Originally Posted by NeilGunton

If you want to talk about transparency, how about being open about the fact that you have an axe to grind given our previous interactions here. Unfortunately you went back and deleted your posts, so it's not possible in retrospect for people to see the enmity which you have previously expressed (and obviously still harbor). Generally the model here seems to be to disparage me at any opportunity, and then if I respond you pretend that you don't care and I'm being over-sensitive. So I have two unsavory choices: I can either ignore libelous remarks, and let others define me for people who might be new to bikeforums, or else I can attempt to respond, and get labeled as whatever. I know I should just ignore the trolls, but occasionally I feel like I need to make clear that this isn't some vague, distant entity that is being casually slandered here. It's a real person.

As for transparency with my funding tactics, I don't really see how I could be any more transparent. I make support of the site entirely voluntary, so there isn't any requirement for people to pay anything in order to use any of the features. I also post the donation totals right on the front page of the site for all to see. I guess some people feel that I should only accept donations for what can be strictly interpreted as "website expenses", which would seem to devalue my own time, skill and effort running the thing to zero, but unfortunately I don't exist suspended in a vaccuum. I guess some people also resent the fact that I'm making some sort of living through running a website like crazyguyonabike, but I can't help that. I do fundraisers, and ask people for donations... if you want to help, then great, if you don't, then don't. It's pretty simple, the only people who seem to have an issue are those who, like I said, have an axe to grind. They tend to come back and try to slander me with certain characterizations that I think are both untrue and unfair - calling me "less than transparent" would be laughable if it wasn't so offensive. It's pretty funny the flack you get for running a free service.

For people who aren't aware, I am a developer who develops and runs crazyguyonabike.com: Bicycle Touring: A place for bicycle tourists and their journals. With forums, classifieds, resources, journals and articles, it has a wide range of services relevant to tourists. It was developed from scratch by me, and I have been running it solo since 2000, so over 17 years now. The site now has over 12,000 bicycle touring journals and articles, and more than 2,300,000 pics. Despite some comments here, I am actively developing the site and regularly make updates and tweaks. Unlike other websites, I don't like doing complete site redesigns every year, and the interface has remained fairly constant over the last decade. I personally like some consistency in a website - you spend time getting to know the ins and outs, and it's frustrating for the user to have that constantly changing just to satisfy the ego of some designer. I know I never like it when websites completely rewrite all their code, because it always seems to end up with crappy new versions that look flashy but don't have all the features of the old version. So my development strategy is to try to keep the main interface as constant as possible, but there have been a lot of changes under the covers as the years have passed. I am working constantly to keep the site content relevant and up to date, both in terms of blocking spammers and other abusers, and also keeping the underlying software functional. The site is backed up to multiple geographical locations and backup servers.

In terms of functionality, you can email updates to your journal, and construct route maps on-site (this uses Google's Maps API). There are far too many little features to list here, but the main function of the site is the journals, and I try to make it easy to post, and easy to read. Most people find it intuitive, though as always there are some vocal detractors who try to make it sound like the site is "old" and out of date. I consciously keep the interface simple and non-flashy, since this appeals to me personally, and it also serves to keep the site fast and responsive even on slow connections and devices. It works even on old browsers.

I have big plans to expand the site's functionality, including a site-wide map browser and revamping the 'resources' section to be more like a wiki in terms of the community being able to keep individual fact-based entries up-to-date. Beyond that, I am also developing the site code to allow me to express topics beyond bicycle touring, via sister sites called topicwise.com, townwise.com and profilewise.com.

I have been called "polarizing", and I will allow that I can be opinionated and don't beat around the bush when dealing with people who I feel are being obnoxious. I have thrown people off the site, and some of those people end up here on bikeforums, which is why you'll see the odd disparaging remark from users here whenever crazyguyonabike comes up. These comments almost always come from people who are either disgruntled former users, or else they are failed bloggers or developers who somehow resent the fact that I am independent and run my own site on my own terms and make some kind of income from it, or else they just dislike the website design and try to run it down at any opportunity. This is the price of doing business on the internet, I guess, and while I try to generally ignore it, I find it necessary sometimes to try to "correct the record" (to use a term that has become somewhat tainted recently).

Anyway, for anyone who is unfamiliar with the site, I am just a regular guy who works from home developing a website that is free for all to use, and many thousands of people have found it useful over the years, and continue to do so. Please don't take the disparaging comments from a few vindictive people as any indication of what's really going on over there. I'm a real person and generally very approachable and responsive if you have questions or problems. Given my previous experiences here on bikeforums with the previously mentioned individuals, who tend to try to derail any such discussion (and then later blame me), I'll try to leave it there.

Neil

Originally Posted by Rob_E

To me, CrazyGuy has the numbers to make it the go-to place. Not as polished as some sites....But it has a lot of users, and to me, that makes it very useful.

Originally Posted by indyfabz

As much as I don't like the site's aesthetics, I have to agree with the above. And I sometimes use the site for planning purposes like you do.


Just yesterday I searched CGOB journals for an obscure area in MT that I am planning to ride through in June. I had what I thought was my route all planned out and was looking for any descriptions regarding road conditions, etc. What I found instead was a page from a 2016 journal that described what looks like an amazing, alternative route between two places I had already planned to pass through, complete with a map that allowed me to map the route myself on RWGPS. As a result, I am in the process of changing my plans to include this new-found route as an alternative to what I had originally planned. To me, more options=better.

Originally Posted by mdilthey

I said a bunch of things about what I actually thought about the bullying issues and the website itself last time this conversation went around, which I deleted in the interest of protecting Neil from bad press. But, I do have critiques. I don't think it's unreasonable for new users asking about platforms to know both sides of the argument.

Originally Posted by FBinNY

As I said earlier, I don't have a dog in this fight.

But, as a neutral observer, I think you come off worse. It seems that you have some kind of bug up your ass about the site. It may not be to your taste, and could be more polished, and maybe the semantics of the word donation bother you.

However, I'm of the "If you can't say anything nice......" school, and suggest that you might post alternative site options rather than attack this one.

FWIW - I also have some issues with the word donation in this context because it carries certain implications, but other than the choice of words don't see anything wrong. In Neil's shoes I might call it a voluntary payment or something, but our language lacks a word for an optional payment to a business enterprise.

If the objection is that Neil draws personal income from the site, I feel it's strictly between him and the IRS, and I don't feel he owes anyone else an accounting or explanation. Keep in mind that plenty (most) charities likewise have paid employees living of the donations.

to Neil, best wishes. To others, post, read, make a payment if you wish, don't if you don't, or feel free to ignore it if you don't like it.

Originally Posted by NoControl

I was wondering - If I actually decide to do a tour of any length at all, what forum/group/place would be a good place to post all my experiences and photos?

Originally Posted by alan s

I've got nothing against CGOAB, but some of the folks who post there are a bit full of themselves. I mean, do you really need to read about someone's detailed planning months in advance? And the catchy titles are just ridiculous. If the posters just stuck more to the facts, and tried less hard to be aspiring travel writers, I would probably use it as a resource more often. I really despise the self-promoting Facebook style of many of the writers.

Originally Posted by cyccommute

I'm not sure I get itYou want "just the facts" but don't want someone's detailed planning. You don't want the flavor of the trip but you want all the ingredients but don't want the planning. How does that work?

Frankly, I state up front in my posts over there that I won't give you all the planning. I won't give you all the details of my bike or my gear or my routing or etc because I find those to be the least useful parts of bicycle touring. Everyone does touring a bit differently.

Personally, I'd rather read about the area from a travel perspective. I don't need to know that someone rode X bike with X tent and X sleeping bag and X panniers and ate X food. But if that same someone tells me about a cool little museum or obscure sight to see that only bicyclists know about or about a great little restaurant, it makes me want to see it for myself. That's the way that I write about my travels over there.

Originally Posted by alan s

I've got nothing against CGOAB, but some of the folks who post there are a bit full of themselves. I mean, do you really need to read about someone's detailed planning months in advance? And the catchy titles are just ridiculous. If the posters just stuck more to the facts, and tried less hard to be aspiring travel writers, I would probably use it as a resource more often. I really despise the self-promoting Facebook style of many of the writers.

Originally Posted by mdilthey

I think this wall of text outlines pretty clearly what the issues "some vindictive people" with "axes to grind" are.

Originally Posted by Rob_E

To me, CrazyGuy has the numbers to make it the go-to place...

Originally Posted by alan s

Never posted on CGOAB, but it seems geared more toward those who want to write reams of uninteresting stuff. Once in a while I'll wade through one, but for the most part, only a friend or family member would be interested. BF is far more interesting, and much more interactive and free flowing, which appeals to me. If I have a specific question, it's usually answered pretty much right away here.

Originally Posted by cyccommute

Again, I would disagree. If you look at the read counts, there are a whole lot more people reading the journals on CGOAB than just "friends and family". Personally, I don't have 50,000 friends or family but that's how many times one of my journals have been read.

And there is a large difference between CGOAB and the BikeForums. Although CGOAB has a forums section, it's main thrust is towards the journals. Those aren't supposed to be interactive, although there is a feature for communicating with authors.