Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: DanialW on 04 November, 2010, 08:55:04 am

Title: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: DanialW on 04 November, 2010, 08:55:04 am
Only two years behind the trend, which is pretty good going for us, Audax UK is now on twitter. Please follow us, and encourage your buddies to follow us too.

@AudaxUK



Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 04 November, 2010, 09:22:09 am
What is the account going to be used for and will you be able to view the feed if you don't have an account?

Not having an account, I'm just wondering of I will be able to see what gets twitted and whether it's something I should be going to look at on any sort of regular basis.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: vorsprung on 04 November, 2010, 09:24:58 am
What is the account going to be used for and will you be able to view the feed if you don't have an account?

Not having an account, I'm just wondering of I will be able to see what gets twitted and whether it's something I should be going to look at on any sort of regular basis.

I could be wrong but

http://twitter.com/audaxuk

will show the messages

Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: DanialW on 04 November, 2010, 10:00:05 am
Yep, spot on!

We'll be using twitter to highlight upcoming events, to report on things like the AGM, and to update followers live on big events like PBP and LEL.

I'm sure as it evolves, we'll use it for other stuff too.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 04 November, 2010, 10:10:26 am
Excellent. As long as it doesn't get spaffed with the minutia of what the committee is eating for lunch and whether any of them are having a colonic then this could be a good thing.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: DanialW on 04 November, 2010, 10:16:57 am
No, it won't.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: LiamFitz on 04 November, 2010, 11:05:46 am
Hooray!  Am now a follower and suggest that the more of us who are on twitter follow it the wider the sacred messge of Audax.  Ave Danial.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: PloddinPedro on 04 November, 2010, 12:49:33 pm
Confused Luddite response: I don't use Twitter since my mobile 'phone is for personal emergency use only and I don't use it to receive unsolicited messages. But I could be interested in keeping up to date with "official announcements" from Audax UK (which is what I assume will come via this innovation.)

So my questions are:-
1. will the Twitter feed deliver messages from AUK which I wouldn't get via the Yahoo e-mail group and/or YACF?
2. if yes and if I don't subscribe and receive the messages via my mobile 'phone, can I view them by the above mentioned URL without having to "sign up" to Twitter?

(Sorry if these are dumb questions!)
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: LiamFitz on 04 November, 2010, 12:59:20 pm
Hi - you don't need a phone for Twitter - just web access.

Signing up is simpler than connecting to YACF (for example) and in recent weeks I've heard about free offers from Evans, Wiggle and Cycle Surgery over twitter.

I use it quite a lot but I'd be surprised if AUK made it the 'official' route - it works best as a way of grabbing attention and steering innocent bystanders to things like the main AUK website or the sorts of nonsense that we all talk about here.

L
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Greenbank on 04 November, 2010, 12:59:27 pm

So my questions are:-
1. will the Twitter feed deliver messages from AUK which I wouldn't get via the Yahoo e-mail group and/or YACF?
2. if yes and if I don't subscribe and receive the messages via my mobile 'phone, can I view them by the above mentioned URL without having to "sign up" to Twitter?

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Ray 6701 on 04 November, 2010, 01:37:47 pm
Also registered as a follower  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: PloddinPedro on 04 November, 2010, 02:18:02 pm

So my questions are:-
1. will the Twitter feed deliver messages from AUK which I wouldn't get via the Yahoo e-mail group and/or YACF?
2. if yes and if I don't subscribe and receive the messages via my mobile 'phone, can I view them by the above mentioned URL without having to "sign up" to Twitter?

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
OK, I see. I look forward with interest to this new information stream!

Many thanks
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Feline on 04 November, 2010, 02:23:18 pm
Added.
I just noticed that every single thing I'm following on twitter is bike related. I don't thinking anyone I know non-cycling actually uses it!
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Kim on 04 November, 2010, 02:28:49 pm
I have cyclists and a loose assortment of geeky friends who mostly use it for mindless link propagation, but I think the broadcast-SMS-like nature of twitter makes it much more genuinely useful for the cyclists.  Following people's audax (or whatever) progress in realtime is cool.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Aidan on 04 November, 2010, 02:44:03 pm
Twitter is over capacity now!  didnt realise Audax was quite that popular ;D
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Philip Whiteman on 04 November, 2010, 04:58:42 pm
Brilliant
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: DanialW on 05 November, 2010, 02:15:10 pm
If you've any audax news you'd like audaxuk to tweet, be sure to email me the details. I've started to load plugs for future rides, particularly those with paypal entry.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 05 November, 2010, 02:18:21 pm
AudaxUK is now in a relationship with AudaxClubParisien - It's complicated.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: pumpkin on 05 November, 2010, 02:33:53 pm
Won't be long before people are twattering what they had to eat at a control. Then you will be on your ride and every few seconds, tweets will be sounding from your phone so your ride now becomes a tweetfest.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Greenbank on 05 November, 2010, 02:48:07 pm
Tweeting photos of it too:-

 139km Langley Upper Green plus pastry, meat and fat. proper j... on Twitpic  (http://twitpic.com/k2xyi)

In fact, my twitter feed is stuffed full of food/control references...
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: vorsprung on 05 November, 2010, 04:45:00 pm
Won't be long before people are twattering what they had to eat at a control. Then you will be on your ride and every few seconds, tweets will be sounding from your phone so your ride now becomes a tweetfest.

Already happening...not just at controls...any thing... even drinks

http://twitter.com/simonproven
Quote
Pint of lime and soda for 30p. And I'm too cheap to buy it for myself. :) 10:27 PM Nov 3rd via TweetDeck
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Ray 6701 on 05 November, 2010, 04:59:20 pm
If you've any audax news you'd like audaxuk to tweet, be sure to email me the details. I've started to load plugs for future rides, particularly those with paypal entry.

Do you have an AUK specific e-mail address we can contact you on  ???
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: DanialW on 05 November, 2010, 07:04:57 pm
If you've any audax news you'd like audaxuk to tweet, be sure to email me the details. I've started to load plugs for future rides, particularly those with paypal entry.

Do you have an AUK specific e-mail address we can contact you on  ???

Just tweet it to me @audaxuk, or email me audaxatdanialwebbdotcom
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: mattc on 05 November, 2010, 08:19:29 pm
I haven't really used it, but Twitter has a "private message" feature. That might be best for twitter members, if Danial confirms that he actually receives such things?

(so as to decouple the thing from Danial's semi-personal email address).
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Ray 6701 on 05 November, 2010, 08:38:54 pm
Yep! the message thingy works  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: mikewigley on 07 November, 2010, 09:52:46 am
You lot make me feel like a dinosaur!  I hope that someone will be writing an article in Arrivee some time (that's technology I can cope with!) saying how useful Twitter is going to be, why we should use it, what it offers that carrier pigeon doesn't, how to read it and how to write to it.

You'll be telling me that we're getting on facebook next (whatever that is).  Perhaps we already are.

It's good to see you young uns having fun with today's toys.  However, as I already see with this forum, it's use is limited by the very small percentage of long-distance cyclists, AUKs and non-AUKs alike, using it
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: LiamFitz on 07 November, 2010, 01:47:31 pm
However, as I already see with this forum, it's use is limited by the very small percentage of long-distance cyclists, AUKs and non-AUKs alike, using it

I think that's part of the attraction of Twitter - it potentially reaches a much broader church of people who have never heard of Audax and would probably love to give it a go....
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: DanialW on 07 November, 2010, 07:36:05 pm
I think that's part of the attraction of Twitter - it potentially reaches a much broader church of people who have never heard of Audax and would probably love to give it a go....

Absolutely - this is partly about keeping members up date, partly about grabbing the interest of other cyclists, and partly about attracting the attention of friendly journalists.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: MattH on 08 November, 2010, 10:58:16 am
You lot make me feel like a dinosaur!  I hope that someone will be writing an article in Arrivee some time (that's technology I can cope with!) saying how useful Twitter is going to be, why we should use it, what it offers that carrier pigeon doesn't, how to read it and how to write to it.

I've taken to tweeting on very big rides (LEL, Mille Cymru) to let people know where I am.
I really liked the post-LEL feature in Arrive where somebody (Hellymedic?) had taken feeds from several people and put them in chronological order to make a ride report. That was quite an engaging piece, showing the "real time" highs and lows rather than the rose-tinted-cycling-glasses version that gets written by an individual in the following weeks.

As for an AUK feed, I like the idea as a general part of making AUK and the committee feel less remote.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Karla on 08 November, 2010, 11:03:28 am
I hope that someone will be writing an article in Arrivee some time (that's technology I can cope with!) saying ... what [Twitter] offers that carrier pigeon doesn't

How many carrier pigeons can you carry in your Carradice? 
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: red marley on 08 November, 2010, 01:54:21 pm
I think it's worth thinking about what each of the various media outlets do best and play to those strengths. So we have

AUK web site
Arrivee
AUK Handbook
AUK Yahoo group/email
YACF
Twitter
Flickr
Facebook

(plus numerous others no doubt).

Personally I don't see the point of advertising events on Twitter - Arrivee, AUK web site and YACF do that well enough. What twitter does that the others don't is to allow easy real-time commentary on AUK experiences to those who wish to listen. I'd focus on that aspect (which might also include last minute emergency changes to routes etc.). It would be a shame if we simply used all of these media to repeat the same information simply because it then reaches the maximum number of people. If the AUK Twitter account is there to attract wider publicity (journalists etc.) OK, in which case I as an Audaxer rather than journalist will probably not choose to follow it.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: mattc on 15 November, 2010, 04:08:20 pm
Excellent. As long as it doesn't get spaffed with the minutia of what the committee is eating for lunch and whether any of them are having a colonic then this could be a good thing.

This sort of thing?

Quote
Costa coffee in Eton!
16 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

bradwiggins
Bradley Wiggins
Thanks Brad ...
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: simonp on 15 November, 2010, 05:28:43 pm
Won't be long before people are twattering what they had to eat at a control. Then you will be on your ride and every few seconds, tweets will be sounding from your phone so your ride now becomes a tweetfest.

Already happening...not just at controls...any thing... even drinks

http://twitter.com/simonproven
Quote
Pint of lime and soda for 30p. And I'm too cheap to buy it for myself. :) 10:27 PM Nov 3rd via TweetDeck

I thought the price was worth mentioning.  I've been charged as much as £2.  This was in the Tivoli in Cambridge.

Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: DanialW on 15 November, 2010, 05:49:53 pm
Personally I don't see the point of advertising events on Twitter ...

The Twitter feed is mostly to attract the attention of non-audaxers and the cycling press rather than existing members. If you are already an audax regular, then much of the feed will be old news to you.

However journalists are more likely to pay us attention if our Twitter feed has a large following, and prospective riders are more likely to ride if they hear about events, as well as hear from others how great they are.

So, if you'd like to do your bit to help Audax UK bring some new blood in, then follow the AudaxUK feed, hashtag #AudaxUK whenever you post audax stuff, and send me any blogs updates, photos and other ride reports you see.

Ta!
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: Jaded on 15 November, 2010, 06:29:37 pm
I'd have thought journalists would respond more to a personal approach, or a well crafted Press Release. Or has Twitter really changed the world that much?
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: mattc on 15 November, 2010, 06:44:21 pm
Since I "followed" AudaxUK i have gained 3 female followers!

How does this work - will they "follow" my orders? Will they don pinafores and bring me apple pie? Can they see my avatar?
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: simonp on 15 November, 2010, 06:46:23 pm
Since I "followed" AudaxUK i have gained 3 female followers!

How does this work - will they "follow" my orders? Will they don pinafores and bring me apple pie? Can they see my avatar?

Mine is called @misssexyanna90

What's the betting her account has already been pulled?
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: simonp on 15 November, 2010, 06:55:04 pm
Since I "followed" AudaxUK i have gained 3 female followers!

How does this work - will they "follow" my orders? Will they don pinafores and bring me apple pie? Can they see my avatar?

Mine is called @misssexyanna90

What's the betting her account has already been pulled?


Apparently not.  Surprisingly, for a random supposedly female follower with "sexy" in their username, no porn links on their profile.
Title: Re: Audax UK - now on twitter
Post by: hellymedic on 15 November, 2010, 07:01:45 pm
You lot make me feel like a dinosaur!  I hope that someone will be writing an article in Arrivee some time (that's technology I can cope with!) saying how useful Twitter is going to be, why we should use it, what it offers that carrier pigeon doesn't, how to read it and how to write to it.

I've taken to tweeting on very big rides (LEL, Mille Cymru) to let people know where I am.
I really liked the post-LEL feature in Arrive where somebody (Hellymedic?) had taken feeds from several people and put them in chronological order to make a ride report. That was quite an engaging piece, showing the "real time" highs and lows rather than the rose-tinted-cycling-glasses version that gets written by an individual in the following weeks.

As for an AUK feed, I like the idea as a general part of making AUK and the committee feel less remote.

Not me...