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Is th picture different for the occasional purchasers of the magazine from the subscribers?
Well, I can comment on the subscribers' edition but do you mean the one of Fearne Cotton and the 'missing saddle'. I don't normally enjoy the inherent sexism in such photograpnhy but, man, that's an awesome shot.
"Fearne and the 'missing saddle' "
Tell me more! I haven't seen that.
I thought they were talking about the Quantocks feature. I think I've got some pages missing from my magazine. I thought it seemed a little thin this time.
barca2 - Member"Fearne and the 'missing saddle' "
Tell me more! I haven't seen that.
I thought they were talking about the Quantocks feature. I think I've got some pages missing from my magazine. I thought it seemed a little thin this time.
Must resist gag about missing pages being there but stuck together....
d'oh, too late. as usual.
I do not know if this has actually been raised yet, but has anyone actually weighed the current issue?
njee will have the full weight spec.
Just started reading the latest copy of Singletrack and i am a bit mystified why you chose Jamaica for a trip, the locals don't seem to have mountain bikes just retro things and the STW lot are the only ones with proper mtb's, I may be proved wrong once I have read the article. Doubt its a coincidence that youyr giving Norco the thumbs up seeing as they are spending a lot on advertizing in this issue, and as for twitter utterley pointless IMO only read the comments because I cliccked the link, but what a complete load of bollocks.(Twitter I mean, pointless)
Otherwise I do like the articles but i wish they would point out when reviwing stuff like wheels if they are Tubeless or not, also trying to make sense of the handlebar group test. Overall Singletrack is good & it may not lack in content but some of the articles do make you wonder what ST were thinking. I have a subscription for the mag that I have just renewed, would not cancel it, at least the ride articles don't look staged like other mags, they never seem to get muddy.
barca2 - Member
That is a policy you should vigorously adhere to
😉
[i]. Doubt its a coincidence that youyr giving Norco the thumbs up seeing as they are spending a lot on advertizing in this issue[/i]
let's not start down that particular fallacy.
As a reviewer we don't know who is advertising in each issue or how much they've spent. Editorial content isn't altered or edited, what you read in the mag are the reviewers opinions.
[i]I do not know if this has actually been raised yet, but has anyone actually weighed the current issue?
[/i]
I believe one of the german mags are going to be publishing an in depth grouptest of magazines which will involve full weight data and graphs and everything
;o)
Doesn't the advertising dept talk to to the inhouse Journo's?
Anyway! I'm going nowhere near this particular argument- I got into trouble last time.
hora - MemberDoesn't the advertising dept talk to to the inhouse Journo's?
Have you ever visited "STW towers"? It's a few years since I was last there but even so, if there's a dozen people in the office I reckon 6 would be visitors...
Overall it is good and better than the others but I personally am not enjoying reading nearly as much as I used to. This may well be me as opposed to the mag and as such I was considering cancelling my sub. I have say that marks post is the final straw as such, I don't see it as passionate as others have said. Hopefully in 2010 I'll be to busy riding my bike for any reading!
Perhaps the ST team smoked to much gangjer in Jamaica maaan and got a bit layed back towards content! 😉
It's a bit thin yes, but I agree that the quality of features does seem to be improving.
My heart sank when I saw the jazz piece, but it was actually a pretty good read and not at all pretentious. It's interesting to read what parallels other people draw to MTBing, so long as they're not trying to be somethign they are not.
The hotels piece was a welcome change from all that bivvying nonsense, and the sort of mildly provocative content that I enjoy reading in the mag.
Have long-term bikes been dropped for good or just that month? It's not something I miss reading and when/if pagination increases I'd prefer to see more Grinder reviews in their place.
The Jamiaca feature was actually pretty long, but deservedly so. I've been ill lately and reading some old STs I've noticed that Benji does travel features really well.
Perhaps I'm reading too much into things (based on previous threads like this and comments from ST staff), but it looks to me like changes are being made and ideas bucked up.
Even Ferrentino's column was largely cheery for once. Did you slip him some Prozac?
Keep up the good work guys, I've subscribed all the others and they only lasted an hour at best...
I get several evenings out of STW, much better value!
Dave:I believe one of the german mags are going to be publishing an in depth grouptest of magazines which will involve full weight data and graphs and everything
;o)
Actually i think i have cracked it. What you want is a gauge printed on the spine of the mag. That way it is always easy to check if the publication is the correct width.
Maybe even get the width made an ISO standard.
...and any month it falls short just stuff loads of takeaway menus in there.
German mags! always put full figures in! like magura!! they are really good! for figures!
i bought the mag for the first time (for obvious reasons!) and i thought it was good - i don't get what people are moaning about!
[i]"i bought the mag for the first time (for obvious reasons!) and i thought it was good - i don't get what people are moaning about!"[/i]
That has to be the funniest thing I've ever read on here.
They're moaning about it not being as good (or as much of it) as there used to be.
How can you possibly know if you have nothing previous to compare it to?
Hahahaha- superb!
Oh, I nearly forgot - what are your 'obvious reasons!'?
she was in it
Oh, I nearly forgot - what are your 'obvious reasons!'?
Page 101
aleigh:i bought the mag for the first time (for obvious reasons!) and i thought it was good - i don't get what people are moaning about!
I lol'd. Like out loud and everything.
Is this going to be one of the months top threads in that email update that STW send out?
Slightly O/T.
Why do bike mags use fugly men riders in general? Why not use attractive models for the covers etc?
Its almost like Readers Wives husbands?
Is it to add 'grittiness'?
hora:
I've deleted what I've written. I can't be bothered.
hora:
Slightly O/T.Why do bike mags use fugly men riders in general? Why not use attractive models for the covers etc?
Its almost like Readers Wives husbands?
Is it to add 'grittiness'?
Tease.
Readers wives husbands? So that would be readers then?
Dunno, perhaps they know their target market?
Maybe because they'd like to suggest that the content of the magazine is aimed at grown ups rather than hormonal 14 year olds (or idiots with the same level of development on or off a mountain bike)?
Hello folks,
Sorry I'm a bit late to this party, but I've actually been riding bikes and things, so I've only just been able to catch up with this thread.
Just to briefly touch on some of the many valid comments on this thread:
First off, the buck for the editorial content of the magazine stops with me. It's hardly fair to criticise Mark, whose main job is to juggle our sine-wave finances (which he does to great effect), on the choice or content of the magazine articles. If you don't like the content of a particular issue, then it's probably my fault. Feel free to call up and rant at me if you like. 01706 814249 is my direct line.
We do read all criticisms and suggestions sent to us (or posted on threads that we see) and, as Mark says, they're discussed in the office when we go through each issue. In terms of the advertising/editorial content, we have a much lower density of advertising compared to other UK magazine (and certainly compared to US magazines where the ratio is a set 50:50. If there are only 40 pages of ads, you get an 80 page magazine.)
The magazine was started by a few people who decided to make the magazine that they wanted to read (because there wasn't anything similar out there) and, to a large extent, that's how it's still done. We're still making it up as we go along - and we still rely hugely on suggestions and submissions from readers, or opportunities that present themselves to us while we're making the magazine. Sometimes ideas work, sometimes they don't. We're not a big publishing house (we produce one title, that's it) so we have neither the time, nor money for big focus groups, or front cover consultants (yes, they have them...) - we just look at things we can do, and photograph and write about and things that we think you might like.
In terms of the thickness of the magazine, we do rely partly on the revenue from advertising to pay for the paper and the printing of each issue. If everyone's saving their advertising money for the springtime, we sometimes might drop pages for an issue or two, to be reinstated again at the earliest opportunity. Like next issue...
Despite the photos of us riding nice bikes in sunny climes, much of the magazine production is sitting in the office until late, writing stuff - though, strangely, no one wants to see photos of that. We do work hard on Singletrack and every issue usually costs some of the staff at least a weekend spent working in the office, and a week of 10pm finishes. It's no wonder that some of us go bonkers occasionally 🙂
Anyway, keep the suggestions coming. I do regularly print articles that are suggested, or written by readers.
Cheers
Chipps
As a subscriber since edition 1 I continue to enjoy the mag, very few poor issues imo. I have thought the last couple of issues were on thinner / lighter paper but can't be arsed to check if my perception is right or not.
Im an online subscriber (the £15 cheapy option) and think thats pretty good value, .
I like the bits I read, and ignore the bits Im not interested in, not realy botherd about reviews of 30 sets of bars, lights etc. but thats me. If I was looking for bars I would...
As has been said before its a hard job writing about bikes n stuff every month and making it interesting for everyone.
Mark might have made a bit of a dick of himself, but Im sure thats better than him saying "the masses are revolting, pass another cigar", and apologised-fair-do's
Its just a matter of personal opinion whether critisism of the latest edition is fair or justified, but what i do know is that sometimes a situation occurs which causes people to take an inward look at the way they do things, and whether thats justified or not, something good normally comes out of it.
Well! What a thread. Think it's run it's course now. Thanks for all the contributions, including the down to earth staff.
Glad Mark got irate at some of the contributers-shows he's passionate about what he does but my point wasn't the adverts v content. I just think the last couple of issues have been light on pages and not up to the usual ST standard.
If the next issues better, I will continue to buy. I never mentioned that there was a lack of hard work or commitment by staffers. Just food for thought and if it brings things into focus as part of a debate, all well and good.
Oh behave!
Do people moan because they are genuinely aggrieved or do they moan because SingleTrack is one of the few publications where the people behind it are easy to contact?
The Sunday Times is a bit of a disappointment when Jay Leno does the car review but I don’t have a pop at the publisher.
I read the mag yesterday. It filled a couple of hours sat on the couch with a brew and a biscuit. Not bad for 4 quid.
Chipps - I personally don't feel that you needed to justify anything, but good on you anyway.
The Sunday Times is a bit of a disappointment when Jay Leno does the car review but I don’t have a pop at the publisher.
Or the Telegraph allows honestjohn to print blatant tripe weekly in the motoring section 🙄
Its a little harsh to rant at Chipps and the guys on the whole as I think the magazine is well written and presented, sure it may be a little light from time to time but so what? Its not some 9-5 Monday to Friday job to run a mag, or in fact anything to do with leisure/sports industry.
If you think you can do better, go off and produce your own magazine. Simple.
Any bike magazine that doesn't have the Doddy 'look, I'm trying hard' grimace in/on it has to be a good thing.
I liked this months - quite a lot to ponder over rather than just skim.
If you think you can do better, go off and produce your own magazine. Simple.
So criticism of any form, constructive or otherwise, would be banned under your regime then? 🙄
I'm only annoyed by the fact that he apologised, especially using such a shit excuse.
Personally if he'd said "yeah well - what ya gonna do about it? Nothing, you'll bitch and moan and come begging for more so get ****ed" I'd have been well impressed.
Edit: This is a good indication of why I don't work with the public though.
Since the STW staff do apparently reflect on their humble reader's feedback here's my two penn'orth (is that how you spell it??):
- The last couple of issue's have seemed a bit thin
+ singletrack is still the best bike reading out there barring the ride journal, but that's not comparing like with like
- Marks rant
+ Marks apology
- Free plugs to hotels / b&bs, seems to be one per issue at the moment
I like the mag, it's the only mag I buy regularly and I enjoy it most months. What I've read of this months issue has been good, really grateful for the 3 months premier membership trial with this months issue. Like the extra content you get with the digital version.
The Sunday Times is a bit of a disappointment when Jay Leno does the car review but I don’t have a pop at the publisher.
I had to sub-edit one of his pieces once. It was one of worst-written things I've ever had to deal with. Just be grateful you don't have to read the raw versions!
Just read the Magna Via piece and, with one exception (the phrase, "enough of the nerdy amateur archæology guff," shit man, don't knock down your knowledge) and really enjoyed it.
It's pieces like that which still make ST stand out from the crowd - a slightly different angle on things which makes riding about more than how many inches suspension is the new standard and takes notice of the actual places that riding happens. Acers.
barca - like i care what you think!
magazine is aimed at grown ups rather than hormonal 14 year olds
I have 4 times that age but my development seems to have been arrested...