Nan:2010-08-09-mvi-rec.bicycles.off-road

From: Alexander Bartolich <alexander.bartolich@gmx.at>
Subject: Moderator Vacancy Investigation: rec.bicycles.off-road
Message-ID: <i3o4pq$tmv$1@news.albasani.net>

              MODERATOR VACANCY INVESTIGATION (MVI)
              moderated group rec.bicycles.off-road

This is a formal Moderator Vacancy Investigation (MVI), begun because
moderated newsgroup rec.bicycles.off-road is not functioning,
and may have been abandoned by its moderator(s).

This investigation will attempt to verify the reasons for non-function,
and may result in the removal of the group or the selection and instal-
lation of a new moderator.  In practice, the Big-8 Management Board
considers the third alternative--changing the status of the group from
moderated to unmoderated--as likely to cause more harm than good.

RATIONALE:

According to Google's archive the last regular post was approved on
2007-07-18. A probe message resulted in a bounce.

<rec-bicycles-off-road@moderators.isc.org>: host
    moderators.switch.ch[130.59.1.10] said: 550 Unrouteable address
    (in reply to RCPT TO command)

NEWSGROUPS LINE:

rec.bicycles.off-road	Moderated off-road cyclist topics. (Moderated)

DISTRIBUTION:

news.announce.newgroups
news.groups.proposals
rec.bicycles.off-road
rec.bicycles.misc

CHARTER OF REC.BICYCLES.OFF-ROAD

rec.bicycles.off-road is a forum for discussion whose purpose is to
provide information and support to off-road (or off pavement)
bicyclists.  The use of a bicycle on umimproved roads, gravel, dirt,
grass, sand, single track or 4x4 roads should be considered off road
use. (Basically anywhere that is not man made, hard and flat.)
Dicussion might include (but not limited to):

        Environmental issues involving off-road bicycling
        Technical/practical issues involved in off-road bicycling
        Trail Issues
                -access/closure
                -maintenance
        Backcountry/Bush travel involving bicycles
                -preparation
                -camping skills
                -responsibilities to the environment
                -equipment options or combinations
                -overnight vs day use trips
                -etiquette
        Tips on how to handle off-road specific conditions
        (technically and eco-sensitively)
                -tree roots
                -sand
                -microbiotic crust
                -loose steep climbs, etc.
        Off-road biking magazines and other off-road biking media
                coverage  
        Where, when, and how to ride off road

Any topic that relates to off road use of bicycles might be a subject
for discussion.  However, the rec.bicycles hierarchy already contains
other groups, and readers of rec.bicycles.off-road would be encouraged
to not post to rec.bicycles.off-road where interest is to a broarder
audience.

Items for sale/wanted should be posted to rec.bicycles.marketplace.
Technical issues should be posted to rec.bicycles.tech unless the item
is strictly of interest to only off road bicyclists.

Rec.bicycles.off-road will:

        1.  Provide the off road bicyclist with a newsgroup to discus
            off road bicycling rides, issues, and concerns.

        2.  Help educate the bicyclist cycling off road on how to care
            for and respect the backcounty/bush.

        3.  Allow hikers and other users of off road areas to share
            concerns about bicyclists in the backcountry/bush.


In summary, rec.bicycles.off-road encourages the free and open
discussion on aspects of off-road.

HISTORY OF THE GROUP:

rec.bicycles.off-road is a moderated newsgroup which passed its vote for
creation by 367:26 as reported in news.announce.newgroups on 10 Feb 1998.

PROPONENT:

Alexander Bartolich <alexander.bartolich@gmx.at>

PROCEDURE:

Those who wish to comment on this moderator vacancy investigation should
subscribe to news.groups.proposals and participate in the relevant
threads in that newsgroup.  

To this end, the followup header of this MVI has been set to 
news.groups.proposals.

For more information on the MVI process, please see 

http://www.big-8.org/wiki/Moderator_Vacancy_Investigations

CHANGE HISTORY:

2010-05-20	Probe post
2010-08-09	Moderator Vacancy Investigation