Don’t you think though that many of the magazines out there are writing more to the fantasy aspect of cycling?
I would be willing to bet that most of the people who buy that type of magazine in the OP, can’t afford most of the bicycles talked about in them. But, love to read about the latest and greatest “Toy” bicycle out there.
The “Boy if I had that” fantasy. If I had the new $7000.00 super ninja carbon fiber ultra bike, with the radar jamming phramice, and the latest ultra wicking lycra low drag coefficient super kit, and half ounce nano tube super helmet… I would be faster than the wind.
I really think that is who most magazines are aimed at personally, very few people want to read about something they already have, or is a day to day item, so in many ways a magazine become almost like a catalog, or wish book. The magazine just aims at a target market… whether they are Cycling Magazines, Car Magazines, Fashion Magazines… and so on.
If we all just wanted practical advice, magazines like Consumer Reports would be the most popular magazine in the world.
As for Car Drivers marginalizing bicyclist… Car Drivers marginalize anything else they have to share the road with including each other. (period)