We've made a few web site updates:
- New Cycling UK-inspired branding
- Ability to switch between showing runs by type, and by date
- More detail about ride destinations
- Better response to replies to our emailer
New Cycling UK-inspired branding
You might have seen that Cycling UK has a new logo and is using new colours on its web site and in its publications. When CTC announced its Cycling UK rebrand we had – for the first time – a set of guidelines to follow. They improved the appearance of our site, so we used them. I’m inclined to continue to follow Cycling UK branding if only to maintain our position as one of the leading member groups. Also, I think the new colours are brighter and more positive.
I've been working with the committee to implement the latest rebrand on our site, and today I've put the latest version live.
Let me know what you think. In particular, I'd like to know about colour clashes, or bits of the site I've missed (I'm aware the text editor needs updating).
Ability to switch between showing runs by type, and by date
In response to suggestions made via the committee, I've implemented a new tab bar on the runs list. It allows you to switch between showing rides by type (as before) or by date. Once you have made a selection, the site will 'remember' it until you decide to switch to a different view.
Please let me know if you see a page that does not use your preferred view, or that includes a sidebar (now with a yellow background) inappropriately.
More detail about ride destinations
When looking at a ride's page, you can click/tap on an icon shown by the map to see more about the ride's start and its destinations - but not everyone realised that. In the past we always showed the destinations in the ride title but that's no longer the case.
Ride destinations are now more explicit. If the ride has just one venue (for example, a club night) we continue show details in the ride page heading, as before. If it has multiple venues, we show a new 'Start and stops' link; use it to reveal details of all the ride's venues.
This change is also in reponse to suggestions made via the committee.
Better response to replies to our emailer
When someone sends a message through our web site using their personal address, we convert the return address to 'emailer@portsmouthctc.org.uk' and add a blue box to the message explaining who initiated it. This page explains why we do that.
If you reply to one of those messages, the emailer tries to decide who the message is intended for and, if it can, forwards it on for you and lets you know what it's done. The problem is that some email systems scramble the contents of the blue box when constructing replies, making it difficult for the emailer to use it.
I've updated the emailer's algorithm several times to try to cope with all the variations - but it finally occurred to me I had a simpler and more reliable way to do it. After testing, I've now implemented that approach. As it makes the forwarding process more reliable, the site will now email you only if it encounters a problem forwarding your email.
Andy Henderson