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The youth don't pedal up hills
They are at the pump track or jump lines
They are at the uplift
They are cutting cheeky steep lines in the local woods.
They are not reading singletrack.
Does anyone really expect critical journalism,
Well no, I didn't, up until now. Which is why I never subscribed. But now that they have started to do so, o have given them my cash and told them about it so they realise there is a demand for this type of thing. ( Could of course be a demand of one person though 😉 )
Then buy newspapers or financial journals, or sign up for political reporters on Patreon or Go fund Me, or support Bellingcat or Tortoise Media, or The Medium because that’s the right place to find those sorts of articles.
Eh. We should buy financial journals in order to find articles explaining the nuances of how building substandard cycle tracks is counterproductive? I don't think so.
STW is a magazine written about bicycles by people who like riding bicycles.
Interesting choice of words and somewhat contradictory. It does get right to the heart of it though. Is it about bicycles or riding bicycles? I find the former extremely tedious, which is why I never subscribed. But the more they focus on the latter then the more of my cash they can have.
Could of course be a demand of one person though 😉
Or two!
My point wasn't a dig at STW per se, but bike journalism. @nickc, would you be against a few articles that pull no punches, looking at the structure of the bike industry, pressures and competition therein, and how it really works? Like you I enjoy riding bikes, articles with pretty photos, and want to be inspired, but I'd also be interested in other information and insights.
Interesting remark though, 'STW is a magazine written about bicycles by people who like riding bicycles.' I'd of thought many writers for bike magazines do see themselves as journalists. Maybe I'm wrong.
would you be against a few articles that pull no punches, looking at the structure of the bike industry, pressures and competition therein, and how it really works?
Forgive me for saying so, but hasn't Hannah done that recently? Certainly her article with Jordon (Sick! Bicycles) was pretty forthright, no? And what d 'you think a "pulling no punches" expose of say; SRAM or Shimano would entail exactly? I mean yes, they're ruthless capitalist conglomerates, but that's hardly breaking news is it? And let's be clear here, I would imagine that the lawyers of an organisation like Specialized (who aren't exactly shy about flinging letters about) on finding an article of themselves in the pages of Singletrack "exposing the truth" would have zero compunction of tearing Singletrack to bits, truth or no...Independent magazines like Singletrack just don't have the resources to either do the leg work (unless a story like Sick! literally falls in their laps) or defend themselves against the risk being taken to court.
do see themselves as journalists. Maybe I’m wrong.
I think TBH, working for a tiny organisations like Singletrack you tend to end up being postie, writer, phone handler, guest wrangler, driver, mechanic, photo model, and chief bottle washer.
Eh. We should buy financial journals in order to find articles explaining the nuances of how building substandard cycle tracks is counterproductive? I don’t think so.
If you want to know the quarterly results of Shimano or SRAM, or want the inside scoop on the bike industry then it's BikeBiz you'll be wanting. But no, you're right, I was making a more nuanced point that Singletrack is an enthusiast's magazine, it's not going to do hard hitting journalism (there are other publications for that). But if you enjoy coming here, the articles engage you and the forum is a useful resource for you, than I think it's only fair to stump up for it.
It does get right to the heart of it though. Is it about bicycles or riding bicycles? I find the former extremely tedious
If what I said was contradictory, then right back att'cha...You appear to be posting on one of the worlds most popular mountain bike forums...
Singletrack is an enthusiast’s magazine, it’s not going to do hard hitting journalism (there are other publications for that).
The bike industry is pretty small. I can't see the likes of the Woodward and Bernstein taking much interest but there are some smaller issues that bike enthusiasts might be interested in even if the rest of the world isn't. The links between some bike brands and the US gun lobby maybe, or the uselessness of some councils when it comes to cycling infrastructure.
The links between some bike brands and the US gun lobby maybe, or the uselessness of some councils when it comes to cycling infrastructure.
Both of which have been covered by Singletrack haven't they?
And what d ‘you think a “pulling no punches” expose of say; SRAM or Shimano would entail exactly? I mean yes, they’re ruthless capitalist conglomerates, but that’s hardly breaking news is it? And let’s be clear here, I would imagine that the lawyers of an organisation like Specialized (who aren’t exactly shy about flinging letters about) on finding an article of themselves in the pages of Singletrack “exposing the truth” would have zero compunction of tearing Singletrack to bits, truth or no…Independent magazines like Singletrack just don’t have the resources to either do the leg work (unless a story like Sick! literally falls in their laps) or defend themselves against the risk being taken to court.
Well, I would be interested in knowing more about how SRAM, Shimano and Fox maintain do their market positions, and your point about Specialized and lawyers piques my curiosity. Surely if magazines are not free to write truthful articles for fear of litigation, then this itself is an interesting topic? Likewise on resources, if there is a desire in various mtb-mag towers to do a little more critical work, I'd be interested in the factors that mitigate against this. I'm not close to the industry at all (media or bikes), but would be interested in either knowing more, or knowing why I don't know more (excuse the Rumsfeld!)
if there is a desire in various mtb-mag towers to do a little more critical work
That's a big assumption, and most-likely unfounded.
The best work in recent years has been on Pinkbike, with their recent survey of pro riders and it's resulting revelations about pay in particular.
I'm not sure there's much potential for Private Eye-style coverage of the bike industry anyway, much as I'd love to read it.
The advertising model that the MTB media depends on basically mitigates against the kind of critical institutional analysis that people have mentioned here.
That and low pay, untrained writers and a general conformity / lack of imagination about what MTB content could look like.
I’m not sure there’s much potential for Private Eye-style coverage of the bike industry anyway, much as I’d love to read it.
But so many posters on here and elsewhere are convinced that the industry is full of machiavellian manouvering and schemes to screw the poor punters out of all their cash.
Both of which have been covered by Singletrack haven’t they?
Well yes, that's the point. Any future exposés would need to be about things we don't know about already. I probably couldn't tell you what they are as I don't know about them already
Conversely I don't think I've opened an envelope from stw for about 18 months...
The best work in recent years has been on Pinkbike, with their recent survey of pro riders and it’s resulting revelations about pay in particular.
I found that fascinating….then they followed it up with a reader survey that was ‘what are you going to buy next’ market research shit. Life really is a rollercoaster 😀
If what I said was contradictory, then right back att’cha…You appear to be posting on one of the worlds most popular mountain bike forums…
I think the nuances of what I was trying to say has been missed. Noun versus abstract noun. I'm not interested really in mountain bikes, I'm interested in mountain biking.
Essentially the Weeksy versus Scotroutes angle if you will 😉
I think the nuances of what I was trying to say has been missed
No not really I understood what you meant. mark it down to the difficulties of the written vs spoken word. For most people the two aren't necessarily separate, and I think people with views like yours are the minority opinion. Most folk who're interested in Mountain-biking have an interest in gear and new products (even if it's to deride them as rubbish) I think to be successful; a magazine has cover it all really from wilderness adventure stories (the features I look forward the most in each edition of the mag) to racing to bike parts and the "What's New?" reviews and product launches.
I think that's probably hard enough to manage that in the time frame they have without also having to pay a journalist to do investigative work that may not publish for months and months (and may not publish at all)