Events

Introducing Bike Hub Plus

By Bike Hub Features · 255 comments

We’re excited to reveal a new premium membership offering, Bike Hub Plus. Over the last sixteen years, Bike Hub has grown and evolved. From a high-school side project to the largest digital cycling platform in South Africa. We’re humbled. And we’re excited to continue evolving in the pursuit of best serving our community.

ccs-2-0-21404000-1591020478.jpg

So what is it all about? Bike Hub Plus is a paid membership program which gives you access to some exclusive benefits and, at the same time, helps to support what we do at Bike Hub. For just R39 a month or R349 annually you can become a Bike Hub Plus member.

The membership structure means we’re able to realign incentives, ensuring that the community remains at the heart of what we do.

Advertising has been a foundation at Bike Hub from the beginning and is still key to supporting our efforts to serve our community. However, balancing advertising success against user experience remains a conundrum.

As a Bike Hub Plus member, your contribution means we pull the plug on external advertising networks which supplement our revenue but offer less control over your experience and privacy on Bike Hub. So no more of those pesky, sometimes dubious adverts that follow you around the Internet. Yeah, we cringe at those too. And, if you prefer, you have the option to turn off banner adverts altogether.

ccs-2-0-18517300-1591017193.png

As a Bike Hub Plus member, you also get access to further benefits. These include exclusive early access to the brand new Instant Search Alerts feature, a 20% discount on any paid Boosts for your Classified adverts, and, as a small nod of thanks from us, Bike Hub Plus members receive a supporters badge on their user profile.

This is just the beginning. It is new ground for us and we’re excited to go on the next leg of the journey with you. Just as Bike Hub has evolved over the sixteen years, we know Plus will continue to evolve as we extend the value offering to best serve you, our community.

You can find out more about Bike Hub Plus and sign up here.
Tags:

Related posts

Comments

Wayne Potgieter

Jun 12, 2020, 4:53 AM

Somebody needs to get a two tone hairstyle and change their name to Karen.

Coffee + Keyboard

nathrix

Jun 12, 2020, 5:05 AM

Thousands use the classifieds.

And thousands pay for bike hub boosts already for optional upgrades. Now as a plussie you’ll get discount, but that discount won’t benefit you much If you don’t sell much. The other benefit is less external ads.

Mudsimus

Jun 12, 2020, 5:09 AM

No offens and what I have to say is only feedback, I feel that it's annoying that you want to make more money off of people with a premium. It's a community the people created by joining, yes sure you made the website but so can a 18yr old develop a website like this????‍♂️

Why are you guys entertaining Odi again?

King_Crispy

Jun 12, 2020, 5:16 AM

 

Its Friday.

Couldn't be bothered

Patchelicious

Jun 12, 2020, 6:33 AM

And thousands pay for bike hub boosts already for optional upgrades. Now as a plussie you’ll get discount, but that discount won’t benefit you much If you don’t sell much. The other benefit is less external ads.

That wasn’t the argument I was making.

BigDL

Jun 12, 2020, 7:57 AM

And thousands pay for bike hub boosts already for optional upgrades. Now as a plussie you’ll get discount, but that discount won’t benefit you much If you don’t sell much. The other benefit is less external ads.

Why do you keep returning to this? You are choosing not to pay, that’s cool.

BigDL

Jun 12, 2020, 8:06 AM

I’m with Swiss on this (never thought I’d say that [emoji23]).

 

Apart from family, bikehub is my main connection with SA. It is the one constant source of views, entertainment and knowledge that keeps me feeling like I am still a small part of cycling in SA. I also feel like it has provided a platform for lots of good causes to be supported.

 

I, like most of us, am fortunate that I am able to sell my time in exchange for a salary that allows me to pay my bills and support my family. I don’t understand why people don’t want to pay for a service that they find value in, be it movies on tv, a garden service, online newspapers or the hub. However, if they choose not to, why try and denigrate the service whilst still using it?

Eugene Oppelt

Jun 12, 2020, 8:23 AM

Somebody needs to get a two tone hairstyle and change their name to Karen.

 

Chirp of the day and it's before breakfast. 

 

giphy.gif

Andrew Steer

Jun 12, 2020, 8:34 AM

Its Friday.

Couldn't be bothered

This is not acceptable Friday behavior... 

throttles

Jun 12, 2020, 8:43 AM

Just question.. would premium subs have the ability to comment on ads?

 

Then the Advertiser or other Premium subs would be able to comment/reply.

 

Would be nice..

 

I'd get Premium for this.. Would benefit me as a seller and a buyer..

nathrix

Jun 12, 2020, 8:47 AM

Why do you keep returning to this? You are choosing not to pay, that’s cool.

 

And you choosing to pay is cool. Justifying taking out plus membership is cool, it's your money, not mine, you worked hard for it and can do whatever you like with it and i'm cool with that.

 

Like you, i also pay bills. Fortunately all of us get to choose if something is worth paying for or not and like you and everyone else on bikehub have an opinion about it, this thread included. I don't expect you to agree or disagree. Last time i checked i'm still allowed to post and i will continue to do so as a long upstanding hub member and anywhere else on bikehub while happily typing away on my keyboard here in beautiful South Africa (FYI i have contributed a lot to the hub over the years, ask Matt to confirm, if Matt denies this i WILL immediately take out a plus membership).

 

I do get the feeling though that some (not all) plus members this membership will go to their head and will stick together to justify anything and everything they do or say if someone just mentions anything not to their liking and sense them quickly turning on (especially "freeloaders" such as myself) like little barking pack dogs trying to take a bite out of you when they get the opportunity.

 

You have the option to block members you don't like or do not agree with, use it or don't use it. And btw you don't need to be a plus member to do that  ;)

Baldrick

Jun 12, 2020, 9:05 AM

Decided to give my support. Been here since 2009 (actually longer with my previous hub name of willy)

I don't post a lot but enjoy being here.

Shebeen

Jun 12, 2020, 9:08 AM

And you choosing to pay is cool. Justifying taking out plus membership is cool, it's your money, not mine, you worked hard for it and can do whatever you like with it and i'm cool with that.

 

Like you, i also pay bills. Fortunately all of us get to choose if something is worth paying for or not and like you and everyone else on bikehub have an opinion about it, this thread included. I don't expect you to agree or disagree. Last time i checked i'm still allowed to post and i will continue to do so as a long upstanding hub member and anywhere else on bikehub while happily typing away on my keyboard here in beautiful South Africa (FYI i have contributed a lot to the hub over the years, ask Matt to confirm, if Matt denies this i WILL immediately take out a plus membership).

;)

if i recall correctly, you ran the bike safety awareness campaign?

 

We're (mostly) all on the same side here.

I think you've made your point, paying is optional.

Plenty of people support the decision, both in their posts and/or with their wallets.

 

I get that it's not a strictly either a business or a online community and there is grey area as long time members/big posters feel like they "own" a bit of the hub from their contributions. Frankly i feel Matt has been incredibly open about how he runs his business. We all want this place to be successful, it's win win for everyone. If opening up a subscription portal is part of that then let it be. 

aquaratza

Jun 12, 2020, 10:20 AM

You get what you pay for. Websites take time and money to run and this one is run well. I've subscribed.

Stretch

Jun 12, 2020, 10:25 AM

I used a debit card

 

It worked second time around - they must have done something  :thumbup:

BigDL

Jun 12, 2020, 10:27 AM

And you choosing to pay is cool. Justifying taking out plus membership is cool, it's your money, not mine, you worked hard for it and can do whatever you like with it and i'm cool with that.

 

Like you, i also pay bills. Fortunately all of us get to choose if something is worth paying for or not and like you and everyone else on bikehub have an opinion about it, this thread included. I don't expect you to agree or disagree. Last time i checked i'm still allowed to post and i will continue to do so as a long upstanding hub member and anywhere else on bikehub while happily typing away on my keyboard here in beautiful South Africa (FYI i have contributed a lot to the hub over the years, ask Matt to confirm, if Matt denies this i WILL immediately take out a plus membership).

 

I do get the feeling though that some (not all) plus members this membership will go to their head and will stick together to justify anything and everything they do or say if someone just mentions anything not to their liking and sense them quickly turning on (especially "freeloaders" such as myself) like little barking pack dogs trying to take a bite out of you when they get the opportunity.

 

You have the option to block members you don't like or do not agree with, use it or don't use it. And btw you don't need to be a plus member to do that  ;)

 

 

China - I know your contribution has been massive. Been a fan of your pics for years on this platform and others. 

 

I suppose my query is more around using the platform to discourage, indirectly (and I'm sure without intent), people from taking the Plus option, whereas those of us who are pro the idea are possibly encouraging people (also probably without intent) to take the option. It just sort of feels wrong to discourage people from financially supporting the platform that you are using to do so. 

 

Having said that, we got notice three days ago that our business will be back up and running from Monday (govt agreed to give us three weeks notice originally), so this week has been mental and I may not be thinking overly logically at the moment. 

Stretch

Jun 12, 2020, 10:30 AM

"And the ads to match the hub"

Come on dude, who wants ads?

I for one never asked for a premium site with developers needing to get paid for it.

 

When did your vision change Matt, that this thing you created needed to be commercialized?

 

I browse this on Tapatalk -

 

i don't see any adverts already

I don't use the classifieds

There is zero benefit of becoming a plus member for me...but Matt only gets advertising revenue from this and a forum like this needs continuous monthly input and costs...so to me its my way of contributing

Escapee..

Jun 12, 2020, 10:31 AM

And you choosing to pay is cool. Justifying taking out plus membership is cool, it's your money, not mine, you worked hard for it and can do whatever you like with it and i'm cool with that.

 

Like you, i also pay bills. Fortunately all of us get to choose if something is worth paying for or not and like you and everyone else on bikehub have an opinion about it, this thread included. I don't expect you to agree or disagree. Last time i checked i'm still allowed to post and i will continue to do so as a long upstanding hub member and anywhere else on bikehub while happily typing away on my keyboard here in beautiful South Africa (FYI i have contributed a lot to the hub over the years, ask Matt to confirm, if Matt denies this i WILL immediately take out a plus membership).

 

I do get the feeling though that some (not all) plus members this membership will go to their head and will stick together to justify anything and everything they do or say if someone just mentions anything not to their liking and sense them quickly turning on (especially "freeloaders" such as myself) like little barking pack dogs trying to take a bite out of you when they get the opportunity.

 

You have the option to block members you don't like or do not agree with, use it or don't use it. And btw you don't need to be a plus member to do that  ;)

 

 

giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47a159351a9815b9f77f

MORNE

Jun 12, 2020, 10:47 AM

I see our minds frequent the same gutter for recreational purposes.

ah I love toilet humor.

 

#nevergrowup  :clap:

 

giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47a159351a9815b9f77f

nathrix

Jun 12, 2020, 11:00 AM

giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47a159351a9815b9f77f

 

 

Thougt you'd be a plus member by now...

 

tenor.gif?itemid=4958026

Escapee..

Jun 12, 2020, 11:05 AM

Thougt you'd be a plus member by now...

 

tenor.gif?itemid=4958026

 

 

Some guys have to pay for sex, some guys get it for free...

Markellis

Jun 12, 2020, 1:11 PM

Do we have to ride with a mask if we plus members?

The Ouzo

Jun 12, 2020, 1:15 PM

Do we have to ride with a mask if we plus members?

BikeHub Branded masks with a yellow seam  :whistling:

Markellis

Jun 12, 2020, 1:22 PM

BikeHub Branded masks with a yellow seam :whistling:

????????

SwissVan

Aug 29, 2020, 6:26 PM

Recently I've noticed that when viewing hub forums while not logged in from my PC, that the login button on the top right of the screen is no longer available and I have to go to the home screen to login

 

I thought this might be because my browser was recently updated to Micosoft Edge recently, but the same also happens from Mozilla Firefox

 

Screen shot of the top right corner showing the login button does not display and even the create account button does not display correctly

 

EDIT: Cannot attach screen shot in this forum 

Add a comment

You must log in to comment