I’m sure this doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone: Bicycling Magazine is nearly worthless. I took advantage of the deal posted on this form and figured what do I have to loose. I received two issues two days ago and have since thrown them in the trash. With magazines you expect advertisements, which is part of the fun anyway, but I was surprised by how many automobile adverts there were; if I’’m not mistaken the first ad in one of the issues was a car ad. The graphics are loud and draw attention away from the articles, as if it’s designed to be looked at and not read. Reading is the real problem I have. The articles aren’t written, they’re just typed. They lack depth or original voice. Short and sweet, they seemed geared to a squirrel monkey after two espressos. I know it’s a magazine for neophytes, but come one, with a subject matter such as bicycles, a passion for many of us, why published this watered down rag? There is so much more they could do.
RegularGuy
03-08-05, 11:06 AM
Why tell us? Here you are preaching to the choir.
Tell them.
lotek
03-08-05, 11:15 AM
I stopped getting Bicycling about 3 years ago (I think), on a lark
I picked one up at 1/2 priced books 2 weeks ago. Same bad articles
about ride your best century in 2 weeks, how to eat right and
dress like a poesinger (sic).
I bought a Cycling + (plus) last week, uk mag. Good writing, diverse
subjects (fixie, track, road, audax etc) but my god, the layout must
have been done by a guy coming off 16 day run of black beauties.
Hard to read, garish, photo's under text. . . makes it difficult
at best to read.
Marty
webist
03-08-05, 11:27 AM
Took an intro offer a few years ago. Read the first two. Thought I was reading the same issue twice. Threw away the rest after scanning for new material without reading them and did not renew.
skitbraviking
03-08-05, 02:10 PM
I took the same deal.
I like it for some of the health stuff and other sound-bite-length snippets. But that's about it.
Fugazi Dave
03-08-05, 04:16 PM
Bicycling has for a while now been in the same category for me as magazines like Popular Photography. That is, pointless to read, a waste to be printed in the first place.
ultra-g
03-08-05, 04:36 PM
Yeah, I bought their last 2 issues, the "sex issue" and the "Biketown USA" issue and they both sucked sh-it. The ads were more interesting than the articles (I noticed ads for car racks, but I supposed the car ads were for Subarus or something right?)
They're just a run-of-the-mill magazine that caters to housewives and old men.
Even their 2005 product review magazine sucks.
Artmo
03-08-05, 05:42 PM
Just like US boating mags :) And why the h^%l do they organize almost all US magazines so that you have to turn to page after page throughout the mag to complete an article. Drives me nuts.
ultra-g
03-08-05, 05:46 PM
Pro Cycling is good, all racing coverage... it's a UK magazine though, so the ads have sh-it you can't get easily over in the U.S.
auk
03-08-05, 06:19 PM
Bicycling mag is great bathroom reading. Flip the pages while business is conducted.
sbeatonNJ
03-08-05, 07:01 PM
Bicycling magazine runs on 2 year cycles and before I elaborate let me say I read this somewhere else last year so its not my own observation but having subcribed for over two years their point has proven true. Over the course of 2 years they cover certain subjects that would be of interest to a newbie, century training, repair topic, etc. Having been a subcriber for more than two years I can that it is the same info repeated over and over, with some exceptions. I prefer Dirt Rage, The Ride, Cycling Plus, the Adventure Cycling mag, and Dig BMX for reading.
IchbinJay
03-18-05, 08:26 PM
I agree...in fact I can't find a cycling magazine out there that appeals to your regular enthusiast. I mean, yeah of course eating fast food is gonna affect your stamina...who are we? They rarely ever deal with safety issues, advocacy, products that we can afford and the like of them. It would be nice to have a magazine that had more in depth coverage of what people like us were doing with their bikes in succesful ways. Who can relate to Lance Armstrong and Marco? Anyone?
Karldar
03-19-05, 07:59 AM
I had a subscription to Bike for several years until I needed the money for bills. Great pictures.;) I liked the writing, too. Plus, I don't ride road so I didn't feel like I was missing anything. Used to subscribe to Bicycling, too, years ago when I raced. Some decent articles, but no "heart" to speak of. Bah!
powers2b
03-31-05, 12:46 PM
After reading an issue at the library I got so disgusted I wrote them a strongly worded e-mail.
Enjoy
Guest
03-31-05, 01:34 PM
I think they actually tried harder for April's issue. I actually still haven't read through it all, but I have to say, the writing is still so dry my skin is nearly flaking off! Damn, don't they have good writers like from the December issue when the guy wrote about Pantani?
Koffee
skydive69
03-31-05, 01:50 PM
I’m sure this doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone: Bicycling Magazine is nearly worthless. I took advantage of the deal posted on this form and figured what do I have to loose. I received two issues two days ago and have since thrown them in the trash. With magazines you expect advertisements, which is part of the fun anyway, but I was surprised by how many automobile adverts there were; if I’’m not mistaken the first ad in one of the issues was a car ad. The graphics are loud and draw attention away from the articles, as if it’s designed to be looked at and not read. Reading is the real problem I have. The articles aren’t written, they’re just typed. They lack depth or original voice. Short and sweet, they seemed geared to a squirrel monkey after two espressos. I know it’s a magazine for neophytes, but come one, with a subject matter such as bicycles, a passion for many of us, why published this watered down rag? There is so much more they could do.
I get it because as I guy who cycles almost every day, and loves the sport, I always hope there will be a pearl in there. It is a rarity unfortunately.
EventServices
03-31-05, 01:56 PM
I disagree. "Bicycling" has a strong and powerful audience. If it's not for you, don't try to take it down. Just find something you like.
Their information is sound. Their writing is top notch. They've earned their spot on the rack, without question!
Guest
03-31-05, 02:18 PM
Alright. I'll wager that strong writing with a Cycling Plus, and raise you a VeloNews.
Koffee
Chris L
03-31-05, 02:34 PM
And why the h^%l do they organize almost all US magazines so that you have to turn to page after page throughout the mag to complete an article. Drives me nuts.
I think this is done purely to stop people reading the article at a news stand without actually buying the magazine -- or perhaps it's done so that they'll see more ads if the only read one or two articles.
Either way, this is hardly limited to Bicycling Magazine. I think you'll find most cycling magazines are generally the same, trotting out the same articles time and again (about a two year cycle), rehashing press releases in the "reviews" section, filling it with ads, and as mentioned earlier, a generally poor level of writing. However, let's look at the facts here -- their income comes from advertising. I suspect the only reason they bother putting a $7.95 price-tag on it (or whatever it is) is that people tend to place more credence on information if they have to pay for it and are hence more likely to read it than if it were given freely (and thus more likely to look at the ads). If you don't believe me, take a look at your local "free" newspaper compared to the one you have to pay for -- who has the higher circulation figures?
I read a comment from a magazine editor a couple of years ago (may or may not have been Bicycling Magazine) which basically said that they expect most people will stop reading their magazine after a couple of years, simply due to already having the information they want, this is why they re-hash the old articles in a slightly different guise.
Personally, I just obtain the reading that I want from the Internet. I can go to cyclingnews.com for the lastest racing results if I choose, I can read about touring over at crazyguyonabike.com or numerous other sites, I can access a local mailing list for advocacy news, and there are any number of "how-to" articles on line regarding practical cycling issues. If not, I'll just post the question here and sift through the answers I get.
EventServices
03-31-05, 07:25 PM
I'll see your VeloNews and raise you a Winning - Bicycle Racing Illustrated.
I'm sure you remember that one!
Guest
04-01-05, 10:07 PM
Nope. It must be during your generation.... ;)
Koffee
cyclezealot
04-01-05, 10:11 PM
I agree mostly..Yet, this latest issue..Like the ocassional decent story...Like the story about Custom built bikes for large riders and the story about Cuban riding.
Guest
04-01-05, 10:14 PM
I thought the Cuban riding was just light fluff. It isn't cool when they break up a story with pictures like we're in kindergarten.
The custom built bikes was just boooooooooring. There are better articles out there on how to build the Death Star with Legos.
Koffee
cyclezealot
04-01-05, 10:23 PM
Koffee..Guess, I wanted to pictorially see what a friend of mine, Myron- would have seen , if the US government had allowed his 'cultural bike tour' of Cuba to go on..they did not..He was slated to do such a trip..Would like to see Cuba before the bulldozers destroy it...
Guest
04-01-05, 10:56 PM
No problem. I like pictures. But that's no article. It's pictures with captions.
Koffee
Pita
06-13-05, 10:22 AM
Bicycling did do an interesting article on the ninety year old ex racer still hard core
cyclist who made his own pasta,grew his own vegetables.I thought that was pretty
inspirational and hope if I'm lucky to live to live that long that I'll be healthy and still
riding.Off the top of my head I don't recall his name but that was an article that
resonated with me.