Singletrack could be so much better without much effort.
How unbelievably condescending and insulting!
Can I ask what you do for a living?
Bike Forum
[closed]
Singletrack Issue 55 - Recession bites.
-
Posted 2 years ago #
-
clearly he is a journalist as he bullsh1ts for a living
TBH I bought the mag to subsidise this site and always find it an enjoyable read.
I have immense respect that threads like this are allowed on a website slagging of the magazine - that funds this website- by people who dont actually pay for either - so you get all this for free and you still complain. It is what put the Great in Britain - STW attitude that is not the whinging freeloading b@stards - rant over.Posted 2 years ago # -
i like the adventure articles in ST
+1
Love them. Inspiring. Makes me want to buy a bivvy bag. Is this the year I finally do it?
Posted 2 years ago # -
update!
having sat down with mine last night i really enjoyed what i read; first half dozen articles, most of the tests and the long termer bit. think it was just me being a bit cheesed off about not riding lately.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Singletrack could be so much better without much effort.
Ah, one of those insightful comments that really lets us all see how you think it could be improved. Or is it so obvious to your great wisdom that we have to guess?
FWIW, I've been a past critic, but I continue to commend the sheer effort of what is an otherwise small group of people publishing a product that competes at a national level.
If they ditched all the opinion pieces that would be a start.
Though I find the cod philosophy of some kinda grating, it is something that differentiates the magazine. Ultimately, they tend to be more like blog entries than anything of significance (and still don't get me started on Ferrentino..!), but actually I can see their value if we fast forward the effect of the iPad on magazine publishing.
So....
1. I shall read this copy and decide if I like it based on its merits.
2. Consider if I have anything interesting enough to say to creat a contribution.
3. Suggest that a future issue be made up entirely of reader contributions. That ought to get them thinking....
Posted 2 years ago # -
3. Suggest that a future issue be made up entirely of reader contributions.
Now that would be interesting. Possibly rubbish,(unless it reprinted the mega-laxatives thread/story) but one I'd definately buy to look at.Posted 2 years ago # -
"Though I find the cod philosophy of some kinda grating, it is something that differentiates the magazine. Ultimately, they tend to be more like blog entries than anything of significance (and still don't get me started on Ferrentino..!), "
+1Posted 2 years ago # -
If they ditched all the opinion pieces that would be a start.
Disagree. I really like these pieces, they add a bit of character to the mag and these sort of "lifestyle" pieces are what keep me coming back to ST even when I've stopped bothering to buy any others.That and the fact that most of the articles actually tell stories, and while a lot of people above seem to be making negative comments on the grammar I've very, very rarely had anything stand out enough to actually jar my enjoyment of an article in ST (unlike another lifestyle bike mag I occasionally read - anyone try and read the recent Orange Blood review elsewhere?).
Overall I think ST is a fantastic mag that does the sort of articles I want to read in a magazine instead of on a monitor. That's why despite my lack of "p" I'm a subscriber and intend to continue to be so.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks...
Just a note on the Premier thing, as a subscriber you get a 'p' for free. We can link your web account to your subs account and let you have access to the extra features for free as you are already a subscriber.email sarah@singletrackworld.com with your sub number/postcode, your website username and the email address you used to register your account and we'll get you set up pronto
Posted 2 years ago # -
Y'know what? Maybe I'm being too picky...
I look at the other offerings and they're shite. The only other one I like is Shred, that seems to follow a similar formula, albeit with a little more style.
Mostly I like ST articles. I don't agree with losing 16 pages 'because everyone does this time of year' but then I don't have to deal with the budgets. I'm sure its pretty difficult. I would say that the magazine isn't as strong as it was when I first started buying it though
Mark, Chipps et al -
If you had a wish list for how you could improve the magazine, what would it be? Presumably if there were things we could offer as readers, you'd ask?
Posted 2 years ago # -
If you had a wish list for how you could improve the magazine, what would it be? Presumably if there were things we could offer as readers, you'd ask?
Do it the other way around, Mark. If you could "improve" the magazine, what would you do?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Only problem I've noticed with the mag is the bizarre number of staff/contributors with huge beards.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Do it the other way around, Mark. If you could "improve" the magazine, what would you do?
Tricky, really.
Less opinion stuff, for sure; Blame the Dog is poxy. More rides with local groups around the UK, kit reviews are always welcome, I like the head-to-head stuff and group tests, and the adventure/bivvy stuff is good too. Again, for me the content is goodish, but I don't want to be able to read the whole mag in 30 mins sitting on the bog! I'm just dissappointed that it seems to be getting smaller.
It's nothing personal though. And lets face it, I still buy the bloody thing month after month...
Posted 2 years ago # -
The section that I look at less and less is the grinder. It now seems full of reviews padded out to fix the space rather than genuine feedback on something has faired over a reasonable period of time. How much really needs to be said about a tool to open your Camelbak and an emergency blanket? Can't the space for these odds and sods be cut down so more space can be given to products which justify comment?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Maybe because I'm female and English I've 'never got' the Ferrentino piece in the mag, so therefore don't read it.
I've contributed a written piece in the past, I like to help the boys out, also it's good to see your name 'up in lights'
Posted 2 years ago # -
Print media is under increasing pressure costs/revenue wise and STW has done well to survive by using the web well. I like the magazine purely because I think it strikes the right balance between stuff that is "wow, I wish I could do that" articles and "wow, I could do that if I wanted to" articles (aspirational and inspirational?). I like the opinion pieces because I think they make the magazine feel like it's written by you or I rather than a 'journalist'.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think we're bloody lucky to have people who want to turn a out a magazine like ST month after month, going off some of the comments here it's a thankless task.
If you think there's something missing from the content then set to and do something about it. ST is one of the only magazines that seem to welcome submissions from non journos. So if you want to see an article about uphill tandem racing ... write one. If people put more effort into 'doing' rather than moaning we'd all be better off
Sorry but I feel better now.
Posted 2 years ago # -
One way you get the mag you want is by threads like this. Critical posting is useful and it's always read by us. Comments about the stuff you like is just as important too - and it makes us want to keep doing it
It's the 'It's crap and I could do better in my sleep' type comments that boil our piss
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hmm, I maybe the only person who enjoys the Ferrentino column? Don't have to agree with him on anything to enjoy the writing.
To be honest, I buy a new bike every 10 years or so, and my next is most likely to be a Cx or nicer roadbike anyway. So a bit of rambling and some nice pictures is all I hope for each month, and it's usually a good bit better than that. Certainly, the only other bike mag I buy on a regular basis is C+.
Plus it's well worth the sub price for the website/forums/classifieds keeping me amused at lunchtimes.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think the mag is great but the only problem I can see with it is thats more suited for people already established in the sport and those in sub genres (ss, CX etc.. and enjoy whisky)
likes of MBR, WMB, MBUK has a lot of stuff and its also easy to read for those new to the sport, and maybe there is a bigger market there.
Trying to come up with new ideas for the "established" readers must get harder and harder!!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Stop bloody moaning - if you dont like the mag, then dont buy it, but spare us the trouble of having to listen to your gripes - there are more important things to get a hair across your arse about. Personally, it's the only mountain bike magazine that I buy, because its the only one that I feel any sort of 'connection' with, I find it well written, informative and somehow more realistic than certain other, more rad and in yer face publications.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Off sick today and in one of the brief spells of wakefulness this morning I read the first two articles. I did note the mag was thinner, but thought to myself, "I'd buy the mag for those two articles alone".
I appreciate not everyone likes the same stuff, but I'd buy a mag half the thickness, if it was full of bivvy/travel articles, oh and with a health section of grinder reviews.
Cheers lads for a great mag. remember "You can please some of the people some of the time...."
Posted 2 years ago # -
On the whole, I like the magazine. That said, all magazines, regardless of the subject, have good and not so good months. What I particularly like is that bike tests aren't scored, but concluded with an appraisal of how the bikes ride. Far more relevant than X is worth 8, but Y is worth 9 to my mind.
As for interviews, I like them. I prefer interviews with industry figures, especially bike designers and team managers, than riders.
To make any bike mag better for me, I'd like to see a couple of 'shoot outs'per issue and lots of expensive and/or cult-type bikes and kit. How practical that would be with a limited number of staff is up for debate.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Enjoyable issue (as usual) made better by being able to read the pdf version at work "in between things"
Posted 2 years ago # -
It's a good mag, it has issues that may not suit me sometimes but overall I look forwrd to it's arrival. Just love the big out doors trip stuff especially with quality pictures. The Jenn Hopkins article on the Great Divde race was superb (and miles better than the WMB version). Can see how opinion stuff is not always what you would want to read but I do try and read them for the alternative to "me" point of view. That Mike Ferrentino chap does get a bit much though. Can imagine that some issues are really tough to get done, especially thinking of new stuff. Even the the "persona" on the bike tests must be brain teaser some issues. All in all I shall continue with our subsciption.
One thing I would say is that sometimes the mag can look like it's only there for the staffs lifestyle and we the punters are only there to pay for it.Posted 2 years ago # -
Mags always better when I'm in it
Oh no sorry, that's when it's worse...What is it £4? Not even two pints! There's good stuff and not so good stuff from my perspective (which will differ to the next reader), but I never get to the end and think "wish I'd gone to the pub and had a pint and a half instead"
Only when I opened WMB the other day at Smiths did I realise how much more readable STW is. It ain't perfect, but it's a damn good effort from the people involved.
Posted 2 years ago # -
mt - get yourself in the clique then
Posted 2 years ago # -
Well I still think WMB has a better finished quality than ST, but I believe ST has a fanzine spirit, so why not. what i would like to see one day, WMTB or ST, is a review of 4 bikes by the experts, and the same bikes reviewed by some mortal readers, to see the difference if any. Always think the experts got more things to think of during the testing compare to any lamda rider, and maybe forget to feel the joy of the ride. I won't be surprised if the outcome is completely different though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Gilles - the mag has used us mortals to test the bikes in the past, having experienced this myself. Not sure if they still do it or not?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Just bought this months and its locked in the van until tonight,looks ok in WH Smiths.
No stock in Tesco, Heswall,EVER,that well known cycling mecca.
Posted 2 years ago # -
my satisfaction with reading the magazine ebbs and flows much as my mojo for riding itself.
One thing Ive always asked for in the mag which sadly as yet hasnt had a look-in, is more techie pieces from an engineering/design/testing perspective. Dont be scared of losing some readers with complicated stuff. Im no engineer but if someone did something interesting about how carbon weave is worked out, its properties etc in frame use, if I didnt understand something, Id go and research it more.
More on materials;
Production techniques;
biomechanics;
suspension systems - damping circuits and inertial valving...
tyre compounds and tread designs - how are they invented and tested?maybe it's just me and my NHS specs
Posted 2 years ago # -
Well I still think WMB has a better finished quality than ST, but I believe ST has a fanzine spirit,
I'm disappointed at this. We pay a lot extra for better paper, thicker covers (including a pre-scored spine) plus two versions of the cover. We compete on sales with WMTB very closely and put as much effort, time and skill in to the production. I hate the term 'fanzine' that's not what we want to be at all. We may have started off in three 'bedrooms' ten years ago and we are still independent but I'd say we were never a fanzine. If we come over as one then I'm very keen to do everything to prevent that.
Posted 2 years ago # -
This issue was a bit 'light' compared to the last couple, but it's still streets ahead of the competition.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Some good points there Stoner, I'd be into all that.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sorry Guys - I think the STW magazine and website are fantastic. I don't love every article but read them all the same - these guys (and girls) do a fantastic job and have different views to mine, especially on whisky (!) which I welcome. It's great quality in print, the different opinions actually matter and they're doing bloody well given their origins. The independence of STW is important too - future publishing shouldn't rule the MTB publishing world. STW is catering for a specific demographic methinks, and more importantly they got of their arses and started this whole thing off.
Hate to say this but maybe the negative nancy whingers here should just xxxk off somewhere else or be truly and positively constructive about this as some others here have? Or start their own magazine and forum and see how that goes?
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.
