What is a "Ride Report?" - A few pointers on what should be in this section...

[DredheadV2.0]

This forum is, essentially, the RoadRunner magazine of ST.N.  Multiday trips, pics, routes, impressions, and even philosophical waxings poetic if you're so moved.

What it's not is a place to say "I test-rode this machine and it's awesome and here's why!"  That's why we have manufacturers' forums.

And if it's neither of these, but it still involves a motorcycle ride like: Your commute, trip to the grocery store, a video of someone else almost getting hit by another bike in his lane; it belongs in General Sport-touring Discussion.

Ride Reports is ST.N's showpiece, pretty much.  If all the other forums constitute the input, RR is the output; the sum which is greater than the parts.  All those bits of information we as a community provide on gear, gadgets, tires, bikes, and routes come together and help a rider have an awesome ride and then they share the experience with the rest of us and make us all envious and stuff and provide inspiration for OUR next ride.

Please feel free to comment, but know that your post will probably be moved if it doesn't fit the forum.  

Cheers
D*

[UFO edit]  The very top of your ride report may be slightly modified (by me) so the first image shows up correctly in the news article section of the homepage https://www.sport-touring.net

[Sport-Touring]

[DogBoy]

Thanks for the sticky Dred.

I agree about limiting the RR forum to multi-day reports only. Day rides can go in the Regional forums or Dirt Lovers for the knobby crowd.

[DredheadV2.0]

Hey, I don't necessarily think that all day-rides need to stay out, especially if:  You cross regions or you've taken a lot of great photos.  

Would you enjoy reading your own RR posts in a magazine if someone else had written it?  Ask yourself that before you post here.  I'm not saying you should be worried about pub-quality writing and photos, but something beyond a trip to the store, ok?

Also - ride videos in conjunction with a trip report are fine and dandy as well, IMHO.  That's one thing we have over Road Runner - we can show moving pictures!

[Mrs. DantesDame]

This is one stupid forum when it comes to moderators. Mini-critics with the power to move threads. You should feel very proud of yourselves.

Why thank you, as a matter of fact, I do  

Thanks for posting the sticky, Dred. I agree that RRs should be focused on the "big adventure", or at least a ride in the country with some interesting pictures. Regionals and GD are good for those "trips to the store"  

[XLR8]

Day rides should easily qualify as a ride report. There should be no need to cross regions or ride on water.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

True, and if that "day ride" is presented in an interesting and well-written manner (bonus for photos!) then there's no reason it can't be in the RR forum.

I think what Dred is saying is that the poster should take into consideration what his/her audience really expects to see when they open up the RR forum. Personally, I usually don't bother reading a RR unless there are photos included (and yes, I do read the words as well as enjoy the photos). And when someone writes that they "Rode to Town X in the rain" but that's about all they say about it...I quickly lose interest and wonder what the point was. Harsh? Maybe. But I have criteria that I look for to make a report interesting to me and would hope/assume that it's somewhere near the minimum of what others can expect here.

YMMV

[kurtw]

All drama aside, I like the 'show-case' idea and the motivation here.

I think that you captured some common sense guidelines for what a ride report is. I also think there were some guidelines offered in a sticky from UFO back on the 1.0 board and that was helpful.

However, the nature of the board is that interesting, popular posts rise to the top as a result of thread activity, and those that are less so fall to less-visible heights. Unless it's the dead of winter and there are simply fewer reports being posted, especially ones meeting any specific criteria.

Here's a suggestion. Create a new (sub)forum, "Featured Ride Reports", which is closed to new posts from members. Moderators can, at their discretion, move reports there to 'feature' them in a more selective showcase. Thinking back to the memorable reports from the last year, it seems that there were many which pretty obviously deserved elevating and preserving at a higher level of visibility for a longer time. STN 1.0 had a front page for this. This would turn moderation around from a negative (your report is unworthy), to a positive (your report is an example of what we want to inspire and encourage).

[XLR8]

I tend to bail if people write too much. A few sentences...picture...A few sentences...picture...yeah.

[DredheadV2.0]

All drama aside, I like the 'show-case' idea and the motivation here.

I think that you captured some common sense guidelines for what a ride report is. I also think there were some guidelines offered in a sticky from UFO back on the 1.0 board and that was helpful.

However, the nature of the board is that interesting, popular posts rise to the top as a result of thread activity, and those that are less so fall to less-visible heights. Unless it's the dead of winter and there are simply fewer reports being posted, especially ones meeting any specific criteria.

Here's a suggestion. Create a new (sub)forum, "Featured Ride Reports", which is closed to new posts from members. Moderators can, at their discretion, move reports there to 'feature' them in a more selective showcase. Thinking back to the memorable reports from the last year, it seems that there were many which pretty obviously deserved elevating and preserving at a higher level of visibility for a longer time. STN 1.0 had a front page for this. This would turn moderation around from a negative (your report is unworthy), to a positive (your report is an example of what we want to inspire and encourage).

In a similar vein, I was hoping to get the Front Page restored to some of its former Version One glory, with the Best Of ride reports being the featured content.  Your (the collective You) Ride Reports are the best thing we have going here - it's our... genome... or something.  Meh.  Not feeling profound - up late with a diabetic cat.  But that's my hope.

If that doesn't happen, then your suggestion is a good'n, I think.

[Blunder]

....a video of someone else almost getting hit by another bike in his lane; it belongs in General Sport-touring Discussion.

I meant to put it in GD. Ooops.  

[DredheadV2.0]

I meant to put it in GD. Ooops.  

[kurtw]

In a similar vein, I was hoping to get the Front Page restored to some of its former Version One glory, with the Best Of ride reports being the featured content.  Your (the collective You) Ride Reports are the best thing we have going here - it's our... genome... or something.  Meh.  Not feeling profound - up late with a diabetic cat.  But that's my hope.

If that doesn't happen, then your suggestion is a good'n, I think.

Note that having a separate forum probably makes a front page easier as a bonus (e.g. the front page just displays an RSS feed of the featured reports). Maybe that's how it was originally done...I can't remember.

[DredheadV2.0]

Note that having a separate forum probably makes a front page easier as a bonus (e.g. the front page just displays an RSS feed of the featured reports). Maybe that's how it was originally done...I can't remember.

Hrm... ISTR the NEWS section on the front page was keyed directly off the News forum.  You're probably right, and yes it would make it easier.

[maddjack]

OK so some day rides are OK ,its more the content than the length of the ride .

[DavidLSI]

This is one stupid forum when it comes to moderators. Mini-critics with the power to move threads. You should feel very proud of yourselves.

I totaly disagree....

There is a good reason for the seperate boards or topics, I for one would not enjoy sifting through every post, if there was only one big list.

These are volunteers with keeping an organized and nice forum going is there only goal.  I have never seen an item moved and thought that it was an abuse of power.

I am completely baffled by Bob's reaction in the first place.  Secondly it was interesting that he siad so long to us the other day and is posting back up today....

[FJR1300]

This is one stupid forum when it comes to moderators. Mini-critics with the power to move threads. You should feel very proud of yourselves.

[Orson]

Ride Reports is ST.N's showpiece, pretty much.  If all the other forums constitute the input, RR is the output; the sum which is greater than the parts.  All those bits of information we as a community provide on gear, gadgets, tires, bikes, and routes come together and help a rider have an awesome ride and then they share the experience with the rest of us and make us all envious and stuff and provide inspiration for OUR next ride.

I never thought of it that way, but you are correct.

Trip reports are the final outcome of all the input into this community.

Well said...couldn't have said it better myself

[Global Rider]

Please feel free to comment...

And the countless photos in a ride report should include a detailed description of it; where it was taken, what am I looking at, etc. even GPS coordinates, if possible.

Where the person stayed for the night, what they thought of the place and how much it ran them would come in handy.

[XLR8]

And the countless photos in a ride report should include a detailed description of it; where it was taken, what am I looking at, etc. even GPS coordinates, if possible.

Where the person stayed for the night, what they thought of the place and how much it ran them would come in handy.

Use your imagination

[Global Rider]

Use your imagination.

I guess I won't be wasting my time on your ride reports.  

[XLR8]

I guess I won't be wasting my time on your ride reports.  

You're a global rider. You would be bored.

[Global Rider]

You're a global rider. You would be bored.

Actually, I take a "real" interest in good informative ride reports...not something superficial.  

I'm bored at work, but I'll be off in about 5 weeks on a non-boring 5 week tour overseas.  

[XLR8]

Actually, I take a "real" interest in good informative ride reports...not something superficial.  

Ok then. Happy for you. I mostly post "countless photos".

[Global Rider]

Ok then. Happy for you. I mostly post "countless photos".

And I post pics with a When, Where, What, and more recently, a link to a map and even GPS coordinates. Interesting concept, ehhh?  

[XLR8]

And I post pics with a When, Where, What, and more recently, a link to a map and even GPS coordinates. Interesting concept, ehhh?  

None of that is necessary if you have the right kind of picutres...

[Global Rider]

None of that is necessary if you have the right kind of picutres...

Wouldn't be so bad if she was at least good looking.

Now that is a boring non-motorcycle related pic.

[XLR8]

Wouldn't be so bad if she was at least good looking.

See there, you need to stick to writing. I'll take the photos.

[traveler]

Looks pretty good from my vantage point.

Still need more info though.

[DredheadV2.0]

Seriously?

I mean, really - You guys are arguing about this?

Some people write detailed, fact-filled ride reports.  
Some people take really nice pix0rz.  
Some people write fascinating prose.  

I'll wager that none of us does all three well.  

If you prefer a very workmanlike, efficient, make-the-trains-run-on-time sort of report, by all means write it up and post it.  But don't expect everyone should be held to the same standard, because not everyone likes their reports soulless and factual.  

Conversely...  do I really have to say it?

Quit whining.  Ride.  Post if you have something worthwhile to post.  Read whichever topic strikes your fancy.  Then go about your business and let others do the same.

[FJR1300]

Wouldn't be so bad if she was at least good looking.

Now that is a boring non-motorcycle related pic.

Are you gay?

[Orson]

Some people write detailed, fact-filled ride reports.  
Some people take really nice pix0rz.  
Some people write fascinating prose.  

again, well said  

The ST.N Trip Report Section is like squeezing the wet ST.N sponge.

We all get sumthin out of it.

"If all the other forums constitute the input, RR is the output; the sum which is greater than the parts.  All those bits of information we as a community provide on gear, gadgets, tires, bikes, and routes come together and help a rider have an awesome ride and then they share the experience with the rest of us and make us all envious and stuff and provide inspiration for OUR next ride." - Dredhead © 2008

[XLR8]

Seriously?

I mean, really - You guys are arguing about this?

Some people write detailed, fact-filled ride reports.  
Some people take really nice pix0rz.  
Some people write fascinating prose.  

I'll wager that none of us does all three well.  

If you prefer a very workmanlike, efficient, make-the-trains-run-on-time sort of report, by all means write it up and post it.  But don't expect everyone should be held to the same standard, because not everyone likes their reports soulless and factual.  

Conversely...  do I really have to say it?

Quit whining.  Ride.  Post if you have something worthwhile to post.  Read whichever topic strikes your fancy.  Then go about your business and let others do the same.

Not really arguing, just giving Global Rider a hard time because he deserves it.  

[CDN]

...
"If all the other forums constitute the input, RR is the output; the sum which is greater than the parts.  All those bits of information we as a community provide on gear, gadgets, tires, bikes, and routes come together and help a rider have an awesome ride and then they share the experience with the rest of us and make us all envious and stuff and provide inspiration for OUR next ride." - Dredhead © 2008

 

[Black Ice]

Are you gay?

I agree...she's too damn skinny.  If I want a 13yo boy, I'll go get one.

[Tony T]

Some people write detailed, fact-filled ride reports.  
Some people take really nice pix0rz.  
Some people write fascinating prose.  

I'll wager that none of us does all three well.  

And some of the people, like me for example, suck at all three.  

[UFO]

This is one stupid forum when it comes to moderators. Mini-critics with the power to move threads. You should feel very proud of yourselves.

How did I miss this.

And here's a good example of a ride report:  https://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,46804.0.html

You don't necessarily need that many pictures, but pictures are a must and words attached to the pictures also helps tell the story.

[diethornig]

like a somewhat diary? well, that would make the readers more interested in your site. Very good.

[Mr.Black]

All your ride reports are belong to us.

[Cablebandit]

All your ride reports are belong to us.

Not if you post a link.