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I see a lot of MTB magazines getting slated, with very few being praised.
So - what would you like to see more of in a MTB magazine? And what would you like to see less of (bearing in mind adverts are needed so that people get paid)?
Personally, I would like to see fewer reviews of kit. That stuff bores me and is way too subjective to be of any use to anyone.
I would like to see more of the random dude that we've never heard of writing about the planning of their trip, the trip itself and what they took from the trip etc. Although I do appreciate that this wont fill a magazine cover to cover every month.
As for route guides, I would like to see routes sent in by locals rather than the regurgitated same old routes every year or so.
Over to you.
A 15€ price tag seems to get people frothing at the mouth. 😀
A 15€ price tag seems to get people frothing at the mouth.
It is very good, though - have you seen a copy?
Andy
For 15 euros I'd be wanting at least a shifter as a free gift.
Do I have to?
Has someone realised if they can fleece people for £6k for a push bike then they can fleece them for £9 an issue of some fancy pornographically titled mtb mag? 😉
Its no better quality print than a Howies catalogue and that's free....
I can't really comment as I don't buy magazines, but I can waste hours looking at catalogues. I have a few mags with reviews and quite frankly they're rubbish.
Bike X get 7 because 5hitty tyres have been fitted and Bike Y will get 9 because even though the saddle is crap it's easy to change and the drivetrain will wear out in a couple of months and you can upgrade!!
Good photos. I mean good.
Well written articles that will motivate me to ride, not just a description of a recent ride.
Anything else?
there are never enough tyre reviews imo, hence all the what tyre threads on the forae!! ;O)
Bike X get 7 because 5hitty tyres have been fitted
If you mean MBR's tendency to put High Rollers on everything, I can actually see where they're coming from. I don't believe for a second (Spesh/Trek aside) any manufacturer would design their bikes & tyres together; OEM tyres are often a bit crap, and it's the one of the few variables the mag can take out.
Andy
Different mags do different jobs... I like all the UK ones, for different things. Some are about riding, some are about bikes or gear, some are about beards.
I reckon Dirt hits a really sweet spot for my tastes- even though it's almost totally irrelevant to my riding, the mag's well put together, has a huge amount of content when you dig into the small-print columns, a good variety of products etc... If someone was to produce something like that but pitched at middle class trail centre warriors like me, I'd get a lifetime sub 😉
I don't believe for a second (Spesh/Trek aside) any manufacturer would design their bikes & tyres together; OEM tyres are often a bit crap, and it's the one of the few variables the mag can take out.
But to lose 3 points just because of tyres and an element which the bike maker has sourced and is not directly related to is pants and something any muppet can change, especially when an alternative bike will have a major complaint regarding the frame which is dismissed as a quirk and gets 9 or even 10
re route guides.
There are only so many perfect 3-4 hour circuits. I'd like them to do route guides with maybe 2 - 3 day rides. Let the reader worry about the logistics of getting back.
Or Irish/Continental routes?
don simon: "especially when an alternative bike will have a major complaint regarding the frame which is dismissed as a quirk and gets 9 or even 10"
MBR: "The Orange 5 comes with wheels which are too skinny and weak, and brakes which don't work. 10/10!"
The other one I liked was testing an Inbred with a 140mm fork and spending the whole review complaining about how it felt like the BB was too high, the fork too chopperlike, the bike too long... So would most bikes be when you stick a fork that's too long in it.
Foreign trips..
The ones that you want to do yourself and could do yourself. Reports such as these
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=199473
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=422085&highlight=bearbait
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=495949&highlight=hong+kong+to+bangkok
Enduarance races such as the Great Divide, TransRockies anything that tests the ability.
An in depth report that takes you out there with enough detail of the practicalities should you do it yourself.
There have been a few in STW but they only skim the top.
Photographs - I tend to buy Cyclesport - not because of the articles but because of the photographs. Similarly the watercolours in Mint Sauce evokes the same feelings. A picture.. and all of that.
Is cycling an escapist sport?