chaadster

I was gifted a Bicyling subscription back during the holidays, and man, month after month, that rag is choked full of +$5k, $8k, and $10k off-the-peg bikes; it's remarkable (to me) that's the state of the industry.

It's not remarkable for the fact that some people spend that kind of money on bikes-- I cannot, but I get people have wealth-- but rather that Bicyling is trading on this notion of "the glamour of the unobtainable." Bicycling, the activity, always has seemed a little more rooted in the realities of practicality than, say, clothing fashion. I guess I was wrong!

Yes, I certainly like stuff I can't afford, and I think I'm an optimistic dreamer, but I guess I'm out of sync with what Bicycling is up to. The bike reviews barely talk about the bikes and their ride qualities, usually there are only a couple of glamour pics which don't reveal much detail about the bikes, and the overarching theme of the mag seems like image-oriented lifestyle stuff...of a type I can't afford and can barely imagine.

Anyway, I just wanted to rant a bit, because it's really weird to read through a magazine and come away feeling...empty, I guess is the word. Sure, I learn about brands, but I don't learn about the details which make bikes and bike stuff cool, or which (to me) gives them value. I like shiny stuff as much as the next person, but Bicycling seems to be so facile.

indyfabz

Why would you ever want to feel like a broke dirtbag?


And....Subscribed. Let the "class warfare" begin!

AlmostTrick

I enjoy looking through BuyCycling magazine, but it usually only takes about 10 minutes for me to get through and be done.


I also could easily afford a "+$5k, $8k, and $10k bike", but won't because I see no good reason to do so when my wants and needs can be met for so much less. I'm glad others find value in them though, and they're still fun to look at... even if only for a few minutes.

jorglueke

Could it e more a reflection of the magazine and advertising industry? Advertisers probably pay more for a 53 year old that just bought a $8k bike than a college student with no disposal income. They've probably done surveys of their readers and advertisers and this is the most profitable model.

I'm working on a 40 year steel old frame I got for $100, so I'm a better audience for Obsolete Bicycle Parts Magazine

cyccommute 

But how is Bicycling magazine any different from car, camera, boat, flyfishing, sail, kiteboards, ski, or outdoor magazines? All of them review the best...and most expensive... that manufacturers have to offer while ignoring the economical. Does Car and Driver or Motor Trend review Nissan Versa, Ford Fiesta, Chevy Spark, etc? Does Fly Fisherman review fly rods and reels or waders from Helmart or Dick's Sporting goods? They all review the best of the best with, perhaps, an occasional dip into the "economic" offerings but not often.

Cyclist0108

It is kind of a good read if you are trapped in a middle seat on an airplane with insufficient space to open your laptop because the guy in front of you wants to put his head into your lap. In that case, it does provide an alternative to reading the fine print on the barf bag, especially now that we no longer have the SkyMall catalogue.

bikemig 

The fine print on the barf bag has more usable information than Bicycling does. Bicycling has better pictures so I guess it's a wash.

Stratocaster

I actually considered starting a thread about the current Bicycling Mag...but didn't want to come off sounding like a "broke dirtbag" or like I had a bone to pick with expensive bikes and those that buy/ride them. And I understand the various business reasons for focusing on the expensive bikes.

My take was that I found it sort of "funny" how the mag attempts to "guide" those looking for a certain bike for a certain reason...and then make it seem that, for the most part, buying a $2500+ bike is the best route.
I enjoyed checking out all the eye candy. And also sort of chuckled at the attempt.

Trakhak

Inflation calculator:

https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc...973&year2=2017

Milton Keynes

I don't always trust reviews in magazines because some magazines give every product they review glowing reviews just to keep the advertising bucks flowing in.

jefnvk

Not just the mags. I watched a LBS employee sell a retired couple who proclaimed these were their first bikes since they were children some CF suspension MTBs for the occasional rail trail ride. Then again, they were in an $80k luxury car, the couple grand they dropped was probably negligible to them.

When I wanted to get back into biking and was looking for a road bike, I was repeatedly told that I should be considering, at a minimum, a 105 equipped full carbon bike, that I'd be disappointed by anything else. That came from multiple LBS and a couple cycling friends. I really had no desire to drop $1500+ on the bike alone (or with accessories, for that matter), so I stayed away. In the end, it was simply bad advice that kept me away from the sport for another season. Then again, it did teach me valuable mechanical skills to overhaul my ratty old MTB for the occasional MUP at that time, which lead to a C&V problem, so I'm not sure if I should hate or thank them!

Leebo

OP, counting 8 bikes on your sig line. Winning! And some nice ones too. Do you race for a living? If not, enjoy. And throw that trash mag away. Some rich DR wishes he could ride as much as you do.

rydabent

+1 on your post.The price of most of those delicate plastic CF bike are laughable. They may be great for race teams, but not the average week end bike rider.

Rollfast

I AM a broke dirtbag, so I save the money.

BlazingPedals

I haven't read Buycycling in years, because I consider it functionally irrelevant and I don't wish to support such poor journalism. WRT the $10,000 bikes - what do you expect when the industry ad reps write all the script?

Hiro11

In fairness, all cycling, auto, audio etc journalists are guilty of this. Bike magazine posted a video last month where they ridiculously called a $5K carbon mountain bike a "working man's bike". Most road cycling mags review only top end builds with Dura Ace and 404s as standard. Mountain biking reviews typically stick to ultra high end carbon sleds with Eagle.

To me, it's more remarkable when journalists acknowledge that the actual market for $5k+ bikes is relatively tiny. For example, in a rare sign of honesty BikeRadar recently noted that their review of a $10K+ Intense enduro bike was essentially meaningless as a practical buying guide as almost no one would actually buy such a bike.

chaadster

Ha! I neither race for a living nor ride as much as I'd like to, and I do try to enjoy, so I guess it's a wash between me and the rich physician, although they do enjoy retirement security which I, at present, do not!

thin_concrete

Agreed - Bycycling to me is just bike porn.

I-Like-To-Bike

The same type of "journalism" as found in Motor Trend, et al.

maartendc

I mean, like someone said before: Cycling has sadly become a material sport, where it used to be a physical sport.

I think most people get too hyped up about the materials and the bikes. They get brainwashed by the marketing, about the new bike that will be "even stiffer, even lighter, blablabla".

Obviously if you are racing you want the best equipment, but if you just ride recreationally, a more expensive bike wont buy you more enjoyment.

Spoonrobot 

This right here.

The industry is bad, the users are worse. 99.9% of cyclists have no idea what makes a good derailleur or shifter or anything else but they're sure going to tell you about how 105 is the bare minimum and any below that is barely functional crap.

FWIW, Car and Driver used to review all sorts of cars, vans and trucks. However, after the recession and the explosion of the internet that came with wide-access high speed internet the only companies sinking money into print are high end marquees.

The only magazines I read are...oh wait I just read blogs, forums and watch youtube videos because that's where all the good info is now.

drlogik 

Bicycling and most of the other magazines are fairly lean on good material to read. I like Peloton the best. It always has great articles and photography. Road Bike is pretty good most months and Velo News is my staple...but even it seems a little thin the last few issues.

As far as those reviews on expensive bikes, it's no different than Road & Track reading about a Fearri compared to a Lamborghini. No, I can't buy either one but it's fun reading about them. I don't get all wound up over that. I like the articles about cycling, not just the ones about specific races olr racers but training articles, historical stories, etc. Peloton is especially good with the later.

smarkinson

Trickle down economics for me. All those dentists buying $5,000+ bikes means there's plenty money for companies to make nice bikes down below $2,000 which non-serious cyclists (or are they really serious?) can buy. Why buy Dura-Ace when you can get 105 for 1/4 the price and you still get 99% the performance?

sdmc530

This^^^^




Like owning a Ford Taurus and reading hot rod mags.....( I unfortunately drive a Ford Taurus.)

cyccommute 

Bicycling has always been a material sport. For example this ad for a 1947 Monark Silver King talks about "Out front on every count...Faster, stronger, easier" and it's for a cruiser. This ad for a 1894 Crescent Scorcher says it's "The Leading Wheel of the Year!" The $90 price tag would translate to $2700 today. And that's for a bike that's a glorified track bike!

Bikes have also always been driven by weight. That Scorcher touts it's weight as only 25 lb