Tonight I'm back to 6+ floating adverts over everything, and then when you've maybe closed them down, the posting box just covers everything including the post button, and don't get me started on it not handling Flickr pictures.
I'm giving up.
And as if by magic I now have a bell in a circle that does absolutely nothing hovering among the most intrusive pop ups you could possibly imagine.
This is without doubt the worst forum I've ever experienced. It's a complete joke.
And the owners just don't care.
No doubt the usual two or three smug full member posters will be along at some point to tell me it's my fault
The answer to your floating bell issue is about 3 or 4 posts up on this thread.
After all this time I'm currently seeing posting/editing delays (although not as long as previously). I guess that that was never fully resolved.
Oops... wrong thread!
Looks like the Classifieds (and some other pages, including Contact Us) are borked. Just in case you don't know already.
Haven’t been on here for a while 🧐, will have to drop by more regularly!
Haven’t been on here for a while 🧐, will have to drop by more regularly!
Once a year, often a day early. Regular but not frequent
When I’m listening to the bbc radio app, the sound cuts off as soon as I venture on to singletrackworld.
How do I get rid of the "you are not allowed to attach files on this forum" message that sits on the reply bo? It's really annoying, I've definitely reached a good number of posts and am not part of a user group. Sorry if this has been done.
Unable to post on the FGF comments, is it just me?
Sorted, thank you Christmas Pixie!
Site becoming unusable again. I couldn’t navigate the Mounjaro thread at all this morning despite refreshing the page etc. it really makes following a long thread completely tedious.
This nonsense in the Christmas travel thread now..
Followed by this nonsense after adding the above pic…
And then look at the horrendous mess the abominable formatting has made of the above post once I tried to add a second pic.
Is it my imagination or is it back to being really slow?
For a long time is was unusably slow, then for a while it was in danger of being almost OK.
But now it's once again slow.
It's the main reason I stay away from the forum - it feels like the site just doesn't value my time.
My subscription is up for renewal and I’m seriously considering not renewing. I’ll not be able to put up with the ads either I don’t think so I’ll be looking elsewhere for bike banter.
@oceanskipper are your photos screenshots, from what device and browser? I am not seeing any ‘nonsense’ from adding an extra photo so it’s a bit difficult to tell what you mean.
@drac they are screenshots from my iPhone and ironically (or not ) the formatting of my post went all jumbled when I tried to add a pic so the post text and pictures do not correspond. I couldn’t be bothered to try and correct it. Suffice to say someone has posted a YouTube vid in the travel thread and it has overlayed a massive “play” triangle in some kind of wide screen format and shrunk all the text to a narrow left margin. I added a screen shot and then couldn’t see the rest of my post to edit it so I screenshotted that as well and added it. The end result is what got posted and is not how I set it out. I had text, pic, more text, second pic which is clearly not how it ended up!
Can't post from iPhone / Safari today, I completed as long post in:"bike" but there was no "post" button
iPhone looks like this - the "compose" window seems to have popped out.
Clicking "done" does nothing
@oceanskipper Cheers for the update. I’ll take a look tomorrow on my iPhone as out now.
Morning, I’ve taken a look but still can’t say the format issues you describe. I may be missing something in your screenshots too though.
@mudfish the done option is local based on your phone. It is an issue I’ve had elsewhere, just a weird thing that seems to happen.
Thanks for looking. It’s still goosed though. There’s a video embedded in a post and it makes the screen format massive. I pinched to zoom it and then it freezes like below.
Morning, had another look this am. It would appear something in Kimbers’ post has broken the format, which is more visible on the iPhone. I some how skipped over it yesterday. I’ll see if I can edit his post and find the problem.
Bit of an update this wet saturday.
I've been looking into the ads and I've made some changes.
If you are logged in (free member) then your first 4 pages should be ad free. Then the ads appear.
They will remain for the next 12 page views.
After that the ads will not reyurn for 6 hours.
So did you quietly turn all those ads settings back off?
Coz none of that works as you've described anymore. And it's constant ad bukake on every page from start to finish.
Many users have told you how awful your forum is to use. And you clearly just don't care. The irony here is that it's always been the user content people come here to read. But nowadays it's such a terrible experience you seem to have about a tenth of the posts and replies per day you used to back when the old forum was busy and what you do have is mainly just boring content from the usual full members.
Talking of full members. Cougar, Drac and a few other full member's repeated condescending replies and poor attitudes really aren't helping you.
Ok @oceanskipper it seems to the video size on Kimbers’ post aren’t resizing to a smaller image for smaller screens. I’ll mention it the team on Monday.
And a Happy New Year to you @gaah
Hi. Would love to update some classifieds ads but this is all I can see:
Back to dark mode this morning. Anyone else seeing this?
I'm still posting things. I can see my name as the last poster.
But I cannot see my post.
And then tomorrow, as someone else has posted, all evidence of me typing a post may or may not be there. Who knows.
I stopped my membership when things first unravelled. I'm now out the habit of posting much, and finding myself less and less drawn to the site. I'm noticing that last replies are in the multiple hours often, and fewer posters are here.
Is STW going the way of BKXC?
Experiencing the post delay too - not seen it for months but it seems to be back.
Experiencing the post delay too - not seen it for months but it seems to be back.
Yes, seeing this too. Of all the many faults this forum has this one is probably the worst, no back and forth conversation is basically terminal for a forum.
I still hate that putting a url in a post produces picture window (especially amazon ones that default to some stupid kindle thing) is there not some setting to just leave it as a text hyperlink?
I’m a free member now. Stupid errors about not having reached minimum number of posts or something further hindering the awful formatting but posting works so 🤷🏽♂️
I'm still finding this a sluggish, really badly laid out forum and haven't been here for weeks. Used to love coming here. I'm still a full member but that won't be renewing so I'll soon be hit by the free member ad experience too.
I have been more specific on what I mean by sluggish previously and it's been ignored/pinned as a me only issue so I can't be bothered to go into more detail now.
Rest of the places I go on the internet work fine for me of course.
Imnotamused
yeah, me too unfortunately. It’s SO slow and sometimes the format breaks or I write a post and find there’s no “add reply” button (iPhone) because the reply field has popped out to the full “page”
I did renew as I’m sure our “magazine” is struggling (renewal was an adventure in itself, as it backdated to when I’d lapsed so only gave me 6 months.) that took a few support emails to get a response
I have had some welcome bargains though from the PSA thread
im sure the IT gnomes are trying but its really a frustrating experience.
Also why doesn’t going to a post from a “new reply posted” email notification go that post? For me it goes to page 1 of this 36 page thread so that’s another click to load (30 secs min) and a lot of scrolling.
I do a fair bit on forums (mostly work) and all have issues but this one is definitely worst.
We seem to have the return of not being able to see the latest posts on some threads.
I assume STW towers are ignoring the post delays issue hoping it goes away?
Just taken nearly 20 mins for a post to become visible. But it's visible straight away if I view in another browser and not logged in.
Have you emailed Mark or tech to flag it? I think we've all agreed this thread isn't being checked with any frequency.
Obviously that isn't helpful but it hopefully means those that need to know are aware sooner...
https://singletrackworld.com/chat/
is busted.
Chat
[bbp-single-forum id=180317]
Chat
[bbp-single-forum id=180317]
What is busted?
Tons of stuff is broken.
Fix the volume issue on our phones mentioned here months ago Litterally no other website affects our phone volume
No. I'm not emailing the guy who started this thread and can't be bothered to even look at it.
Stop trying to put the onus on us the users
is the messaging function working?
messaged a guy on here yesterday and not heard owt back.
What is busted?
Instead of working page it was displaying this code and blank page:
[bbp-single-forum id=180317]
Cheers! I noticed that but really not sure where link is meant to go?
Is is it link from on the forum, as I can’t locate in the menus?
Does anyone else just get a tiny box to type replies in when on phone. (Android).
Most of the box is covered by. Message saying I'm not allowed to attach files. Makes it impossible to see what I'm typing so spelling is a bit of a guess?
What's going on with Sirromj posting that image 👆 across several threads?
It's great having dark mode as an option. Somewhat spoilt by the huge white image down the right hand side of the screen though. Could we have some way of removing those background images?
Agreed. I've now set page to zoom to 110%
Yes.
Plus multiple pop up ads splattered over it. (closed 5 just to reply to you)
It's our punishment for not bowing to extortion. They don't care.
I'd imagine tons of free member's just don't even bother to contribute because of it. And a big reason for much less forum content it mainly now being dull repetitive threads from the same fairly small bunch of older full members.
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot
Yeh I'm getting the floating adverts thing too (had to scroll this window right to the top of the page to miss the adverts for No7 perfume or something - great targetted adverts for a 46 year old mountain biker). Currently got 4 floating adverts on the page... I'd actually be tempted to subscribe but I assume its still a clusterfk.
Oh and none of the links were working on the forum summary page - had to go to the menu bar and select Bike Forum from the dropdown.
Oh and ~10 seconds to post the above reply. How am I meant to do any work if replies on here are taking so long to post 😀
Oh and none of the links were working on the forum summary page - had to go to the menu bar and select Bike Forum from the dropdown.
figured it out - theres like a ghost of the floating ads. Sometimes theres nothing there but the page acts as if they are so you need to scroll up or down the page enough so the links appear from behind the ghost ad (thats not actually visible). Same with clicking into the reply box...
We have the invisible posts again
I've got a Jet 2 column ad that is right over the Topics list, so I can't actually read what the topic is.
"Fortunately" there's not a lot of activity so I know what most are from the first few and last few letters!
I get the same (but Sigma Sports) - ad covers all but the top two or three topics
I'd imagine tons of free member's just don't even bother to contribute because of it. And a big reason for much less forum content it mainly now being dull repetitive threads from the same fairly small bunch of older full members.
This +1
I clicked on a link to the alpkit story this morning and I think it must be a year at least since I in any way regularly contributed.
I understand the managements opinion that they believe the website is the product and people either pay for it by looking at adds, or a subscription which is their preference as it's far more profitable.
But a lot of the threads have been up on the first page for days / weeks without a reply. They used to disappear by lunchtime if they didn't get any engagement. At some point surely the free members contribution IS the product they were selling? Every other platform works that way. Even facebook has a subscription now so you can watch the free members cat videos add-free.
I tried to start a new thread earlier and gave up because between the random floating ads and auto-playing videos I couldn’t type a short paragraph on my phone without it going weird. And I’m a full member so I don’t know why ads are even there?!
I always liked forums but as a MTBing community this one feels on the way out, the technical issues plus the ageing demographic (I was one of the younger ones here in 2010 - and I’m still one of the younger ones) means there’s just not enough happening here…
What they said. This place feels like it's on it's arse.
The forum used to keep me entertained all day when I should be working but the horrible user experience is driving people away.
I'm a full member and I still have to use content blockers so I'm not bothered by ads. Even without ads it's a clunky, ugly mess full of formatting errors and barely visible text.
At some point you need to make the forum tolerable just to increase activity and keep it alive.
What they said. This place feels like it's on it's arse.
The forum used to keep me entertained all day when I should be working but the horrible user experience is driving people away.
I'm a full member and I still have to use content blockers so I'm not bothered by ads. Even without ads it's a clunky, ugly mess full of formatting errors and barely visible text.
At some point you need to make the forum tolerable just to increase activity and keep it alive.
Echoing that too (as I've had to scroll this window so its half hanging off the top of the page because I've got adverts covering where I'd normally type and the top inch of my screen is the only ad-free space I can see).
I'm a long time member of the forum, a one time paid, but why the hell would I contribute money to this mess? I've actually got 3 cases on my screen right now of adverts covering up other adverts. A No7 advert covering a ST advert (if thats what it is) for Destinations. A Haven ad covering something which I can't even see what its advertising and the unknown ad being further obscured by a TNT Sports banner at the bottom. Hilariously crap.
Oh, so I was writing a reply and it’s refreshed and I’ve lost it… I renewed with digital only but it’s such a mess that I didn’t complete checking out so I’ve been seeing what free members see - no wonder posts are way down, it’s almost unusable.
The magazine never felt that aimed towards me - I liked how Dirt got excited about riding bikes downhill fast, through gear reviews, race reports and so on. That’s what I like to do even if I’m not that good at it. Singletrack now seems to barely tolerate the gear and mostly wants to talk about going on holiday with your bike or pootling about looking at views. I guess “younger” riders who want to attempt to shred their local trails in between parenting and working aren’t their target audience at all. Oh well…
I guess “younger” riders who want to attempt to shred their local trails in between parenting and working aren’t their target audience at all. Oh well…
The audience who are interested in bike packing in outer mongolia is far larger.
I don't think there's a viable commercial audience in either, or both, of those.
Oh, so I was writing a reply and it’s refreshed and I’ve lost it… I renewed with digital only but it’s such a mess that I didn’t complete checking out so I’ve been seeing what free members see - no wonder posts are way down, it’s almost unusable.
The magazine never felt that aimed towards me - I liked how Dirt got excited about riding bikes downhill fast, through gear reviews, race reports and so on. That’s what I like to do even if I’m not that good at it. Singletrack now seems to barely tolerate the gear and mostly wants to talk about going on holiday with your bike or pootling about looking at views. I guess “younger” riders who want to attempt to shred their local trails in between parenting and working aren’t their target audience at all. Oh well…
yep, chiefgrooveguru, almost unusable - the forum is dire on loading speed and why oh why does a thread open to page 1 even when clicking an email "new reply" link - it's not great programming sadly. I did recently renew digital which was a bit of a jackanory as it wanted to backdate me and thus give me 6 months or so (more dodgy programming,hey I bet it ain't easy), I paid up mainly cos I've known Chipps since the early 90's and I'd be sad to e walk away from my old friend "Singletrack mag". it’s a while, though, since I ceased my printed mag sub due to content not being "for me".
And yep, I loved Dirt Mag too, Steve Jones' reviews especially were always worth reading, such enthusiasm - & yeah - going on holiday with your bike or pootling about looking at views" isn't of much interest, I agree.
There are occasionally some reviews I find useful (although the subsections are a bit limited, eg no "clothing"!), tyres by Ben can be interesting, for example, but there's only one since 2024 and I'mm niot a Forecaster type.
it's not looking good overall from my POV. I just had a look and, to be fair, there are a few reasonably interesting reviews, but only one that got me reading. Also, are the review pictures a bit silly at times? I know lots of journo folk don't like being photographed, but Monty Python poses are getting a bit old.
Oh dear, I seem like Mr Grumpy today
Rest in peace. The best MTB mag of all time.
I've got every single issue in my parents loft. Unless they've binned them.
I've really tried with STW but it's just rambling on wheels. I'm not that old and beardy yet. When I am old enough I hope I'm still ripping Pleney laps in my chrome lens goggles like it's 2004.
This forum used to be invaluable. That's why I've been here so long and pay up every year. It would be a such a shame to kill it off.
I am having the floating adds and auto playing videos problem as well.
Oh, so I was writing a reply and it’s refreshed and I’ve lost it… I renewed with digital only but it’s such a mess that I didn’t complete checking out so I’ve been seeing what free members see - no wonder posts are way down, it’s almost unusable.
When I tried to renew a few months ago, it failed in such a manner, I am now waiting for a sign of actual technical competence before I am willing to attempt to sign up again. It doesn't matter how well intentioned the site owners are, when the site feels and behaves like a cheap scam site, potential paying customers are not going to put their payment details in.
There are ways of making the site usable even if you're not a subscriber, I would almost certainly be banned if I was to tell you how.
Although being banned wouldn't bother me now like it would have at one time.
Rest in peace. The best MTB mag of all time.
I've got every single issue in my parents loft. Unless they've binned them.
I've really tried with STW but it's just rambling on wheels. I'm not that old and beardy yet. When I am old enough I hope I'm still ripping Pleney laps in my chrome lens goggles like it's 2004.
This forum used to be invaluable. That's why I've been here so long and pay up every year. It would be a such a shame to kill it off.
yep Dirt = BOAT, I gathered all mine (pretty much the lot) boxed em up and took em round to Steve Jones. I felt he was entitled. who knows, though, they might have been used as firelighters.
At risk of a pile on, I can’t help but agree with some of the posters above. There seems to be a complete dearth of fun now here. There is enough misery in the world and this place did used to be pretty funny, and lighthearted. Something seems to have changed, and some contributors and lots of members now seem to be trying too hard to be achingly cool, and with that any sort of fun is gone.
I was a paid member, but the mag content isn’t for me, too many bags attached to the bikes type articles and pointless pieces (a contemplation of soil springs to mind, I mean, really?). Reviews now seem few and far between with the latest batch just regurgitated from days gone by or no actual review against other products in that class. All this led me to cancel the sub and be a free member.
Unfortunately, the forum also feels more hostile, and you can almost guarantee that a perfectly reasonable OP will attract the wrath of at least one of the same old crowd of big hitters spoiling for an argument or just being deliberately, or maybe not deliberately, sanctimonious.
I’m curious what the investment will bring to the site, and will consider subscribing again if it starts to appeal and not take itself too seriously.
can't view the Where to Live thread but can view random others
I've got the same issue, had it since end of last week. No change at all. Is anyone even looking at the issue?The adverts have gotten stupid.
Three different computers, same (up to date) version of chrome on W11 (3x) and Edge on W11 as well on two of them.
Bloody stupid advert taking up much of LH side
Bloody stupid advert taking up much of LH side
Think it's meant to sit in that blank space further to the left...easy enough update?
Same with the one on the right that's blocking the advert underneath it
Damnit, it was fixed for an hour before i left work. Now back home and it's back where it was (same computer, same Chrome build).
Adverts still there.... even worse than earlier.... unusable!
Yeah, sorry folks - ads blocking all of the thread titles and 85% ish of the left hand side when trying to read threads.
I typed up a long reply which timed out.
In summary before this one fails. One word. Broken. Actually two. Absolutely broken.
Such as shame. Used to love this forum but now lucky if I remember it's here every month or so. Even deleted my shortcut as used to be the most clicked button.
Edit - this took 5 mins from clicking submit to popping up. Three words absolutely totally broken.