BTinNYC 

I would be reading the news every morning, getting upset over stuff that matters, but I have no control over. But BF IS here and I can enjoy my compatriot's successes and challenges, I can whine a little or show off a little.

It's an election year with the national hysterics cranked up to 11, but the BF old timer's group manages blood pressure very well, so I thank you all for this gentle and simple place. Now to cut some fresh fruit and think about biking for a bit.

CAT7RDR

I learned that lesson during Co-Vid. No need to panic and best to get out for a ride no matter how often we're told the sky is falling.

RCMoeur 

Bike Forums is about the only online forum I participate in these days. I watched as Twitter become a septic tank, and Facebook went off the rails about 3 1/2 years ago. I walked away from both, although our Big Road Trips are still posted on Facebook as we haven't found a better venue (on Day 7 of our current trip to see the moon get in the way of the sun for a few minutes). That's at face book . com / bigroadtrip

I like the sharing of information here, and the ability to help others with information I've developed or that others have shared with me. And if I run into someone who wants to argue for its own sake, there's always the "ignore user" function.

Biker395 

Oy, I feel that one. As of late, I have really come to become disenchanted with social media. On one hand, I found it really nice to keep in touch with more distant family and friends. It was nice to see what they were up to and brought us closer together.

Now? Ugh. It's out of control.

Beyond all the usual issues (I have seen studies that make the case that kids raised in the social media era are much more likely to suffer from mental illness, and I believe it), there is the way they decide what media to present to you. Essentially, they repeat anything that induced any kind of response from you.

That would be nice if the content involved subjects that made you feel good about yourself or the world, but that is not what they do. Instead, the content seems always to be controversial ... something that drives people apart. And if people really don't believe what is being written, there are always bots to stir the pot up. Essentially, they thrive on conflict.

Then there is how invasive the system is. They are not only keeping track of what you select or "click on" ... they keep track of what you pause on. The upshot of that is if they present a pix of a beautiful woman in a bikini and you dare pause on it, they will assume you want nothing better than to look at dozens of beautiful women in bikinis ... and that is all you will see for days. Not a third world problem, but sheez. And how much of your feed is "sponsored" instead of being about friends or family nowadays?

And I've noticed that FB Messenger seems to be using the microphone to monitor conversations, even when the app is not active. WTF.

So yea, I have had it too. I've shut a lot of it off. I don't follow the news the way I used to either. And I'm a lot happier for it.

WaveyGravey

This forum is a great form of relaxation. Great way to escape and get my mind off of problems.

rsbob 

Unlike the OP, I read the national and watch the local news first, then to relax and to really start my day off (while doing my best to avoid the contentious arguments) read BF. Today’s to do list, take day off from bike after yesterday’s intervals (36 miles, 2,300’gain - where I attack each climb and rest on the flats and downhills), adjust front and rear derailleurs, mow lawn, fix section of dry creek bed gutter along the driveway used to channel rainwater, and walk the labradoodle Busy day.

bblair

At least here, the "arguments" are not really arguments. More like telling your biking bud that his post ride beer is crap and yours is sooo much better.

Kabuki12

I enjoy this forum , Classic Rendezvous , and my International Palm Society forum ( yea ....I collect palms) . With forums like these it is easy and informative with occasional back and forth. It's all good! The news is , well , the news and this year has been challenging so I try not to go there.

John E

I participate in BF and in PassatWorld, which is a support group for all of us VW Passat owners, particularly B5/B5.5 era (1998-2005), which has by far the largest following and fan base. Our cars are aging, just as we are.

rsbob 

I was hooked on the Pelican Parts 911 forum and 914 World. They helped with DIY repair, upgrades and general info, which is very much like the bike forum and countless other enthusiast forums. The danger, for me, is that I read about upgrades and have to get them, just for fun. The latest TPU tubes and a disc brake pad centering device.

nlerner

I got one of these (not this brand but same idea): https://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Brake...p/B0C6ZYTKJP/r. Works perfectly every time!

rsbob 

I could have saved $10.00. Where were you when I needed you?

SpedFast

How about the handlebar laser alignment tool? Have you got one of them yet? hehe

rsbob 

Thankfully BF exists, otherwise... Hookers and blow. Which is how I hang my bikes and air up the tires.

RCMoeur 

One other important observation: when I click "New Posts" on BikeForums, I get exactly that - a list of new postings. No "sponsored posts", no "our suggestion for you" posts, no clickbait BS (OK, almost none), and no spam (except for the occasional floods of garbleish that the mods eventually obliterate).

50PlusCycling

I live in Japan, where politics is boring, there is only one political party which no one likes (so there are no political divisions), and people simply get along and focus on their own business. The media is largely irrelevant, as there is usually little crime and few other goings on worth reporting. People largely read the financial papers, sports papers, and the horse racing form.

As I don’t really care to watch television, and reading news in Japanese is still beyond my comprehension of the language, I spend time doing other things.

bblair

.......otherwise I would have do something productive every morning after breakfast.

I did productive for 40 years and am tired of it.

indyfabz

In some cases, reading certain threads BF is like watching "Cops". It makes me realize that my life could be a lot worse.

Wildwood 

.....otherwise, I might still be ignorantly, blissfully riding that same bicycle I bought 40 years ago.
Dozens of bikes later......still ignorantly blissfully riding, only with a bunch of bikes.

Gone in 60

Just joined, and you guys seem like a fun, likeable bunch! I was researching different bike models, and invariably a post on this forum would come up with someone commenting on whatever I was looking at. So, I figured if I'm going to get back into riding on more than a casual basis, what better place to hang out. I will need encouragement, and no doubt enablers to keep me engaged, riding, and probably spending money on an endless number of bicycle related doo-dads. Laser handlebar alignment tool? Sign me up. I'll put it in the same toolbox drawer as my motorcycle chain laser alignment tool and my tile laser alignment tool.

I'm not into social media, save for Facebook Marketplace (Thanks, guys who paid retail on my two-wheeled toys!), so I like forums dedicated to my interests like my brands of cars and motorcycles, and particularly those where the inhabitants don't fight and bicker over everything. I keep my typing fingers away from politics and religion where that's not the subject matter of the forum... any comment is a high-five to one person, and a fart in church to another.

Looking forward to making the forum part of my morning coffee, lunch break, and most likely, any time the boss doesn't need me for something.

rsbob 

Welcome and you will find all the encouragement to ride (and spend money) that you will ever need. You came to the right place.

Gone in 60

Thanks! While being a cheapskate by nature, I tend to spend a lot of money on my passions. Laser handlebar alignment tool? Sign me up. I'll put it in the same toolbox drawer as my laser motorcycle chain alignment tool and my laser tile alignment tool.
Been enjoying getting back in the saddle and spending copious amounts of online time looking at things I probably don't need. Going to ride my new bike as it sits for now, but let's see how long I can hold out before I start farkling it.

noglider 

I love how we all make each other into experts. I've learned a lot here.

PromptCritical 

I've learned a lot here as well. Some serious knowledge and wisdom. One just has to be careful of the expertologists.......

MinnMan

I am mostly a news junkie, and I tend to have trouble respecting people who aren't informed about national and world events.

But lately, I've been wondering if I have it backwards.

If only there was a way to be well-informed without the attendant frustration, sadness, and despair.

Time to go for a bike ride.