Suggestions for site upgrade.

[tim]

Right, the time has come, - and I know it's a bit overdue - to think seriously about upgrading the website a bit.

I don't get out as much on the bike as I used to, and keeping the write-ups up to date is beginning to be hard work - so that many are now out of date.

I want to keep the site glitter and bauble free, not flash intros etc. And try to keep it focussed on the roads. Although if anyone wants to provide the information, I have no objections to spreading out to cover the Massif Central and the Pyrennees etc.

So, if you were starting to make a site such as this from scratch, what features would you like to see? What things are pretty useless, bearing in mind we need to keep tips for first-time and novice Alps riders, as well as the more experienced riders ?
GPS data, links to GoogleMaps /GoogleWorld downloads? Should visitors(registered members of the forum only?) be allowed to add entries/update/edit (like Wikipedia, or something)? Special searches?

I invite all suggestions, comments, criticisms, ideas, even speculative ones.


Cheers,
Tim.

[Greg]

I think having some GPS downloadable data would be great
Maybe some of the hotels etc... as waypoints. Quick to download that way.

[Karza]

Also information of M.C. and Pyrenees would be very useful.

[BourneToRide]

Road conditions for every pass based on your "list of passes" so that members can post the latest conditions and everbody can use them to help plan routes
and a similarly linked section for pass photos

[sjw]

The look of the site is just fine.
I think now that everyone takes good photos, I'd like to see pics brought together by pass, and then people could post up-to-date info by pass.
I'm not saying the original pass information on the base website is not required, but I think most of your regular contributors go straight to the forum for info.
On the whole a great site, and keep up the good work

Oh, and if anyone has info on Black Forest, or Massif Central even better

[dogman]

I think the idea of members being able to update latest conditions...

(Col de Mosses was horrendous in June, with no surface on the Southern ramp, even worse in the rain! Har on a GS, my mate enjoyed it on his GSXR1000!)

...is a good one, but you must beware getting lots of superfluous rubbish building up, and just rubbish from the well intentioned. Perhaps expiry times on entries?
I've a feeling it would start to take more of your time editing and keeping on top of it all.
GPS info is a great idea.

I must say that I like the site the way it is.

[tim]

Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming.

[pingvin]

As the others say, the site is already very good. So don't get over-ambitious and end up giving up running this site because it's to much work. I guess you also have a job, family and other hobbies (like riding bike ).

But since you're asking. What about for each pass introducing a link to other riders opinion and rating? If you do this, it's important that when you click on a pass on the map, it's the AR-teams description of the pass that appears (like it is today), but with just a link at the end. It should still be your rating that's the most important.

One change that would be nice, was to include also the passes you have not ridden. Then (referring to the above paragraph) clicking on the map, you would just get the link to other riders opinion (if you got that). And to separate the passes you have/haven't you could use different colours on the map. Just and idea...

Oh, and if there are major differences on the two sides of the pass, a short description of the difference (which you have done for some passes) and recommended direction to travel, that would be great. I just hate doing a pass the "wrong" way

And a rating for each pass, divided in fun factor and scenery.

Including the Pyrenees is also a good idea!

Well, you did ask for it

[fahr_side]

I'll back previous suggestions to provide links to GPS tracks and waypoints for the passes themselves, perhaps the start and finish points, as well as known biker-friendly hotels. Then Google Earth and Google Maps bookmarks. It would be really sweet to see a height profile of the pass like you see on cycling websites, it gives a really good impression of how steep the ramps are.

I also think that latest info pass status should be confined to the forums, but there should be links directly to those discussions from both the pass description pages and the pass condition / weather links page. Some weather magnets for each pass might be a nice touch if there is room on the page.

Links to databases of speed traps.

Maybe a little more info on scenic spots or eateries would be nice. I hate it when I stop for a break in a fairly bland place, only find a terrific one just around the next corner. Which passes have good restaurants on top, and which are pretty much barren. Sure, some of this in on the maps, but not always, and it's not always up to date.

Although your own photos are good, they are somewhat limited in quantity for certain passes. I'm sure you guys were much more focussed on running the passes than photographing them. Or, the photos are all from one day, and sometimes that is a rainy horrible day, which doesn't really inspire others to go ride it. Maybe if you took a montage of photos from other forum users it would give more of a rounded impression of what to expect up there?

Pingvin's idea for naming the better direction for running the pass is great. It helps a lot with route planning if the pros and cons of running the pass in either direction are there.

I think you could look at most of the questions asked here in the forums by new riders for some ideas for additions. Suggested routes from the channel ports, where to base yourself for a few days, questions that come up all the time.

Maybe a section on the Croatian passes as those seem to getting more popular. Karza can help with this I'm sure.

How about links to forum member sites? Some users (like ChrisN) have great sites focussed on their own travels, often in other areas AR.com doesn't cover.

Links to mapping software, GPS hardware etc. that people seem to make heavy use of these days.

Is that enough to keep you busy Tim?

[ChrisN]

Hi Tim,

Firstly I think its fair to say you've got the style, presentation, and content of this site pretty near spot on. Its an invaluable resourse and I'm sure you'd be pleasantly surprised by just how many people seem to know about it and use it. BTW, do you keep a log of hits and time spent by visitors?

Besides reviewing and updating the current content and adding data as the site naturally expands, the one area I'd say has room for improvement is the map presentation. They really need to be larger and more detailed - I know this is easy for me to say and very difficult for you to provide. The Google Local version is good but the visible image is too small so when you zoom in for detail the area covered is limited.

Whatever improvements you do come up with will be gratefully received but take care not to loose the essence of the site - which is priceless!

Thanks

[tim]

um ahem.... well... you're dead right. The maps are crap.

I first made them when dial-up access was about all there was. Times have changed, so I have been thinking about doing something about them, but I haven't got anything concrete yet. I think that copyright might be a problem with many commercial maps, so something a bit more interactive - as Google or Multimap etc can provide - but without advertisments if possible. I'll look into it further.
If anyone sees a site that might be along the lines I'll be gald to hear of it.

[tim]

Having been spurred on by the article in MCN this week (big plug, in case no-one has seen it) ... I haven't forgotten about the suggestions here. I just haven't had much time.

I've been pointed to www.motorcyclescotland.com to see how they do Google Maps and routes. What do you all feel about that sort of map/route display. How does it work with those of you without broadband access? Global Rider?
To be perfectly honest, I find Google Maps a bit impersonal, and a bit slow and so frustrating, but I'm willing to try it.

The loads of great suggestions I have noted and when I get some more concrete ideas I'll post here. I'm keen on keeping the spirit of the site, but it does need a makeover and being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. Thanks everyone.

[dogman]

Tim, excellent article. (I only bought MCN for the bike tyre adds! I'll have to buy it next week now.)
One suggestion is to have either a link to, or the actual articles themselves available on the site, though I don't know if there are copyright issues.

[dogman]

But since you're asking. What about for each pass introducing a link to other riders opinion and rating? If you do this, it's important that when you click on a pass on the map, it's the AR-teams description of the pass that appears (like it is today), but with just a link at the end. It should still be your rating that's the most important.

Pingvin, that's a good idea. Like a blog for each pass, so if I get back in 2 weeks time with news that Bonette is closed for the rest of the year or that Grimsel is rubbish I can post that.

(Note to self: must stop and write a review at the end of each road before I forget. My mates will love me for that. )

I presume you've checked out BestBikingRoads.com that's a good site, though the presentation has become a little cluttered.

[tim]

I know what you mean about a blog-type thing. I'll investigate what software is around. As to links to the MCN articles, they were commisioned by them so I think copyright is thiers, but I'll ask. Maybe it'll be ok once they series is finished.

I'm about to start working on the next one now - Austria - won't be out for another week or two.

Just a few lines about each road really jogs the memory when you get back.

Cluttered... that's what I find with a lot of sites. I never really know where I am, or where I want to go. Maybe I'm just getting old