The HUBB - We have to talk about money

[ta-rider]

Originally Posted by Grant & Susan Johnson;

Grant & Susan Johnson (Horizons Unlimited) have been helping the overlanding and adventure travel community get out and have life-changing adventures since 1997. However, with the rise of ad blockers, plus Google and Facebook hogging most digital advertising revenue, the long-term future of HU may be in jeopardy. For info, since 2009 we've both been full-time on HU, funding the HUBB, website hosting and updates from events income and our retirement savings, but we can't keep doing it!
By becoming a Contributing Member, you help us keep HU going stronger than ever. Every additional dollar gives us more time to devote to answering your questions, making the website better so we can help you find more information easily, adding new features such as the all new - and free - blogging system, Destinations, and much more in the planning. Thanks for your support!

Dear Hubbers,

The banner showing the text above - I think its time to talk about money now. To run a forum these days where other people create content for free is like owning a gold mine. Even some people using adblockers, its financing itselfe easily.

I was a lonely traveler somewhere in the jungle. Everybody i knew was affraid of africa and rather wanted to spend his limited lifetime in a save office to pay for the rates of their expensive bikes than to join me on my adventure trip. Then i heard about the HUBB. I was traveling long before and did not need the forum but it was nice to meet other people with the same interests. I joined many HUBB Meetings in Germany, Swiss, SouthAfrica, Chile and Thailand. We sat at the fire cooking our meal while talking about repairing a bike in the mud or were watching and giving presentations about or own trips. In the evening we pitched our tent somewhere on a cow field and spent the night under a million stars or in the snow for free.

Now it all changed. The target group changed. To also attract scared people, the HUBB meetings moved to save lodges or take place on official campinggrounds, were sunday riders enjoy a 20 Dollars meal at the restaurant and take a hot shower, before they go to sleep in their room or chalet. Because the price of the HUBB meetings went up to 10 times the price of other bike meetings, real long term travelers cant afford to attend them anymore. 104 Euro per person for just one weekend. Its not about travel experience anymore...its big bussiness now: Who has the most expensive bike and the most expensive gear?

Luckily there are many free alternative forums like advriders or facebook and many cheaper bike meetings, clubs and communities out there, were its not all about earning money...