VeloBase.com - Help & About Us

VeloBase.com website was started in the summer of 2007 as a way for the owner Jon Fischer to give back to the vintage cycling community. As a wiki style project, site members can add, edit, comment and vote on vintage cycling components, head badges, tools and much more.
The goal of the website is to provide a comprehensive database of vintage cycling knowledge for reference during everything from restorations to general maintenance to researching the cycling parts of the past. The parts shown in the VeloBase collection are not for sale through this site. Many of the parts were found through ebay auctions, one of the best sources for finding vintage parts for sale. We have a generally accepted age cut off of 15 years old, so approx the mid 1990's. We currently have parts ranging in date from the 1920's through the 1990's. There are also a number of tools such as the Gear Calculator which can be applied to any bicycle of any age. This website and the VeloBase.com project is always growing, evolving, and hopefully getting better. I encourage you to visit the forum and share any ideas or suggestions you may have.

Data Disclaimer

All Data and Information on VeloBase.com has been provided by members of the website to the best of their knowledge. This information should be used for reference purposes only and VeloBase can not be held accountable for incorrect or incomplete information.
There are several processes in place to help maintain the highest possible level of data accuracy. Any incorrect information should be reported to the Admin via the Report button on the view page, or preferrably edited by those with permissions to do so.

Technology Brief

VeloBase.com is a ASP.NET 2.0 website developed under Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, utilizing a SQL 2005 back end for data storage. The software was designed with an emphasis on ease of expanding and adapting the site, as well as User Interface (UI) simplicity. While there are other web development techologies to choose from, I decided on ASP.NET for its balance rapid development time, robust built in development tools and end user performance. I have started utilizing some AJAX web controls to further improve the user's end experience and over all site functionality. This site has a dual purpose of not only providing a site for the Vintage Cycling community. I have a double major Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Dallas in Computer Science and Software Engineering, and have completed a majority of course work towards a Master's degree in Software Engineering.

Announcements (click to expand)

VeloBase.com Status Report (click to expand)

Users
Total Users:	1304	Recent Users:	11	Log-In to VeloBase.com
Components - Total Count: 3425
Bottom Brackets:	99	Brake Levers:	150	Brakes:	258
Cassettes:	15	Chainrings:	49	Chains:	51
Cranksets:	281	Freewheels:	78	Front Derailleurs:	226
Geared Hubs:	35	Handlebars:	62	Headsets:	103
Hubs:	210	Pedals:	177	Rear Derailleurs:	370
Rims:	197	Saddles:	217	Seat Posts:	121
Shifters:	192	Shifting Brake Levers:	9	Single Sprockets:	12
Small Parts & Accessories:	281	Stems:	116	Tires:	102
Wheel(sets):	14

Points & User Roles
The Points System
VeloBase.com utilizes a unique points based system to help ensure the integrity of the data within its pages. As a community driven website, it is important to take steps to keep SPAM and other unwanted postings from being added to the website. New members are not immediately given full rein to add and edit content on the website and are limited in what they can add to the website. As you gain points over time and by adding content you are automatically granted new permissions to add and edit content additional content. This system, along with the 'Report' buttons on every listing and comment will provide the controls to ensure quality information at VeloBase.com. You can check how many points you have at any time through the Profile section of your MyBase page. See the sections below on how to gain points by adding content to the website.
User Roles
Certified Vintage	This is the Highest Level of User Role at VeloBase.com. These users have full permissions to add and edit content throughout the site. They can add additional options to the Brand, Group and other drop down fields when adding new content. Only Certified Vintage Users can add content to the Frame Parts list. To become a Certified Vintage User you must have 50 points (at least 15 of those points must be generated through adding content) and be a member for at least 4 weeks.
Vintage User	Once a user has been a member of VeloBase.com for at least 5 days and has accumuluated 10 points (at least 1 of those points must be generated from adding Comments or through completing the Vintage Quiz) they are upgraded to Vintage Users. As a Vintage User you can now add new component listings, update empty fields of existing components. Additonally they can edit Brands, Add to the Tool or Head Badge database, and add to the Additional Resource and Glossary listings.
User	This is the Default Role for new members. Users can access the MyBase Profile page as well as leave comments on listings and report problems. Users can take the "I'm Vintage" quiz to accelerate their advancement to the 'Vintage User' Role Permissions which will allow them to add new content to the website. The Vintage Quiz can be accessed through the link on the MyBase page.
Administrator	Member JFischer is currently the only Admin at VeloBase.com. You can contact me through the email link at the bottom of every page. Or through the 'Contact Us' link above.
Point Awards
Seniority Points	Members automatically gain 0.5 points each day they are a member of VeloBase.com. However seniority alone will not promote you to a new user role level.
"I'm Vintage" Quiz	New members can gain 5 points by taking the "I'm Vintage" quiz accessed through the MyBase page. This is a way for new members to upgrade quickly, but keep the spammers at bay.
Leave Comments	Each Comment that you leave about a Component gains you 0.5 points. Please do not abuse the Comment feature to gain points.
New Component Listings	Once you are a Vintage User, you can gain 1.0 point for each new Component you add to the VeloBase database.
Update Component Listings	For all Components that you make an Edit to in the VeloBase Database, you can gain 0.5 points.
New Brand Detail Listing	Once you are a Vintage User, you can gain 0.50 points for each new Brand Details Listing that you add to the VeloBase Tool Database. To do this, you add the Country, Year Open, General or Historical information to a Brand in the Brand Directory that does not currently have any details associated with it. You can gain 0.25 points every time you update a Brand Listing with additional information. Adding enough Historical Information about a brand will promote that Brand's History Article to the VeloBase.com Article listing.
New Glossary Term	Once you are a Vintage User, you can gain 0.25 points for each new Glossary Term Added or Edited.
New Additional Resource Listing	Once you are a Vintage User, you can gain 0.20 points for each new Additional Resource Link you add to the VeloBase database.
New Head Badge	Once you are a Vintage User, you can gain 0.50 points for each new Head Badge that you add to the VeloBase Head Badge Gallery.
New Vintage Tool	Once you are a Vintage User, you can gain 0.25 points for each new Tool that you add to the VeloBase Tool Database.

"I'm Vintage" Quiz Details

  Newly Registered Users have relatively limited permissions on VeloBase.com. One way for these new members to accelerate their promotion to a user role level where they can add content including new components and add missing information to existing content a "I'm Vintage" quiz has been added to velobase.com
  The quiz is made up of 5 randomly selected questions, most of them should be fairly easy to answer by anyone who has spent any significant time around vintage bicycles. You have 2 hours to complete the quiz, and you can browse away from the Quiz page and return to it within the 2 hour time limit to complete the questions.
  The idea here is to keep individuals who may want to post unwanted content from doing so, while allowing knowledgable individuals who want to start adding and sharing information on VeloBase.com a chance to do so within a few days of becoming a member of the website.

MyBase - Watch List

Registered members have access to the MyBase Watch List. This section provides a quick link back to any component listing that you want to keep track of or otherwise find quickly. You can add listings to your Watch List by clicking on the 'Watch' link at the top of all Component Listings. Once added the Component will appear in your Watch List along with the Component Category and Last Updated date.

Content Lists and Counts

The MyBase Profile Section shows a count of how many submissions of different types you have made to the website. The Count is incrimented each time you submit an addition or edit, and is not reduced if the listing is deleted or later edited by someone else.

The MyContent Lists page shows a list of all of the content you have either added or were the most recent person to edit. It is important to note that if someone else later edits a listing it will now longer show up in the 'Updated' Listing.

Top Contributing Members Lists

This Area shows who are the top contributing members in different areas of the website along with the count of how many of this time of add or update they have submitted. These numbers should match the values in the member's "MyContent" section of their user profile. Do note that the "Other Content" is a sum of several values including Glossary, Links, and Tools added.

How to Add a Component
Required Role	Vintage User
Where to Start From	MyBase, there is a link below the User Profile Section. Or Click the "New Component" link on the left hand side of the page.
Process Steps
Step 1	Select the Category, Brand, Model (optional), and Group (optional)
Step 2	Review the List of Components displayed. If the component you are adding is the same or similar to one listed click the link to that component otherwise click 'Next'
Step 2b	If you selected a similar listing in step 2, click the 'Add Variation' link at the top of the listing to proceed.
Step 3	Fill in Detailed Information for the Listing. Edit the Listing Name field as needed if the auto-generated one is not fitting. You can use the 'Additional Information' text area to include any other information not covered by the individual attribute fields.
Step 4 (optional)	Select up to 4 photos to upload to the listing. Please limit the size of the uploads to 250k, however the system will automaically resize the image as needed.
Step 5	Submit! There are buttons at both the top and bottom of the page.
Notes & Tips
Add to Dropdown Lists	IE and other browsers may try to block the pop-up prompt needed to add the new item to the list. You can either tell your browser to allow the pop-up each time, or add http://VeloBase.com to your Trusted Sites list in the Tools\Internet Options settings.
Add to CheckBox / Radio Lists	Select the 'Add New Item' option and Enter the new value in the text box provided.
Resizing Photos	Photo Uploads are limited to approx 250k per Image. A 800x600 image is well below this size, however most digital cameras default to much higher resolutions. I use this program to resize my images: Easy Thumbnails

Editing a Component
Required Role	Vintage User
Edit or Report	If the Photo (or Listing) is Offensive, Inappropriate, SPAM, etc: Please use the Report button instead of the Photo Manager. Using the Report Button alerts the Admins to the problem and any additional action needed can be taken.
Where to Start From	The Edit and Photo Manager buttons are at the top right of each Component's View page.
Editing Information
Edit Screen	The Edit screen is almost identical to the Add screen. Depending on your role level, on this screen you can add new information and/or change information that is not correct.
Permissions	If the field is grayed out, then you do not have the needed permissions to make changes to that field. Only Users who are 'Certified Vintage' can make changes to all fields of a component listing that they did not add to the system. If you added the component to the system, you should be able to go back and make any changes needed.
Editing Photos	Editing Photos is now handed by the Photo Manager page. See below on details about this feature.
Photo Manager
Re-Ordering Photos	The first feature to the Photo Manager is the ability to change the order of existing photos. To change the order of the Photos, use the drop down list next to each photo to choose its order. Remember, a maximum of 4 photos can be used at once. Once changes are complete, press 'Submit' to finalize the change.
Remove Photos	If there is an incorrect photo, or photo of low quality needs to be removed from the listing, simply press the 'Remove' button next to that photo. If you are making other photo changes, you can also select the 'Del' option from the Dropdown List next to the photo.
Add New Photos	Browse to a new Photo file to upload (up to 4 photos) and either select the position in the list for it to be added, or leave the default value of 'Next Open' place. If there are already 4 photos in the listing, you must remove some from the list before adding new.
Selecting Unused Photos	Photos for this Component, or Variations of this Component, are listed in the last section. If you want to add one of these Photos to the Listing, simply select which position in the list you want it to appear and Submit the changes.

Add Other Content
Brand Overview	The Brand Overview and Brand Directory is a new feature avaliable October 2007. The Brand Overview has space for the Country, Year the Company Opened (and Closed), as well as General Information about the Brand and a History of the Brand. Once the History of the Brand is of sufficent size it will appear in the Articles section of the website.
Head Badge Gallery	The Head Badge Gallery Add page is now broken into two parts. The first section you add general information about the head badge that you want to add. After submitting this information the second page may show you a number of similar badges in the database if any exist. If any are shown, please be sure that the badge you are trying to add does not already exist in the system before adding another one. If the badge does not exist, add general information and a photo and submit.
Tool Database	The Vintage Tool Database catalogs vintage tools, and tools needed to work on vintage bicycles and components. Click on the "Add Tool" link at the top right of the Tool listing to add a new tool to the database.
Frame Parts Database	The Frame Parts Database holds information about the materials which make up a bicycle frame. Tubing, Lugs, Dropouts & Fork Ends, etc are shown here. You must be a Certified Vintage User to add and edit listings in this section, however anyone can comment on them.
Glossary	There is a Link to Add Glossary on the Glossary Index and on the MyBase page. First Search for the Glossary Term you want to add, then add the information related to that term in the box below. If the Term you search for already exists, the information will be loaded into the Text Box for you to add or edit.
Additional Resources and Links	There is a Link to Add Resource link at the top of the Additional Resource page and on the MyBase page. Fill out the information requested by the page and submit the page. You will be taken to the Additional Resource page which should now include your new information.
Catalog Scans	Catalogs already scanned into an electronic form can be emailed to me at the email address at the bottom of this page. If they are very large files, please contact me ahead of time so we might be able to arrange an easier arrangement.
Articles	If you have an article of your own work that you wish to submit for publication on VeloBase.com, please email it to me for review and posting. I am interested in posting well researched information from every topic in Vintage Cycling. Restoration, History, Serial Number Analysis and anything else interesting and useful.
Tools & Charts	If you have useful reference information that is not covered in this section, or by individual component listings, email it to the me (email address link at bottom of page) and I will get it formatted and added to this page.

RSS Feed List
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines or podcasts. An RSS document, which is called a "feed," "web feed," or "channel," contains either a summary of content from an associated web site or the full text. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite web sites in an automated manner that's easier than checking them manually. More RSS Information Here. At VeloBase.com I have set up a number of RSS Feeds to track updates to various areas of the website. The complete list can be seen below:
	Recently Added or Updated Components.
	Recently Added or Updated Bicycles and Frames (Frame Models & Examples)
	Posts from the Site Admin in the News & Announcements section of the VeloBase Forum.

VeloBase.com & eBay seller Agreements
One of the primary sources of new vintage cycling component information and photos is eBay. However the listings only remain on ebay for a short time before the photos and listings disappear all together. VeloBase.com has contacted many eBay sellers who sell a large number of vintage cycling components to get permission to use the photos and information from their auctions. We appreciate their help in continuing to expand the collection of data here on VeloBase.com. Below is a partial list of those eBay sellers who have given their approval to use their photos, specifically those who run eBay stores and other high volume sellers. VeloBase.com only uses their photos after auctions have been completed and they are no longer in need of the photo for their own uses. If you are an eBay seller who wishes to be added to the list of individuals and shops who have given their approval to use photos from completed auctions, please use the 'Contact Us' link above.
*bws*	2009elswick	acajoe1959	adelek17
adelphi368	al_van_varick	alteschule51	anttion
bbbainbridge	bbcbikes	bcd110	benotto69
Bicyclebryce	bicycleclassics	bicycledreamer	bicyclists_retreat
bikebeyond	bikedealnederland	bikesapart	bushpig.vrc
campagnolosr	capt.rock	casanova9898	cnighbor1
coffeeride	Cputman5678	creamcityonline	cv-6enterprises
danny7147	defietsenmaker-nl	ekv-cate	erik56fox
faustobeer	Felnzo	galibier95	gianni7441
gorospil	granfondo05	indarc	jamesr305
jeff306bikes	kia4000	killersnacko	kranz
legendarymen2010	lotushel	manousse83	mastinaro
matt1400g3	mihou	muzpuf	norbikes
ora65	pacebicyclehaven	*pbbikes**	radmaenner
randyjawa	raydobbins	renaissancebicycles	rhclassics
rocvale	rudytrek	rusty8857	sblackstone
sceno234	senditnow	sidemonkey	speedbicyclescom
spikesbikes22vrb0247	stronglight69	surplusruss	swami_cycles
thebikestand	torpado1	velo-ideale	*wwwbike-vintagecom*
zairebunia

Report Buttons

The Report Button on Component Listings, Comments, Tools, Head Badges, Glossary and Links are there to alert and/or remove problematic content. To Report a Component or Image, use the 'Report' link at the top right of the View Component page. Comments have a Report link on the left side of each comment under the User Name and Post Date. Additional Details about the Report reasons are listed on the Report page. If you added the Comment or Listing you will either see an Edit or Delete link instead of the Report link. Please use these buttons to remove or edit the problem.