I've been on these forums for a while now. I am not using my regular handle here because I don't want backlash and I think this needs to be addressed.
I've been going to this bike night for a couple of months. I don't think anyone is "yelling" John lol.
What I think the issue is, is that people know this to be a Metal305 meetup. it's not there to make money or promote any brand or company. It's just a place for people to go. As a person who frequents that meetup I can say that no one I know in Fort Lauderdale or Miami know this to be anything other than Metal305 bike night.
The Old Soul Young Blood guys are cool, nice guys and they were there when I first arrived at the meetup. I think the issue here is the fact that they're making online flyers with the owner of Wood for the past couple of weeks and it seems kind of strange. OSYB aren't selling anything from what I can tell (because they don't build bikes, don't have a shop and aren't mechanics, don't sell swag but have started printing t-shirts since last week) but they seem to have subtly tried to take over the 'sponsoring' of the night with this OSYB "brand". It's not a big deal really because there's nothing to be gained except for street cred in the vintage bike community here and around the world which is something they seem to be very keen on doing. All the best to them etc but it should be done based on legitimate accomplishments and not some vintage bike fantasy that has no legs (or wheels in this case).
I think it's basically an ethical issue. This whole thing should be fun and easy. About the Metal305 people going behind their backs, I don't know anything about that. I only heard that the bar wanted OSYB to be on the Metal305 flyers if Wood Taverne was on the flyers. This makes it seem that both the bar and the OSYB guys had some kind of meeting to take the meetup into their hands, even though, there's nothing to take; It's a bunch of people on the sidewalk who meet up, talk and ride.
I heard with my own ears that the OSYB guys were saying "this is going to be huge! We have to take advantage of this!" etc.. Take advantage of what? A bunch of people hanging out in the street? To me this is a classic hijacking of a brand. It's not a big deal, it just is what it is. The Metal305 guys worked hard putting up web flyers, posters, made stickers and got the word out attracting a nice group of people. This wasn't the case at all for OSYB or Wood Taverne until about 2 or 3 weeks ago. It's just not a cool thing to do, that's all.
The Metal305 guys (and let me say, it's not the name of a 'group', it's the name of the meetup) thought this up before the OSYB and Wood guys did. Big whoop. They missed the boat; but to try and rewrite history is a bit gauche and certainly unsavory. In all honesty, I don't think the people who started Metal305 give much of a sh*t but I do feel that it's unfair to disregard the fact that OSYB and Wood did not in any way get this meetup organized.
Thanks and I hope we can all enjoy the meetups with a little less drama and a little more honesty. Humility is a virtue.
Razz
I've been going to this bike night for a couple of months. I don't think anyone is "yelling" John lol.
What I think the issue is, is that people know this to be a Metal305 meetup. it's not there to make money or promote any brand or company. It's just a place for people to go. As a person who frequents that meetup I can say that no one I know in Fort Lauderdale or Miami know this to be anything other than Metal305 bike night.
The Old Soul Young Blood guys are cool, nice guys and they were there when I first arrived at the meetup. I think the issue here is the fact that they're making online flyers with the owner of Wood for the past couple of weeks and it seems kind of strange. OSYB aren't selling anything from what I can tell (because they don't build bikes, don't have a shop and aren't mechanics, don't sell swag but have started printing t-shirts since last week) but they seem to have subtly tried to take over the 'sponsoring' of the night with this OSYB "brand". It's not a big deal really because there's nothing to be gained except for street cred in the vintage bike community here and around the world which is something they seem to be very keen on doing. All the best to them etc but it should be done based on legitimate accomplishments and not some vintage bike fantasy that has no legs (or wheels in this case).
I think it's basically an ethical issue. This whole thing should be fun and easy. About the Metal305 people going behind their backs, I don't know anything about that. I only heard that the bar wanted OSYB to be on the Metal305 flyers if Wood Taverne was on the flyers. This makes it seem that both the bar and the OSYB guys had some kind of meeting to take the meetup into their hands, even though, there's nothing to take; It's a bunch of people on the sidewalk who meet up, talk and ride.
I heard with my own ears that the OSYB guys were saying "this is going to be huge! We have to take advantage of this!" etc.. Take advantage of what? A bunch of people hanging out in the street? To me this is a classic hijacking of a brand. It's not a big deal, it just is what it is. The Metal305 guys worked hard putting up web flyers, posters, made stickers and got the word out attracting a nice group of people. This wasn't the case at all for OSYB or Wood Taverne until about 2 or 3 weeks ago. It's just not a cool thing to do, that's all.
The Metal305 guys (and let me say, it's not the name of a 'group', it's the name of the meetup) thought this up before the OSYB and Wood guys did. Big whoop. They missed the boat; but to try and rewrite history is a bit gauche and certainly unsavory. In all honesty, I don't think the people who started Metal305 give much of a sh*t but I do feel that it's unfair to disregard the fact that OSYB and Wood did not in any way get this meetup organized.
Thanks and I hope we can all enjoy the meetups with a little less drama and a little more honesty. Humility is a virtue.
Razz
