Happy Birthday Dear Bike Blog
Thu, November 12, 2015 
Ten years ago on this day the 12th. of November 2005, I posted my first article online and “Dave’s Bike Blog” was born.
Some hate the word “Blog,” (Short for Weblog.) I’m not that fond of the word myself, but to change its title would be a huge mistake. No one would be able to find it, and it would be like starting all over again.
Speaking of starting over, I had to do just that when I quit for six months in August of 2008. I felt at the time I had run out of worth-while things to write about. I had covered just about every technical aspect of the bicycle, and moved on to writing opinion pieces, trying to generate food for thought.
Often I acted as the Devil’s Advocate, trying to get a discussion going. But when my opinions differed greatly from others, people got ugly and called me names. I was labeled a curmudgeon, a grumpy old man. This in itself is not a huge insult, but it does imply, “Your opinions are outdated and not worth considering.”
I often feel having a blog is like having an unpaid job. It takes up a lot of time, and when the result of the effort is so much abuse, it is discouraging. However, quitting was a huge mistake, and I realized this when six months later a group of twelve people, many who were strangers to me, contributed to the purchase of one of my custom bikes, and presented it to me as a “Tribute Bike.”
There were people out there who at least appreciated my past work. I remembered why I started this blog in the first place. I had accumulated a lot of knowledge about bicycles over the years. Much of it was not previously written in books, or written anywhere for that matter. Much of it was just stuff I had figured out over the years. When I was gone, this knowledge would be gone too.
Whether one is searching the Internet, or contributing to it, we are all swimming in a sea of mediocrity, drowning in miss-information. The Internet was also supposed to be a platform of free speech, where any individual could put forward their thoughts and ideas.
In reality the Internet is stifling free speech. Our views have to conform to those of “The Masses” or we will be vilified, even destroyed. An innocent comment can be misinterpreted, go viral, and someone’s life can be ruined in an instant.
In three months I will turn 80 years old. I am becoming tired. Not physically tired, but mentally. Arguing one’s point of view is an exercise in futility, I no longer have the energy, or even the desire. I cannot risk losing everything I have worked for all these years.
Blogs have become a joke in some quarters, comedians love to poke fun at blogs and bloggers, but statistics show that they still have merit. Few last as long as this one, 55% of the millions of blogs out there have not been updated in a year. This Blog gets updated at least once a week.
It is my child, I created it, and it is now ten years old. Like a child it makes me proud at times. It is a hungry little bastard, but I will keep feeding it as long as there are people out there who will read it.
Adendum Nov.14th.2015
Your kind comments and support are much appreciated. I get between 1,500 and 2.000 hits a day from all over the world. Links to articles on this blog pop up on bike forums in many foreign language countries, South America, Scandinavia, Russia, and even India and the Far East. Below are the stats for yesterday. Thank you, Dave
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Reader Comments (27)
we owe you a very very BIG THANK YOU , we are all here for you Dave !
I am more than 20 years your junior (even at this age!) and I have similar thoughts about the futility of continuing to educate the younger. It is no wonder that humanity does not progress faster! Mistakes are repeated as history records.
It is tiresome. What is not tiresome are bicycles! For some reason, they continue to be a source of interest to me. The depth of the subject is an adventure. Thank you so much for sharing yours! I do cherish it along with some others who also freely share their experiences.
I don't think learning is ever displaced with teaching and sharing but it is supplemented with the experiential knowledge and wisdom enabling the teaching and sharing..
Dave - I discovered your blog about a decade ago. I was looking for some information on bike fit, and happened on a post of yours. Since that point, I've read the blog pretty thoroughly - going through past posts, and looking forward to new ones.
I've read several blogs, and tried maintaining one of my own. It was short-lived as I discovered (as you mention) that its a lot of work, and it takes a lot of energy.
You have maintained a blog that's not only long-lived, but the posts are of a high-standard and are interesting to people. That's an accomplishment! One that stands with the other accomplishments in your life.
Now, at 80, you can look back to a life that's made a difference in so many other people's lives. Your bike frames are still cherished and are being used, your book is a fun read, and your blog informs and entertains. Congrats on the past four-score years of making a difference.
And Happy Birthday, of course!! :)
hoping you continue to find value. I, speaking for myself, would miss your missives. you are a staid source that would be, like Sheldon brown, greatly missed should you discontinue.
thank you!
Dave CONGRATS! You have one of the finest web pages there is. Full of info that must have taken ages to put together. We met once in Greensboro and what a pleasure it was. Keep up the good work Dave. John Crump
Yes, happy birthday in advance. This blog is appreciated by many including me and that's no easy task. There is no recipe for success but a sure fire recipe for failure is to try and please everyone, you have carved out a niche. I agree it is hard work arguing, and rarely worth it.
Dave, I check you every few days, and I get worried when you don't post for a week or so! I, for one, still think you have stuff to say. Thanks for keeping it up.
Dave, I see two great benefits that you contribute (OK, make that 3).
1. You have a unique point of view, out of the group of guys custom frame building in 'the day' you are one of the few that is continuing to share your thoughts. (I got to spend last weekend with Andy Newlands, Strawberry, and I learned a lot).
2. You are not afraid to talk about basic subjects. Everyone has to start someplace and you have covered some of the basics. Look in an edition of Bicycling from the later '70s, there are articles about changing tires and adjusting brakes. Things that every rider needs to know. But today the press in only interested in the latest and greatest and most expensive.
3. You are reminding people about the custom built frames, and as much as I hate the result I believe that you have contributed the popularity and value of older frames.
Keep it up Dave.
Dave, I have enjoyed everything you've posted here. As long as you care to add to it, I will be interested to read it.
Happy Birthday!
Lee
Congratulations, Dave, enjoying your blog. Keep on writing.
Dave - your site has been a great resource, and enjoyable reading - I'm glad you've been keeping it up. As a fellow bike blogger, I can only hope I can keep mine going anywhere near as long as you've done yours. As a cyclist, I'm proud to say I'm one of the lucky owners of one of your bicycles. Happy "Birthday"
Please keep going, its important to keep a sane platform for free speech whether its about bicycles or life in general. I have enjoyed your blogs very much in the last eighteen months and look forward to each new posting.
"I will keep feeding it as long as there are people out there who will read it."
YES, we are here, out there!
Thank you, Dave!
Happy birthday!
Best regards from Bucharest, Romania!
Mircea
"I will keep feeding it as long as there are people out there who will read it."
You may be sure you have readers out there - even in places you never heard of!...
I live in Brazil, and your blog is one of the half a dozen pages I check on the web at least once a week. I agree with you that the internet nowadays is mostly a sea of advertising, misinformation and bad manners ; your blog is one of the few islands where one can still find real down-to-earth information, written in decent English.
Happy anniversary, and I hope you'll keep it going for the next ten years!
Rique
I look forward to reading your new posts every week or so, and hope that you continue to post. Be well, my friend.
Thanks for the effort and time you put into you blog Dave. I always find it enjoyable and informative, and a welcome change from what is found elsewhere on the Internet.
Dave, keep feeding the "hungry little bastard"!
Dave. Maybe Dr WHO can time warp you back a few years and you can go back into business? Looks like you would make a bloody fortune AGAIN?
Happy Blogthday! I haven't been following for all 10 years (indeed 10 years ago I was still only a long-dormant cyclist), but for the year or so since I found it I have been reading all your new articles and occasionally poking around the old stuff, and enjoying every bit of it!
Thanks especially for dropping the link to your tribute bike, I hadn't seen that before, it's an awesome and heartwarming story -- I don't know what makes me happier, the story of your tribute bike, or the saga of Fast Eddie's lost&found Moulton!
Keep up the good work, keep blogging on your own terms, in whatever ways allow you to express yourself best. Don't let the haters get to you, there will always be some out there, you don't have to let them get you down.
Found your blog a couple of years ago Dave.
On any internet post there are idiots replying on a key board, most are too clueless to realize they are clueless.
Keep it coming, were out here and appreciate your unique insight.
Thanks you for posting your thoughts over the years. I especially enjoy the discussions about your experiences in England before you arrived in the US. I have several riding friends in your age range, and these people are an inspiration, as you are as well.
A beautiful, informative, biker-friendly child as DMB is a wonderful creation. Happy Birthday to a blog that I frequently check on for new writings and which old entries are often reread.
Stay healthy Dave and I'm sure you realize, you're like a great friend that I never met in person. The blog is like a friend's house where you can show up anytime and know you'll be welcomed.
Happy birthday!
I appreciate your blog. Write it as long as you enjoy it.
Dave, I love your blog and appreciate the time and effort you put into it. Your archives are one of the first places I look for the answer to a cycling issue. Here's to the next 10 years!
Illegitimi non carborundum
My favorite bike blog.
Thank you for continuing to share your insights and knowledge about cycling over the years. I only started reading your posts a few years ago but find myself reading and enjoying your older posts when I'm not out riding my bike that you made so many years ago!
Love your posts Dave, havent read for a few months but gladly catching up on night shift! I wish you many more years safe cycling and blogging as well!