Bicycling Magazine subscription

Cori said:

Does anyone here also subscribe. I love the magazine, but the customer service stinks. I still
haven't received the April issue, despite two e-mails to the contrary. (They claim that shipping
will take 4 to 6 weeks.)

I've never had a problem. I'm not thrilled with the mag though, except for an occasional piece. But
I got a two year subscription on eBay for $10 so I don't complain too much. ;->

Art Harris

I'm letting my subscription run out this time. I'm less than thrilled with the new look. And the
buyers guide was a joke. I never ride off-road so that cuts out 50% of it. Remove all the
advertisements for carb-free beer and vehicles and that leaves you with 25% remaining. The last 25%
contains rehashed articles and snippets about nutrition, maintenance and "style".

On Fri, 25 Apr 2003 16:06:33 GMT, Cori <[email hidden]> wrote:

I too have had the exact same problem with them this month!

Quoted message said:

Does anyone here also subscribe. I love the magazine, but the customer service stinks. I still
haven't received the April issue, despite two e-mails to the contrary. (They claim that shipping
will take 4 to 6 weeks.)

Cori

I have fond memories of Bicycle Rider back in the mid-eighties. Well-written articles about the joys
of cycling and experiencing the world by bike. About all Bicycling magazine could ever muster was
articles about the joys of a new derailleur.

"Chris Zacho "The Wheelman"" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Nope. Only mag I "subscribe" to is Adventure Cyclist (comes with my membership). Before that, you
would have to go back to Bicycle Rider. Both touring magazines.

I used to subscribe to several bicycling mags; I out grew them after a while. You will likely do the
same, or just get bored with the repetition of the content.

Pictures are always good though. And, you can always catch up at the doctor or dentists office.

Cheers, Tp

Cori said:

Does anyone here also subscribe. I love the magazine, but the customer service stinks. I still
haven't received the April issue, despite two e-mails to the contrary. (They claim that shipping
will take 4 to 6 weeks.)

Cori

--

Tp

-------- __o ----- -\<. ------ __o --- ( ) / ( ) ---- -\<. ----------------- ( ) / ( )
---------------------------------------------

Freedom is not free; Free men are not equal; Equal men are not free.

TomP said:

I used to subscribe to several bicycling mags; I out grew them after a while. You will likely
do the same, or just get bored with the repetition of the content.

I'm new enough to it that I still like the mag. Hey, I realize that it's fluff, but there are worse
things out there to read, like the Enquirer.

I just wish I'd receive the fluff that I've paid for, in the month that it's published.

Cori

Try the Rivendell Reader for a real cycling magazine! "Cori" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone here also subscribe. I love the magazine, but the customer service stinks. I still
haven't received the April issue, despite two e-mails to the contrary. (They claim that shipping
will take 4 to 6 weeks.)

Cori

Quoted message said:

Try the Rivendell Reader for a real cycling magazine! "Cori" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone here also subscribe. I love the magazine, but the customer service stinks. I still
haven't received the April issue, despite two e-mails to the contrary. (They claim that shipping
will take 4 to 6 weeks.)

Cori

Does Barnes and Noble carry that? (I've NEVER seen it.)

C

If you're a roadie, the choices in magazines are pretty slim. Bicycling magazine is better than no magazine at all. At least you can read about new bikes and equipment, plus interesting rides to do. That's worth the cost of a subscription.

Cori <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone here also subscribe. I love the magazine, but the customer service stinks. I still
haven't received the April issue, despite two e-mails to the contrary. (They claim that shipping
will take 4 to 6 weeks.)

I read CyclingPlus, which is a British magazine. Much better than Bicycling; a fair balance between
racing, touring & commuting....

Bicycling suffers from being too performance-focused. If you aren't shaving your eyebrows off to
gain a picosecond on the next 50km TT, or riding off clifftops on a frame with enough suspension to
put the Golden Gate to shame, you're nobody. A real LycraLout rag.

There isn't much in the way of practical, sane advice on how to get around by bicycle.

Stateside, my local library gets it. I read it there, and it doesn't bug me that much.

[off-topic flamebait below, warning]

What is with American bike culture, anyway? In the US, bikes are either toys for kids or athletic
equipment. Everything is to a program; rides are "training rides", everything to maximize
performance....

-Luigi

dennisg said:

If you're a roadie, the choices in magazines are pretty slim. Bicycling magazine is better than no
magazine at all. At least you can read about new bikes and equipment, plus interesting rides to
do. That's worth the cost of a subscription.

Actually, there's a new road magazine coming out in the US called "Asphalt." It will feature
contributions by Owen Mulholland, Maynard Hershon, Ron Peterson, and others. It's quite pricey, but
is supposed to be high quality with no (or minimal) advertising.

See: asphaltmag.comfirstissue.htmOpen ↗

Art Harris

Quoted message said:

If you're a roadie, the choices in magazines are pretty slim. Bicycling magazine is better than no
magazine at all.

I decided several years ago that Bicycling was not a good thing. Too much hype and too little honest
evaluation.

Give me rec.bicycles.misc or rec.bicycles.tech any day.

Jon Isaacs

Art, thanks for the link to Asphalt. I just subscribed.

- Dennis in Seattle

"Harris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

dennisg said:

If you're a roadie, the choices in magazines are pretty

slim. Bicycling

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

magazine is better than no magazine at all. At least you

can read about

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

new bikes and equipment, plus interesting rides to do.

That's worth the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cost of a subscription.

Actually, there's a new road magazine coming out in the US

called "Asphalt."

Quoted message said:

It will feature contributions by Owen Mulholland, Maynard

Hershon, Ron

Quoted message said:

Peterson, and others. It's quite pricey, but is supposed

to be high quality

Quoted message said:

with no (or minimal) advertising.

See: asphaltmag.comfirstissue.htmOpen ↗

I dunno about this one:

"Out of the saddle efforts were markedly responsive. With the better weight distribution and the
titanium's springiness, I was able to react quickly and confidently to pack movements. In addition
while the titanium certainly absorbed a good amount of road shock, the QOR lacked that dulling feel
we often associate with carbon fiber. "

Same old, same-old. Give us a break, please!

Matt O.

Bicycling magazine is for whitey. Asphalt looks to be the same.

The sport needs to showcase more minorites.

--
home.sport.rr.comcuthuluOpen ↗ human rights = peace I'm wet! I'm wild!
12:07:39 AM 28 April 2003

Luigi de Guzman said:

[off-topic flamebait below, warning]

What is with American bike culture, anyway? In the US, bikes are either toys for kids or athletic
equipment. Everything is to a program; rides are "training rides", everything to maximize
performance....

You're right, unfortunately. In Europe, bikes are transportation, in the US they're recreation (this
is a generalization - there are European recreational riders, I'm sure, but it covers the general
situation).

There is definitely the view in the US that bicycles are something that children ride until they're
old enough to get their automotive driver's licenses, then quickly shed. It's a shame - bicycles are
a great way to get some exercise and fresh air while also accomplishing the goal of getting
somewhere! :-)

Don't ask me to explain my countrymen, but you've got an accurate view of the situation.

Mark

Mark from Agilent Technologies said:

Luigi de Guzman said:

[off-topic flamebait below, warning]

What is with American bike culture, anyway? In the US, bikes are either toys for kids or athletic
equipment. Everything is to a program; rides are "training rides", everything to maximize
performance....

You're right, unfortunately. In Europe, bikes are transportation, in the US they're recreation
(this is a generalization - there are European recreational riders, I'm sure, but it covers the
general situation).

There is definitely the view in the US that bicycles are something that children ride until they're
old enough to get their automotive driver's licenses, then quickly shed. It's a shame - bicycles
are a great way to get some exercise and fresh air while also accomplishing the goal of getting
somewhere! :-)

Don't ask me to explain my countrymen, but you've got an accurate view of the situation.

Bicycling's portrayal of American cycling is flawed.

Many poor people in America use bikes as transport. In my deep south community, poor mostly
translates into black minorities, which is a sham term here because blacks are a majority of my
city's population. On my commutes, I'll often hook up with people using bikes to get around as daily
transport.

Their bikes, though, aren't quite ready for the pages of Bicycling magazine. The longer a person has
been riding and/or the farther distances they commute, the better their bike tends to be. But none
of them are things of great beauty except to the owners.

Bicycling ignores that segment completely -- both poor and minorities. The big advertising money
comes from companies selling expensive toys to privileged white adults. So that is the market they
aim for. And thus, Bicycling is not an accurate portrayal of American cycling.

--
home.sport.rr.comcuthuluOpen ↗ human rights = peace Is this the line for the latest whimsical
YUGOSLAVIAN drama which also makes you want to CRY and reconsider the VIETNAM WAR?
1:45:36 PM 28 April 2003

Kevan Smith /\/\ said:

Bicycling's portrayal of American cycling is flawed.

Their goal is to sell magazines, not "portray cycling."

Are the cars in Car and Driver typical of what you see on the road?

Are the women in Penthouse typical... well you get my drift. <g>

Art Harris

"Kevan Smith" <[email hidden]/\/\> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 28 Apr 2003 11:43:11 -0400, Mark

<[email hidden]> from Agilent

Quoted message said:

Technologies said:

Luigi de Guzman said:

[off-topic flamebait below, warning]

What is with American bike culture, anyway? In the US,

bikes are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

either toys for kids or athletic equipment. Everything

is to a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

program; rides are "training rides", everything to

maximize

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

performance....

You're right, unfortunately. In Europe, bikes are

transportation, in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the US they're recreation (this is a generalization -

there are European

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

recreational riders, I'm sure, but it covers the general

situation).

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There is definitely the view in the US that bicycles are

something that

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

children ride until they're old enough to get their

automotive driver's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

licenses, then quickly shed. It's a shame - bicycles are

a great way to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

get some exercise and fresh air while also accomplishing

the goal of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

getting somewhere! :-)

Don't ask me to explain my countrymen, but you've got an

accurate view

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of the situation.

Bicycling's portrayal of American cycling is flawed.

Many poor people in America use bikes as transport. In my

deep south community,

Quoted message said:

poor mostly translates into black minorities, which is a

sham term here because

Quoted message said:

blacks are a majority of my city's population. On my

commutes, I'll often hook

Quoted message said:

up with people using bikes to get around as daily

transport.

Where in the Deep South do you live?

Quoted message said:

Their bikes, though, aren't quite ready for the pages of

Bicycling magazine. The

Quoted message said:

longer a person has been riding and/or the farther

distances they commute, the

Quoted message said:

better their bike tends to be. But none of them are things

of great beauty

Quoted message said:

except to the owners.

Bicycling ignores that segment completely -- both poor and

minorities. The big

Quoted message said:

advertising money comes from companies selling expensive

toys to privileged

Quoted message said:

white adults. So that is the market they aim for. And

thus, Bicycling is not an

Quoted message said:

accurate portrayal of American cycling.

You hit a big nail right on the head.

Even in oh-so-trendy southern CA, I bet there are more poor people riding bikes for transportation,
than Buycycling-type yuppies, and riding longer distances daily too. In my old neighborhood, there
was a steady stream of restaurant workers commuting home at 2am. I've talked to some of these people
-- a Newport Beach to Santa Ana commute (10-15 miles) is pretty common. The favored bike seems to be
a Pacific or Wal-Goose, usually fairly new, and in pretty good shape. Some of these guys are
actually pretty fast. Bus-bike commutes are pretty common too.

I would love to start a magazine or website featuring *all* cyclists, from around the world. Getting
magazine distribution is pretty tough these days. You're very limited with what you can do -- it's
kind of like getting radio airplay for musicians. If you don't have corporate backing and fit into
an established pigeonhole, you can pretty much forget the whole thing -- unless you have a huge
trust fund, and some good friends at a free-thinking publishing house.

So a website makes more sense, plus it could be read around the world. (Most poor folks with access
to magazines can probably also go to an internet cafe or library.) With current projects standing in
the way, I won't be getting into this for a couple of years, but it *is* something I'd like to do
eventually. I'm getting more seriously into cycling as a lifestyle as I get older.

BTW, Bike magazine, as originally conceived by Surfer Publications, was to feature all kinds of
cycling and cycling culture. But then mountain biking went from an adventure travel sport to a
canned consumer marketing phenomenon, and its fate was sealed.

I'd rather read about a day in the life of a pedi-cab driver in India than which kewl toonz some
racer dood lissenz to. And I find $4000 Ti bikes about as interesting as gold plated bathroom
fixtures, with which they have much in common.

Matt O.