[Joe Chapline]

@CCrew 6463 wrote:

Joe, it’s on the right under the join date/location/post count, the count that is. The “like” is a nav bar under each post

And it is a “thumbs up”

That the snap in I found?

What do you know, it IS a “thumbs up.” The problem with my finding the button might have been that I hadn’t specifically given admins permission to use it. I think the modification is from the same authors as the one you found, but it’s for vB 4.0.1 and above. The company/authors are DBTech.

[Joe Chapline]

americancyclo, where did you find the control to like a post?

Also, I’m working on background colors now — I was confused about which links go with which post. The “reply with quote” link is after the post, not before.

[Joe Chapline]

@Will: upgrading the software was step 1. I just installed an add-on feature to allow “likes.” I still need to figure out the configuration. Now I see that there’s a little thing to display the number of likes under each post, but I don’t see how to “like” a post. I also see that some other tools are missing from the top post in the thread. (Like the “reply with quote” link for your post.)

I’m going to try to figure it out. This is a software modification I found, I don’t know if it’s any good, or what problems it might cause. So no promises that it will stay.

There will not be an actual “thumbs up” symbol, but the idea is to allow us to say we like a post without creating a new post.

[Joe Chapline]

I fixed the settings link! I had to use the monkey’s paw AND the book of spells.

[Joe Chapline]

@Dirt 6389 wrote:

I put over 10,000 miles on a set of All Condition Armadillos and got ZERO flats. After 5000 miles or so, I was kinda surprised that I hadn’t got any, so I did a 70 mile ride in DC and swerved to hit every bit of broken glass I could find for the entire ride. I ran over DOZENS Of broken bottles and remnants of bashed out car windows. No flats. A week later I looked at the tires and picked 40 or 50 bits of imbedded glass out of the tires. Still no flats.

My spin: I accomplished something in cycling that Pete tried and failed to accomplish.

[Joe Chapline]

I have the same tires as americancyclo, 700×28. I’m happy with them, but I have gotten one flat from a little piece of fine wire.

[Joe Chapline]

Velocopede just sent the third version of this, perhaps the third time is the charm. If you are thinking about coming to this sale, I would email them first, because they seem pretty confused.

the sale is on SUNDAY, AUGUST 7th, from 10am to 4pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 7th!

Priced from $5 and up!
As-Is! (You need to carry the bike home. no you cannot leave it here for
a future pick up date)

Hey everyone,
As you might have noticed from recent visits to our workspace we’ve been
steadily running out of room for our projects. So, on August 7th, we will
be having an As-Is sale of various bikes in various conditions. Come pick
up a fixer-upper for cheap!

We will have up to 50 bicycles in various stages of repair to sell, and
proceeds from this sale goes towards our operation costs. See you there!

Velocipede Bike Project

_______________________________________________
Velocipede Bike Project
4 W Lanvale St, Baltimore
http://velocipedebikeproject.org
info@velocipedebikeproject.org

[Joe Chapline]

@americancyclo 6296 wrote:

what about Rating Threads?
http://bikearlingtonforum.com/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_rating_threads

@Dirt 6242 wrote:

If I recall correctly, there’s a reputation feature that allows you to add to or detract from a user’s reputation based upon feedback on posts.

@CCrew 6238 wrote:

Depends on what version you’re running. http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=122944

@americancyclo: we have the ability to rate threads now; there’s a link at the top of each thread. That hasn’t been a popular feature so far, but it could be forum members haven’t noticed it.

I did some research yesterday, including reading about the reputation feature Dirt mentioned. Most of what I read was unfavorable; people complain it leads to strife between users. I’m looking at versions of a “Thank You/Like” function similar to the one CCrew mentions. I did not find one that will work with the exact software version we are running, but I found one that will work if I update the software. I’m thinking I probably should do this anyway, since there have been a bunch of security patches provided since our last upgrade. This has also got wondering if I need to be doing regular backups, or if the forum host has us covered.

I want to do a little more research, then I’ll probably give it a try on a day I’m feeling particularly lucky. (Insert thumbs up icon here.)

[Joe Chapline]

@Dirt 6273 wrote:

http://www.utilikilts.com/

That’s what I need, Dirt, and a bike with a step-through frame.

[Joe Chapline]

Has this happened to anyone else? I went for a short ride this morning, and zipped up my house key in one pocket of my bike shorts. (These are some cheap shorts, not any of the fine products mentioned in this thread.) When I got home, the zipper wouldn’t open. I was out in the sun with temps in the high 90s, and I couldn’t get my key out. I had to tear the zipper out. Luckily it was a mesh pocket and I was able to tear it.

[Joe Chapline]

Remember that bike trips are currently a small percentage of all trips in the area. Are we up to 3% yet? It would be great if we could double the percentage of trips by bike, but to do that we don’t have to make the case that cycling is the best choice for every person for every trip. I avoid saying anyone should ride a bike, and I avoid talking about cycling as a lifestyle. It’s a practical transportation option that’s available to lots of people.

[Joe Chapline]

That’s a feature I’ve wanted myself, but I haven’t found a way to do it in vBulletin. I will take another look this afternoon.

[Joe Chapline]

Something that just popped into my head: I remember when I first saw the Dr. Gridlock column in the Washington Post — was that 30 years ago? At the time, it was almost all about driving. I loved it, because it was the first time I had seen a column about real-life driving. The name of the column showed an understanding of what driving is really like for most people. Every other car column and car magazine I had seen were aimed at the few people who really get excited about cars and like to watch the newest ones being driven around test tracks.

There’s a lot of information about cycling around now, but a lot of that is geared toward enthusiasts. It makes sense; who besides me wants to read about biking a mile to the store to pick up some milk and baby food? But I guess the benefit is in doing it, not reading about it.

I like this blog about biking for transportation: Commute by Bike

[Joe Chapline]

Another great post, venerated Pete-Dirt.

I think we will have the most success in getting people to try biking if we present it as a good option for them to do the things they need to do. People have lives, their lives require them to go places. Most people drive everywhere, because that’s the way they know. Some of them, a few, are interested in cars and driving, but most drivers are just trying to get someplace. I’m sure a lot of drivers don’t enjoy driving at all.

If we start seeing a lot more people substituting bike trips for driving trips, I don’t expect them to necessarily love bikes and cycling the way a lot of forum members do. This is in no way a criticism of bike enthusiasts. But I like to present biking as a transportation option that can make people’s lives easier and better, without necessarily becoming something they need to think about a lot. So I like to talk about biking in street clothes, biking short distances to get where you need to go, not spending a lot of money on it… just try it, it’s not a big deal. (I think drug dealers take a similar approach to getting new customers.)

I love the Clif 2-mile Challenge, Capitol Bikeshare, and the Car-Free Diet. By the way, look for a new Car-Free-Diet website in a few days.

[Joe Chapline]

@CCrew 6062 wrote:

Joe, how did you make out with the shorts?

I’m the proud owner of three pairs of the Zoic Ether shorts. I really like them for the bike, and I think that without the liner they’ll be great general purpose shorts. I have some cargo shorts I never wear because the pockets all had button flaps that stick out in all directions after a couple of washings. The Zoic shorts have lots of secure pockets that zip up, no flaps.

I have one pair of Endura Singletrack shorts, but I accidentally ordered the wrong size liner, and it turns out my size (L) wasn’t available. To get the right size, I had to order from a company in the UK. Ordered two kinds of liners to try. They look like great shorts, but they might not be the best for my situation — they seem to be a magnet for cat hair. But maybe I can work it so I go for a ride, come home and sit on the couch to pick up all the cat hair, and then throw them in the laundry. It might work out.

I checked out the Cannondale shorts SteveTheTech recommended. The REI site said they were good for “hucking the big ones.” I thought I’d better find out what that means before I try them.

@Dirt: I have one pair of roadie shorts someone gave me. I think they’re too small, but how would one know? I can put them on without tearing them, so maybe they’re not too small. I’m sending them to Goodwill anyway.

Thanks, everyone, for all the good advice. I’m all set with shorts now.

[Author]

Replies