Not all the negative comments have been 'whinging'. Lets distinguish those offering their genuine opinions in a constructive way from the 'It's a load of sh.... - is all...' style contributions 
Bike Forum
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Singletrack Issue 55 - Recession bites.
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Posted 2 years ago #
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I buy Singletrack and read the Forum,because even thought the forum does border on childishness every so often,it appeals to my sence of humour,and we all need a bit of childishness in our lives, as its something we can all enjoy.
As for the mag,it does show as better quality,paper and superior pictures,it doesnt rip,and the print is not,printed across the pictures in poor quality ink that you cant read.
And theres no pictures of kids doing unfeasable tricks with their jeans down their buttocks,like some of the other mags.
Can we perhaps have an article on how the magazine is put together,that would be interesting to see how the text and pictures and adverts are married up, and some of the hard work you chaps put in,even though you sometimes delete my threads on here.
Posted 2 years ago # -
As a rider of more than one discipline and bike i do tend to buy several magazines, dirt,mbr and singletrack being the regulars. The thing i like about singletrack is that it has articles i can spend time reading and when it reviews something i can believe it, an unbiased review in real world testing grounds.
I've pretty much stopped buying mbuk and what mtb as the reviews are often conflicting and you get the feeling the companies supplying them with the most free stuff tend to get the better reviews especially with mbuk. I can pick up any issue of what mtb and its almost the same as the last - full of adverts, the filler that is the buyers guide in the back and reviews that are shared between them and mbuk.
Keep up the good work at singletrack, it is a good read and definately hitting the target with the majority of riders. I'd rather a smaller mag which is a good read than a comic full of nice pictures, biased reviews and adverts.
StevePosted 2 years ago # -
Sorry to hurt you, but I went checking a copy of WMTB (August 09) and compare it to ST December 09. The quality of the photos is not the best when compare to WMTB, for example the bike on page 39 top left corner has a very saturated sky and the frame kind of blend in it, so poor contrast. All bikes picture in WMB have better contrast and sharpeness (p 41, similar picture, bike with mountain background). Maybe that's a photoshop job rather than a printing job. When you flick through an issue in a shop, I believe nice clear pictures make it more attractive.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Gilles, your photos are going to have to be amazing if you put together that idea you had for an article
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sorry Mark - have edited post and have bought a premier subscription for penance.
Posted 2 years ago # -
As if I can comment on photo quality when mine are dark and rider blurred and too far.
Posted 2 years ago # -
"Most Tesco's sell us"
Aside from Express and really quite small ones locally with a tiny selection of magazines, the Tesco Extra in Doncaster has never had it when I've checked
A local garage used to sell it, but now seems to stock Dirt instead"That one with Nick Larsen was very good"
I quite enjoyed that, usually I find interviews too nothingy to get through though"problem I can see with it is thats more suited for people already established in the sport "
I think thats one of the things that makes it what it is though
I don't go back to mbr/WMB because they churning out what bike to buy for £xxx, double page spreads on how to mend a puncture etc etc .. and theres nothing of actual interest. When I was still getting into the 'sport' I didn't really 'get' a fair bit of it, but I wasn't really buying it to be told how to be an MTBer (like some others seem to do)?
WMB used to be good when I think they tried to relaunch themselves a bit in 2006? Since then they've moved (back?) to being a 'WHAT' magazine. (ie full of group tests and nothing to actually read)The reviews and grouptests approach I really like. mbr and WMB appear to be obcessed narrowing stuff down to a definative best buy approach. ST always seems to conclude with how each bike would suit different riders
In depth reviews (especially negative ones) are good too. I thought the one of the (2007) Marin mount vision was very useful (I was considering one)I quite like the £100 weekend theme of articles and the Long Term test bikes is good, though have the long term test bikes lost a place in the grinder recently?
"Mike Ferrentino chap does get a bit much though"
+1, perhaps if he had a column every other issue they might be more apprieciated?"Dont be scared of losing some readers with complicated stuff"
The tech sort of stuff in Dirt is the most interesting thing in there for me when I've bought it
You could always shove it somewhere near the back?
Quite whether comprehensive (half) page on one particular 'tech' item would end up being that relevant, to eg trying to work out why/how a bike works
Perhaps it would be more relevant to try to include a little more in bike reviews themselves (I know there is a fair bit, maybe its enough and I don't realise it), even if it means putting little reminders of what little perk suspension type x has and that suspension y is always going to be that much flexier ..
I don't know, perhaps that would be more annoying
It'd probably just going to make armchair reviewers more set in their ways if anything ..EDIT: Apologies for waffling on, I didn't think it was that long
Posted 2 years ago # -
Biking publications I have read are pretty poor, it takes more than nice pictures for me.
Not read STW so I can't comment on that.'The Ride' is only a few copies old but is the only one that cuts it for me.
It has real insight on what it means to ride bikes: http://www.theridejournal.com/Posted 2 years ago # -
james - Id disagree with the idea of sticking a bit of techie stuff in the review article - all you'll get will be the PR bumf and a bit of "here comes the sciency bit" pro-retinol bollox.
The technology behind some of the more advanced componentry and design ideas of modern bikes warrant proper three+ page photos, words and CAD diagrams maybe the odd reference table.
Posted 2 years ago # -
OK I’m going to add a little more seeing as this is actually read by the staff (another ST plus!). For me, the opinion and “philosophical” articles are generally the best – they are someone’s considered view on the subject and at least make you think, I find them normally very absorbing. I’m really not a Ferrantino fan, but at least I do read his articles, so something must be right, but he does come across a bit whingey / ultra-cynical for my tastes. Equipment reviews generally offer a good perspective, reviewers generally have actually used / broken them, the bike articles (for me) are usually the weakest, probably due to having read so many elsewhere to be fair to ST. Although where ST is great in that department is reviewing really unusual bikes; if you want to read about the latest big-name big- volume seller, well MBR’s probably promoting them. Keep it up please guys – I always look forward to publishing day.
One thing though, looking at the pics, there appears to be no mud whatsoever in Calderdale! It’s not fair!
Posted 2 years ago # -
""here comes the sciency bit"
Hmm, probably. Whats needed is probably already there and as I find it interesting I 'think' there should be more. Stuff like linking geometry/suspension rates/etc to why how the bike handles/rides etc ..Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm with stoner on this:
I do think the mag would benefit from some sort of technical feature. It's something I would like (Being an obsessive compulsive mechanic) to see and I'd bet I'm not the only one. Something above and beyond what the other mags run, for sure. Posted 2 years ago # -
Mark:
We compete on sales with WMTB very closely and put as much effort, time and skill in to the production.
By this I presume you mean you "sell similar amounts" - rather than try to cater to the same market?
Though of course WMTB is as much a blocking/portfolio completion title as a standalone (it fills a gap that MBUK for future that MBUK doesn't).
I do think the mag would benefit from some sort of technical feature.
Some magazine needs to pick this up and do it with Germanic levels of thoroughness. Though I'm not convinced Singletrack is the right magazine to do that, in terms of how I see it in the market.It is increasingly puzzling me as to why Gofar Enterprises Ltd only publishes one magazine, after ten years. I think there are other markets and even other areas within the cycling market that could very easily accommodate another Singletrackesque title.
Bravo for the independents.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yep +1 on more techie stuff, like the Torq articles. Dirt did a small piece on this, quite informative. Performance Bikes magazine relaunched itself a while back and the new mag included a lot more technical info, brought the mag back up again IMO. Even on this forum when you discuss HT frame design you have some very good designers adding their POVs.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I do think the mag would benefit from some sort of technical feature.
Some magazine needs to pick this up and do it with Germanic levels of thoroughness
So we need a bike builder with some sort of background in MTB and journalism...nah no one springs to mind
Posted 2 years ago # -
Germanic levels of thoroughness
Brant? Thorough? yeravingalaff?!?!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I find my self agreeing with everything Brant just said..
WTF?
Posted 2 years ago # -
can we have more of the bead of sweat running down somebodies leg stuff.
i need reminding why i don't buy the magazine.Posted 2 years ago # -
I find my self agreeing with everything Brant just said..
.....
Some magazine needs to pick this up and do it with Germanic levels of thoroughness. Though I'm not convinced Singletrack is the right magazine to do that, in terms of how I see it in the market.
Don't listen to him. He throws poo at monkeys.
ST is a perfectly good place to stick a techie-germanic article series. Just put it at the back where the kids wont read it
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ferrentino isn't my cup of tea, but I did enjoy the last one about trail ettiquette.
And as for the picture of Matt on P50; he looks like he has a single digit inside leg! IS it a weird camera angle, or is he really that short?
Posted 2 years ago # -
The training artcles were interesting, other things that would interest me are artiles that allow you to see how other people do things - tips from pro mechanics on ways to make maintenance easier, tips from the current proliferation of riding coaches on how to approach certain types of trail, tips from photographes/videographers on how to shoot riders or POV shots of trals being ridden.
I think the best article from STW was the frame building one - a real insight into an aspect of mountainbiking that is not well known
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mark said:
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.
I enjoy the paper quality, and I think the print quality has improved. One of the best things you do is send me a text-free front cover for ever sub issue. Much classier.
I guess that, unless you drop the frequency of publicaiton and/or stiff us on price, you'll never get close to The Ride or Rouleur paper quality. That's going to be the benchmark for printed magazines in time: a sense of full-on luxury.
We compete on sales with WMTB very closely and put as much effort, time and skill in to the production.
I suspect you will never beat their budget. However, I would be keen to know what you perceive the be the resource differential (if any) between the Future output and ST.
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.
I suspect that it was meant as a compliment. Magazines from large publishers have a facelessness about them, a "them and us" feel that ST has never had. It's probably fair to say that ST feels more real, that the difference between writer/publisher and reader/rider is very little.
Sure, it can feel way too clubby on occasion, but that will always be the downside of something that has a sense of engagement with its readship.
Brant said:
It is increasingly puzzling me as to why Gofar Enterprises Ltd only publishes one magazine
You know, old shedfire has a point.
Bravo for the independents.
+1
You know, sod it, I'm going to write something and send it to you. It won't be very good, and it won't necessarily have much to do with mountain biking, but I'll stick my money where my mouth is.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm a noob to both mountain biking and STW. The first issue I read/bought was #54 and it was almost enough to make me want to subscribe. If I enjoy #55 as much (haven't been able to get a copy yet at Tesco or Smiths) I'll be subscribing.
What I liked most were the main features where the biking aspect was almost incidental - they were stories of adventure and great weekends or days out. Knowing nothing about MTB'ing (yet), I didn't feel excluded from these stories due to my ignorance. By the same token, I didn't feel like STW was hand-holding in the way that C+ does.
I also liked the photography, the layout, and the quality of the paper.
My only gripe would be the number of typos and grammatical errors.
Posted 2 years ago # -
My only gripe would be the number of typos and grammatical errors.
I still think the chaps should, when up against another issue deadline, simply outsource the proofreading to various of us forum pedants.
Posted 2 years ago # -
:-)To each their own - and everyone is free to read what they like. Which is cool.
Anyway, what I wanted to say was this. At SSUK08 I saw the ST wheels (rubbish ford escort estate if I rember rightly) and it had a sticker on the back that sums this all up for me - SINGLETRACK - THE LARGEST CLIQUE IN THE WORLD )or some such similar phrase.
Made me laugh - I had a copy of the mag in the car. And on the day that was bang on.
I think the magazine is pitched well (it lands square with me) and here is the other thing to note - my wife takes it to the loo for a read as well. This is high praise. High praise indeed.
Keep on doing more of your own thing - I think we like that
Posted 2 years ago # -
I dont subscirbe to ST, but i get it every month without fail from my LBS.
The magazine itself is much more finished feeling that MBUK, which is too glossy for my liking. The photography in ST is the best of any magazine and the actual word count is much higher than in MBUK (or it seems like it) Mbuk seems to be written for a reader age of around 7; and the best thing about singletrack for me is that it differs from MBUK on this score, in a good way!
I look forward to the magazine every 6 weeks, because every 6 weeks i know the cover will be nice and clean, the photography will be great and the articles superb.
Good job everyone at ST towers, keep up the great magazine!
ignore idiots like "CKT"
Posted 2 years ago # -
I liked this issue - pretty much
Don't particularly like Ferrentino's musings usually & I only got about a quarter the way through this month before moving on
The rest was all good IMO
The 'lighting roundup' was perhaps a little late in the season thoughPosted 2 years ago # -
Does anyone read the Rivendell Reader?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mike Ferrentino- the best writing in the mag, from a technical POV and originality, it's the first bit I read.
Quality of paper/production values, spot on. this is really important Ride is better, but it's a 'journal.'
Some inspirational stuff- such as the Great Divide race, well written as well.
proof reading, even I notice errors.
It must be really hard keeping the new ideas flowing, but change and development is good, a static mag would become overly familiar and ultimately boring, I've subscribed since the start and still look forward to each one, and it's great to be surprised and delighted by an unexpectedly new approach, writer or feature.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Every magazine has it's good and bad issues.
I can understand a few requests on this forum asking for more kit tests but I've always liked Singletrack because it always seemed to be more focussed on just getting out and riding bikes than on reviewing overpriced bits of kit. I especially like the way the magazine looks at all aspects of off road riding, including a bit of cyclo-cross, and that while the latest trends are mentioned the main concern of any feature article is what people experience when out riding.
Lets face it, most people can't afford to upgrade their bikes on a regular basis and for a lot of people who read the magazine I'm sure its the riding that matters, not what bike they have. Thats certainly the impression I've always had from the forum. Keep reflecting that mindset in the magazine and you can't go far wrong.
Posted 2 years ago # -
+1 for Mike Ferrentino, 1st thing (after editorial) that I read. His writing in Bike is good as well, nice to have some mature thoughtful pieces.
The Torq fitness articles were good, and the anti-fitness features as well, would like to see more of that kind of thing as well as more on nutrition.
Dont like the big white space at the top of a lot of pages, seems a waste and I find it quite off putting for some reason, more clutter please.
More tech articles would be good as well.Posted 2 years ago # -
TBH look at the competition.
Dirt is in specific race niche's and the font/layout has always wound me up. Probably look good on your table if non-cycling friends came round.
Pity as its probably got really good content.Mbr- loves its adverts and (sell! sell! sell! new products)...
It almost feels like Ive picked up the lifestyle equivilient of the Freemans catalogue when I open up a mbr..
Whatmountainbike- is actually better....however why they fill they rear up with the same 'best of each segment' really is cheap, lazy and insulting.
Mountainbikeuk- offers value compared to mbr.
Saying all this- I havent bought a mountain bike mag in months and dont intend to start anytime soon.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I like the mag, overall. I really hope it continues to avoid falling into the trap that too many of the other mags fall into, i.e. spring is on the way so "time for that article on how to lose the winter lard", autumn is coming so "time for that big lights review", basically recycling the same type of article year on year.
Also, the place for kit reviews, news etc. is on the web IMHO: it's a much more immediate medium than waiting for a mag to come out. I'd like to see the print mag concentrate on what (IMHO) it does best: opinion, lifestyle stuff, stuff about why we ride not what we ride, trail features, inspiring photos etc. But then that's not necessarily what sells the most mags I suppose.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Whatmountainbike- is actually better....however why they fill they rear up with the same 'best of each segment' really is cheap, lazy and insulting.
you do understand the phrase "WHAT MOUNTAINBIKE"(?) wasn't picked just to fill the space at the top of the cover?
Posted 2 years ago #
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