What is Far Road?
No, Far Road is not FarRiders.
Yes there is spillage over from FarRiders.
Yes, Far Road can be the new home of FarRider members.
Yes there is a rich history from our collective past, a hell of a lot of history, some good and some less so.
Yes we are all extremely passionate about continuing a valued legacy.
To that end, we need to focus on the future and shape this new era, this new LD meeting place, into the LD forum we can proudly call home.
Kwaka
Is there ANY Chance of me/us purchasing the "Far Riders" name and IP? I dont wish to stir up a hornet's nest but could we have a polite update on what the status is today please?
A flicker of life here. Next thing I'll be posting FarTreasures!! ;D
Viking, yes mate happy to discuss and from memory, you have my phone number.
If not it is listed in:
► Private Area - Must be logged in to access
► Private "Stuff"
► What's kwaka up to?
OP in the What's kwaka up to? thread.
Have spoken with Olaf, all good. :)
Quote from: Viking on Feb 05, 2024, 01:53 AMKwaka
Is there ANY Chance of me/us purchasing the "Far Riders" name and IP? I dont wish to stir up a hornet's nest but could we have a polite update on what the status is today please?
Needs a revisit.
Opportunity?
I thought it was available too.
When I spoke with Olaf last year about this, after prior commitments he was going to look into procuring the FarRiders domain.
As OX's pic, I advised Olaf that he'd most likely need to pay GoDaddy (or whomever has the rights to sell) for the privilege, since then I've heard nothing more.
I've made a note on my todo list to inquire via my domain/hosting channels for relevant purchase info.
NOTE. As it is a .com.au domain an ACN/ABN is a requirement.
Quick follow up on the farriders.com.au domain. The new "owner" is drop.com.au
Both drop.com.au and above.com are Trillion (https://www.trillion.com/) companies. Trillion is all about "Intent Driven Ad Platform for Digital Marketers"
Seems to me to find a buy price one's gotta fork out money one way or another, just how much is the big unknown. It's not a path my hip nerve is prepared to explore.
Another update. I've contacted drop.com.au for any information re. farriders.com.au
This is where the trail ends.
Note the Registrant and Tech Contact Name and Registrant.
From there, you can make your own conclusions.
FarridersRegistrant.png
This thread is called "Focus on the Future...".
Let's do that and ride on from the FarRider name.
Just an idea.
A Moment of Reflection
This is not an easy message to write, but it's one that feels long overdue.
We need to ask ourselves honestly: do we keep trying to breathe life into this site, or do we acknowledge that its time may have passed—and look to join our kindred spirits over at Southern Cross Distance Riders (https://scdr.au)?
This space began with real heart, drive, and no small amount of effort. Most of that early momentum—the vision, the setup, and the financial cost—was shouldered by Kwaka. His generosity in hosting the site and keeping the lights on, often quietly in the background, has been nothing short of remarkable. We owe him our deep gratitude for carrying the flame when others could not.
But in truth, since 2020, only two of us have stepped forward to organise rides. Participation has been thin. And while each ride has been worthwhile in its own way, the numbers don't lie—it's been hard to justify the effort.
Meanwhile, over in the west, the Southern Cross Distance Riders have found a way to keep the spirit alive. They've managed to carry the torch from a certain predecessor group (you know the one), and they've grown it into something meaningful. I've ridden with them now in SA, Tassie, and Vic—and the camaraderie, the turnout, and the spark feel very familiar. They've also got multiple coordinators and a working system for tracking ride history—something we always hoped for here but could never quite get the time to build.
As for Farroad...well, these days, the most consistent posts are Biggles' creative writing (which, to be fair, is often brilliant). But it's hard not to notice the silence elsewhere.
So after much reflection, I think it's time. Time to stop pushing against the tide. Time to honour what this site was—and what it meant—but also to let it go with dignity and respect.
Without others stepping forward and participants coming along, I'll be finishing my commitments for 2025—Blinman and Harrow are still on the cards—and after that, I won't be organising rides through this platform.
To Kwaka, thank you for everything. Your passion gave this site life, and your generosity kept it breathing far longer than most would have managed.
To those who rode alongside us—thank you too.
Yours in camaraderie and respect,
Taffey
Sad but true, mate. I've let the side down by not organising a ride- I've had one on the back-burner dating back to before the The Site That We Don't Mention folded due to the Person We Don't Mention pulling the pin. Most of my hesitation derives from uncertainty that there would even be any interest in such a ride since the scores of Queensland riders of yore have maintained silence on this forum.
The SCDR is active, as you say. I just realised I didn't even put the April Biloela Ride into my diary and so didn't do it. I just put the October Roma Ride into my diary- no excuses! I suspect Wombat would support a locally organised ride, which would compensate for his being in WA. Your Maude Ride deserved to go into the SCDR Rider History page.
I'm active in the IBA fraternity, but that's a different ballgame. That said, with age advancing, Ironbutt rides will give way to less demanding outings.
So let's see if your impassioned post draws forth any other riders' views. I know OX34 looks in here occasionally and I'm sure there are others.
Don't beat yourself up about that. The all, don't mention the war and he who must not be named thing was a real kick in the guts. That kills motivation; at the time I could not believe someone could be so moronic, mean minded and selfish. It is hard to come back from that.
But to get back to something that is more like it was, with the same crew and some new, there seems to be little options available. I am not crazy on the name; there is nothing unique or necessarily inspiring about Southern Cross Distance Riders; I think for a name, something better more meaningful and reflective of the history behind the movement is waiting to be found. It would be nice to steal the name we no longer mention back again, but for now the ends justify the means.
Cheers
Taff
Since I raised the subject, I have always been partial to the name, The FarKin riders (marrying Far from Farriders and Kin from Kin-folk). It has a certain uniquely Aussie Larrikin tone to it don't you think?
Taff
Just caught up with this one. I've been dropping in here pretty regularly for a good while now, hoping hard that things would start to pick up, but sadly that hasn't happened.
I'm guilty too for not putting in more effort to try to get things moving, but being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in July last year has put the brakes on a lot of things for me. So I'm pretty sure my days of riding any distance are over. They've taken my heavy vehicle licence off of me, but I've managed to keep my car and bike licences for now. So apologies for not being more active in this community.
It would be sad to see this site fold and go by the wayside, and I certainly hope it doesn't, but I'm afraid my involvement here is done.
Thank you Kwaka/Bazz for your effort in trying to keep the flag flying, along with Taffey and any others I've missed.
All the best everyone, ride safe, ride far, ride often.
Cheers, Walshy.
I think we have to accept the obvious that this site has limited patronage and other sites attract more riders. I'm disappointed that Far Road didn't have the wheels to get up and go. I enjoyed the rides and the company that was part of Far Road, not to mention the stickers.
I'm aiming to make it to Blinman and Harrow, the last hurrah for Far Road maybe.
I'll join in the rides with SCDR but as Taffey says, the name isn't inspiring. It could be a riding group in NZ or anywhere you can see the southern cross for that matter. FarKin sounds much better.
Sorry to hear about the parkinsons Walshy. I don't think I ever met you. I have a mate that has been diagnosed with it and he probably won't be riding for much longer. However don't let it stop you coming to some of the ride destinations. There are people on SCDR that only show up in 4 wheels for various reasons.
Dominic
Quote from: ZigZag on Apr 20, 2025, 09:32 AMI think we have to accept the obvious that this site has limited patronage and other sites attract more riders. I'm disappointed that Far Road didn't have the wheels to get up and go. I enjoyed the rides and the company that was part of Far Road, not to mention the stickers.
I'm aiming to make it to Blinman and Harrow, the last hurrah for Far Road maybe.
I'll join in the rides with SCDR but as Taffey says, the name isn't inspiring. It could be a riding group in NZ or anywhere you can see the southern cross for that matter. FarKin sounds much better.
Sorry to hear about the parkinsons Walshy. I don't think I ever met you. I have a mate that has been diagnosed with it and he probably won't be riding for much longer. However don't let it stop you coming to some of the ride destinations. There are people on SCDR that only show up in 4 wheels for various reasons.
Dominic
I have to vote 1 ZigZag on this one. Please come along; however you can.
Thank you Taffey.
My reply to your ride registration form now seems pointless but yes, unfortunately Taffey has laid it out bare but truthfully.
For me I still have Kwakatoa but going onto six years unregistered and all without riding, let alone LDR'ing, as such I've resigned myself to the fact that riding no longer has the passion within me.
Other factors outside of riding have also had a direct impact on my time here as well.
As such I've not been able to devote the time required to develop Far Road more, nor, attend any meet regardless which group organized it.
Many thanks to those who've supported this place but sadly, I have to agree that come domain renewal time, later in the year Septemeber I think, as much as it pains me this would be the time to officially close Far Road.
Note that once Far Road is "switched off" access to FarRider records will also be turned off.
Best wishes to all for whatever the future holds.
Thanks for all your hard work Kwaka. Have a chat with Taffey, he and I have some potentially good or equally misguided ideas.
If we can keep this site going a little longer for the Blinman ride at least, that would be good. There has been a couple of new riders at these rides and a new member has shown interest in the Harrow ride. Maybe the we aren't dead yet, just resting.
I think the FarRider bike has ridden into history already. Probably best to lay it to rest.
I'm looking forward to Blinman anyway.
As Ziggy says, he and I have been mulling over some ideas and were planning to use the ride out to Blinman in June to explore them in more detail.
If you can hang on until after then and chat, we might be able to look at how we might breathe some life into this again.
Taff
No worries Taffey and ZigZag, all understood thanks fellas.
The domain etc is up for renewal 6 Sep 2025 so all good for now.