I think the title says it all! I guess I’ll use the rest of the post to tell you more about the sale, the future, and Internet Brands; the new owners.
First off, I want to thank each and every one of you for your contributions to the site. Without the help of current and past members, BikeForums would never have grown to the community it is today. Thank you!
In the last Seven and a half years, I have watched the site grow from 3 registered members in the first week to over 65,000 registered members today. We have gone from 2 - 3 posts a day to over 6,000 new posts daily. This site has far exceeded all expectations I had that first week! Of course, it's also has became a lot more work over the years, even with the help of a great moderator team.
This is where Internet Brands will step in. They will provide the infrastructure needed to host the site. They will also take over advertising, marketing and bookkeeping. I’m also looking forward to having access to unlimited time with their programmers and server techs.
At the end of this month, I will be stepping down as primary admin of BikeForums.net. Brian will be taking over the top spot. I’ll continue to stick around and help grow and manage the community over the next few years, but most of my time and energy will be spent on new ventures both on, and off line.
If you’re not familiar with Internet Brands, check out their website and about pages: http://www.internetbrands.com/ib/. These guys are very community oriented and they obviously see the value in the BikeForums community that has been created. Having a successful company behind the forums can only be a good thing. I'm really excited about the future of BikeForums.net, I think the best days are yet to come.
Sincerely,
Joe Gardner
Joe Gardner
05-31-07, 08:45 AM
(This post saved for FAQ's)
Cypress
05-31-07, 08:53 AM
Good job!
How much did you make? (curiosity)
Stacey
05-31-07, 08:55 AM
Twice as much as youtube. :)
Joe Gardner
05-31-07, 08:56 AM
Thanks, I don't plan on announcing how much I sold it for. Enough to focus on my next venture. :)
HAMMER MAN
05-31-07, 09:01 AM
Outstanding!
jsharr
05-31-07, 09:02 AM
Congrats Joe. You put in the long hours to make this place and you deserve whatever you made on the deal. Thanks for creating such a great place to learn, share and recreate.
Serendipper
05-31-07, 09:09 AM
That's awesome! :beer:I love a good story.
VegaVixen
05-31-07, 09:09 AM
Thank you, Joe, for having created BF, which has literally been a lifeline for me. Congratulations, and good luck with your new ventures, both on- and off-line. ;) :)
:beer:
USAZorro
05-31-07, 09:10 AM
Congratulations Joe.
Shadiyah stays though? Right? :o :D
CyLowe97
05-31-07, 09:21 AM
Congrats, Joe!
Pick up something nice for Shadiyah and yourself. Maybe a tandem?
:D
Shifty
05-31-07, 09:28 AM
Good job Joe, all the best on the next venture!!
voltman
05-31-07, 09:28 AM
Brilliant!
spingineer
05-31-07, 09:30 AM
Good luck in your future endeavors, Joe. I have to say, this community has me hooked. Been logging so much time on here, it's incredible, and it's a testiment to the hard work and effort you gutted out for this site. Once again, thanks.
JF1
05-31-07, 09:32 AM
Great job Joe. Good luck on you next ventures.
Joe Gardner
05-31-07, 09:33 AM
Thank you, thank you and thank you. :)
Air
05-31-07, 09:43 AM
Congrats Joe!!
Brian
05-31-07, 09:44 AM
Congrats, Joe!
Pick up something nice for Shadiyah and yourself. Maybe a tandem?
:D
He knows where he can borrow one...
Ritehsedad
05-31-07, 09:47 AM
Congratulations Joe, you made these forums the great place they are!
KingTermite
05-31-07, 09:47 AM
Sounds good Joe! Good luck on those new ventures, whatever they may be. :)
Stacey
05-31-07, 09:49 AM
Congrats Joe. You put in the long hours to make this place and you deserve whatever you made on the deal. Thanks for creating such a great place to learn, share and recreate.
Hey! None of that 'recreating' stuff here! This is a wholesome family place with hight moral values. If you want to recreate, get a room!
Can't we just have fun?
SingingSabre
05-31-07, 09:49 AM
Congrats, Joe!
Ebbtide
05-31-07, 10:21 AM
If its good news for you, its good news for me. Thanks a bunch!
markhr
05-31-07, 10:28 AM
Thanks, good job and congratulations
VegaVixen
05-31-07, 10:35 AM
Be sure the new admin is aware that if BF changes, there will be a general Foo revolt. :eek:
Greetings, all. John from Internet Brands here. As Brian said, we do not have plans for any significant changes, other than providing more back-end resources. We think BikeForums.net is a great site as it is...hence our interest! :) That said, we do have a strong tech team, and hopefully our marketing folks can help bring even more users to the site. We look forward to supporting this thriving online community!
catatonic
05-31-07, 10:55 AM
Hey! None of that 'recreating' stuff here! This is a wholesome family place with hight moral values. If you want to recreate, get a room!
Can't we just have fun?
I'm fine with people recreating, it's those blasted amateurs who try to procreate (notice the "pro" in it) that cause all the trouble ;)
Grats Joe!
mastershake916
05-31-07, 11:02 AM
No offense, but I hope the ads will change now, the animated ads are really annoying, especially the one from a while back that shows that guy's gut.
LowCel
05-31-07, 11:02 AM
No offense, but I hope the ads will change now, the animated ads are really annoying, especially the one from a while back that shows that guy's gut.
There are ads here???? ;)
Air
05-31-07, 11:05 AM
Greetings, all. John from Internet Brands here. As Brian said, we do not have plans for any significant changes, other than providing more back-end resources. We think BikeForums.net is a great site as it is...hence our interest! :) That said, we do have a strong tech team, and hopefully our marketing folks can help bring even more users to the site. We look forward to supporting this thriving online community!
Welcome aboard!
I think there's only one question everyone here wants to know:
Steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber? :D
CyLowe97
05-31-07, 11:10 AM
There are ads here???? ;)
Seriously on that topic....
One great thing about the Red Star is that it eliminates the ad clutter. I hope this is something that does not change.
chipcom
05-31-07, 11:14 AM
Greetings, all. John from Internet Brands here. As Brian said, we do not have plans for any significant changes, other than providing more back-end resources. We think BikeForums.net is a great site as it is...hence our interest! :) That said, we do have a strong tech team, and hopefully our marketing folks can help bring even more users to the site. We look forward to supporting this thriving online community!
Welcome to the family, John...or should I be calling you Dad? ;)
linux_author
05-31-07, 11:21 AM
- congrats, joe, and thanks for all the hard work!
- however, as a registered member, it would also be nice to get a clarification on the registered member status... IOW,
- will our registrations remain valid?
- will our registrations remain valid for the original term length?
- any 'upgrades' planned for registered members, or the interface? (i understand that no changes will take place short term)
- any new members-only forums planned (product reviews, etc.)?
- just want to say that i like the 'clean' interface and usability of the current forum web 'face...
- anyhow, it sounds like there will be some changes?
sincerely,
Nervous Nellie
:-)
commutr
05-31-07, 11:28 AM
I'm curious how Bike Forums fits into "cars, real estate, mortgages, and travel" categories.
catatonic
05-31-07, 11:38 AM
Commutr, think "travel" ;)
At least that's how I do it....two wheels, two pedals, two very flexible pistons that I could say have been a part of me as long as I can remember :p
JayC
05-31-07, 11:41 AM
Congrats, Joe.. Im a little disappointed you didnt offer us up a chance to purchase the forum as I had approached you about it a few times.
Good luck
lotek
05-31-07, 12:01 PM
Joe,
I've alread said congratulations but I'd just like to take a minute
and say thank you for providing a wonderful resource for all of us.
I'd also like to thank you for allowing me to participate in such a great
endeavor. It has been a pleasure working with you, thanks again for
all the support and I'll catch you on the flip side.
Marty
Tom Stormcrowe
05-31-07, 12:09 PM
Congrats, Joe! Good for you! Enjoy all your future successes as much!
blonduathlongrl
05-31-07, 12:18 PM
Greetings, all. John from Internet Brands here. As Brian said, we do not have plans for any significant changes, other than providing more back-end resources. We think BikeForums.net is a great site as it is...hence our interest! :) That said, we do have a strong tech team, and hopefully our marketing folks can help bring even more users to the site. We look forward to supporting this thriving online community!
Welcome John!
very happy to know no significant changes will be made!
Love this place the way it is, if it's not broken, dont fix it:p
Again Joe, sad to see you go...
looking forward to your posts :) congrats.
Flak
05-31-07, 12:26 PM
As long as my red star keeps the ads away ill be happy.
Congrats joe. Good to see you made a return on all your hard work. :)
avmanansala
05-31-07, 12:33 PM
Congrats, Joe. I have a minor inkling of what goes on behind the scenes of a large forum after seven years of growth - you've done a phenomenal job, congrats to you. Good luck on the new venture! :)
chipcom
05-31-07, 12:40 PM
I'm curious how Bike Forums fits into "cars, real estate, mortgages, and travel" categories.
A bike fits rather nicely as a car's hood ornament, dontcha know. :eek:
powerglide
05-31-07, 12:56 PM
Congrats!
Hope you made a lot of $$
blue_nose
05-31-07, 01:11 PM
Seriously on that topic....
One great thing about the Red Star is that it eliminates the ad clutter. I hope this is something that does not change.
+1 !
huhenio
05-31-07, 02:41 PM
Great Joe!
I hope you retire so you can ride more around the world!
Stir Crazy
05-31-07, 02:58 PM
Hello Everyone,
My name's Ryan and I'm also with Internet Brands. I work with John (JPMcG), but I'll be taking a bit more of a hands-on role with you all here in the community. Mostly, I'm here to answer questions for you, if you have any, and also to discuss community related issues with you. I've been reading through the forums here for a little bit, and I can already see that you guys have got a nice, tightly knit group, which is great.
There's really not much more I can add to what JPMcG has already stated. We aren't here to monkey around with a formula that has proven to work for years already. BikeForums is what it is because of what you all have made it, and if we were to come in and start screwing with the place, thereby driving more and more of you away, then this site will have lost all its value, both to you as a user and to us as the parent company. Hopefully, we can improve this site from the back end (tech and development support) and bring you guys a better BikeForums experience.
Please don't hesitate to shoot me a PM or an email if you have any questions, and I'll see you on the boards!
Ryan
rfujitani@internetbrands.com
Brian
05-31-07, 04:58 PM
He's not that ryanf, we checked already. ;)
slvoid
05-31-07, 05:04 PM
Damn, I was going to buy this place and run it into the ground but someone else beat me to it.. Congratulations, I guess. :p
hockeyteeth
05-31-07, 05:51 PM
Congratulations, Joe! Good luck on your future projects.