TheCyclePeople.com is already a pretty comprehensive site for cyclists. You can search for a local bike shop, (approx 4,500 US shops listed!) check out the 20,000+ product listings, or even find a bike tour and accommodation nearly anywhere on the planet.
So how did they improve the site? The updated their forums to the latest version of the vBulletin software. This new version adds networking options, allowing to users to add Contacts & Friends, create Social Groups, and upload and maintain photos with the Pictures & Albums option. Not only that, but they’ve removed some of the ads to make the forums wider, and improved the layout.
Pretty sweet for a free site that even offers free public or private forums for bike clubs and charities, and has actual dealers participate in answering product questions. Check it out!