Privateer has definitely done something different, and for now is my preferred read (although I willingly subscribe to Singletrack as well). The key things I’ve liked from Privateer are:
1. very original ideas for articles (e.g. the recent one about the trail in S America and the local industry built up around it). There’s very little on product, and although I initially thought I’d be uninterested in reading about mountain bike history, some of it is really very interesting.
2. the focus on ‘scenes’ e.g. the recent article about all those Welsh endurance riders – this is something Singletrack could/should really expand upon. I enjoy reading about other peoples’ lives and how they get involved in the sport, and I often feel Singletrack misses an opportunity here given that the staff must be tied into all sorts of interesting groups etc. Give me more human interest!
3. the interviews and reflections on things to do with the sport which are actually really inspiring (like the one about the welsh guy who designed the first trail centre there). The interviews in Singletrack, whilst often with interesting people, are sometimes poorly written. In my humble opinion, you should never have a ‘he said’ ‘she said’ write up as it looks like the text to a school play. I much prefer the style where the writer frames the story and gives their slant, while quoting the subject as part of the text. Others may disagree.
Maybe the link to all the points above is that my own involvement in mountain biking is very limited due to time, and not social in any way. Therefore, I want a magazine which widens my horizons and gives me some inspiration to get out and ride if that makes sense?
All in all though the new Singletrack is much better so far, and as I said I’m glad to continue subscribing.
