Successful Website Marketing

Successful website marketing, what is it?, it eludes me, as I have tried everything to get this blog some sort of web presence and that really is the whole point of writing it, any comments to my entries would be welcome even negative ones, at least I’d know that I exist in the www.

As you can see entries to this blog have been sporadic purly because I feel that I may be talking to myself, is there a way to successfully market this website?, not to make money but really to communicate to others and share ideas. I have tried to label my entries in varying ways that might appeal to a slightly wider audience than just bikes, bicycles, cars etc, often trying to inject some humor.

So, thats it, if nobody reads this then I think this successful web marketing entry may well be unsuccessful, lets hope not because I need some encouragement...

Alan cross bike

Bought this bike from a friend of mine about a year ago with the intention of just using the parts, it was in a sorry state with a lot of the paint peeling off, on closer inspection the aluminium underneath was in good shape, so decided to rebuild it instead.

I sent the frame off to be enameled www.armourtexltd.co.uk, in the meantime I got lots of new bits on Ebay, I wanted to put mudguards on this bike but needed to keep the weight down as it was up around the 20Ib mark already.

Decided to try some new Crud Roadracer guards, www.crudproducts.com/products/roadracer these are designed for bikes with virtually no clearances - this being a cyclocross bike my problem was the total opposite - this was solved by using some car radiator hose to bring the guard closer to the wheel.

All in all I’m really pleased with the way it turned out, it should make a cracking winter/café bike.

Sharpie helmet

After a four year lay off I’ve finally started drawing again, what inspired me to start over was the ‘Sharpie’ marker drawings I had seen on the net - a whole car covered in one case - motorcycles and crash helmets, not to mention numerous graffiti sites.
The ink in these markers makes them feel more like paint, but be sure to buy the more industrial type of pens as the normal felt tip versions that are sold in stationary shops are more suitable for writing and drawing on paper.

So, you will need Sharpie Professional or Rub-a-Dub (writes on laundry), have a go it’s good fun. www.penfountain.co.uk

Kent Peterson

I love this blog because of it’s ‘good will’ nature, living apparently car free Kent has changed the way he lives, cycling everywhere and encouraging others to do the same via the Bicycle Alliance Washington and good internet presence.
An avid long distance cyclist Kent has a randonneuring page with some impressive mileages covered, generally on a fixed gear/singlespeed or small wheeled bicycle, but never anything run of the mill, for me however his crossing of the Great Divide a 2,500 mile route winding from Canada to Mexico along the spine of the Continental Divide (bear country!) on a singlespeed entirely self supported is by far the most radical (read: The way of the mountain turtle).
Although Kent comes from the other side of the pond he has that eccentric English gent touch as witnessed by his homebuilt mudguards, handlebar bags and panniers, a bit of a nutcase some might say, not me I think he’s pure genius. kentsbike.blogspot.com

Rad Dad

I just found out that my father is leading a double life, he is long retired and cycles every day on his Dahon folding bike around the leafy lanes of Epping, well thats what I thought anyhow.
But no, it seems he has been seen hanging around the local BMX/skate ramps getting some ‘radical air’, pulling ‘endos’ and ‘stuntin’ to impress the chicks - I’m so embarrassed, the least he could do was wear some baggy jeans and give the old beard a trim.

Richard fixed it

Richard has this Orbit America road bike thats been rebuilt so many times it’s like Triggers broom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSmSTpRUeLs

Since this post it has been rebuilt again and is now sporting a new concept known as ‘gears’, these apparently enable the rider to tackle any gradient with ease.

I eagerly await the next rebuild as the only next logical step is to use some carbon fibre parts to get the weight down.

The thing about Al...

Alan is a workmate and friend of mine, we work together in the motor vehicle dept of the local college, he is without doubt one of the most charitable, well meaning, easy going, unselfish, good samaritan, good humored type blokes I have ever met.
He works with students that have learning difficulties, - severe in some cases - and is tolerant to a point way beyond the call of duty, BUT...
...And here’s the thing, he is also bloody clumsy, whilst working together he has (not in alphabetical order) crushed my fingers under a car seat frame, banged my head on a car door, tripped me up and himself just for good measure, walked into walls and people, spilt boiling hot tea all over his reproductive bits, the list just goes on and on.
All these things have happened with a great degree of humor, but one thing is for sure, I’m glad we met because my job would be really boring without him.