a forum without advertising revenue nor subscription fees!

[redefined_cycles]

Sorry about this in advance - like seriously. As you may well be aware that I'm not in any way part of the admin on this here forum. But, I do use it rather it rather alot. I've also heard Stu say on a thread once that (despite the rising costs) it's for the love of it.

I'm not personally a subscriber (ie. regular direct debit donor) but do appreciate the fee-less nature of the site and lack of advertisements. Nor do we see 'influencer' companies etc etc...

Anyway, so today whilst responding to a message on the LFGSS server, I came across this and thought of our very forum here. I obviously don't know too much about the day to day runnings/costs of the BBB site but LFGSS was costing them over £650 per month at least (in 2016).

So, consider it a nudge. I'm still not in the position to subscribe via paypal (there is a way... click the 'feed the bear' thread for more details), but I do have a tenner in there just now. I'll send it across Hopefully a few others might do similar or set up a recurring thing...

[Bearbonesnorm]

Thank you for that Shaf'. You're right, keeping the doors open does cost money (not quite as much as LFGSS though) and over the course of a year, everything does add up.

[redefined_cycles]

Thanks Stu. For a moment I wondered whether I may have overstepped the mark a little but I definitely wouldn't wanna be in a place where we need advertisers helping to keep the doors open. This place has done so much for me (and many others for sure) and my cycling.

So thanks once again Stu/Dee...

[Mart]

I’m with you on that Shaf, I hadn’t really thought about it until you said.
Recently I’ve been annoyed by YouTube adverts when I’ve been listening to music. So a timely nudge to people to support the bear is always a good thing

[redefined_cycles]

Thanks Mart. I often think I'm a bit of a wierdo (others would just give and not enforce it on the others ) but I'm glad you're with me on this one. Spotify and the amount of ads I have to endure, really it'd be bordering on torcher (torture even) if we had to endure that on here.

Bearbones200 (or whats left of it) is tough enough

[jameso]

Good point Shaf. And not meaning your point about weirdo or not : ) Of course not : ) Would the right advertiser/sponsor be a bad thing? The WRT is sponsored in a way .. a brand helping support the site wouldn't be a bad thing imo, quite the opposite. Some product testing limitations or disclaimers, that's about all?

[redefined_cycles]

Yes, good point and I guess it wouldnt be a bad thing as long as it didnt start looking like YT. An ad a minute or whatnot.

Never really looked at a brand helping out without making it all look like you're in an edition of MBR (back in the day) with Specialized plastered everywhere. Very good point you made thanks James. Thankfully Im never gonna have to make/take any such decisions.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I'm pretty sure we've more chance of getting sponsored by Wurthers Original or Tunnocks than we have any cycle brand

[redefined_cycles]

I thought James was about to put his firm forward

[Mart]

As long as it caramel wafers and not tea cakes

[jameso]

Tunnocks or the Spar, ideal

I think the industry should support the scene somehow. Often it does though it tends to be at the big event or mass participation level more than the things that start off what those mass participation events draw from later on. Whether anyone here would want to get into click rates and SEO ROI ETC for those with the budgets is another matter