[IanHighfield]

A friend just gave me the December 09 and Jan/Feb 10 issues of Bicycling. I've never seen this magazine before and do not read cycling magazines of any kind.

I'm not one for bike shops and do not follow all the latest trends. Only time trialling really interests me and so the rest of the industry holds little appeal.

That said, it's little wonder (now for me) so many people on this forum are so preoccupied with frame material and doo-dads. These mags are little more than advertising vehicles. The articles are few and largely goofy. But the adds for every kind of shiny bobble amaze me. No wonder a person would be so consumed with what his bike is made of.

Funny part is all the top bikes are the fastest bike. I'm not sure that's possible. But the adds say they are. Lance's Trek is the stiffest, yet I've ridden a Madone and thought it mushy crap. Specialized has their version of the fastest bike with great pictures to prove it. Same with all the other makers.

Then there was an article about custom makers touting their version of the fastest bike with the best ride. All of them. How can this be?

Don't get me started with clothing and energy drinks. Get this wrong and you will not make it home from your next century. (or so they tell me in the mag) All of this with great photos of pretty people. Those I ride with are not very pretty.

I understand it is the way of the world. But now I understand the anxiety riders have when making decisions about what they should ride or how they should train or eat. We see it all over the forum and I think it's largely because of the tidal wave of advertising nonsense.

Here's my idea of cycling for idiots. (like me)

Get as light as you can.
Ride any bike make over 600 dollars.
Don't worry about food type, just calorie intake - see rule one.
Forget LSD unless riding slow is what you aim for. Train hard all the time.
Wear tight outfits in competition for aero. Otherwise anything is fine.
Don't ride recumbents.

That's about it. Doesn't make for much of a magazine but it will make you a more relaxed and quicker cyclist with extra coin in your pocket.

That's about it. Next week we discuss the Middle East and how easy that could be if only they'd listen to me.

[Industry_Hack]

You should attend Interbike.

[lotek]

The last good magazine was Asphalt which lasted maybe 5 issues, it was an attempt
at real world cycling, and testing.

[jeepster93]

I have "Bicycling" comming to the house.
Got it as a deal of the day for $2.99 a year.
Cheap at that even though it is, as you say, a 150 page add for crap.
After the 6 bucks I have invested expires, I'll be done with them.

I also take Runners World.
Runners world spent 5 pages in the last issue talking about how some celeb is sooo cool because he runs.
WHAT? WHO CARES?

I was getting a mag for Jeeping, called JP. Canceled it after a couple years as the mag just mouthpeiced the advertisers. It became so apparent that the editorial content was affected by advertisers.


I think I'm glad I'm not in the paper magazine business right now, going the way of newspapers.

[cowboycharlie]

I used to pick up Dirt Bike Rag (Dirt Bike Rag) but recently the quality of the articles is really poor.

Lately I've been reading MBR instead.

[funetical]

I'd buy it Ian. Once.

Charlie I got a copy of it from a bike shop around here once and wasn't to impressed myself.
I feel the same way Ian does though the bike culture. Give me two wheels and open road.I'll get the rest worked out.

[HandsomeRyan]

I was published in the Dec 09 issue of Bicycling. I can't remember which page but it is on the page where they discuss various rides around the country. You'll know which was my writing since you know my name is Ryan.

[/off topic bragging]

[djcyberlegend]

Originally Posted by HandsomeRyan

I was published in the Dec 09 issue of Bicycling. I can't remember which page but it is on the page where they discuss various rides around the country. You'll know which was my writing since you know my name is Ryan.
< snip >

Next time I go to the library I'll be sure to check it out...

[Industry_Hack]

The last time I was published, it was a photo in a motorcycle magazine, in 1992 or so.

[Nigal]

Bicycling is OK but it's geared more towards Freds and all high end bikes. Not much there for me gear wise. Dirt Rag is pretty good but that publisher's new magazine is the best I've seen. Bicycle Times Magazine. It's all about real world biking, commuting, utility bikes and the like. It is just the magazine I've been waiting for.

Bicycle Times Magazine | We Are Living In Bicycle Times