drop in subscriptions this year, usually after the anniversary, everyones Subs expire and people renew, but I think we've only had 2 since the 13th march anniversary.
Not sure if that tells us that people don't care or just forget, but I have also noticed the post count dropping in previous month's too.

[Horse]

Are the non-renewers still posting?

If so, is it worth sending a PM or email, asking their reasons for not?

[weeksy]

Are the non-renewers still posting?

If so, is it worth sending a PM or email, asking their reasons for not?

Tbh mate the system is crap for seeing exactly who's who and where their subs are up to. I wouldn't want to go down the Subscriber logo we had previously or use adverts to irritate them into paying etc.

The forum coffers are fine currently and it's not a massive issue, but I do worry a bit that the trend of the forum is dropping rather than expanding over the last 6 months in all aspects.

Not sure there's a lot I can do though

[Noggin]

I've stopped reading so many threads but that's just cos I'm in a miserable situation and can't ride, so bike threads are a bit depressing and I'm depressed enough already! And haven't got the energy to read the banter/arguments as often. Being pretty immobile aslo means I don't really have much to say as everything is quite boring!!!

I can't remember if I renewed when I was working. Hope so cos I'm back on sick pay for the next few months

[Skub]

Tbh mate the system is crap for seeing exactly who's who and where their subs are up to. I wouldn't want to go down the Subscriber logo we had previously or use adverts to irritate them into paying etc.

The forum coffers are fine currently and it's not a massive issue, but I do worry a bit that the trend of the forum is dropping rather than expanding over the last 6 months in all aspects.

Not sure there's a lot I can do though

I'm sure there will always be an ebb/flow as there are with any type of forum. Lots of random factors are at work in individual members lives,so it would be difficult to guess at any one reason.
I think too,because we all know the forum is there when we want to post,there's no desperation or need to meet a postcount deadline. It could be like any marriage,the early fucking each other's brains out can't be sustained on down the line,but it doesn't necessarily mean we have a problem,Houston.

Regarding the subs,it's a pity an automated pm/email isn't practicable with the current system,as it's pretty easy to overlook the due date.

[weeksy]

Tbh mate the system is crap for seeing exactly who's who and where their subs are up to. I wouldn't want to go down the Subscriber logo we had previously or use adverts to irritate them into paying etc.

The forum coffers are fine currently and it's not a massive issue, but I do worry a bit that the trend of the forum is dropping rather than expanding over the last 6 months in all aspects.

Not sure there's a lot I can do though

I'm sure there will always be an ebb/flow as there are with any type of forum. Lots of random factors are at work in individual members lives,so it would be difficult to guess at any one reason.
I think too,because we all know the forum is there when we want to post,there's no desperation or need to meet a postcount deadline. It could be like any marriage,the early fucking each other's brains out can't be sustained on down the line,but it doesn't necessarily mean we have a problem,Houston.

Regarding the subs,it's a pity an automated pm/email isn't practicable with the current system,as it's pretty easy to overlook the due date.

It emails people, twice

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

There's been a massive drop in subscriptions this year, usually after the anniversary, everyones Subs expire and people renew, but I think we've only had 2 since the 13th march anniversary.
Not sure if that tells us that people don't care or just forget, but I have also noticed the post count dropping in previous month's too.

I don't think I got a reminder email, I keep meaning to renew but don't get round to doing it

[Skub]

No missing that,then.

[weeksy]

There's been a massive drop in subscriptions this year, usually after the anniversary, everyones Subs expire and people renew, but I think we've only had 2 since the 13th march anniversary.
Not sure if that tells us that people don't care or just forget, but I have also noticed the post count dropping in previous month's too.

I don't think I got a reminder email, I keep meaning to renew but don't get round to doing it

ExpiresThu Dec 15, 2022 4:50 pm

You're good till Dec