Ther'll be a poll up in a minute on this, so hang on til it's loaded before you respond.

I'll keep the poll active for a week, you guys and gals have your chance to let me know ;)

Yes make it sticky

This isn't a knock against diabetes, but more against stickies. There are six up there already, and past a certain point, I feel that they tend to get lost. I don't even look at them any more, just breeze by. Perhaps some sticky weeding is in order if a new one is to go up.

This isn't a knock against diabetes, but more against stickies. There are six up there already, and past a certain point, I feel that they tend to get lost. I don't even look at them any more, just breeze by. Perhaps some sticky weeding is in order if a new one is to go up.

+1

When stickies end up taking up such a large percentage of screen real-estate they lose value.

I think it should...but are we getting sticky happy? [For discussion, I'm not sure I have a strong opinion]. I think the core article was great but probably isn't sticky worthy anymore (though it is linked in that index page under Nutrition so it won't get lost). I'd also want to see the Diabetes thread move more towards advice (which it seems like it started to) rather than just life stories , otherwise it would sort of be a duplicate subset of the other welcome Clyde threads. Maybe changing the title to Diabetes Discussion or something similar to keep it moving in that direction?

Thoughts :)

:lol: Glad to see we're on the same page :D

OK, perhaps bookmarking it in the browsers and popping it up if it falls off the radar would be a good thing. I understand what you are saying about the "Too many Stickies" idea.

How's this for an idea.....if a member has a particular interest in keeping a certain thread near the top, research some valid input on it and bump it with a post that is on topic and informative. How's that idea? Anyone want to take a thread topic and keep it fresh and relevant on a weekly basis.....kind of an informative seeder article to discuss?

I think it should...but are we getting sticky happy? [For discussion, I'm not sure I have a strong opinion]. I think the core article was great but probably isn't sticky worthy anymore (though it is linked in that index page under Nutrition so it won't get lost). I'd also want to see the Diabetes thread move more towards advice (which it seems like it started to) rather than just life stories , otherwise it would sort of be a duplicate subset of the other welcome Clyde threads. Maybe changing the title to Diabetes Discussion or something similar to keep it moving in that direction?

Thoughts :)

Good suggestion, see the edited title.....

I was actually going to come back and make another point.

Stickies are more for the visitors than the 'locals' So there are some good things to keep up even if they don't have new posts (the Index I do regularly edit but wouldn't show up as 'new posts' - judging by the views though it seems to get plenty of traffic). Actually I don't mind what's up there (with the one exception) and even adding the Diabetes (if it's more informative than 'hi!') now but we should be judicious on what else we put up for the future.

How's this for an idea.....if a member has a particular interest in keeping a certain thread near the top, research some valid input on it and bump it with a post that is on topic and informative. How's that idea? Anyone want to take a thread topic and keep it fresh and relevant on a weekly basis.....kind of an informative seeder article to discuss?

Tom - that probably won't work because people get lazy after a few weeks :D

Good title change Tom! :)

Maybe we should have one thread, "Read This First" that is stickied and has links to all the other ones that are important threads.

I've been wondering if, since this forum has so many sub-topics, if a sub-forum or two wouldn't be appropriate...

Not sure it's a GOOD idea, but it's an idea. :rolleyes:

I've been wondering if, since this forum has so many sub-topics, if a sub-forum or two wouldn't be appropriate...

Not sure it's a GOOD idea, but it's an idea. :rolleyes:

That was my first thought, but not sure what topic is common enough to make a sub-forum.

Maybe a sub-forum for "weight loss and health issues"?

Maybe we should have one thread, "Read This First" that is stickied and has links to all the other ones that are important threads.

I like that. Or maybe "Archived FAQs and useful info" or something. But I like the idea of putting links to stuff that may be fairly frequently referenced, but not often updated, under one sticky.

Maybe we should have one thread, "Read This First" that is stickied and has links to all the other ones that are important threads.

I like that. Or maybe "Archived FAQs and useful info" or something. But I like the idea of putting links to stuff that may be fairly frequently referenced, but not often updated, under one sticky.

What part of Clydesdale/Athena Index Thread - read before posting (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=228851) does this not satisfy? ;)

I'm not sure if we're big enough for a sub forum - though a sub forum for Clyde Nutrition and Weight Loss may not be a bad idea. Could easily keep a bunch of more useful threads in there and make the main part more focused on bikes themselves.

If we went that route (sub-forum on health/nutrition/weight-loss), we'd want to consider whether it would make this forum even more of a "safe place" full of helpful information, or would it be divisive...

The Clydes/Athenas forum is the best I've found online, anywhere, on any topic, as far as feeling like a warm community. We don't want to mess that up...

What part of Clydesdale/Athena Index Thread - read before posting (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=228851) does this not satisfy? ;)

None, except that it's in the midst of a jumble of stickies. to my original point...

This is a bike forum last time I checked. As a Type II diabetic I usually head on over to diabetes.org for my info on the disease. While I certainly don't mind a thread on the subject, a stickie seems out of place here in a bike forum.

This is a bike forum last time I checked. As a Type II diabetic I usually head on over to diabetes.org for my info on the disease. While I certainly don't mind a thread on the subject, a stickie seems out of place here in a bike forum.

ya this just changed my mind on the sticky hehe

Well, pretty clearly a no so far....

Cool with me, I just put it to the community as a whole based on a request. :)

What part of Clydesdale/Athena Index Thread - read before posting (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=228851) does this not satisfy? ;)

I was thinking of that thread....basically meaning to add the other stickies as links in there and remove their stickiness.

I'm not sure if we're big enough for a sub forum - though a sub forum for Clyde Nutrition and Weight Loss may not be a bad idea. Could easily keep a bunch of more useful threads in there and make the main part more focused on bikes themselves.

Although I kinda like the idea, I'm afraid there would be rebellion as there already is an entire "nutrition" sub-forum.

I was thinking of that thread....basically meaning to add the other stickies as links in there and remove their stickiness.

Air, this isn't a bad idea! Go ahead and edit them into that thread and let me know, I'll unsticke the others. That'll unclutter the top.:D

They're all in there - do you want me to make them more prominent on top of that Index thread?

Also - if there are threads or topics that anyone thinks should be in there just let me know.

I was thinking of that thread....basically meaning to add the other stickies as links in there and remove their stickiness.

+1

I might keep the Clyde-o-rama also stuck as a way of saying 'hi' for newbies.

I might keep the Clyde-o-rama also stuck as a way of saying 'hi' for newbies.

I agree...that should probably stay too.

I started the thread in question and voted no in this poll. I was interested to see if this disease was something we had in common as Clydes and Athenas. It is. That is enough for me.

I think the Clydesdale stickie universe is overly weighted to the grossly obese and the problems that are related thereto. I understand why, but think there needs to be more balance and emphasis on just being a big frickin guy or chick who likes to ride a bike.

I've been wondering if, since this forum has so many sub-topics, if a sub-forum or two wouldn't be appropriate...

Not sure it's a GOOD idea, but it's an idea. :rolleyes:

I like that. Or maybe "Archived FAQs and useful info" or something. But I like the idea of putting links to stuff that may be fairly frequently referenced, but not often updated, under one sticky.


Maybe we should have one thread, "Read This First" that is stickied and has links to all the other ones that are important threads.

I like these ideas or any combination thereof.

I'm with the posters that think we may be getting "stickie happy". This forum certainly isn't THAT bad compared to C&V however. 10 stickies over there!
What I would suggest is maybe a LOCKED "stickie" covering medical issues in general for Clydes and maybe?? +50. Moderators could post links to specific threads, about specific diseases/problems that they deemed worthy.

Having a specific diabetes sticky might raise the "medical class wars" issue, with people wondering why my (fill in the blank) illness isn't listed.

Sneaking across the border again....

The weight loss and health threads should be moved to a separate forum. Weight loss in particular is a touchy subject, as I discovered to my sorrow over the past month. In a separate forum the moderator(s) can manage and focus debate to their heart's content, and let the rest of us discuss bikes. Nothing says that people cannot post on bikes in one place and weight loss in another.

Do you mean a sub forum or are you talking about moving them all to the Nutrition forum? I'd be in favor of a sub but not moving them out of our Clyde area because a lot of the health issues are unique to the larger sizes.

What I would suggest is maybe a LOCKED "stickie" covering medical issues in general for Clydes and maybe?? +50. Moderators could post links to specific threads, about specific diseases/problems that they deemed worthy.

Check my sig - it already exists. If there are other links that should be in there let me know.

People generally know to stay on the OP's topic. Except for situations that clearly call for a sub-forum (and there certainly are some, I think a diabetes subforum is a good example of this), I'd suggest keeping the forum relatively "flat" with subforums being the exception is the best idea. As I see it, sub-sub-forums inside sub-forums taken to et cetera is just wall-building and intimidating to newbies.

Edit: I voted incorrectly in the poll by mistake. How do I switch my vote?

The cleaned-up stickies are great - that was a good idea!

I think we should wait before creating a sub-forum. Topics tend to come in waves, and right now we've had a big wave of health/weight-loss related threads. Doesn't mean it will always be that way, and a quick reaction could easily end up creating a sub-forum that's rarely used.

The other thing I've been thinking about, as far as a sub-forum for health and weight-loss, is that for many of us who started cycling to lose weight (even if we're now losing weight so we can go faster/farther/better ;) ), riding the bike and losing weight are completely entwined. The struggles and triumphs go hand in hand, and do we really want to separate them?

I know not everyone here needs to lose weight. Quite possibly not even half do. But the more I think about it, it seems likely that if we exile all health and weight-loss threads to a sub-forum, the main Clydes forum will lose some of its most inspiring threads, and become like every other place on bikeforums (still not bad, but not the same).

First off - this thread is definitely not about Diabetes anymore. Tom - maybe a title change to general Clyde forum discussion?

Historian - I'm sorry you were made to feel chased! I loved reading about your progress and looked forward to your posts - sugar coating be damned.

I would not want to see a sub-forum on just Diabetes - way, way too far of a subset. I did a count - of 50 posts 5 were on weight loss or 10%. Probably 80% of the posters here are either trying to lose or have lost weight as a primary or secondary goal of biking. That number doesn't seem to hit someone over the head when they come in as a forum geared towards losing weight.

But I think as a way to satisfy the "We're not all about losing weight" idea (similar to when we wrote that opening paragraph for the Clydes section) a sub section on Weight loss and nutrition may be a good idea. Separates out those whom losing weight while biking is a primary concern (and there are concerns there that are specific to a biking forum and would not receive the same advice/encouragement than on other forums - what works for one person doesn't work for everyone else but the people who are coming here found and love something that seems to be working for them so awesome and stay the course) from the purely 'biking' discussions.

As Historian pointed out, there are other places to get that information as well so if someone doesn't want to partake there's not a pressure or implied sense of Clyde=Fat.

True. :D

Oh, and let me edit my post above to Weight Loss and Health (or something similar) which would include Diabetes and other health related topics, not just weight.

[sidenote - I think I run the gammot every day between enthusiasm and complete and utter disgust in that department. I like to stick my head in the sand but usually when I do is when I'm more successful - for that there are quite a few days I don't read Clydes. That subforum would accomplish that if there are others like me]

Historian, good to see you're diving back into the melee.

What if the newbie is 6'5, 201 pounds, and all he sees when he comes are weight loss threads? What sort of impression does that give of a "Bike Forum?" Even the Moderator agrees with me that Clydesdale/Athena does not equal fat/obese/overweight. Then why is the group so weighted, pun intended, towards dropping pounds? Let's go back to being a _Bike_ Forum.

Maybe folks who are more tall than heavy need to make more of an effort to welcome others like them; I'd certainly welcome that, even though I'm hardly tall. But I'm an ex-clyde, what do I know? :)

...riding the bike and losing weight are completely entwined. The struggles and triumphs go hand in hand, and do we really want to separate them?

My preference is always to let the chaos show patterns on its own and let folks pick and choose what they like. If one has to seek out knowledge, it's less likely one will simple come across something interesting. But that's me.

...I'm not easily impressed by weight loss tales. If I wanted to read weight loss success stories, there are more than enough places to find them.

I find weight loss stories inspiring, actually. And for folks who don't, there's always the option to simply say, "not for me" and not read such threads.

I know not everyone here needs to lose weight. Quite possibly not even half do. But the more I think about it, it seems likely that if we exile all health and weight-loss threads to a sub-forum, the main Clydes forum will lose some of its most inspiring threads, and become like every other place on bikeforums (still not bad, but not the same).
As a recently ex-clyde (barely), I'm more concerned with keeping off what I've lost and maybe pushing a little further. And this board is very helpful in that.

I don't see chaos in the proliferation of weight loss threads. In fact, it's pretty clear there's a pattern, and just who is organizing it. Another reason it should be in a sub-forum.

Now you've got me curious. What's the pattern?

Now you've got me curious. What's the pattern?

+1

Especially since as of a minute ago, there were only two non-bike related threads on the first page (aside from the before/after sticky and the sexy clyde pics thread... though there are bikes in that one too).

Edit: rephrase: two threads related to health problems and weight loss.

The moderator is interested in running the forum as a weight loss support group instead of a discussion forum. If your views match his, that's OK. If not, well....
I have no problem either way, Neil, however I do insist on this forum remaining a supportive area for those that do have weight issues and their methods and ideas have merit just as yours do. I insisted on respecting all viewpoints on this forum and you got mad and decided to stop posting here for a while.

I responded to you as part of this forum with alternative viewpoints and you implied I was trying to portray you in a bad light by simply debating you and presenting a softer view. I submit that the problem is yours and not mine. If you have issues with me, that's fine, I'm not in a popularity contest. I do insist however that other viewpoints than yours be respected. You are always welcome here, don't think you aren't. I think you can make very valuable contributions here, and I've told you this often enough. What's past is past and I'll let it lie if you will.

The moderator is interested in running the forum as a weight loss support group instead of a discussion forum. If your views match his, that's OK. If not, well....

I have to say that strikes me as a very unfair assessment.

I suspect you and I have feelings and theories on weight loss that are more closely aligned than many others on this forum. With that said I will say that the moderation on this form has always been extremely evenhanded and fair. It would be unfair to think the moderator ought not have an opinion. I have never seen (though it may have happened) a post removed or deleted for disagreement on weight loss related issues.

The Clydesdales forum almost by definition has to deal someone with weight related issues. In general most Clydesdales don't fall in a class of being 6 foot four and 220 pounds of raw muscle. If a person is a Clydesdale riding a bike and conversing with other Clydesdales it is likely that more than strictly biking conversation is going to come up. Due to shared circumstances weight loss and weight related issues are almost guaranteed certainty.

It seems to me that on forums such as this are a goal should be to take what useful information we can find and leave the rest. Intense arguments over things we disagree with are unlikely to change either party's mind and simply get away of other potentially useful things we might be able to glean.

I will close by saying the moderation of this forum has always been in my opinion outstanding. As a whole the Clydesdale forum is very welcoming and helpful.

Neil, I'm not going to argue with you.

Steering back towards the forum here for a moment.... ;)

Sub Forum for weight loss & health? Ayes & Nays?

Steering back towards the forum here for a moment.... ;)

Sub Forum for weight loss & health? Ayes & Nays?

Wieght loss would fall under the "training and nutrition" catagory that already exist. If we are talking about a specific "weight loss" sub forum under the C&A forum, I say EYE. Altough maybe it should incude more than just weight loss. Say "health and fitness" that would include, medical, nutritional, weight loss and non-cycling related fitness discussions.

I'd get more benifit from a sub forum for my area. Mountains/plains seems pretty broad and dominated by mountains posters. ;)
Don't really see a need to change anything though - I've figured out where to find what I'm looking for, I'm sure others will as well.

Wieght loss would fall under the "training and nutrition" catagory that already exist. If we are talking about a specific "weight loss" sub forum under the C&A forum, I say EYE. Altough maybe it should incude more than just weight loss. Say "health and fitness" that would include, medical, nutritional, weight loss and non-cycling related fitness discussions.

Right -that's what I imagined. Not nutrition but weight loss and 'health' which could include Diabetes, blood pressure, arthritis, or whatever ails thee.