[Closed] Good work, MBR!

???????

Clock the unbalanced body posture, the unnaturally angled head, the raised shoulder, the knees pointing in opposite directions. And, quite often, they are pointing at the ground with one, or both, of their index fingers!

That's the "cool" way to ride dont you know.

its turning into mbuk, full of yoofs innit!

They attempt to make the photos look dramatic...and fail..and end up looking daft.
At least the chap with the tattoo sleeves seems to have disappeared.

They do seem to get a slagging these days. To be fair to them they have a product to sell and they have to make it attractive to people. Agreed - its not YOUR thing but it might be someone elses. Its the way it goes.

I do not envy magazine journos, they seem to get a hard time. Its a hard job to be fair. No-one is ever happy and people do get fairly critical of your work. Imagine you wrote a report at work say and 35,000 people read. Imagine a percentage of that group then publicly belittled your work that you were proud of...

I may be wide of the mark and outwith my remit as humble bike shop person but you have to admit they do get a hard time. Not altogether fair i would say.

Anyway, back to the weissbier!

Careful you'll have TJ on here calling you retardist (or whatever the correct term is).

http://twitter.com/mbrmagazine/status/3908255481

Squirrel, your rapier-sharp wit is wasted on this forum. Are the producers of Mock the Week still not returning your calls?

Do you often write complaint letters to Points Of View as well?

Just a suggestion, don't read MBR

Squirrel - using special needs references as a base for your "humour" is lame

I really don't mind MBR, I think I might even cancel WMB subscription for it which has been well shonky of late. Mainly reviews that could be written by reading the brochure and verdicts that seem to bare no resemblance to the star ratings!

"MBR has pictures of people who look like retards"

That is seriously hilarious. 🙄

Let's see a pic of you riding, Squirrel. So we can see how it should be done.

I agree with thebikechain. Can't say I'd fancy making mountain biking sound new and exciting every single month, in a slightly different way to half a dozen other mountain bike magazines also trying to make mountain biking new and exciting every month. And doing it well enough to get people to pay for it.

And testing bikes which are generally all pretty good. And kit which generally all works quite well. And trying to do that in a way which is still worthwhile given the thousands of longer term user bought and tested reviews and opinions available on the net. Then getting slagged off for it!

GaryLake - WhatMTB just seems to feature articles that are yet to appear or have appeared in MBUK.

I can understand that with both being under the same publishing house there would be a little bit of pooling of resources but sometimes articles seem to have been lifted complete from one magazine and plonked in to the other with just a few of the photos changed.

Perhaps they could use the tagline "WhatMTB, its MBUK without that gurning numpty."

MBUK makes me feel old, and I'm only 26 FFS!

Perhaps they could use the tagline "WhatMTB, its MBUK without that gurning numpty."

Genius! Brought a much needed smile to my face. Thank you!

I did a shoot for some of the mags recently, i was asked to exaggerate posture and to ride slowly........

Not sure how the pics turned out and how retarded i looked in them but i did my best and acted natural...

Squirrel - Just seen October mbr what picture are you referring to re your first post??

At least MBR know how to measure up a bike and get the details right in print- i'm suprised by how many don't...

Ressurected, pourqoui?

Dunno why resurtrected, but there's a free beanie in this month's MBR that was waiting for me when I got home last night, so I am quite pleased. Will probably stick it in my glove box as a spare as I'm always forgetting to take one along when I go places & then I get a cold bonce.

You folk actually read MBR? I flick through in WHSmiths; Open the contents page- select two things I actually want to read- read. Then put it back down. Well I say read- the whole thing is just one big advert.

The genius of marketing. Getting people to buy an ad-medium that sells to them.

Squirrel, normally I don’t offend easy. But feeling a bit under the weather today so a bit more touchy than normal. My son is special needs, so I'm a bit offended at you using people who have a much harder time in this world than you, to make some derogatory remark about some picture in a magazine. Grow up you dick and think before you write.

I am with you john

Squirrell might have been better using the comparison to the emo group, but then that will/may cause offense to that group.

I have for some time been working as a volunteer swimming teacher with the lea special needs swimming group and recently been asked to work with Occ Therapy to help with a cycle skills project so squirrels comments are a bit off ❗

Having done a few shoots myself over the years it is good fun and interesting working with people like Chipps, McAndlish, Seb etc. There is a lot of cheating goes on the get "that" one pic from hundreds shot over a few days work. Imagine a days traveling to a venue, a days shooting, another days traveling back to base and then however long finding and editing a single shot for whatever the article? Much fun eh!!!

hora - so you read it, but you just don't want to pay to read it?
Do you nick the free gift too?

As for the whole marketing-ad thing.....all mags are the same - choc full of adverts. Doesn't mean you have to buy stuff from them.....
I bought Car magazine on Friday morning - so far I have restrained myself from buying anything advertised within....

They have plumbed new depths this month with a staffer glorying at having sold a knackered XT mech to some poor fellow who he describes, in print, as a 'sucker'! Page 50, Lapierre review, if you are interested.

cut them some slack. the MBR lean takes ages to perfect and often means practicing after hours to get right.
what with having to ride crap overpriced 6in trail bikes with 14in high BB's and then trying to find something positive to say about them so not having to put up with some fanboy whinging "why did you say so and so about the xtl mkII when i think it's amazing etc etc" the life of a bike journo is not all roses, you only have to look at the mags target audience of trail mincers to work that out.

hora - so you read it, but you just don't want to pay to read it?
Do you nick the free gift too?

As for the whole marketing-ad thing.....all mags are the same - choc full of adverts. Doesn't mean you have to buy stuff from them.....
I bought Car magazine on Friday morning - so far I have restrained myself from buying anything advertised within....

Nick the free gift. What would I use it for?

I'd like to know how WhatMTB can claim the 2010 Stumpjumper raised the bar to such a level that "all other trail bikes are like riding with Forest Gump leg braces" (or something like that) and it was the bestest thing ever ever ever in the world.

So then then proceed to put it in SECOND place in their top trail bikes section in the back. Sigh.

Still it was nice to read the same lights review in both WhatMTB and Cycling Plus. Presumably MBUK have dibs on the report next month....

No I still giggle over the ti hardtail test. From the text in the review on a certain ti frame- it said to me it should be a 7 out of 10 at best. It came out 9 tying with the Hummer and the Whyte. Couldnt work it out how they arrived at the scoring system.

Couldnt work it out how they arrived at the scoring system.

It's generally suspected to be something to do with the amount of advertising revenue a particular brand brings in.

Still it was nice to read the same lights review in both WhatMTB and Cycling Plus. Presumably MBUK have dibs on the report next month..

If their tests were won by a 'tiger light twin led' then they've run it this month

It's generally suspected to be something to do with the amount of advertising revenue a particular brand brings in.

its turning into mbuk, full of yoofs innit!

I used to work in a shop (Dave Mellor Cycles - great shop my the way) as a saturday boy with ian collins of mbuk years ago

he must be over 40yrs old or more now and still ends his sentences in mbuk with the word 'sweet' or 'gnarly'

lol

you know as he has a big nose, he had turn the ring pull on his soft drinks can through 90degs to drink from the can without a nose/ring pull interference issue
lol

Thats funny

lol

"sweet"

breatheasy: "Still it was nice to read the same lights review in both WhatMTB and Cycling Plus. Presumably MBUK have dibs on the report next month.... "

Funnilly enough MBUK has a lights review this month which is completely different to the WMB one from last month, and ends up recommending a different light.

Squirrel, normally I don’t offend easy. But feeling a bit under the weather today so a bit more touchy than normal. My son is special needs, so I'm a bit offended at you using people who have a much harder time in this world than you, to make some derogatory remark about some picture in a magazine. Grow up you dick and think before you write.

2nd that, Also have special needs son. All to common these thoughtless knob heads.

[i]ends up recommending a different light. [/i]

Won't someone please think of the buying public?! How will they know which light to buy if 2 different ones have been recommended?
Or maybe the advertisers forgot to include the bung to that months magazine...

😉

Check out the slack-jawed, slightly disjointed expression on the models they use for their bike test photo-shoots: these guys are from the local Special Needs Unit! Clock the unbalanced body posture, the unnaturally angled head, the raised shoulder, the knees pointing in opposite directions. And, quite often, they are pointing at the ground with one, or both, of their index fingers!

Just curious if you're referring to the cover photo or some other one? I've no idea why they chose that particular cover shot of the many we took over the course of that afternoon, but if you really have some problem with my riding style that's fine but please don't compare me to a guy from a special needs unit. Granted I may be slack-jawed and slightly disjointed, but that's the face I was born with and luckily my wife seems to like.

If you fancy giving some pointers on body position and bike balance I'd be happy to hear what you say - I've been riding xc, dh and ultra endurance races for years and seem to have been pretty successful so far.

Please bear in mind that the camera is very focussed in and you cannot see what the trail conditions are like and what is just out of shot. Nor can you tell that it is the umpteenth repeat of a ride, brake, sprint uphill and remount pattern in a frantic effort to beat the good old Scottish weather, so forgive me for having slightly incorrect body position as I try to avoid sliding over the cliff you can't quite see....

Of course, if you're referring to other pictures then they might just be people from Norfolk and there's not a lot that can be done about the look, however, comparisons to 'Special Needs' guys is uncalled for. Go spread that sort of chat on the MBUK forum.

Peace

Well now is your chance to improve the mag and put your money where your mouth is.

MBR are recruiting for a new Editor

EDITOR
Department: MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDER (MBR)
Summary: The UK’s best and most exciting mountain bike magazine, MBR, is searching for a brilliant new Editor.
Description: This is a challenging and exciting role, with responsibility for running a magazine and website for a key brand within the market-leading IPC Media cycling group, working alongside some of the UK’s best specialist magazines.
Responsibilities include:
Developing, communicating and delivering a clear editorial strategy, which will drive sales of the magazine and traffic to the website
Working within budget and deadlines to deliver a must-buy magazine, with compelling editorial content in print and online
Leading and motivating an existing team of supremely talented writers and photographers
Being the ‘face’ of MBR to the industry and readers
The successful candidate is likely to be:
A mountain biking enthusiast
Knowledgeable about mountain biking and UK cycling in general
An experienced journalist, with a successful track record in print and online
Competent in all aspects of the editorial processes, including commissioning, subbing and managing budgets
Able to articulate a clear vision for the future of the magazine
A great team leader, prepared to get their hands dirty and with the skills, energy and enthusiasm to deliver This vacancy is based in our Croydon offices.
Closing date: Friday 6th November 2009
Contact: Please apply with your full CV, salary expectation and covering letter by post or email, to Keith Foster, Publishing Director, IPC Inspire (Focus), 10th floor, Leon House, 233, High Street, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1HZ
Email: keith_foster@ipcmedia.com

Good luck ;O)

supremely talented writers

scotjohn - in a recent issue they had a bloke who looked like a freaking alien on the cover- the alien was also featured inside in a skills section piece. He looked FREAKY

scotjohn. mail me and i'll send you some pictures of Hora riding a bike (or rather pushing a bike down a muddy incline) he has a face like a clubbed seal. maybe he could be on next months front cover?

this is forum gold

rootes1 - Member

its turning into mbuk, full of yoofs innit!

I used to work in a shop (Dave Mellor Cycles - great shop my the way) as a saturday boy with ian collins of mbuk years ago

he must be over 40yrs old or more now and still ends his sentences in mbuk with the word 'sweet' or 'gnarly'

lol

you know as he has a big nose, he had turn the ring pull on his soft drinks can through 90degs to drink from the can without a nose/ring pull interference issue
lol

LOL! It's funny because IIRC it was true! I used to wish I was gay so I could stroke his silky smooth legs 😀

ScotJohn- As is known on STW I have conflicting views and opinions. I feel I would be perfect for reviewing Bikes and kit in MBR.

MrClubbedSeal - you don't need conflicting reviews, you just need to have an unsatiable desire for Specialized bikes. Simple really. 🙂

I was bored and ended up buying a copy of MBA the other day, I was pleasantly surprised considering it's a yank mag. For the first time ever I actually read the features stuff and the reviews were refreshingly to-the-point and I like the tips stuff in them with recommendation on set up and what to change etc.

I currently subscribe to MBUK and WMB (I don't eat enough fibre so need something to do when on the toilet :p ) but might cancel those and get MBA instead.

Scotjohn,

Sorry if my tongue-in-cheek post was a little OTT. I recently (and reluctantly) stopped buying MBR, having bought every issue since issue 2. No, I don't know why I didn't buy issue 1!.

I just got frustrated with the mag, after years of buying it with great anticipation. As far as cover and other shots are concerned, I think Singletrack has got it right: high quality shots of regular guys "just riding", often in an impressive (but usually UK) location. Not obviously posing for the camera.

Apart from that, MBR seems to me to have lost its "fun" element, and it all seems rather serious now. Perhaps that's a reflection on how we see ourselves as mtb'ers these days,and we all need to lighten up.

Above all, I get the feeling that MBR is just there to try and get us to buy stuff now. I know we live in a commercial world, but more tales of normal (normal?) riders, and UK pics which we can all relate to would be good for me.

Maybe I'm just getting old (and grumpy). 🙁

Is it that time of the month again?.... 🙄

Gnarly 😉

[img] [/img]

Squirrel - cool, no worries

I bought mbr from issue 2 too for years but stopped reading any mags several years ago when I stopped working in the trade. I got sick of nonsense reviews influencing bike shop customers. Just because it was in mbr it was deemed gospel and therefore whatever I said was wrong. Didn't matter that I had more riding, outdoors, design and materials knowledge and experience than whoever typically had written the review, because if it was in the mag it must be right...

The only insightful reviews I'd go by these days are Messers Kesteven and Worland most of which appear on Bikeradar anyway.

As far as bike tests go it's the best mag by a long way. Other mags don't even measure the bikes FFS.

rad

I think MBR has upped it's game in recent months. But generally, when reading a magazine they trot out the marketing spin like "it's a hydroformed ovalised super pressed top tube" therefore it's stiff. The reviews are short and they don't say what they are basing them against. I would prefer less reviews but with more thought / indepth. As said, MBR seem to be trying to get that way but all mags have some way to go.

Then again, just seen one picture in a magazine (can't remember which one) of someone hanging off the back of a bike on a not very steep downhill making it look rad - maybe I'm riding incorrectly or maybe not .....

Dave - Page 124 November MBUK "put a new rider on this bike and they'll be delighted" FFS

Wheres the old Editor gone? Maxpower or VWWorld mag? You could do an exchange deal (man).

JCL - Member
As far as bike tests go it's the best mag by a long way. Other mags don't even measure the bikes FFS

But they miss out the top-tube length because it's not important?

Obviously when I buy a bike I want to know the down-tube length because I want to know how far my feet are from hands?

Nonsensical.

WhatMBUK/MBR etc probably started of as good magazines but seem too commercial now. Aren't they also connected to bike radar they seem to have the same dodgy reviews.

Isnt that how it goes though, if singletrack gets too popular I'm sure they will get a offer from future publishing.

Wheres the old Editor gone? Maxpower or VWWorld mag? You could do an exchange deal (man).

to london cyclist (magazine of the LCC)

there is a funny story as to how he ended up there which i will tell you if i have the pleasure of meeting seeing you on one of your trips south.

Obviously when I buy a bike I want to know the down-tube length because I want to know how far my feet are from hands?

Almost worth a thread in its own right as I'm sure there are pros and cons of measuring a bike in this way. I've always been a bit of a toptube length anorak and wouldn't look at anything over 21.75 (actual TT measurement), feeling from past experience that the bike would be too long for me, although on reflection I realize that angles and fork length play a much bigger part in how a bike feels. Never paid any attention to downtube measurements but thinking about it, certainly when riding out of the saddle (which I tend to do a lot) it's the one measurement that isn't going to change regardless of bike set up . . . sure weight distribution may change along with angles when swapping to longer or shorter forks but the distance between feet and hands will stay constant . . . stay with me here, I know I'm rambling. I reckon as a smaller rider, then a shorter distance between feet and hands (or downtube length) is gonna give me more leverage when riding out of the saddle. No, I'm not looking for an excuse for another bike 😉 just wondering out loud which would be the best option for an 'extra help on the climbs' upgrade . . . either 20mm shorter travel forks (currently running 140mm and slack angles - perfect for d/h) or a slightly shorter stem and low rise bars.

now THAT shut em all up 😀

rofl at mamadirt.

So what'd you reckon then . . .

Purple
[img] [/img]

or orange? 😉
[img] [/img]

MBR ran quite a long article a while ago about why they measured the bikes downtube rather than top tube. Can't remember what it said but there were fairly sound reasons for doing it. Turner size their bikes by downtube lengths.

On the other hand everyone is used to TT length so it just confuses the issue.

there is a funny story as to how he ended up there which i will tell you if i have the pleasure of meeting seeing you on one of your trips south.

Yes please 🙂

Which mag has the articles that just end mid-sentence not so long ago? You'd flip over the page twice, frown then realise it had been rushed off the printers too quickly without being proof-read properly..