How and why do I increase my member level?
When you first sign up to EuroCycler, you are given a standard membership. This entitles you to use the forums which fall under the category "EuroCycler General Discussion". As you increase your membership level you will be able to access additional forums on the EuroCycler site.

The next step in membership is the "Preferred Level". You can gain preferred level easily: just go to the member's center toolbox and create your Cycling as well as Bike and Equipment profiles listed there under "My Profiles". Once you have completed these two profiles, you will automatically be given preferred status and access to the EuroCycler Preferred forum. From time to time, "Preferred Level" users will be given exclusive discounts and special offers on EuroCycler merchandise.

VIP members of the EuroCycler site are those who have traveled with us in the past or are signed up to travel with us in the future. VIP members can contact other EuroCycler guests, coaches and leaders for discussions and advice. From time to time, VIPs will be given exclusive discounts and special offers on EuroCycler merchandise.

How are the personal profiles used?
Your personal profiles on EuroCycler are primarily used to make your travel experience with us exactly suited to your experience, abilities, and special requirements. For this reason, anyone signed up to travel on a EuroCycler trip must complete all of the personal profiles prior to travelling.

Personal profiles may also be used to send you, via email, pertinent information about EuroCycler products and/or merchandise. Should you receive any such information, you will always be given the option to opt out in future.

Please note that we do reserve the right to share general demographic information with our current or potential suppliers.

Managing bookings and waitlists
Once you have booked a spot on a EuroCycler trip or added yourself to one of our waitlists, you will be able to view and manage that information from the member's center toolbox.

For bookings, in particular, you will be able to fill in your travel plans to and from the EuroCycler destination as and when they become available. You can monitor the status of your payment and complete any outstanding payments. You can also contact EuroCycler with questions about your booking.

Any waitlists to which you have added yourself will also appear in your member's toolbox for you to view and review.

Forum Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why can't I access all the forums that I can see?
   Some of the forums are reserved for members with a preferred or a VIP membership level. To learn how to increase your membership level, please review "How and why do I increase my member level?" above.



2. Do I have to register to use the forums?
   You can read posts in a few forums without registering. However, if you want to take part in any discussions you will need to create an account.



3. How do I change information in my forum profiles?
   Remember, your forum profiles are separate from your EuroCycler personal profiles. Forum profiles exist simply for the purpose of you identifying yourself a little more clearly to other forum users. To edit forum profile information, go to the Control Panel link and select the appropriate field to edit.



4. What is the signature for?
   This is a piece of text that you would like to be inserted at the end of all your posts, a little like having headed note paper.
   
   If the administrator has enabled signatures, then you will have the option to include your signature on any posts you make. If you have specified a signature, then the forum will automatically append your signature to any messages you post. The signature is edited in the profile section of the control panel.



5. What are Avatars?
   Avatars are small pictures which show next to your username in the forum when you make a post. You may either upload an image file for your avatar or use one publicly available at an address on the web. Please note, image size should be 80x80 pixels.



6. What are the buddy and ignore lists?
   The buddy list is used to keep track of the friends you have made on this forum. You'll be able to see which of your friends are currently online, and be able to send them a private message. Adding people to your buddy list also allow you to send private messages to multiple forum members at the same time. You may add any member of the forums to your buddy list by clicking this button in a member's posts.
   
   Ignore lists are used for those people who's messages you wish not to read. By adding someone to your ignore list, those messages posted by these individuals will be hidden when you read a thread.



7. What are Private Messages for?
   Private messages work a little like email, but are limited to registered members of this forum. You may be able to include board Code, smilies and images in private messages that you send - just like you can when posting.
   
   Use the control panel to track your private messages, check your inbox or review your sent items. The functionality is similar to that of an email client on your desktop.



8. What are announcements?
   Announcements are special messages posted by the administrator or moderators. They are designed to be a simple one-way communication with the users. If you wish to discuss announcements, you will have to create a new thread in the forum, since you cannot reply to announcements.



9. How do I rate a thread?
   You may find a small menu on thread pages which allows you to 'Rate this This Topic' with a number between 1-5.
   
   Casting a vote for threads you view is entirely optional, but if you think that the thread is superb, you might rate it as a 5-star thread, or if you think that it's unspeakably dismal, you might choose to rate the thread with a single star.
   
   Once enough votes have been cast for the thread rating, you may see a set of stars appear with the title of the thread in the thread listings. These stars reflect the average vote cast, and can allow you to quickly see which threads are worth reading.



10. What is topic subscription?
    Topic subscription allows you to add your name to a list of forum users who will be automatically notified via email of replies to the subscribed topic. To create a subscription, while viewing a topic, select "Subscribe to Topic" from "Topic Options".



11. Formatting Buttons and Clickable Smilies
    When creating a post, you will use a special post editor that allows you to create formatted posts. Most of the buttons will be familiar from your use of Word Processing programs. You may also insert links and images within a post.
    
    To use the clickable smilies, simply click the smiley that you want to insert into your message.



12. What Are Attachments?
    The administrator may allow you to use the attachment feature of this forum, which gives you the ability to attach files of certain types to your posts. This could be an image, a text document, a zip file etc. There will be a limit to the file size of any attachments you make, as the forums should not be used as an extension of your hard disk!
    
    Attachments can be appended to posts after clicking the attachment checkbox prior to making a post.



13. What Are Moderators?
    Moderators oversee specific forums. They generally have the ability to edit and delete posts, move threads, and perform other manipulations. Becoming a moderator for a specific forum is usually rewarded to users who are particularly helpful and knowledgeable in the subject of the forum they are moderating.