I know it's only the middle of the season, and not yet even the pre-season if you're a cross racer. But I've got to pull the plug and watch the rest of this one from the side of the road. GamJams is closed.
If you know me, you probably know I'm chinstrap deep in a different cycling business, one that couldn't (and wouldn't) have started without GJ and the 5000 or so licensed racers who visit it every month. And if you know the site, you know it hasn't had my attention for a while now. Gus has been killing it with content for over a year, but to survive and thrive GJ needs more than a fresh and irresistibly topical post every day. It needs production, graphic design, business development, advertising sales, sock fulfillment. I can't do that anymore. Or rather, I choose to devote whatever free moment I have to November. Living the dream, man. You know, because putting wheels in boxes is way more glamourous than uploading new featured photos.
Anyway, thanks for coming by as many times as you have (which is a ridiculous amount for some of you, I know). Special thanks to those of you have bought GJ socks or kit, or otherwise made it known that you're not altogether ashamed to have spent time here.
The site will stay up for now but with no new content. The NewsRoll will shut when I get the next bigass annual invoice for it from the software company that hosts it, which should be in a couple of weeks.
If anyone is interested in keeping GJ going on your own time and/or dime, drop me a note and we can talk. I know people dig it, and if there's a way to keep it useful and fresh I'm certainly open. It's actually an exceptionally good fit for a publishing company that already has ad sales - the audience here is highly targeted and the inventory valuable. But it's also fun as hell if you have passion and want to see what it's like to run a publishing business.
Until then, go explore the rest of the internet. There are a lot of really solid cat picture sites out there.
allez,
Mike
Mike, Thank you for your broad contributions to the sport and community. We'll miss you and GJ. -- Jim
Posted by: Jim Wilson | June 05, 2012 at 08:08 PM
Dang Mike! This site was my intro to bike race blogging. You will be missed. Thanks bud.
Posted by: Chuck Hutcheson | June 06, 2012 at 12:05 AM
IMO you've gone the distance. I learned at least as much about 'what is a good blog' as I did about the races each week. Thank you.
Posted by: CW Dillon | June 06, 2012 at 06:01 AM
Say it ain't so! Thanks, Mike - your contribution to the local race scene and the sport in general is much appreciated. Best of luck to you!
Posted by: Wendy Ulmer | June 06, 2012 at 09:05 AM
Oh dear, American Pie is playing through my head ... rode my Super Six to the levee. Mike thanks for a great ride and the opportunity to share some Euro adventures. I will continue to ride my GJ socks proudly!
Posted by: VeloswanSwan | June 06, 2012 at 09:22 AM
Truly, GamJams will be missed. I Hope for the best for you and for November. I will really miss the contributions of Gus... (sigh)
Posted by: Dave Johannsen | June 07, 2012 at 07:46 AM