Forum Suggestions & User Assistance - What this Forum needs!

I would like to suggest that the road bike forum adds a perment link to a "Getting Started" page. I've visited a couple of other forums for fixed gear and tandem riding that have this. I seen so many post about using clipless pedals bike fit etc etc that a permanent link would be really helpful.

That could be good thing.

If more would use the search,that would help alot.

I think this is actually a good idea. The old bicycleforum.com site even had a separate "beginner cyclists" forum if I recall correctly.

<-- Likes the idea, not sure how to implement it... :)

I like the idea as well. But why limit it to only road bikes? There are novices in all departments.

Maybe we could jsut have a beginner's forum, and have a sticky of some of the basic things to know, such as fit, buying tips, comfort (buying the right bike/parts for the task), safety/legal, etc. that should be enough to give a new cyclist something solid to start off with.

Like for a commuter...whatever you get, have slicks and have something you proper for distance....a short range commuter can use basically anything he wants, but anything more than a few miles he will either want a cross or road bike of some flavor. Then going into how each bike is fitted to the user, and the concerns of using any type of bike (like roadies are not that good on sand and extremely choppy terrain, mtb's are fatiguing for long hauls comapred to roadies, etc).

You could have two threads - one for beginners as catatonic suggests, and then one to make sure the threads stay clean. People could post poll threads like 'Should I add _____ to the Commuting for Beginner thread?' That way, you wouldn't get threads filled up with a lot of fluff.

People could also offer suggestions to improve the post 'That sounds, great, but you forgot to add _____ - if you did, it would be even better.

After enough yes votes and any editing, a mod would move the post to the appropriate thread. Make it so only mods could post in there.

It could work... Probably take awhile to get the ball rolling, though.

I started a small project a few days ago, to move some of the "how to purchase a bicycle" content from the "bikes are not toys" website into a FAQ on the forums. Members with less then 5 posts will see a red notice box at the top of the forums with links to the "how to purchase a bicycle" FAQ, as well as information on the forums and posting rules. Once they have over 5 posts, the notice will be gone.

Right now its a work in progress, I hope to have it done in the next week or so.

All novices, regardless of subject matter can be given choices in a menu and they can direct themselves to archived threads pretaining to their interest....