Why don't you buy bike magazines?

[Ian]

I buy the odd bike magazine, and currently subscribe to Cranked. I don't agree with the "I can get everything in a magazine off the internet" point of view. Sometimes it's nice to sit down in a quiet corner with a cup of tea/coffee/alcoholic beverage and a bike magazine and immerse yourself into words - or pictures - on a page. You can't get that off the internet Far more comforting than staring at a screen most of the time...

The media at large is having a harder time selling newspapers as there has been a significant shift towards getting that info off the internet. I never used to buy newspapers anyway, but I haven't taken up the habit of following news online either. Mostly because the rest of the world seems totally fecked up and I'd rather not read about it at all.

The run-of-the-mill bike mags will no doubt have a transient subscriber base as people get bored of the same old crap, but the magazine that constantly pushes fresh well composed and conceived content wins out in the long run. Singletrack used to do that, but now 100+ issues in, I'm not so sure - has it just developed its own flavour of same old, same old?

[johnnystorm]

For me it depends on the novelty. When I got back into biking I'd read *everything* going. Then, after a while you see the repetition, particularly "trail centre guide 20XX" and route maps. Though I do think it's a bit unfair to moan that it's that time of year for lights reviews as to be honest, it'd be daft reviewing warm layers and lights in the Summer (insert Uk weather gag of your choice). I have subs to ST and Cranked. Both represent good VFM to me and I personally don't see too much enduro in ST. I like Cranked as I liked Privateer, something in which cycling culture, not *bikes* was the focus.

I also much prefer to read on paper than a screen, short snippets are fine but a longer article, no thanks. I'm sure I'd get a sub to Bunyan Velo if it was on paper, I tried printing it but it's just awful.

[Solo]

I don't agree with the "I can get everything in a magazine off the internet" point of view. Sometimes it's nice to sit down in a quiet corner with a cup of tea/coffee/alcoholic beverage and a bike magazine and immerse yourself into words - or pictures - on a page. You can't get that off the internet Far more comforting than staring at a screen most of the time...

I agree. As much as a read here, STW and UK Fat Bikes regularly, there is something nice about chilling with a coffee and a bike mag. I have subs for Cyclist (keeps the roadie side of me happy) and ST.

[notinabox]

I still like STW in print. Recently enjoyed Grit.CX for the 'adventure' rides they feature. The likes of the others I dislike for the reasons Stuart has eluded to......

[Adventurer]

I used to buy mags but just was uninterested in much of the content.

Took me a while to wean myself off from them. Found that strange.

Now I go into the shop, look at the mags, look at the price and think I get better info from the Internet and it's free. I might only read a few pages of the mag anyway.
I think the prices for mags are just way too much.

But they must be making money from someone as there seems to be many more genres of cycling mags out at moment.
More money then sense.


On one hand it would be nice to see bikepacking in the mainstream and on the other I feel bikepacking should be left in the dark corner where many cyclists fear to go.
It will spoil the culture like I feel trail centres killed the pure MTBing that I used to love.
Bikepacking is what MTBing used to be like for me years ago.

There is one good thing for trail centres it keeps everyone consentrated to one area and keeps the really good areas quite for me.
(How did I get onto that from magazine preferences?)

Anyway, add up all your mag purchases over a year, it might be some stupid excessive amount of money that could have bought you a new sleeping bag or some other bikepacking gear.

[Dave Barter]

I am never scared the masses will head for bikepacking. Having done it

Basically it will get commercialised into ..... Campsites.

[Scattamah]

Basically it will get commercialised into ..... Campsites.

Indeed, because "Bus Shelters UK" (BSUK - acronym of the day) would make a rubbish magazine.

Greetz

S.

[danielgroves]

For me, it felt like I was reading the same issue every month. I used to subscribe to Singletrack, but just found myself reaching for my book instead. I've been thinking about giving Sidetracked or Another Escape a go though.

[composite]

I struggle with relevance in the main.
oooo the "£4000 long travel 29er shoot out", or the "£150 base layer trail test". *sigh*

For information I generally do subscribe to the notion that I can get it off the internet. Frankly I would trust the consensus of opinion on here more than I do any magazine that I have ever bought for reviews. The life style stuff, OK that can be interesting, but I actually prefer reading other normal peoples blogs about trips places. I tend to feel they are normally a better view of actually what it would be like for any of us to go visit. Not like bike mag writers where they always have a local show them round and tea and biscuits at the local bike shop....

None of the above is strictly true all the time but it's generally the reasons why I don't buy bike mags any more.

EDIT Sidetracked is great though, that is one I do like. Not really a bike though.