I've come across quite a few negative comments about the contents of ST magazine.
lets stop moaning and give them some ideas!
what would you like to read in there?
heres my ideas:
1) Local rides/routes - ST meet with a reader at different parts of the country and ride with them on there local trails (with some interviews,local pubs etc thrown in too.
2)Real world bike test - High st ride - choose 3 bikes and test how they get on. xc race, downhill race - maybe get some pros involved to give in-depth/expert feedback. I'd personally like to read a little more about the bikes on all the adventure stuff.
3) Niche bike tests, could be fun
lets see if we can get one of our ideas published or better yet a regular feature!
What's ST magazine?
Standby.... 'There's a magazine?' is being added to the swear filter...
🙂
graas roots stuff, racing (not just the weekender), trail building, local access/ user conflict issues, developments in trail centre's, other innovative local groups that do more than moan on internet forums. some "watchdog" type stuff on why for example Fox forks stantions wear out so quickly are they "fit for purpose", other dodgy stuff i.e. dropper seatposts failing, frame failures, why does the UK accept shorter warranties than the US?
lets see if we can get one of our ideas published or better yet a regular feature!
you have two hope's and Bob is dead 😉
it continue to be the usual lifestyle guff, advertorial product tests, bits about the freebies they have been sent (fresh goods Friday in print)and stuff aboout some mega trip/ freebie someone has done. 😉
Standby.... 'There's a magazine?' is being added to the swear filter...
Easy on the trigger there cowboy. Genuine mistake, as I always thought it was STW magazine.
There's a magazine?
just testing 🙂
I like technical articles. Diagrams, maths, the sciency bit. Tread pattern designs, suspension paths plotted, damping technologies etc. It satisfies the geek in me.
Oh blimey, I've agreed with big_n_daft again.
there's a magazine?
kind of the same as stoner.
maybe a piece on the full design process of a top end bike or something.
i like the mag anyway though.
Harry_the_Spider - Member
Oh blimey, I've agreed with big_n_daft again.
bike jousting, it's the future! 😉
some good ideas there Big_n_Daft 😉
I personally cant be bothered reading all the lifestyle ride stuff about the weather/natural terrain etc! throw some info about the bikes on the ride and I'd be interested!
lets not get to a slagging match chaps - if you don't like a particular type of feature then get some ideas down on how you'd like to see it be improved or an alternative - lets keep this constructive ey 🙂
I think we need more ranting in there, like Benji's the other month.
That didn't half get a reaction. And he was right 😀
Maybe we could have a normal bike versus clown bike test. involving jousting or something
I like the idea of putting rumors to the test - vigorously test 29er wheels - do they really explode? sid forks - are they really made from cheese? carbon frames & stress fractures?
How about a calender with event dates? I also like the idea of local rides/routes.
I'd like to see a group test of all the MTB mags available in the UK. It would really help me decide which to buy.
real people races - round up some regular weekend warriors and throw them on a DH course or an XC course and watch the carnage - seriously document how they progress threw out the day.
skills - get someone who cannot wheelie / track stand / manual etc - get them some coaching and again document there progress threw out the day (could be a fun 1 pager)
big hitter bare knuckle boxing..
lolcats..
good ale guides..
recipes for game..
youtube links..
readers wives
Standby.... 'There's a magazine?' is being added to the swear filter...
Ho ho ho. What a card.
I'd quite like to see a 'Tested to Destruction' section where something really is abused until it breaks into a million tiny bits (or just breaks).
Things like, if you have some carbon forks with a '15 stone weight limit', what happens when a 22 stone man rides them into a kerb? What happens to a carbon frame if you ride it through flaming bales of hay? What happens to tyres if you fire sharpened shards of flint at them?
That sort of thing. Videos of the tests should also be made available to Premier members
A free Mint Sauce keyring?
Fewer niche bike tests. 😉
A retro bit would be good, I reckon. Just a few pages though.
thats already been done - its called Top Gear 😆 (used to be a good car program) 😆
They should force anyone who posts lap times for trail centre rides in this forum to enter a world cup XC race and then shoot them if they don't win and write an article about how utterly rubbish they are on a bike.....
stig on a mountain bike - get some celebrity mountain bikers and put them to the test around a xc course - or a full on celebrity race!
there should be at least one joke & puzzle 🙄
1) Local rides/routes - ST meet with a reader at different parts of the country and ride with them on there local trails (with some interviews,local pubs etc thrown in too.
+1 Like to see much more of this, combined with the test kit reviews ... produce broader articles that incorporate more topics of interest.
combine the two popart, have STW take a piece of kit to a reader to test on a local ride and compare with whatever they normally ride - whether it be a whole bike, or a part, or some clothing etc.
yeah even if your familiar with the featured trail - the local rider might throw up a magic unknown piece of the trail (get the local rider to draw up a map too)
I like it Stoner!
1) Local rides/routes - ST meet with a reader at different parts of the country and ride with them on there local trails (with some interviews,local pubs etc thrown in too.
They did this back in 2008. It was called "scenes" and I was in it! Then they dropped it.
something you did? 😯
[b]My #1 whinge with ST is where they print white font on a black page.
The font rendering is awful, esp. on the right-hand side of the column. It's a real strain for me to read and often I just give up.[/b]
Trailquesting. 😉
Do people actually read ST? Local rides led by local riders? Its in every issue fools.
In my opinion it needs more articles that are relevant to the majority of its audience. I've said it before and I'll say it again, [b]I[/b] don't want to read about riding the Iditabike or whatever its called. WTF would I want to ride a tractor bike in the snow in Alaska?
So, more UK riding articles incl. trail centres (theres enough riding in the UK to cover 2 UK rides each issue, surely?). Include more info on places to stay/eat etc.
Readers long term tests/reviews might work? People who might use the same bike/kit a couple of times a week for 6 months might be in a better position to give a view on something rather than a journos bike that has a constant swapping of kit / being ridden less in favour of other test bikes etc?
Group tests are good.
Less of the 1 page articles by 'your mates' who seem to do nothing but spout rubbish ramblings that are vaguely related to riding bikes. I've read more interesting stuff on the forum by the normal forum dwellers.
Nothing involving road or CX bikes. 29ers I accept now.
More 'from the heart' stuff like Ed's winning article a couple of years back and Ben's the other month. I'd much rather read things like that than guff about snow riding which seems to make an appearance in every issue I pick up.
Page 3 would be good, in the traditional sense.
[b]
[/b]buzz-lightyear - Member
My #1 whinge with ST is where they print white font on a black page.The font rendering is awful, esp. on the right-hand side of the column. It's a real strain for me to read and often I just give up
This^
Some articles I'd like to read in the latest issue but can't 😡
the knee pad review
Would totally agree with the white text on black thing plus think the magazine as a whole could do with a little work in the layout/looks department although still a lot better than most cycling magazines.
Think the long term test thing that STW do allude to is good, it just often doesn't really play out that way, we have one 1st test then a review of it a few months later then often nothing. Think the above idea of public long term test is a good one although I can see it being fraught with problems!
I would like to see more race reports coving local, national and international races but realise that this doesn't appeal to all.
For me, I see little point in buying the magazine these days (or any magazine apart from Dirt as it looks nice, like it from an artistic point of view and cycling weekly as it has race reports which also applies to Dirt), just find endless tests on products that I am very unlikely to buy and would just look on line for tests for specific products (maybe buy a magazine if I was looking for the products that they were testing that month)pretty uninteresting. Or route guide of places that I am very unlikely to ride not really relevant to me. Again I if I was going to an area to ride I would buy a guide book or search the internet. Feel at least with event and race reports there is something different to read about.
Think being a magazine is hard these day though, as there's so much on line that sort of makes them a bit pointless apart from being something to read on the train. Thinking about it do think the visual appeal of the publication is a big one, much prefer to read the printed word and look at printed photography but singletrack currently doesn't make me want to rush out and buy it as the visual appeal is just not quite there...but I am a fussy, over critical artist!
readers wives/husbands/partners..........igmc.
Tbh, I'm not [i]that[/i] unhappy with how it is now. Oh, apart from it could do with a crossword and a cartoon. Joking, only joking.
How about giving Hora a column? Call it 'From the mouth of a mongo' and let him parp on about dead feeling bikes, how the Peak District has no corners, etc. I'd read it.
Got to be an article in iOS and Android apps for tracking.
Info behind LEDs what one are currently in which off the shelf units.
more technical not just reviews of components but the tech behind a carbon bar.
More DETAIL!
I can never decide if I like the photography or if its pants????
Ride features should include at least brief details of the bikes / kit used and how they faired on that terrain / trail conditions etc.
Reader's rides / local loop feature would be nice.
I'd like to see a round up of mtb'ing events from pro's down to grass route level stuff. But to be fair I stopped reading any mtb mags a couple of years ago, as they just couldn't hold my interest. So perhapsy opinion isn't worth much.
just find endless tests on products that I am very unlikely to buy and would just look on line for tests for specific products (maybe buy a magazine if I was looking for the products that they were testing that month)pretty uninteresting. Or route guide of places that I am very unlikely to ride not really relevant to me. Again I if I was going to an area to ride I would buy a guide book or search the internet. Feel at least with event and race reports there is something different to read about.
you are taking away their easy content fillers 😉
Think being a magazine is hard these day though, as there's so much on line that sort of makes them a bit pointless apart from being something to read on the train.
so why replicate the content of a website?
Luved Jenn's Tour Divide story a few months back, I was almost in tears, it was lovely. I like the layout, it's not all over the place like some sports magazines, and it has a theme/feel that's continuous. Luv the travel stories, people going to places you wouldn't think of, it's inspirational.
Hate reviews technical stuff, it's dull. Tyres are tyres...
More stuff from girls POV
Ride features should include at least brief details of the bikes / kit used and how they faired on that terrain / trail conditions etc
exactly I don't want a description of the terrain & weather!
Not bought the mag for years, then bought last months. It now concentrates too much on high end stuff imo. I didn't even bother reading the wheelset review because they were are stupid expensive, also the whole mag had a ****y I'm middle aged, cool and lots of disposable income to waste on bikes. Didn't used to be like that was just articles about riding bikes.
Being supercritical too some of the articles, you could tell that the writer was trying to write the most awesome article ever with prolific use of English language which quite frankly didn't flow or come across as natural and that they had been busily using a thesaurus.
From my reading of the magazine I seem to recall articles pretty much along the lines of all of the suggestions in the OP.
I like almost all of the mag content - less of the 'we went on holiday to this great place and got up in the morning had a great breakfast then rode a great trail' type articles - though they seem to have dwindled recently. I think the overall quality of the articles has got better recently, and that's only likely to improve with Jenn on board.
Despite my oft moanings along similar tones suggested by the OP, I actually quite like magazine as a concept. As a concept it a great format, a refreshing counterpoint to all the mass market lead shouty-shouty crap that exists on the shelves of WHSmith It's just...
It so often falls [b]so[/b] short of the mark. And is an especially massive disappointment as a result. I can tolerate MBUK falling short of the mark, because it's just a big fat joke of a magazine.
1) Firstly: The printing, graphic design, photographs.
These are generally all very weak, let down by bad printing, and lack impact. If these were improved greatly, I'd love the mag a lot more. The thing is once you've read all the drivel in between the pictures (in any mag), the one thing that can remains engaging for months, years even, is the pictures - if they are good and well presented. What's more is that I find really good images of biking in awesome places completely inspiring. Far more so than Benji or whoever ranting endlessly on about 'get on your bike more!'.
Which brings me on to my next point:
2) The editorial stance:
It often appears to be quite tiresomely self-serving and parochial, even patronising at times. This is a massive turn-off as a customer of the magazine. I don't need to be preached to, I don't need to be told to get out and ride more (I already do too much, to be honest), I don't need to be told about some 'really great stems / forks / packs / bars for riding down steep rocky steps in Calderdale'.
Which brings me to my last point...
3) What to fill it with?
Obviously, this is very subjective. But I tend to like looking at pictures of shiny-shiny new stuff, and pictures of awesome riders riding in awesome places, coupled with some of the incisive, subtle insight that ST can sometimes provide. There was once an article on 'Zen moments' that I thought was particularly wonderful, with photos that truly supported the transcendent theme of the article. Despite often presenting lots of shiny new stuff on the website, for some reason this aesthetically engaging drool-worthy stuff gets sidelined in the mag for another one of Chips' rants about 'riding different bikes', or 'getting fitter this year', or the 'we got up in a B&B after having a few beers the night before and had breakfast, and then rode a muddy trail in the middle of winter' type articles. Yaaaawn.
Autocar style tests. Scientific numbers for fork/wheel/frame/chainset stiffness, deflection, damping etc.
I would like some more tech.
I have a theory about the obsession with head angles... might write in with a suggestion for an article
BRING BACK THE STUFF ABOUT THE FORUMS!
More mid range/budget stuff:
Test some gear from Aldi/Decathlon/DHB against the more expensive, established names.
Test cheaper bikes.
I've never paid more than £1500 for a bike and doubt I ever will.
Most of the tests are of no interest to me whatsoever.
Compare some skills courses. Take some beginners and some more experienced riders and try a few out - how do the different approaches work in real life?
Same thing with the various bike fitting services.
Would they make a difference?
More interesting stuff for newer riders:
Easier trails, show a newer rider training/preparing for their first race. Small, achievable goals.
Ask the industry some awkward questions:
Why are your bikes so expensive?
Why does all womens clothing stop at size 12? etc.
Why does all womens clothing stop at size 12? etc
does it?
Why does all womens clothing stop at size 12? etc
you've lost me 😐
Several female friends have mentioned that it's pretty hard to find anywhere that stocks larger size womens clothing.
Also, apparantly much of the European stuff comes up very small.
Not great when trying to get people who aren't already athletic to take up cycling.
Why does all womens clothing stop at size 12? etc
It should be illegal to be fatter than a 12 😛
I think it's generally pretty good. Maybe a bit too heavy on the moody green, picture-led features for my liking (but I like reading words more than looking at pics).
More full-face helmets would be nice. 😉
Also I did laugh this morning when I saw that Mike Ferrentino's latest column was about the internet (again), I'm sure it'll be very witty and illuminating when I read it though.
A cartoon
A free keyring
A serialised Crime novel
A knocked up in my shed section where readers show off their ridiculous creations
More articles about Todmorden
A featured readers story...eg how I saved this bike from the canal and now look at it!
Agony aunt
mr_mills - MemberWhy does all womens clothing stop at size 12? etc
It should be illegal to be fatter than a 12 😛
[img] http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSN4K4mqq34tvqNWkVyqu_nMt8Rk0tBFDIsCp_W3RuRhekIRq6Fog [/img]
🙂
Already been said but i'd like more local stuff about local people. There's loads happening on their doorstep! PMBA, Gisburn Forest (to be fair Lee Quarry has had exposure). We keep saying the mountain biking community isn't organised like the ramblers or equestrians. There are groups out there trying to do something about it, they could do with some help. The access articles have been excellent as are most of the UK ride features.
I'm not personally too bothered about racing (local racing maybe), interviews with top riders or articles about riding across the Himalayas, at least not every magazine.
Product reviews could be a bit more cutting as well, seem to have gone a bit soft recently. If I'm not actually looking to buy something I always read the bad write ups first. Other than that most of the products reviews are good.
I want to be able to sit down each month and find a few articles that interest me, are relevant to me and are worth spending 30mins reading.
Article suggestions:
Views from a regular trail builder, we've got loads of spleen to vent and possibly some interesting things to say as well.
How about follow someone building their first bike from scratch, you could go through the buying process and then follow the build, buying the wrong mech, rounding out a few bolts, the first frame chip. That's something many of us can relate to and may inspire a few more people to attempt building their own bike.
Views from grass roots race organisers would be good (Brownbacks anyone).
More musings on sustainability / rights etc.
Maybe a trail centre vs natural riding article.
Got to be a piece on the differences in trail centre grading.
Helmet debate???
Whatever the forum is talking about!!
Viz style cartoons and TOP TIPS
Liven up the Trail Guides with pervy sex and class A drugs
Rusty - what are you then? 14? Too many cakes.
Views from grass roots race organisers would be good (Brownbacks anyone).
we are a collective and so could be an interesting "range of views" 😉
Jenn managed to get us two pages in MBUK in 2009 which we really appreciate as it was a high point in all the print media coverage we've ever had. Although it may have been a bribe not to mention that she fell off on a "more technical than you think, honest!" section on the practice lap for our first ever race breaking a bone in the process 🙁
whether or not she breaks the STW "duck" on not even showing their face to see what actually happens on a Sunday is another thing, it would be nice if we could get some exposure for our generous sponsors who give us the best prize list for a grass roots chipper race around including one of Jenns favourite topics in racing [b]prize parity for the women!!![/b]
however they have given us quite a few "subs in a bottle" which go out to the marshals and riders as a thankyou for borrowing the our kit for the weekender which is great (and yes they all go out, we don't keep any) 😀
2011 series finale 2nd October, riders and Marshals wanted
www.brownbacksracing.co.uk
It would be good to get more info from the IMBA and, in particular, what we as individuals or clubs can do to get more out of this group to enables greater awareness and access for MTB activities. Looking at the membership of bike clubs on their website shows a very low engagement level. Perhaps we are all individual members?? I am seeing a change in the general publics perception of MTB (was a freak, then a geek, now chic!). But we do lack a single voice when it comes to really fighting our cause. So perhaps a regular article from IMBA about what they are doing to help us and what we can do to help IMBA.
mostly I want more dreamy sentimental stuff with more ponderings and rugged backdrops with some real riding and grit
and no product testing and tech stuff.. I really don't want a mag full of shiny kit.. that's what shops are for..
if the mag were to listen to many of the comments in this thread it would be in very severe danger of dumbing down and becoming everything that it's proudly never been..
Nothing! it's written by folk I have almost nothing in common with.what would you like to read in there?
Actually saw it in the ocal(ish) newsagents a couple of hours ago and wasn't even tempted to pick it up for a quick flick through.
the whole mag had a ****y I'm middle aged, cool and lots of disposable income to waste on bikes.
You would imagine that the people who write the magazine have got older and have more disposable income than when they started out?
TBH I still like the mag, I like something tactile to read that is a little more adult than MBUK etc. Not sure it is as good as it was 4 or 5 years ago but that could be rose tinted glasses.
I like the fitness/diet stuff quite alot, would be good to have some articles in this area aimed at the general populus not just people who are racing.
Cutting edge investigative journalism which exposes the darker side of the bike industry......
I quite like it the way it is. Sorry. My wife really enjoyed the article written by the new lass if that's any help?
I wouldn't change anything. I like reading about the big UK/foreign rides, I like the photography, I like the layout and lack of multi-coloured editorial vomit that you get in other magazines. It's simple. There's not too much content - other magazines have snippets of everything crammed in all over the place, whereas reading ST makes me feel serene and relaxed!
Other magazines live next to the toilet. Singletrack lives next to the bed.
if the mag were to listen to many of the comments in this thread it would be in very severe danger of dumbing down and becoming everything that it's proudly never been.
hey I asked what readers of the magazine would like to read and they answered!
if your happy with the whole contents at present great!
if not lets hear why and what you would like to read
come on this can only be positive!
product reviews not led by advertising
if your happy with the whole contents at present great!if not lets hear why and what you would like to read
mostly I want more dreamy sentimental stuff with more ponderings and rugged backdrops with some real riding and gritand no product testing and tech stuff.. I really don't want a mag full of shiny kit.. that's what shops are for..
🙂
is that a touch of Sarcasm?
no no..
just pointing out that I already answered your question in my original post..
to me cycling is a very sentimental and idyllic thing to do.. a simple pleasure.. I prefer it not to get too bogged down with technology and marketing.. 🙂
ok your forgiven!
It's perfect as it is:
- if you live in Todmorden / Hebden Bridge
- if you like riding down steps
- if you like riding shitty bikes covered in tents and stuff across a Third World country and enjoy seeing photos of poor local kids pawing over your crappy bike, as if it is some sort of metallic Jesus that's just walked out of a spaceship
- if you know one or more of the people who write for it and/or ride with them occasionally
- if you enjoy interviews with people who have vague links to cycling "Next month: Interview with Rupert Fleming, grandson of the inventor of the toe strap"
To be fair, I buy it and sometimes read over half of it. Occasionally, I like a couple of the articles.
Their tagline could be "Singletrack: Not as good as Dirt but better than MBUK, MBR and WMB"
Like Stoner said way back at the start of all this.
More technical stuff, how things actually work, pictures of things taken apart so you can see what all the bits look like.
I think if you understand how things work you can make an informed decision as to whether the lastest must-have/new standard really will be any use.
It's perfect as it is:
- if you live in Todmorden / Hebden Bridge
- if you like riding down steps
- if you like riding shitty bikes covered in tents and stuff across a Third World country and enjoy seeing photos of poor local kids pawing over your crappy bike, as if it is some sort of metallic Jesus that's just walked out of a spaceship
- if you know one or more of the people who write for it and/or ride with them occasionally
- if you enjoy interviews with people who have vague links to cycling "Next month: Interview with Rupert Fleming, grandson of the inventor of the toe strap"To be fair, I buy it and sometimes read over half of it. Occasionally, I like a couple of the articles.
Their tagline could be "Singletrack: Not as good as Dirt but better than MBUK, MBR and WMB
all good my friend - but what would you like it to feature?