Suggestion for BOTM...

[al-onestare]

It'd be nice if BOTM was promoted on the front page, via the RB social links and so on...

 

[legrandefromage]

It'd be nice if BOTM was promoted on the front page, via the RB social links and so on...

Unlikely these days.

Was re-reading some old stuff from around 2010, there was some quite palpable animosity towards the sudden inrush of newcomers from the 'old guard'

However, the 2 -3 year old 'newbies' had made it a welcoming place for a more broad showing of bikes and there was definitely a sense of mischievous fun about the site - that and some 40 - 50+ riders turning up to event rides across the country - people could meet, show off shiny things and it was mostly peace and love.

Sadly in 2018, its a shadow of its former self with any offers to move the site on firmly rejected with little explanation.

BotM will just stay as it is with just a small group huddled around the ultra high end leaving little chance for anything else and it will remain so whilst the site and the competition (with a small C) is left to stagnate with virtually zero promotion.

 

[regan_ev]

WTF some people are eating too many weetabix or not drinking enough tea round here lately... CHILLLL WINSTAAAN.

Okay, so after having a much-needed hiatus from both the site and pretty much all-things-retro ffrom the end of 2016 till a few months ago, albeit still keeping the retro instagram going and checking several facebook grups (which is great but the distinct lack of archiving or threaded commentating makes FB a place where it's either all or nothing, or good for buyin' an' sellin' or good-old look-what-I-just-found-at-the-back-of-the-attickin', I vehemently believe in the power of the internet forum as hte best place for showcasing hobbies, interests and socialising.

I found this wonderful place through instagram in 2015 and second to becoming a dad, it's the best thing that could've happened to me. I rediscovered myself, made some fabulous friends, met some inspiring people, met some of my heroes, been on other-worldly adventures and been both enthused and motivated in equal measure through the community of thoroughly fine nerds and geeks, historians and engineers, collecteurs and hoarders, bullshitters, braggers, those with more money than sense and people who simply love riding and have only ever owned bikes from the nineties but never had a week without fixing or upgrading - a truly varied bunch of people. I've not met or encountered more than a hatful of people i wouldn't want to let sleep in the spare room or chat bikes till stupid o'clock, but I can see why some folk here don;t get along.

Which brings me round to the BOTM subject and the questions herein. Personally, I'd like the rule of not entering more than twice - only once in an open category and once in a special - to be relaxed or reset, at least, every year. I've only ever owned five retro MTBs pre-97 and only have two in the garage at the moment, plus a mediocre yet charismatic 2001/2 bike and a fast-becoming-retro 2005 model. Plus another on its way as I type which will be the subject of a thorough build thread and hopefully entered into a subsequent couple of BOTMs if the chances present themselves. However, I've previously been reluctant to enter at least one of the handful own.have owned for fear of it not standing the best chance and 'wasting' an entry that would otherwise be stronger in future months, becasue of the double-entry max rule.

I can also see the problems with the high-end boutique builds deemed as too elitist or incomparable due to the value of money thrown at them which deters entrants.

Here are my suggestions to properly opening up the BOTM so it can become exciting and draw entrants to participate:

Oh, but first I should offer my thoughts on the nominate-a-mate or a Barry-build idea:
Proxy nominations: NO, I don't like the idea of that, and I wouldn't want anyone blindly nominating me, thank you. Entries MUST be the sole effort of the bike's owner/builder and their decision alone to enter into the competition to try and get one of those coveted titles and avatar badges.

My ideas...

1. Reset previous entries at the end of the year - winter months are prime for people getting new or tweaked projects done. This gives an impetus to keep those bikes fresh or at least keeps the interest in the bikes that may otherwise lack the requisite and necessary they deserve. So whether tyour bike has been entered previously in 'normal' or 'special' months, even if you don't change a nut or a bolt, you can put it in from January in the new year, for a maximum of once per normal and once per special in the current calendar year in the hope that it will qualify for that illustrious accolade. Maybe.

2. BLIND ENTRIES.
Just as Adrian/raidan73 has done for ages, proficiently and passionatelty, the theme or not is set following the results of any given motnh's results, but ALL entries are submitted blindly, checked, collated and offered out for votes the following month.
e.g. November's vote result announced in December as per usual, with a theme for January set.
Entrants complete their build threads and enter their nomination per the rules to Ade, who keeps them to himself.
February -first week - January's entries are revealed and those entered are put to the voters for a week/however long, PERHAPS with a viible tally of votes as month progresses. This will encourage competition, alllow entrants to campaign others to get in and vote becasue they need it or to strenghten a leading position and it becomes exciting again.

If moving to this system a month off will be necessary.

No maximum entries. All entrants are put to the vote.But at least people won't be put off for submitting their bike becasue they're worried it'll ave no chance if they see Timmy Toff's Ubermega NOS Blingnique LTD ED last-ever-made unobtanium build has entered. Might see a fire-rescued bare frame rebuilt Pace go against an ex team Klein or an unknown NOS John Tomac spare bike found in a bankrupcy sale.

 

[The History Man]

About that spare room...........

 

[al-onestare]

WTF some people are eating too many weetabix or not drinking enough tea round here lately... CHILLLL WINSTAAAN.

Okay, so after having a much-needed hiatus from both the site and pretty much all-things-retro ffrom the end of 2016 till a few months ago, albeit still keeping the retro instagram going and checking several facebook grups (which is great but the distinct lack of archiving or threaded commentating makes FB a place where it's either all or nothing, or good for buyin' an' sellin' or good-old look-what-I-just-found-at-the-back-of-the-attickin', I vehemently believe in the power of the internet forum as hte best place for showcasing hobbies, interests and socialising.

I found this wonderful place through instagram in 2015 and second to becoming a dad, it's the best thing that could've happened to me. I rediscovered myself, made some fabulous friends, met some inspiring people, met some of my heroes, been on other-worldly adventures and been both enthused and motivated in equal measure through the community of thoroughly fine nerds and geeks, historians and engineers, collecteurs and hoarders, bullshitters, braggers, those with more money than sense and people who simply love riding and have only ever owned bikes from the nineties but never had a week without fixing or upgrading - a truly varied bunch of people. I've not met or encountered more than a hatful of people i wouldn't want to let sleep in the spare room or chat bikes till stupid o'clock, but I can see why some folk here don;t get along.

Which brings me round to the BOTM subject and the questions herein. Personally, I'd like the rule of not entering more than twice - only once in an open category and once in a special - to be relaxed or reset, at least, every year. I've only ever owned five retro MTBs pre-97 and only have two in the garage at the moment, plus a mediocre yet charismatic 2001/2 bike and a fast-becoming-retro 2005 model. Plus another on its way as I type which will be the subject of a thorough build thread and hopefully entered into a subsequent couple of BOTMs if the chances present themselves. However, I've previously been reluctant to enter at least one of the handful own.have owned for fear of it not standing the best chance and 'wasting' an entry that would otherwise be stronger in future months, becasue of the double-entry max rule.

I can also see the problems with the high-end boutique builds deemed as too elitist or incomparable due to the value of money thrown at them which deters entrants.

Here are my suggestions to properly opening up the BOTM so it can become exciting and draw entrants to participate:

Oh, but first I should offer my thoughts on the nominate-a-mate or a Barry-build idea:
Proxy nominations: NO, I don't like the idea of that, and I wouldn't want anyone blindly nominating me, thank you. Entries MUST be the sole effort of the bike's owner/builder and their decision alone to enter into the competition to try and get one of those coveted titles and avatar badges.

My ideas...

1. Reset previous entries at the end of the year - winter months are prime for people getting new or tweaked projects done. This gives an impetus to keep those bikes fresh or at least keeps the interest in the bikes that may otherwise lack the requisite and necessary they deserve. So whether tyour bike has been entered previously in 'normal' or 'special' months, even if you don't change a nut or a bolt, you can put it in from January in the new year, for a maximum of once per normal and once per special in the current calendar year in the hope that it will qualify for that illustrious accolade. Maybe.

2. BLIND ENTRIES.
Just as Adrian/raidan73 has done for ages, proficiently and passionatelty, the theme or not is set following the results of any given motnh's results, but ALL entries are submitted blindly, checked, collated and offered out for votes the following month.
e.g. November's vote result announced in December as per usual, with a theme for January set.
Entrants complete their build threads and enter their nomination per the rules to Ade, who keeps them to himself.
February -first week - January's entries are revealed and those entered are put to the voters for a week/however long, PERHAPS with a viible tally of votes as month progresses. This will encourage competition, alllow entrants to campaign others to get in and vote becasue they need it or to strenghten a leading position and it becomes exciting again.

If moving to this system a month off will be necessary.

No maximum entries. All entrants are put to the vote.But at least people won't be put off for submitting their bike becasue they're worried it'll ave no chance if they see Timmy Toff's Ubermega NOS Blingnique LTD ED last-ever-made unobtanium build has entered. Might see a fire-rescued bare frame rebuilt Pace go against an ex team Klein or an unknown NOS John Tomac spare bike found in a bankrupcy sale.

This is all great.

It'd be nice if BOTM was promoted on the front page, via the RB social links and so on...

Unlikely these days.

Was re-reading some old stuff from around 2010, there was some quite palpable animosity towards the sudden inrush of newcomers from the 'old guard'

However, the 2 -3 year old 'newbies' had made it a welcoming place for a more broad showing of bikes and there was definitely a sense of mischievous fun about the site - that and some 40 - 50+ riders turning up to event rides across the country - people could meet, show off shiny things and it was mostly peace and love.

Sadly in 2018, its a shadow of its former self with any offers to move the site on firmly rejected with little explanation.

BotM will just stay as it is with just a small group huddled around the ultra high end leaving little chance for anything else and it will remain so whilst the site and the competition (with a small C) is left to stagnate with virtually zero promotion.

And here-in lies the challenge.

 

[mk one]

My ideas...

1. Reset previous entries at the end of the year - winter months are prime for people getting new or tweaked projects done. This gives an impetus to keep those bikes fresh or at least keeps the interest in the bikes that may otherwise lack the requisite and necessary they deserve. So whether tyour bike has been entered previously in 'normal' or 'special' months, even if you don't change a nut or a bolt, you can put it in from January in the new year, for a maximum of once per normal and once per special in the current calendar year in the hope that it will qualify for that illustrious accolade. Maybe.

2. BLIND ENTRIES.
Just as Adrian/raidan73 has done for ages, proficiently and passionatelty, the theme or not is set following the results of any given motnh's results, but ALL entries are submitted blindly, checked, collated and offered out for votes the following month.
e.g. November's vote result announced in December as per usual, with a theme for January set.
Entrants complete their build threads and enter their nomination per the rules to Ade, who keeps them to himself.
February -first week - January's entries are revealed and those entered are put to the voters for a week/however long, PERHAPS with a viible tally of votes as month progresses. This will encourage competition, alllow entrants to campaign others to get in and vote becasue they need it or to strenghten a leading position and it becomes exciting again.

If moving to this system a month off will be necessary.

No maximum entries. All entrants are put to the vote.But at least people won't be put off for submitting their bike becasue they're worried it'll ave no chance if they see Timmy Toff's Ubermega NOS Blingnique LTD ED last-ever-made unobtanium build has entered. Might see a fire-rescued bare frame rebuilt Pace go against an ex team Klein or an unknown NOS John Tomac spare bike found in a bankrupcy sale.

Like both of these, the first i have thought about before as there have been many great bikes entered over the years, many of which were worthy winners but just beaten to the post. Surely they desrve to try again, especially with some of the hard work and devotion that went into them. The second i like as it will as you say, go some way to avoiding the "whats the point" frame of mind and along with the first option of knowing you can always enter it next year if not successful, should see more entries.

 

[LongboardSi]

The second i like as it will as you say, go some way to avoiding the "whats the point" frame of mind and along with the first option of knowing you can always enter it next year if not successful, should see more entries.

I guess an issue is that it requires somebody to commit the time to the required checking, collating, posting up etc. unless the nuts and bolts of the hidden side of the forum allow for some of this to be automated. I like the iea in principle though

Si F

 

[Hotwheels.]

About that spare room...........

You're probably in 'the hatful'.

 

[regan_ev]

About that spare room...........

Its way too upmarket for you Jase Besides, it’s only a virtual spare room. The present Chez Reg is only a two-bedder; number two being a unicorn palace for the offspring.
However, last month I had a friend (with his wife) whom I’d met when in the US make a tour of Bloghtly and Yerp, and I insisted they stay with me to save cash and to spend time together. I moved out to stay with a friend for the two nights so they could have the comfort of a bed and not the floor. I’d happily do that again for anyone I like with a desire to visit. Not that I like many though, so I won’t be sleeping on a mate’s couch any time soon.

You're probably in 'the hatful'.

Deffo. Only because he wouldn’t fit into my shoebox-sized bathroom.

The second i like as it will as you say, go some way to avoiding the "whats the point" frame of mind and along with the first option of knowing you can always enter it next year if not successful, should see more entries.

I guess an issue is that it requires somebody to commit the time to the required checking, collating, posting up etc. unless the nuts and bolts of the hidden side of the forum allow for some of this to be automated. I like the iea in principle though

Si F

How about a caveat that, like it is now, the onus is on the entrant to ensure they qualify and meet the criteria, but a challenge is available to anyone who believes that an entrant is ‘bending the rules’, at which point a subsequent investigation can ensue if warranted, and potentially a disqualification. Sure it’s a ball ache to go down that road, and much like a Hawkeye challenge in tennis and the delays that follow thereafter, it’s both incumbent upon the entrant to make sure he doesn’t put his balls where they’re not supposed to be for fear of an accusation of foul play and the stigma of being accused of dirty tactics, just like it is of the accuser for fear of being a sore loser or crying wolf. (I can’t thinknof a sensible analogy here!)

Basically don’t enter if you know you’re neither eligible nor within the rules or you’ll look like a twit when found out
And
Don’t claim that someone isn’t eligible or blatantly cheating unless you’re absolutley sure they are.

This removes any extraneous effort by Adrian/other admins and puts the focus, as it currently is, on the votes rather than suspecting someone’s cheating. It’s just not cricket to be anything other than a good sportsman here.

 

[LongboardSi]

You mean employ the basic principle of 'Don't be a d1ck' about it?