Do you buy cycling magazines?

[Christian]

Dear all,

I just bought one called "Planète Cyclisme" for 6 € the other day and after having read it I remembered why I rarely ever buy magazines about professional cycling (I'm not talking about magazines that focus on bikes and gear).

For one, I always find they are quite expensive for what they are. I mean I am absolutely willing to pay a certain price for quality journalism but I often find the stories that they bring have very little content and are badly written. At least this "Planète Cyclisme" didn't really have any interesting stories and appeared to have been written by a fourth-grader.

These magazines usually do have pretty nice pictures but we can also see those an hour after the race on cyclingnews.com for free.

And then the biggest problem I guess of these magazines is that they usually come out once a month and are therefore not up to date at all. I know there's nothing really they can do about that but it just seems to be that it's a waste of money to spend 6 € on a magazine that tells me there could be a chance that Wiggins moves to Sky when the decision has long been taken.

I don't know - maybe this was just a particularly bad example of a cycling magazine. But I think I will continue to only buy them when there is a feature about one of my absolute favorite riders in it.

 

[Anonymous]

Cycle Sport is ok...not too expensive is you get the subscription...pure bike porn of course...but helps with motivation sometimes...

 

[ViaPagliano]

I do - I am into ProCycling and Velo magazine.

Why? Let's cut to the chase - it's way easier to hold up a magazine in the restroom than it is a laptop.

Plus - let's support the magazine industry. I know they say print is dead, but I really don't want to it go.

 

[Anonymous]

I will if I ever get a job again. For now I use websites, and I read some Cycle Sport articles on zinio.com. I can see three double-pages, then delete cookies and go back. I'll subscribe when I can.

 

[TheDude]

I receive VeloNews only because I don't take my laptop into the head. News is always faster (and more in-depth usually) on the web, but I like the glossy pictures.

 

[Stephen D Aalderink]

No point to it anymore in my opinion, unless its a special edition with really nice photos - then it assumes a spot on the coffee table.
And most magazines are so lite on content and so heavy with ads -
I'd much rather come here and peruse all the threads and opinions of my cycling peers, as well as get their input as to how sane or crazy my ideas are.

 

[Oldman]

Cycle Sport is ok...not too expensive is you get the subscription...pure bike porn of course...but helps with motivation sometimes...

I like to read my friend's copies. Too much add space in all magazines, now.

 

[Anonymous]

nope.. tour preview in june, and if any of them have a decent giro or vuelta preview..

other than that they are so far behind on the news i dont usually bother..

 

[42x16ss]

The best cycling magazine that I have found is an Australian magazine called Ride. It is head and shoulders above anything else I have read.

This has a very good recap of results, race reviews, up and coming rider profiles (eg. they did one on EBH back in 07 before he even signed for T-Mobile!), flashback articles, rider transfer lists, interviews, tech features and the most thorough bike reviews imaginable (they even go as far as stripping, flex testing and rebuilding the frames!!!).

An excellent peice of bike journalism. Only one problem though - it's quarterly, not monthly .

 

[kelvedon wonder]

Cycle Sport monthly - I'm new to the sport so I need halp with the basics. And any others that catch my eye when I'm passing the magazine rack in the supermarket (still looking for the headline 'how to help podgy old ladies get up hills' though).

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

1 before the spring classics, 1 before the tour...

 

[LugHugger]

No mention of Rouleur? Expensive, but you get quality writing and photography.

Other than that, no. I can get up to date 'news' and lousy/lazy writing on the web for free!

 

[Boeing]

The only one I read is Dirt Rag. It offers insight to a segment of cycling that is not covered well yet. Dirt Jumping and Slope Style riding etc...

I should. I mean I don't subscribe to penthouse playboy chic juggs or hustler anymore but like someone said you cant take a lap top to the can easily

 

[biker jk]

The best cycling magazine that I have found is an Australian magazine called Ride. It is head and shoulders above anything else I have read.

This has a very good recap of results, race reviews, up and coming rider profiles (eg. they did one on EBH back in 07 before he even signed for T-Mobile!), flashback articles, rider transfer lists, interviews, tech features and the most thorough bike reviews imaginable (they even go as far as stripping, flex testing and rebuilding the frames!!!).

An excellent peice of bike journalism. Only one problem though - it's quarterly, not monthly .

Yes, RIDE is a great magazine and I'm a subscriber. The quality of the bike reviews is a galaxy better than Bicycling Australia. The latter is slipping rapidly in quality and needs a new editor.

 

[craig1985]

The best cycling magazine that I have found is an Australian magazine called Ride. It is head and shoulders above anything else I have read.

This has a very good recap of results, race reviews, up and coming rider profiles (eg. they did one on EBH back in 07 before he even signed for T-Mobile!), flashback articles, rider transfer lists, interviews, tech features and the most thorough bike reviews imaginable (they even go as far as stripping, flex testing and rebuilding the frames!!!).

An excellent peice of bike journalism. Only one problem though - it's quarterly, not monthly .

Yeah I like Ride as well. I read Pro Cycling magazine.

 

[Angliru]

I concur on the Australian Ride mag. It is pretty much head and shoulders above the rest with the exception of Roleur. Both are virtual coffee table quality as far as their presentation and overall quality.

Cycle Sport (America) lost me when they decided that their Tour recap issue should have an image of Armstrong on the cover on Ventoux but no picture of the actual winner!

 

[cawright1375]

I get three all monthlies, Cycle Sport America, Velo News & ProCycling. Of the three PC is my absolute favorite. I started reading it last year and it took over from CSA as my favorite. I get they (CSA) are wanting to sell as many copies as possible, but it'd be nice if they took the route Velo News does and have a newstand and a subsriber cover so that they don't come off as the official LA fanclub newsletter (and this coming from a Lance fan) that or feature someone else on the cover for a change. I do like the free DVD offer with the subscription to CSA though.

I used to read Bicycling, however as they just rehash the same articles every year (new year, new you - etc.) I felt it was a waste of money.

 

[elapid]

I subscribe to Bicycling because of its varied content with general interest, fitness, diet, road biking, mountain biking, and bike porn. I stopped my subscription to CycleSport America because of their articles were always 2 months old by the time the mag hit my mailbox and everything else was empty rhetoric and stupid IMO. While VeloNews and ProCycling are better, their articles are also outdated by the time they hit the news stands. For up-to-date news on professional cycling, the professional cycling mags are worthless and better information can be gained from websites such as CN. I did really enjoy Ride when I returned back home to Australia in April. This would be the only other cycling mag I would consider subscribing, but I haven't read Rouleur.