Due to a bit of a medical blip I have been forced to ease right back on my training and general bike riding for the time being....
Just when things are buzzing along quite nicely something always seems to come along and try to knock you off course...It's almost as if it is actually trying to test your resolve and commitment to the task in hand.....
Unfortunately it has chosen the wrong person with me, because I look at it from the perspective of it just adding to the challenge....
I won't bore you with all the gloomy details here, but have no doubt that I do intend to be back on the bike again as soon as possible....
Because of not being on the bike I have been checking various things on the internet...
Everything from various routes for our Ten Countries in Ten Days Ride planned for June...
Some new routes that I would also like to ride in the future....
In one desperate moment looking for something to occupy my mind I decided to checkout the stats for the blog....not something that I can admit to doing all that often...but needs must when you have all the extra time in hand that not riding the bike seems to give you....
Anyway one thing that I found really interesting was concerning the post with the most page views....
Up to about ten days ago that particular award would have been given to a post that I wrote on the blog about fourteen months ago...
It was an item reviewing some of the new bike accessories and components etc that I had fitted to the bikes over the previous year and how well or otherwise those items had been doing...
You can see it HERE if you haven't read it before.
Just as a matter of interest, my opinions regarding all the items in that review have not changed in anyway since I wrote that.
For some reason that particular post had received more views than any other since I first started the blog...
But...we have a new kid on the block..
In the past ten days a piece that I wrote way back in 2009 has been receiving huge numbers of page views every day...so many in fact that it has shot straight past the previous leading post by a vast margin.
It was an item about the trouble I was experiencing trying to replace a tent for cycle touring....
Take a look at it HERE .
Now why this post has suddenly become a popular 'view' I have absolutely no idea...
Indeed since I wrote that piece Robert Saunders has sadly died...
However what I will say is that the Hilleberg Nallo 3GT has been a really superb buy...
It has become my favourite tent of all time and although it is now even more expensive (RRP 900€) than it was back then I would still recommend this as a first class tent for Cycle Touring.
Yes it's expensive....
Yes it is probably slightly too heavy for a solo rider (although hardly noticed on the bike)...
BUT it has a huge amount of room inside and you can even get your bike in the porch with no difficulties at all...
It is an all seasons tent and can easily accommodate two riders with no problem at all.
I have noticed that a number of other Cycle Touring Bloggers have also put it at the top of their tent recommendation lists so this is obviously not just my opinion....
I can honestly say that if I was looking to buy a tent for cycle touring right now this is most definitely the tent that I would be buying.
Interested?
Then take a look at the HILLEBERG NALLO 3GT
Oh! if someone could let me know about the wonders of google and why a fairly obscure blog post would suddenly receive all the interest that it has, then I will be pleased for you to explain it all to me, computer and internet illiterate as I am.
Just when things are buzzing along quite nicely something always seems to come along and try to knock you off course...It's almost as if it is actually trying to test your resolve and commitment to the task in hand.....
Unfortunately it has chosen the wrong person with me, because I look at it from the perspective of it just adding to the challenge....
I won't bore you with all the gloomy details here, but have no doubt that I do intend to be back on the bike again as soon as possible....
Because of not being on the bike I have been checking various things on the internet...
Everything from various routes for our Ten Countries in Ten Days Ride planned for June...
Some new routes that I would also like to ride in the future....
In one desperate moment looking for something to occupy my mind I decided to checkout the stats for the blog....not something that I can admit to doing all that often...but needs must when you have all the extra time in hand that not riding the bike seems to give you....
Anyway one thing that I found really interesting was concerning the post with the most page views....
Up to about ten days ago that particular award would have been given to a post that I wrote on the blog about fourteen months ago...
It was an item reviewing some of the new bike accessories and components etc that I had fitted to the bikes over the previous year and how well or otherwise those items had been doing...
You can see it HERE if you haven't read it before.
Just as a matter of interest, my opinions regarding all the items in that review have not changed in anyway since I wrote that.
For some reason that particular post had received more views than any other since I first started the blog...
But...we have a new kid on the block..
In the past ten days a piece that I wrote way back in 2009 has been receiving huge numbers of page views every day...so many in fact that it has shot straight past the previous leading post by a vast margin.
It was an item about the trouble I was experiencing trying to replace a tent for cycle touring....
Take a look at it HERE .
Now why this post has suddenly become a popular 'view' I have absolutely no idea...
Indeed since I wrote that piece Robert Saunders has sadly died...
However what I will say is that the Hilleberg Nallo 3GT has been a really superb buy...
It has become my favourite tent of all time and although it is now even more expensive (RRP 900€) than it was back then I would still recommend this as a first class tent for Cycle Touring.
Yes it's expensive....
Yes it is probably slightly too heavy for a solo rider (although hardly noticed on the bike)...
BUT it has a huge amount of room inside and you can even get your bike in the porch with no difficulties at all...
It is an all seasons tent and can easily accommodate two riders with no problem at all.
I have noticed that a number of other Cycle Touring Bloggers have also put it at the top of their tent recommendation lists so this is obviously not just my opinion....
I can honestly say that if I was looking to buy a tent for cycle touring right now this is most definitely the tent that I would be buying.
Interested?
Then take a look at the HILLEBERG NALLO 3GT
Oh! if someone could let me know about the wonders of google and why a fairly obscure blog post would suddenly receive all the interest that it has, then I will be pleased for you to explain it all to me, computer and internet illiterate as I am.
18 comments:
Using the word buying and tent will always come up high on a search engine. Google ranks by common words. You can use Google analysis to help get good titles if you can be bothered.
Hey. sorry to hear about the health blip. I have no doubt you will take it down.
Images can change things if an image in your post starts showing up in those three or four that google displays on normal searches... anything like that going on?
Oops, should have looked first. No images in that one. Hmmm.
Other than some big web site linking to you, I don't know.
I have also wondered how some posts will "catch on" to become widely read. Sometimes the reason is clear - they make it onto one forum or another and quickly spread - but other times...?
Sorry about the health blip. I also had a post that went positively off the charts. I can say for a fact that it was not by merit of the content. It's very true, like Jez Andrews pointed out, the right mix of words will really pop with search engines...
Heal fast Trevor. Seems I spent much of 2012 adjusting to 'medical blips' Hoping for a highly charged 2013 for you and I both.
Dave
Sorry to hear of the health issue. Hope it's just a little bump on the road of life. The Hilleberg tents have always interested me. It seems like a lot of folks in your region use them, although they must be very rare in our area.
Thanks for posting,
RL
My most popular post for a long time was somewhat embarrassing, but also rather funny that for whatever reason it was most popular. But it was overtaken by the rightful king, and is now just holding steady at second place. Sometimes you can figure out what's going on by looking at the blogger stats page, under Traffic sources, check out referring URLs, Referring sites, and Search keywords, to see if the reason a page is suddenly spiked is that someone on a popular forum has linked to it, for example. That can show up under "Referring sites". But the internet is weird, and we may never know what really drives these things.
Great minds must think alike - I already have a nalo. Now I come to think of it I reckon it might have neem your post that put me onto it!
Hi Trevor , good thoughts and wishes for a speedy return to the bike
Brenda In the Boro having difficulty posting except anonymously
*Jez Andrews*
That's the point though Jez..up until now it has only received average hits..then all of a sudden that changed. Surely if it was just because of the words in the title then it would have been popular from day one??
*RANTWICK*
It does seem to be a mystery...
*Michael*
Yes..I think that this must be one of those other times..
*Marsha*
As I replied to Jez though Marsha I would have thought that if it was down to a mix of words that would have made it popular from day one...not three years later..
*MrDaveyGie*
Thanks Davey..I send those thoughts to you too buddy...
*rlove2bike*
Your right of course,the Hilleberg tents do seem to be far more popular over here in Europe..Probably because they are better suited to our climate...
*John Romeo Alpha*
I think in this case I will never
really know JRA.
*The bike shed*
If it was my post that put you on to the Nallo, then I am pleased to have been of service Mark :0)
*Brenda in the Boro*
Thanks Brenda..that is much appreciated. It's odd that you are only able to post comments anonymously..it must be something in your settings that is prohibiting you posting comments normally..
Some things in life and blogs remain forever mysterious. Unless your site has become a conduit for some Russian group...
My most popular post was thanks to another Blogger listing it.
Tents! I'm going to stick with my 18 year old Vaude Hogan. The VW Beetle of the tent world. Hope your health picks up, I want to follow this ride over the summer!
Trevor, that's why I love you're blog so much, you get a lot of bang for the buck, or pound!Are you going to provide a link for us readers, so we can contribute some cash to you're epic ride coming up this summer?
*Steve A*
I fear that it will remain a mystery Steve..
*Peter*
Vaude Hogan...now there is a good solid reliable tent.. Don't worry Peter I will be back on the bike soon and the 10in10 ride won't be affected the the current 'blip'.
*Paul*
Thanks a lot for that Paul...
Yes! I am planning on creating a special page for the 10in10 ride with a link from the blog some time during March. We need to get some team photos taken first...Hoping for some decent weather too!!
*Paul*
Hi Paul...Further to my last reply to your comment I have decided to put up the 'special team page' a few weeks earlier than plannned..The button can be found in the sidebar...I will be adding the team photos later.
Sorry about the blip, it's good to hear that you are still focused.
I never understand Google either, I have 3 top posts that don't look as though they will be caught or exchange places for that matter. The leader was a post that was originally shared on a "blog review of the week" with a very large readership. The hits spiralled to eventually overtake my second place post and it seems that the more hits you have, the higher up the ratings it goes getting more hits as a result. It was the lesser known city of Scotland that proved a bit more interesting to searchers. My second spot goes to Banksy, there is tremendous interest there and the third was a toy factory in a Christmas shop window ... no doubt a more common hit than say York, Liverpool or Bristol !!!
*J_on_tour*
Thanks J..appreciate that...
Re the hits on the page...I don't think I will ever know for certain the reason why...it had never been a popular page for months and months - (actually with below average views)- and then suddenly out of nowhere it just took off..
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