The new website is up and running as you can see. This new site is based on the Wordpress open source blog engine. Apart from being a bunch of techie gizmo buzzwords what this means to the club is that the website is now an open resource which every club member can contribute to. Adding a new article to the website is as simple as editing a Microsoft Word document. Over the coming months we would like as many club members as would like to start writing and contributing to the website. TO see what style of content we can put up check out John Mc Cormacks report on this weekends Christmase Race here…
Unlike before, we won’t be sitting around waiting for you to email us text so that someone else can post on the site for you. This website is designed to be used and updated by YOU!. Ok .. contributing to the website is not everybodies cup of tea, but if over time we gat a half a dozen club members who contribute on a semi regular basis then that is all it will take to keep the site fresh and interesting.
Take a look around the site as it is now. All of the old archives and content, including old photos have been copied over from the old site. Some of the newer posts now have elements added to illustrate the sort of things we can now add to the site to make it more interesting. Elements like:
- Video. Adding video to an article in the top right of the page is as easy as cut and past of a link from Youtube.
- Maps. Adding location maps from Google Maps to an article is built in to the editor. This is ideal for pinpointing the start of a tour or any other event and putting the location map directly onto the web page.
- Route Maps. I encourage you all to look at MapMyRide and set up an account. MapMyRide allows you to enter bike routes into a map and display the route, including elevation. From now on we will endeavour to put all club race events into MapMyRide and publish a full route map on the website.
- Over time it would also be great to see a list of the common tour routes published on the website with route maps.
- Calendar. Check out the claendar page which will include all clubmeetings and events.
The sorts of input we are going to be seeking from memebrs are articles about the following. If you feel you have something to contribute don’t hesitate to contact a committee member. Or go straight now to the Site Support page where you can IM me directly if I’m online.
- Race reports. Lets make a habit now of having at least one of the racing members go online after each event and give us the low down on how you all did.
- Tour reports. Similarly lets make a habit of posting an brief article on the tour for the week.
- Training. Some club members are well ahead of the game in terms of training. Articles with training tips would benefit the rest of us… or how about a training Blog… outline your efforts during the year. What works what doesn’t.
- Health Fitness and Diet. Any medical or fitness professionals out there with knowledge to share. Here is your opportunity.
- Gear and Gadgets. Wheels, Tyres, carbon frames, gear ratios, power meters. What do you use? Is it any good? What are the latest trends. You know we like to bore each other with this stuff… now here is your chance to bore the nation.
Getting the most out of this website is going to rely on some club members commiting to contributing some or all of the above. If enough people are intereste we will organize a training session to go over how to edit an article. Apart from helping the club improve the website this should be something fun, interesting and new for your to learn.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you all.
