12 replies to this topic

[seamonkey]

Greetings Singletrack fans,

Just over seven years ago we launched an exciting new online presence (3.0) for Gateway Off-Road Cyclists to much fanfare. For the first time our entirely-owned, non-proprietary, volunteer-managed website could keep track of memberships, recurring contributions, auto-email renewal notifications and reminders, post and track trail building and any other kind of events, donations and all fundraising contributions, track and report on all volunteer hours and used crowd-sourcing to offer trail conditions for the general public. It happened because a sole individual applied for two grants with the help of a few others that could proof-read and edit the data points and text revisions. Both grants were awarded and we started building out the website with the help of Spry Digital, a local web agency that specializes in working with non-profits and excels at the open-source software that drives the data and financial tracking for us. The only item we could not pursue at the time was true mobile-friendly integration. We simply ran out of money.

Fast-forward to the adventurous year that is 2020. With each security and software upgrade that our web agency applies, the website is continuing to show its age. People want to check up on GORC, trailside, just using their phone. Some people only surf the web with their phone. Facebook has pulled community-focused, crowd-sourced data points like current trail conditions, forum discussions and the like. Social media has eroded the one-size-fits-all website model. Financial contributions and memberships had become too cumbersome - we don’t want to log into anything anymore. Log we in once, remember us forever! We want one-click payments, we’d all rather be riding, amiright?

So, for the tl;dr crowd (too long, didn’t read) here’s the scoop —> GORC is looking for a new team to create a website that’s highly functional and easy to use in 2020. A complete reboot and rebuild.

A refresh, a reboot, with a focus on streamlining content, pulling back clutter and excelling at what is truly useful that will be used by the community. This team would work with the GORC board to determine site requirements, not necessarily the technology or software required, but to understand what GORC needs to capture in terms of data reporting and tracking, financial contributions and such. Spry Digital is prepared to work with us to determine the site goals and requirements for GORC 4.0

Maybe we don’t need crowd-sourced trail conditions since 90%+ of users also have Facebook accounts. The GORC forum is archived in our files and publicly shut down to cut back on resources and headaches. Mobile-friendly a given, streamline the content to make the club sleek and nimble. How is social media and other community-driven technologies integrated or leveraged? Cost-benefit analysis of site functions. What is the club’s core focus? Integrate progressive trails and the Gravity component of GORC. Determine how many and whom would be responsible for ongoing site content and administration. Determine a budget and an ongoing administrative technical support budget. These are all important topics.

These are exciting times because YOU get to jump in and help make a new face for the club. Our online presence is our core. We track and do everything through the website software. Our current system is like a glacier - the public probably sees about 20% of what drives the site. It is still pretty impressive even today.

Our current web administrator (that’s me) can help guide the ship but I need a new crew to operate and takeover GORC 4.0.  I am one of the board members and while I may retain admin privileges on the new site, GORC needs a new team to administer the content, handle membership and keep the events updated. There’s so many more technologically-savvy riders in the wilds than this guy and all it takes is curiosity, persistence, and a goal-oriented driven passion. As the current web guy, I fell into the role because I simply asked, presented some basic ideas and believed in the club’s mission way back in 2002 and here I still am in 2020. But it is time to pass the baton, I’ve completed several back-to-back hot laps, and now I simply need to take a break and sit around the campfire as our other GORC members keep pushing full-steam ahead on building amazing singletrack trails.
—— Matt Hayes, Board Member and Greensfelder Trail Steward

Today’s Homework: Spitball what you would like to see in the next version of GORC’s online presence.
Comment below including if you are interested in leading or being part of a team to work on the new web project.

[gengen1]

I could help out with some of the administrative tasks.  I have no experience or knowledge in website development so I do not think I would be very helpful in that area.  

[ItsJustaFleshWound]

One of the things I regularly do on the GORC site is check the trail conditions.  I'm not a big social media user, so this is kind of my place to learn about trail conditions.  I'd keep that in the redesign.  In fact, I'd expand it.  I'd include the rainfall received in the last 24 and 72 hours at each specific trail.  I use https://www.iweather...urs-to-72-hours, but there are plenty of other similar websites.  

[lirch]

One of the things I regularly do on the GORC site is check the trail conditions. I'm not a big social media user, so this is kind of my place to learn about trail conditions. I'd keep that in the redesign. In fact, I'd expand it. I'd include the rainfall received in the last 24 and 72 hours at each specific trail. I use https://www.iweather...urs-to-72-hours, but there are plenty of other similar websites.

Saaaaaame ^^^^

[estoys]

Saaaaaame ^^^^

Add me to this list also.  I'd also add an out of towner perspective.  I am on this mission to ride in all of the lower 48.  Everywhere I go for work or fun I drive and take the bike.  When I am in a new town, I look at Trailforks to see whats around me. Then I google to find who takes care of / is in charge of the trails to find the Open/Closed/Trail conditions.  In places where this info is mainly on Facebook, I often don't find it and just have to make a guess and wing it.  

[Jimothy]

This might be too difficult if not impossible, but it would be cool if there was a way to sync different sites for trail conditions. ie Trailforks, rainout, gorc, etc.

[seamonkey]

Thanks to all speaking up on what is or is not important to them. I see the value in the trail conditions but it may be more beneficial to see if social media could be piped into the website and offload some tech overhead but at the same time allow people to contribute and see reports.

 

This is a very early phase, I'm thinking it could be a full year before a new rollout happens at the rate we move...

[trekko]

Hey there! I'm actually working on a building the app you speak of- an easy to use trail condition reporting app that pulls data from trailforks, mountain project, gorc, etc. & posts new trail condition data back to all those sources. I was actually on the forum searching for a way to get api access to GORC instead of having to scrape the webpage for trail conditions. It sounds like I'm not the only one with this idea (which is great, there will be users!). Does anyone here know how I could get setup with an api key to pull trail condition info from GORC?

 

Thanks in advance!

[seamonkey]

At this point, I'm unsure if we can get an api key for what you're asking. Data scraping might be the best option as the site could completely change in the coming months. If you're seriously interested in taking over as a gorc admin we can add you to a trello website discussion account.

[trekko]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! Do you have time for a 15min phone convo? We could introduce ourselves and see if there's any opportunity here between GORC & Trekko (trail conditioning viewing/reporting app I described). I'm leaving this post out here in case anyone else is interested in using/contributing/has ideas for trail condition reporting. I'll DM you some digits!

-Jake

[MMdesigns]

Hello there.

 

I just joined the forums today and am getting my first Mountain bike this week.

 

And as fate would have it, I have been working in Web Design & Branding for the past 15 years.

 

My initial suggestion would be to move the site over to a CMS (Content Management System). I am very familiar with WordPress in particular. It's open source and has a wide variety or plugins or 3rd party applications. They even have page builders that are simple drag & drop features to keep it as user friendly as possible.

 

I see a member above had mentioned an app with real time feeds for trail conditions, I am sure that can work within the site as well with proper API support or maybe as something as simple as an html (or JS) embed.

[trekko]

Hello there.

 

I just joined the forums today and am getting my first Mountain bike this week.

 

And as fate would have it, I have been working in Web Design & Branding for the past 15 years.

 

My initial suggestion would be to move the site over to a CMS (Content Management System). I am very familiar with WordPress in particular. It's open source and has a wide variety or plugins or 3rd party applications. They even have page builders that are simple drag & drop features to keep it as user friendly as possible.

 

I see a member above had mentioned an app with real time feeds for trail conditions, I am sure that can work within the site as well with proper API support or maybe as something as simple as an html (or JS) embed.

welcome & congrats on the new bike! i think integrating the trail conditions app into the front end would be a win-win for GORC & Trekko (<- app). I contacted @seamonkey about getting API access to the current reports but it seemed like a technical hurdle at this time. if anyone is involved with the site rebuild or aforementioned Trello board please reach out!

[trekko]

Trekko is LIVE NOW with GORC trail condition reports + mtb project trail condition reports...check it out: www.trekko.app