Sometimes I want LFGSS to be part of a Shadownet

I definitely don't think LFGSS should be an invite-only community. It's thanks to this site that I got into bikes, in the mechanical sense anyway. Someone may say "didn't stop you from fncking up a beautiful bike" but hey, everyone makes mistakes. LFGSS has also provided a priceless source of knowledge to help keep a bored 14 year old busy, and learn about the history of cycling. Yeah, some complete and utter crap gets posted, but it helps to weld the people on the forum together by talking about random stuff and getting to know eachother a bit more (how ever little).

A good idea may be to make it more difficult to start threads (i.e 3 day wait, to leave the time for a proper search), and make some parts only visible to members, like the iceberg idea posted earlier.
I'm also afraid that closing off the forum would mean I'd get kicked out ;)

If I can give my 2p a SSL only, i.e. open darknet, seems the best practical solution. It creates a small entry test (typing the URL of the site) on possible new members, and should cover your ass, and ours in general.

I have no issues with a 'members only' https, but I think it would be difficult to vet the applicants: what happens if you want to use the site but you live in some sorry ass part of the country? do you have the time and cash to travel to London? Most of the current subscribers would probably fail that test.

I do not really contribute much, so losing me would not damage londonfgss, but I would not have the time to travel around to be vetted for an internet forum, despite living in London. Unless I had to have some info that is only on londonfgss I doubt I would bother --my life is complicated enough as it is.

Well said :)