triathloner

I let my issue of bicycling magazine expire after 5 years, I actually enjoyed some of the stories, but too many recycled articles about bike handling, commuting, clothing, and not stop adds made me let it go. So are there any out there that you like? I'd like something that is monthly or there abouts. I like the human interest type stories a lot more than new bikes, gear. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks. AL.

MrEss

I like Bicycle Quarterly, but not quite enough to subscribe to it. There are a bunch of back issues I plan to buy, though.

Very few ads. Not as freqent as you'd like. Maybe 50% focus on gear, though at least it isn't just "look what Shimano released last week". The editor really really loves fat tires, steel bikes, and long distance.

bikingshearer 

I've pretty much given up on all of them on any regular basis. Bicycling (or as wags have called it, BuyCycling) pretty recycles the same stories every two or three years or so, like just about every other hobbyist mag. I am interested in racing, but not so much that I want to read VeloNews or Cycle Sport or Procycling cover to cover - I can get the comparatively little I want on line. I am not interested in reviews of the latest CF frame or 53-speed electronically controlled drive train or new-age jersey made from threads spun from Mongolian yak dung, and that cuts out a larve percentage of what fills the pages of most bike mags. There are some fine periodicals out there that go in-depth about the technical side of cycling, but they tend to get into a level of engineering detail that is waaaaay over my head. That is not at all a bad thing, just not my cup of tea.

Another problem - the quality of the writing is often not that great. I don't expect the Great American Novel, but it would be nice to read something other than Marketing 101-speak tweeked slightly to include cycling buzz words. To my ear, day-of articles about major races tend to read like reasonably well done "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" essays. You know, "On Day One, I went to the ol' swimming hole. I wanted to stay longer, but Mom made me come home and help catch the dog. The next day, . . . ." Informative, but a tad turgid in a way that is just inherent in the beast.

When I did read cycling mags regularly, the stuff I liked best was the history articles. Reading about Coppi v. Bartali, Merckx v. Ocana, that sort of thing, was and remains fun for me. I also enjoyed Maynard Hershon's columns, but that was a fair number of moons ago.

triathloner

Pretty much hit the nail on the head there bikingshearer, but I find I need to have a hard copy of some type of cycling magazine in hand when I head into the "head" TMI?

Chombi

I used to love "Winning" magazine back in the mid to late 80's. Don't really buy the new mags anymore as I don't like the new bikes.......
If someone would publish a nice C&V magazine one day, that would really be great!

Chombi

sloar 

bicycling times magazine is pretty cool, i dont have a subscription but i always check it out at the bookstores. not sure how many times a year it comes out though...

WickedThump

I've been out of the loop as far as whats new and current since the early 90's when I subscribed to Mountain Bike Action. I have a sub for Bicycling magazine, and it's pretty good for keeping up on what's new as well as the rehashes of common knowledge that I'd forgotten all about. That said, once the sub runs out I think I'll get Outside magazine instead.

puchfinnland

Heck Im from Finland and I think its the most fresh rag out there,
normal people,city bikes, unusual bikes,great stories.

road bike rags are so boring-

Savagewolf

Chalk up another for Bicycling Times. I always find a couple articles that are very interesting to read, and it seems to be more about cycling than many other magazines (in which cycling comes in second to merchandising).

browngw 

Bicycle Times has been my favourite for a few years now. I found the back issues even better than the current. Some of the articles on trips have inspired me to see some new places. This Sunday a friend and I are on our way to ride part of the Great Allegheny Passage, a trip that was sparked by an article about a family who travelled from Pittsburg to DC with their children.


I also started a subscription to Momentum Magazine (smart living by bike) 5 issues per year. Its interesting but tends to merchandise style and fashion for the urban rider. Still well worth the $.

gomango 

I pick up three electronically for the iPad.

Rouleur https://www.rouleur.cc/

Privateer https://www.rouleur.cc/privateer-10

and Peloton https://www.pelotonmagazine.com/

I always find an article or two that are decent in every issue.

Also, my next door neighbor picks up Bicycle Quarterly and gives it to me after he finishes it.

I find myself gawking at bicycles with very fat tires, fenders, and crazy priced baggage after every issue.

cb400bill

I also like Bicycle Times. I like the articles about real world use of real world bikes, clothes, etc.

ftwelder

I am a member of "veterans cycle club". An international bicycle club based in the UK. Any bicycle or cyclist is welcomed in the club and on rides though they are vintage oriented. They produce two publications each quarter outlining club events, meets, discoveries and the study of historic material. They are cool with typed letters but also have an extensive on-line library of catalogs and historic literature available for members.

Though my collecting interests are a bit more "continental" I find the culture to be everything a bike club should be though I don't participate (as of yet) in club activities. The publications cover technical material, racing history and literature authenticity/accuracy as well as specific brand information.

There was recently an article covering the Malliard empire and all the related products/brands. I have read it at least 100 times.

KvltBryce

I'd like to know the names of these (scientific journals?) if you could recall them. I luff me some science.

bibliobob

1) Bicycle Quarterly - subscription

2) Peloton - occasional supermarket purchase

sportridertex

Bicycle Times I am subscribed too

markk900

+100 for Bicycle Times....and its companion Dirt Rag is also great. I haven't subscribed to Bicycling since the early 70s, but since I kept them you could say I still have a subscription as I pull an old issue out at least once a month and read it (back in the days it looks like it was produced on a mimeograph machine).....

AZORCH

I subscribe to Bicycle Times on my iPad but get the old school (printed with real ink on real paper!) Bicycle Quarterly in the mailbox. For very different reasons, both of these really appeal to me. The history pieces in BQ are excellent and I've sort of drank the Koolaid (more or less) when it comes to Jan's take on bikes, tires, etc. On the other hand, BT is pretty unpretentious and a lot of fun to read.

I let Bicycling lapse and just never looked back.

Whit51 

You can get older back issues of Bicycle Times for 99 cents on Apple Newstand. Hard to pass up.

mobilemail

+1 Bicycle Times
If you join Adventure Cycling, their Adventure Cyclist magazine is a little thin, but good.
I recently saw a new mag called "Paved" at the bookstore, from the publishers of Bike magazine. It looked interesting.
Bicycling has been trying to become more relevant, but the two lengths of articles found within are short and blip.
If you don't mind e-mags, look up Momentum Magazine and Urban Velo online - free! I believe the original publisher of Recumbent Cyclist News also put some of his old issues online.
Also check your bike shop to see if they distribute Recumbent & Tandem Rider Magazine (I think it is still published).

As for me, I came by about three years of old mags (Bicycle Guide, Bicycling, Mountain Bike Action and a few others) ranging roughly 88-91. There really was better journalism then. And its fun to see full rigid MTBs and steel pro road bikes!

Gary Fountain

RIDE - Aussie mag and always with a great C&V feature article by one of Australia's most knowledgable bike enthusiasts.

Box worthy

I agree with above quote. With thier reviews of stuff you can tell by the text that really did spread some time with and have real world experance as oppose to just give it a glance over.

3alarmer 

RobbieTunes 

Bicycle Times and Peloton.

I subscribe to Bicycling, but only when I get the year for $11, though I did just agree to get their training guide, preparing for next year's "season." I'll compare it to Dave Scott's training manual ($3-$7 on line) and see if things have changed.

I agree that Bicycle Guide was a lot better, years ago. I liked the counterpoints on bike tests, and the long-term tests with several writers weighing in. I've found some of their older takes on current C&V bikes to be pretty accurate.

Even Bicycle Times and Peloton have the cut and paste descriptions of new bikes you find everywhere. Their other articles tend to overcome that. The Times has a decidedly liberal slant in some areas that have nothing to do with bikes, but I read it, anyway. Peloton is more interesting, to me, and I'm not surprised Grady found it readable.

Does anyone else think iab may be Yehuda Moon?

I'm trying to find WNBR Quarterly.
For the articles, of course.

mickey85

I like Momentum.