rode with Cam (NSMB) at my buddies annual Devil's night ride on Seymour on Saturday evening, he seemed to agree that there was very little content out there, NSMB included, that's worthy of a paywall...full disclosure, I've written regular content and some reviews for NSMB in the past, although not in recent years.
We could feasibly end up with all the news release type of "content" being free, and any kind of review (in-depth or first look) being behind a paywall.
I can see how that is the current state of affairs. When you structure your business around advertising (i.e. as many eyeballs as possible), the kind of material you “produce” is effectively throwaway. Why would someone pay for that, particularly when they’ve been getting it for the cost of banner ads all this time?
It has been tried and it failed, which leaves us an orphan.
who even owns rm these days
Off topic and just a random memory, but I spent many hours during my high school years sitting in Chapters reading bike magazines.
Pffft wasn't riding or walking all the way to Chapters for those."Car Mags" - Is that what you called the plastic wrapped magazines on the top shelf?
Good to know!
Trailforks works very well and I'm quite happy to pay their annual fee. And, unlike Strava, if I have a trail network that I don't want published, I can set that up.
I hate to admit it but it really does work well. I do a fair amount of blind mtb travel and it has saved my ass several times when exploring new areas.
A little Peyote, a .38, some water would do the same just way more fun..........
hm. now i need to rewatch earthed 3.
this is my primary use for it as well, when riding trail networks that are not local to me.
I’m sure it works well when it was free it seemed to work fine. What the problem is, they make money on the information provided by the community to help the community. I'm also not some that thinks they shouldn't have made money from it, they created the app but without the contributors the app wouldn't function but someone providing their own trail network has little need for the app. How much better would it have been if all people that contributed information (i'm sure they know who did what) before the paywall, were awarded a free annual usage, or two states a year or one? It's a digital volunteer trail digging then being charged to ride. But as said, if you go to a foreign trail network you get tons of information about great trails and that is defiantly worth a charge and one I don't have any problems with.
But this is also what causes the problems. Non locals riding trails that they found online and know nothing about their legality or potential conflicts. What happened to the popping into the local LBS, buying an energy bar or T-shirt if they have cool ones and asking for trail advice? Then you get all the important info, including how sensitive the area is. Even legal trails might have issues with neighbors, access roads, parking, etc.
believe it or not, there's not a LBS for every trail network. and when traveling these days I typically have my kids and don't have an extra hour+ to blow to go bro down at a bike shop. i'd rather spend that time actually riding.
it also sounds like you may not have used the app. illegal trails generally don't show up there, regional admins still have to approve trails that are added. and the app even has an icon for parking areas. it's like they can put useful information in the app, including things like condition reports, difficulty levels, any features, recommended direction, if a trail is multi use, etc.
they do offer free subscriptions to trail associations:
You are right, I am not using it. I just checked Blackrock OR and there is no information on the issues with Camp Tapawingo regarding no nudity while changing in the parking lot, no loud music and no speeding down the access road. Maybe this is not as touchy of a subject anymore, but years ago it was and one of the first things folks warned you about. I know, N=1, but that is a legal trail system with access issues I am aware of.
But, but, but....it is so convenient to use when I travel and never harmed any trails.
Ruining other people's work and fun just to have fun yourself. Sounds about right for today's society.
