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(April Fools!) Bikerumor invites top-tier commenters to first annual Commenter Symposium

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BOULDER, CO — Bikerumor is world renowned for its ultra-interactive format. While other sites shy away from commenters, sometimes blocking them entirely or burdening them with confirmed identity, the world’s largest cycling tech blog embraces the internet’s champions of criticism by fostering a safe environment where they can freely reign under the protective cloak of anonymity.

To strengthen its commitment to these dedicated individuals, Bikerumor is inviting its finest, most vocal commenters for an all-expenses paid, critical feedback symposium at the new Bikerumor International Headquarters (BRIH) in Boulder, Colorado. The Bikerumor Commenter Symposium will be an opportunity for Bikerumor staff and commenters to engage on deeper, more meaningful levels.

Fifty hand picked individuals from the cream of the commenter crop will be flown in for the five-day symposium. Activities will include one-on-one sessions with the Bikerumor contributors of their choice as well as group sessions on topics ranging from “eBikes” to “Hipsters Nonsense” to “27.5 Plus”.

“A big impetus for moving forward with the Bikerumor Commenter Symposium was the interest from the cycling industry,” said Tyler Benedict, Bikerumor’s founder. “At almost every launch we’ve been to recently, the product managers from companies like SRAM, Specialized, Niner, and Maxxis were all lamenting the lack of fresh ideas coming from within the industry. They all are eager to tap the deep engineering and design expertise offered by our most prolific commenters. That outside point of view often trumps the boxed in perspective they get from working on the same things day in and day out.”

There is also an element of fandom motivating Bikerumor’s approach to the event. Staff appreciation of commenters is a common topic of discussion around Headquarters. “I joined the crew at Bikerumor BECAUSE of the commenters,” said young gun, Anna Schwinn. “They make me work harder, to learn more, and to just generally be better. I can’t wait to thank them in person for their diligence… as well as their dedication to honest, critical feedback.”

Notably lacking from the symposium staff list will be Zach Overholt, who is leaving his position as Managing Editor to pursue the development of MotoRumor.com, a tech blog dedicated to eBike technology (formed due to commenter feedback).

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24 Comments
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Rapha
Rapha
7 years ago

Nice!

Gabe
Gabe
7 years ago

Complementary Campy seatposts for all?

anonymous
anonymous
7 years ago

I did not receive an invitation

Marcus
Marcus
7 years ago

What’s a “commenter”? How do I join this elusive club??? …..

Emily
Emily
7 years ago

that’s Union Terminal in Cincinnati.

Steve
Steve
7 years ago

If only your real features had this level of creativity…

missedthepoint
missedthepoint
7 years ago

Looking forward to Motorumor.

postophetero
postophetero
7 years ago

Veganpotter and I are goin’ together on a Team Ritte recumbent tandem e-bike.

Greg
Greg
7 years ago

It’s going to be a bitch doing laps in that pool.

Sam
Sam
7 years ago

This takes the cake for best april fools thing I’ve seen.

pTymnWolfe
7 years ago

This is funny. Nice work.

Allan
Allan
7 years ago

The first paragraph was hilarious! In all seriousness though, I do appreciate not having to sign up, give my personal info, my address, my phone number, my date of birth, my *eh hem* “real” email…for the most part the comments are all pretty tame, even when it involves heated arguments.

thesteve4761
thesteve4761
7 years ago

I got beat to the Campy Seatpost?! Dammit. Can I still come?

Sean
Sean
7 years ago

10/10

Madm3chanic
Madm3chanic
7 years ago

So are all those militaristic haters of all things “e” (except of course electric rear derailleurs, electric dropper seat posts, dynamo’s, electric rear shocks and gamins) who swore that they would no longer read anything on bikerumor due to an article about an ebike a few days ago now feel vindicated or enraged? Oh hang on they don’t use this site any more, my bad

Simon Gamble
7 years ago

Nice April fools 🙂

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

Interesting idea, but this is being held at the wrong time, in the wrong place, and planned topics have been chosen poorly!

DropDeadFred
DropDeadFred
7 years ago

How much post censoring will there be at this meeting?

Flatbiller
Flatbiller
7 years ago

Is there a “How to keep Specialized lawsuit comments from being old, stagnant, and clichéd” workshop?

A “To Oxford comma or not” class would be swell as well.

Roborbob
Roborbob
7 years ago

This would have been believable if it had typos. I didn’t see any. Good stuff though. I think I click the Comments link more than Continue Reading. Gotta try to stay misinformed.

Burton
Burton
7 years ago

I’ll discuss the invite with my team of advisers and handlers.

Pynchonite
7 years ago

Obviously, it will break.

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

Cute.

Does anyone remember when Cyclingnews (in its heyday) did an April 1st post made up of entirely factual and condemning content? It was redacted from their site after a few hours but it basically reported on the dodgy dealings going on in the industry and racing scene at the time, but under the satirical pretense of an April fool’s gag… I remember one line in particular about the Amgen Tour of California “…didn’t bother to organise any drug testing…”. There were also a few lines about Specialized, I think. Hilarious. I bet they were threatened with a lawsuit.

traildog
traildog
7 years ago

The domain registration and redirect of motorumor was a really, really nice touch. Or, as it’s 2016 in great america, a very, very, nice touch.

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