Audax UK - now on twitter

[mikewigley]

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

[LiamFitz]

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....

[DanialW]

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.

[MattH]

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.

[Karla]

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? 

[red marley]

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.

[mattc]

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?

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

bradwiggins
Bradley Wiggins

Thanks Brad ...

[simonp]

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

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.

[DanialW]

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!

[Jaded]

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?

[mattc]

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?

[simonp]

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?

[simonp]

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.

[hellymedic]

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...