Fifty Plus (50+) - Frequenting a forum - like 50+ forum - over an extended time - do you? Why or not?

I've been hanging around BFN since 2001, and prior to that a similar forum which closed, and prior to that the various "rec.bicycles" forums on USENET, then mostly the 50+ forum since it started in 2006.

I've watched people come and go, and a few stick around for a longer period of time - not many, but a few. Some folks come in all "gung ho" and contribute a bit and then fade away. Sometimes I wonder if they died or something, and, in one case, they had.

What are you - a "hanger on" or a "pop in and out?" Or something in the middle?

So, why?

Thoughts?

I got roped into being a moderator on BF within the first year I joined. I guess that means I'll stick around for a while. :P

Seriously, I've met a lot of very nice people on this site. I've had the chance to actually ride with a few and it's expanded my horizons. Others I email or talk on the phone with. I feel like I have friends here and I can ask questions about cycling and not feel intimidated.

With a few short exceptions, I've pretty much been a 'Hanger-on' type of dude.

I feel one of those exceptions coming on again. This forum, and another I like to frequent, is getting kinda nasty. I'm confident that better weather and increased cycling will temper things back down to a nice, normal, peaceful co-existence on both forums very soon.

I've probably contributed to some of the nasty stuff my own self so after a slight 'Chill out" period I'm sure I'll be refreshed and calmer and able to return to another long and satisfying spell on this normally enjoyable and satisfying board.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, they say.

Be back soon.......

My desire for 2010 was to spend less time on the computer.
Someone said they need another mod, and that I was it.

Been a member and still on another cycling site since 2002. This site since 2005 when I found out about it through the other forum.:D

SoCal forum has some major fading so I hang with the Big Boyz most of the time.:D

With a few short exceptions, I've pretty much been a 'Hanger-on' type of dude.

I feel one of those exceptions coming on again. This forum, and another I like to frequent, is getting kinda nasty. I'm confident that better weather and increased cycling will temper things back down to a nice, normal, peaceful co-existence on both forums very soon.

I've probably contributed to some of the nasty stuff my own self so after a slight 'Chill out" period I'm sure I'll be refreshed and calmer and able to return to another long and satisfying spell on this normally enjoyable and satisfying board.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, they say.

Be back soon.......

One of my goals this year has been to try and be non-confrontative and more laid back. I tend to word and say things in manners that get read (and reactions about) in ways I had not intended. I also am trying to not contribute to "nasty" threads. I'm still not perfect at that, but I feel I have improved. I also have a "flash temper." SOmetimes I give thanks for the "delete" button, which I use quite a bit after posting a "hot" post I should not have.

I find I have enough nastiness to last for a long time in my regular life, dealing with systems around my son and maintaining serices for him. I don't need nastiness here, nor do I need to contribute to it. That is one reason I don't participate in P&R.

I have no idea how long I'll be here. I used to frequent a Wet Shaving forum but grew weary of that. I frequent a few Bob Dylan message boards (and am an Admin/Mod of a small Dylan board) but many of these boards are fading. Very few new posters are finding their way in and the few remaining diehards post less and less. many of us have known each other online for over 9 years now (late 2001/early 2002). I've emt a few of them in person over the years (in New York City).

I visit 4 biking boards right now, and have posted on all of them. This 50+ Forum is my favorite bike place to read and post. I have tried other forums on this board, and get bored or turned off from them pretty quickly. I find most of the posters here to be witty and knowledgeable. I've gotten more spot on answers to my questions, and some advice that has given me pause to reconsider my thinking.

So I'm here as long as I like being here, which could be a few months or 9 years more!

I was really excited to find BF, and so many sub-forums in which to play.

I volunteered to be a mod, and was turned down, and the reason given me was, IMNTBHO, weak. My enthusiasm waned.

Then I found that the more I rode my bike, the less time I had to write about it.

Now I pop in when time allows. I'm a REALTOR (R) and the past couple of years have been very challenging. Often I skip reading BF so I can keep my business systems going; more so when I'm training.

In some ways 50+ is like the Road forum - the youthful aggression. I find more reasonable debate/discussion here, although no less passionate than in other forums, folks here seem more amenable to considering a different perspective than their own.

I've been hanging around here for a long time and was also a member of the forum that closed before I came here. As Denver mentioned, we have seen a lot of people come and go. I miss those who have disappeared taking with them so much humor and knowledge (Big Paulie...where are you man?).

I'm a bit hit n skip; since I have times when I pretty much can't get along with ANYbody, I have to pull back once in a while.

Been a member and still on another cycling site since 2002. This site since 2005 when I found out about it through the other forum.:D

SoCal forum has some major fading so I hang with the Big Boyz most of the time.:D

Admit it you come here because you checked the mirror and you noticed you are old. :D

We don't have a TV, so this is my entertainment;)

Admit it you come here because you checked the mirror and you noticed you are old. :D

Well I am almost fitty!:D

I've come and gone here and in other bicycle discussion forums over the years. I lose interest or get involved in life, and I lose track of my original sign in names and passwords, so I re-register with a new screen name, and start over from scratch.

I've learned a lot here, mostly in this group, the bike maintenance group, and the touring group. I take your recommendations seriously.

In addition to visiting here, I own a couple (3, actually) websites, am a moderator of several LinkedIn business networking forums, and I own a marina management networking site as well.

Yeah, soon we will all be too busy riding and too tired afterward, to mess around in here much.

If you hang out with bike racers, you find that they are not very interesting. They tend to not have many interests outside of cycling. The strength of the 50+ forum is that the participants are old enough that the discussion goes beyond just talking about bikes. It tends to be a much more well-rounded discussion area. Yeah, there's still the misunderstanding and animosity. It's dangerous to have an ironic sense of humor on the internet; too many people with too little imagination and hair-trigger tempers!

But it's a good social learning experience. You find how powerful a positive attitude can be...

I peruse the posts and contribute when I've got the time, so there's always some gaps.

L.

I guess time will tell.

There have been short periods where I've considered walking away form this forum, mostly because the tone of posts have gotten to mean spirited, inflamatory, or there was too much, "look at how much of a bad ass I am". My years here on earth are too limited anymore to want to spend time with those kind of attitudes.

Generally, I like participating in the 50+ because, to me, it is the most civilized of the fourms here at Bike Fourms.

50+ nasty or mean spirited? I must have missed that part.

I originally came to Bike forums because I have a lifetime of riding and messing with bicycles and I enjoy shareing that experience. I continue to hang around 50+ because I like the other 50+ people.

When Denver got 50+ started I was one of the nay-sayers. I didn't see any need for a forum targeted at 50+ bicycle riders. I was wrong. Over the years I've gotten to know and appreciate a number of the contributors. Many of the posters share parts of their lives that are only tangentially related to bicycling or which may even be totally off topic. That doesn't happen so much in the other forums and, for the most part, I enjoy that.

Hit and run. 50+ forum isn't content I'm very interested in. Nothing personal.......

An "in the middle" here. A quick stopping in and skimming this forum is part of my morning routine. So, I in a way I frequent this place all the time, but sometimes I just don’t have anything to say. :)

As for “mean spirited, inflammatory…bad ass” gosh, I just don’t see that either. I remember thinking how civilized everyone was when I first stumbled upon this forum a few years back.

Definitely a hanger on although my posting waxes and wanes. I will likely continue to follow the forum as long as I ride which I hope will be into old age. I followed rec.windsurfing from about 1993-2005 and then dropped off when I stopped windsurfing. I think (hope) biking will be a continuing sport as I age.

I think this is a very good group. Any time you attract even a small gathering of people who share a common interest or background, you ignite a flame that gives off warmth. It's good we all share similar interests, and yet we all have differing experiences and viewpoints.

I think a pub or bar, for 50+ bicyclists, would be a success. I can picture a group much like the characters in the old TV series, CHEERS - everyone sitting around contributing their wit, humor, sarcasm and opinions. Some folks come in for a quick drink and leave again. Others come in and get involved in conversation for the afternoon. We each give a bit of special flavor to the stew...

I check in a few time a week, mostly to see how everyone is getting along with getting old. No whiners.

Just an observer here. I check the forum pretty much every day, but don't have that much to say.

I certainly hope to be a hanger-on!

While I may not post too much, I get lots of enjoyment out of the friendliness and good humor of the people here. Smiling is good for me, and I get that here :)

I can't remember how I found BF but I've enjoyed tapping into everyone's expertise and experiences. It's a pretty nice group IMO. When I'm not here it's because I'm caught up in a Ducati forum that I've been on for years. I particularly like the 50+ forum just cause we are generally at the same stage of life and facing similar issues. And, I am encouraged by the accomplishments of "old" folks. :)

Hit and Miss, really. I like to read, but don't often post during the winter. I don't think people realize how good they have it when they can ride comfortably all year round.

I started posting in 2004 as GrannyGear, then switched to CrossChain, now just me, '47. (I've restlessly changed my screen name over the years after divorce, death, and other family life earthquakes. Seems weird now to have done so, but it was a compelling idea at the time.)

There were fewer posters then and perhaps a little closer sense of community. At the same time, despite troll action and a few hardheads over the years, the tone and "attitude" here are far more welcoming and warm than many other forums. The advice, information, and opinions have been worthwhile-- perhaps because filtered through the lens of 50Plus minds. I thought age would mean more time to do things, like be on-line, but I find perhaps the opposite. Maybe more time coming with retirement in a year. I'm returning to regular cycling after a pelvis cracking bike crash with some complications. This forum has always been a mutually on-going inspiration...far more than others. Which is what you, Dnvr, originally mostly wanted it to be.

Despite my not being a "regular" poster anymore, FiftyPlus forum has always added a very great deal to my cycling life.

Now, somebody go answer my posted question about Jack Brown tires.

I started posting in 2004 as GrannyGear, then switched to CrossChain,


And those were two fo the guys I thought had died. NOW you tell me. Years of worrying for NOTHING!! :)

Hit and miss hanger on. I've been posting here for several years now. I'm afraid that I've cut way back since I stopped building bicycles for others. The gear (and especially how it worked with a 50+ perspective) was my speciality. Most of the time now you can find me being obnoxious down in P&R but I still like to shed that personality and come back where the people are a lot more laid back and civil. If the eyes will cooperate and my RC flying schedual stay's laid back, I should get a lot more riding in this year than last. I expect to be around these parts for some years. I'll be 65 this year so maybe I'll post in Denver's special threads. :D

Another hit and miss sometimes poster... I like to read what is on here but do not often feel a 'need' to post something. I am not outgoing but do enjoy the crowd when I am around one...and this is a great crowd. I pay no attention to the not so nice stuff and enjoy the comraaderie...............peace

When I found my way back to cycling, I found this forum and it was so wonderful to share my excitement and growth as a rider with those who could understand. After time, I said what I had to say and feared becoming a bore -I mean, how many times can you beat a dead horse, really?- so I don't post much any more. I still check in most every day and love to read many of the posts here.

I really have no business being on this forum, I'm the same age as Jack Benny, I'm 39! ;)

When I found my way back to cycling, I found this forum and it was so wonderful to share my excitement and growth as a rider with those who could understand. After time, I said what I had to say and feared becoming a bore -I mean, how many times can you beat a dead horse, really?- so I don't post much any more. I still check in most every day and love to read many of the posts here.

After being around a number of years, I can absolutely verify that we have many dead horses all carrying a lot of scars. However, newbies don't know about those horses, and enthusiasm is catching, even from us 70+'rs. Post away.

And those were two fo the guys I thought had died. NOW you tell me. Years of worrying for NOTHING!! :)


Sorry, Dnvr....in this case "reports of my death were greatly exaggerated"-- mostly by me. (Feeling a little like Tom Sawyer showing up at his own funeral after playing pirates.) Must admit it's nice to have been missed. Anyway, I think I need a bigger emoticon here: :o:o

Kind of in the middle here. I've been on several years, now. I'm not partial to the 50+ forum, I'll read and participate on any that seem interesting.

I read somewhere that there are about 50,000 original words that can be written about cycling, and after that it's all repetition. That's probably about right - there's only so much that can be said about this frame vs. that frame, and this wheel vs. that. But it's really the people that makes cycling interesting. I'm far from the best cyclist I know, but I'm proud of what I've accomplished and I am honored to know and to have ridden with some of the folks I've met here. My best day on a bike was the day last year I rode across Florida from the gulf to the ocean, and I did that because of folks I met here. I probably owe my life to cycling, which was instrumental in recovering from cancer. And I owe much of my enjoyment of cycling to many of the folks here. While my interest in BF comes and goes, I know that it has been instrumental in helping me make a fundamental change in my life. Of course, 90% of what's here is crap, but the other 10% is well worth the time. I thank the administrators and mods for their time, and they should know that, despite the trouble, what goes on here makes a real difference in people's lives. The same goes for those who participate regularly here. The wisdom, the kind words, the encouragement, all of that has effects that are frequently unknown and are unknowable but, in my case at least, are greatly appreciated.

I peruse the forums every morning. It's part of my morning routine. Get up, brew some coffee, read the paper, then get on the computer and check my emails, including the summaries from my subscribed forums. I subscribe to a bunch, but the 50+ and Touring are my favorite. The Road Bike forum can be a bit "young" for me, and there are too many posts to wade through. Sometimes I scan the new posts, sometimes I just delete without even looking. It depends on my mood and how much time I have. It's the same with the Bicycle Mechanics forum, although when I have a question about a bike I'm working on, it's a wonderful resource.

I like the touring forum the best because touring is my favorite bicycling pursuit. The 50+ is also good because it's people like me who like to ride for the fun of it, even tour, but aren't so much into racing or defining themselves by announcing what a cool cycling dude they are.

About the only time I don't check the forums is when I'm on tour. I don't want to spend that much time in the library. I'd rather be riding.

I read every day what is posted here. Hoping to see more woman on this forum.

I am hoping the snow will go away in OHIO. I am pretty sure we just got 2 more inches tonight. And back to rain tomorrow.

Lurker

I may participate more during the biking season but since my wife picked up a part time job I have less time to look at it. I feel like I have made a few good friends here and a lot of acquaintances, some good. Last season I found myself getting very frustrated with the opinionated BS and rehashing of the same discussions over and over again, and I was even more frustrated when I found myself falling into those same traps. I found it interesting when a few well respected members banned themselves and thought about doing it myself, primarily as a mechanism to remind myself of what a horrible waste of time this can be, that's not to say the value is zero but at times the yield is quite low. There are a lot of really nice folks who do participate, I have not abandoned it but with my life getting fuller in other aspects, this is one area that I find easy to cut back on. For now I'll just do an occasional fly-by.

If you hang out with bike racers, you find that they are not very interesting. They tend to not have many interests outside of cycling. The strength of the 50+ forum is that the participants are old enough that the discussion goes beyond just talking about bikes. It tends to be a much more well-rounded discussion area. Yeah, there's still the misunderstanding and animosity. It's dangerous to have an ironic sense of humor on the internet; too many people with too little imagination and hair-trigger tempers!

But it's a good social learning experience. You find how powerful a positive attitude can be...I peruse the posts and contribute when I've got the time, so there's always some gaps.
L.
So true and that is a little bit of a problem for me. I've been around for about 2 1/2 years, during which my knowledge and competence as a cyclist have improved pretty dramatically. I enjoy 50+ and a couple other forums here, but regard 50+ as my home base. Guess by the posts/day stats I have been a pretty steady participant but am trying to read more and post less lately. L's point about positive attitude is well-taken.... +1 to that.

I used to hang out at a car forum called ChevyTalk but got tired of the incivility and developed other interests, like cycling. The people mostly have better social skills here.

I've been involved with a number of forums for years. I've been on this one for a while, as you can see. The James Randi forum since 2003 or so, and the Mythbusters forum since start-up around 2006.
As long as discussion quality remains high and I have interest in the subject I usually stick around.

I certainly hope to be a hanger-on!

While I may not post too much, I get lots of enjoyment out of the friendliness and good humor of the people here. Smiling is good for me, and I get that here :)And what a beautiful smile it is too!

I tend to drift in and out of BF and 50+, but I really enjoy it for the nice people and civil discussion. I come and go seasonally mostly, not spending that much time online when there are so many hours to be outside enjoying life. So winter I'll be around BF more. I've really enjoyed the people on BF, and I've met many for bike rides, one of the most fun was meeting Denver and Nora, along with several other Colorado folks in Santa Fe NM for the century ride there, what a great time it was!

I pop in and out, depending upon how disconnected or connected I happen to be feeling on a given day. As a retired person I recognize the tendency to withdraw into my little shell of a life. While I like solitude, I think it unhealthy to be too disconnected from society. I read the forum a lot, especially the threads about touring and mechanics, but usually during the cycling season. But it is nice to know that there is a place to go to engage in talk or at least read what others have to say about cycling. I don't like talking with people about politics and the economy, both very depressing topics and things I can do nothing about.

I'm not here much anymore because I'm trying to avoid spending too much time on my computer. I also visit another cycling forum where I've had the chance to meet more weird people like myself. I've become good friends with some of those folks. If your remember, I'm bent. I ride a quite a bit during the season and I'm not retired yet so I've got work too. There's only so much time and I'd rather spend it riding.

I do miss the Diegos. What great laughs.

My ski season is over for the year and I'm waiting for the snow to go away (we got some more last night :notamused: but it's supposed to melt over the next day or two), the salt to wash off the roads and it's time to hit the road.

I work remotely out of my house in the software industry and I'm in constant contact with colleagues all around the world so BF and 50+ is a great diversion whenever I can take a break from work.

Hanger on here. had not noticed the "nasty "stuff.
there is a certain good feeling here that does not exist on most of the other forums on BF My first exp on the forums was mechanics and had some stuff going with SheldonBrown,and still makes me sad ,he is gone...
I am on several Amateur radio forums that seem to have the same warmth as here,probably due to the ages of participants..
Bud

Hanger on here. had not noticed the "nasty "stuff.
there is a certain good feeling here that does not exist on most of the other forums on BF My first exp on the forums was mechanics and had some stuff going with SheldonBrown,and still makes me sad ,he is gone...
I am on several Amateur radio forums that seem to have the same warmth as here,probably due to the ages of participants..
Bud

You're right about that. There is a significant difference in the way the people communicate online especially when you look at the differences between generations.

I'm very familiar with the amateur radio scene (and been away from it since I was 18) and I agree with you that it's the age of the participants that makes the difference.

As an engineer, I was always taught that communication skills are probably the most important skill. What have I seen? In the software business I've seen people with abilities from the elegantly articulate to what you may very well perceive as profoundly autistic. You wouldn't believe the number of emails and responses to complex technical issues that I see that consist of single sentences with fewer syllables than a haiku. I've seen some flamefests that would make you wonder if these people had any social skills at all.

My wife is an English teacher and she attributes it to the nerd factor. I always point out that people in my line of work come from two different streams basically two different types of nerds: 1) engineering and 2) math and computer science. Two different philosophies when it comes to teaching and learning. I can almost always tell what a persons background is by the way they communicate and the technical decisions they make.

People that participate in forums like BF come from all walks of life and having a common cause without having any personal agendas makes for a far more level playing field.

I'm new to this group, thanks to an introduction from Jen (Yen). As someone who started cycling at the age of 58, the posts from members of this forum convinced me that I wasn't crazy for falling in love with riding a bike at this age. I have learned more from the collective wisdom and support from this group in a few short months that I ever thought possible. And in the process, I've laughed out loud, felt empathetic sadness and the experienced the vicarious exhilaration of a goal met or obstacle overcome through the individual stories shared here.

I try to stop by every day, but some work days are busier than others and I don't make it. Today BF is keeping me engaged while I sit through a very long, not very informative meeting- thank goodness for laptops, WIFI and long battery life. I got started with my first "forum" in 1978 with a system called Confer and proceeded through Usenet, the Source, Compuserve, PicoSpan, Bix, AOL and now Facebook, Linkedin, and BF. The group here in 50+ is one of the best IMHO. I expect to be here for some time.

I'm new to this group, thanks to an introduction from Jen (Yen). As someone who started cycling at the age of 58, the posts from members of this forum convinced me that I wasn't crazy for falling in love with riding a bike at this age. I have learned more from the collective wisdom and support from this group in a few short months that I ever thought possible. And in the process, I've laughed out loud, felt empathetic sadness and the experienced the vicarious exhilaration of a goal met or obstacle overcome through the individual stories shared here.

I try to stop by every day, but some work days are busier than others and I don't make it. Today BF is keeping me engaged while I sit through a very long, not very informative meeting- thank goodness for laptops, WIFI and long battery life. I got started with my first "forum" in 1978 with a system called Confer and proceeded through Usenet, the Source, Compuserve, PicoSpan, Bix, AOL and now Facebook, Linkedin, and BF. The group here in 50+ is one of the best IMHO. I expect to be here for some time.
Yep. just like me.
+1 :)