Mountain Biking Mags

Todd Lerfondler said:

Any ideas on what mags are good for people who like the idea of hitting the
trails but are just looking to drop some bucks (not too many) on a new ride?

None. They all test brand-new equipment, mostly like preppared
especially for the tests, and the way those guys ride, and the places
they ride, gives you not one clue about anything except what they
prefer for their particular locale.

It amounts to "buy the red one, it's faster."

E.P.

Ed Pirrero said:

Todd Lerfondler said:

Any ideas on what mags are good for people who like the idea of hitting the
trails but are just looking to drop some bucks (not too many) on a new ride?

None. They all test brand-new equipment, mostly like preppared
especially for the tests, and the way those guys ride, and the places
they ride, gives you not one clue about anything except what they
prefer for their particular locale.

It amounts to "buy the red one, it's faster."

E.P.

Also, they are pandering to their advertisers. If trek advertises in a
magazine and spends huge money in the process, are they going to say
that the fuel is a POS? No, but I will.

Join a local bike club, find out who is not full of [censored] and ask them.
They can either give you a good recommendation, or steer you to a
REPUTABLE bike shop that will. Don't ask a bunch of strangers on the
internet who think their idea of a bike is the be all to end all.
Their idea will more than likely not fit you, where you ride, or what
your intentions are in mountain biking.

JD has a red bike

Todd Lerfondler said:

Any ideas on what mags are good for people who like the idea of hitting the
trails but are just looking to drop some bucks (not too many) on a new ride?

Cast your eye over www.singletrackworld.com and see if their magazine style suits you.

JD said:

Join a local bike club, find out who is not full of [censored] and ask them.
They can either give you a good recommendation, or steer you to a
REPUTABLE bike shop that will. Don't ask a bunch of strangers on the
internet who think their idea of a bike is the be all to end all.
Their idea will more than likely not fit you, where you ride, or what
your intentions are in mountain biking.

JD has a red bike

Damn, JD! You and I agree!

I've tracked down THE reputable LBS...heck, other shops won't even look
at a bike for a 2nd opinion if this shop says it's toast (then again,
these guys have the torque tables for *all* the parts and the proverbial
"fine toothed comb" has nothing on them).

I might ask online for some general ideas as to what to keep an eye on,
but it comes down to what works locally, I look locally....I agree with
you 100% there. After all, what works on the east coast or NorCal
doesn't necessarily work in Alberta, Canada (though some of the Colorado
stuff has been a good place to start 😉 )

Right now, I've got a green bike, but I'm getting a blue one (FS for me
woohoo!)

Psycho Mike

"Todd Lerfondler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:LQy_f.6306$_T5.1422@trndny08...

Quoted message said:

Any ideas on what mags are good for people who like the idea of hitting
the trails but are just looking to drop some bucks (not too many) on a new
ride?

--Todd

If it's light enough, handles well and from a reputable manufacturer... buy
it - ride it - love it. A bike tested by a 160lb rider in Moab could prove
useless to a 140lb rider in the Appalachians....
btw, Mine is blue.

Quoted message said:

Todd Lerfondler said:

Any ideas on what mags are good for people who like the idea of hitting the
trails but are just looking to drop some bucks (not too many) on a new ride?

--Todd

I actually read Dirt Rag from time to time and I really like Western
Flier, which a couple of my friends produce.
They are both more about the riding experience than the bikes
themselves, although I think Dirt Rag sometimes reviews stuff.

Matt

Thanks for all your help guys...the local bike shop I think is the way to
go.

BTW...my bike is black.

MattB said:

I really like Western
Flier, which a couple of my friends produce.

Their first issue was very race-oriented. Did it change?

JD

JD said:

MattB said:

I really like Western
Flier, which a couple of my friends produce.

Their first issue was very race-oriented. Did it change?

JD

I think they diversified a little. There's definitely some race stories,
but there were several good features in the last one I read that weren't
race oriented.
Not sure how that compares to the first issue, I didn't pay attention to
the ratio. I liked the writing and photographs, and whether it's a story
about racing or not, it's refreshingly different from anything else out
there.
One story I really liked was about community racing (various local
series in small towns), which was racing, but in the fun community way,
not the big corporate NORBA way.
Anyway, I know the guys and they are upstanding guys. There's not going
to be any bias for sale in their magazine.
One of the big content contributors cut some of the singletrack around
here you've enjoyed in the past...

Matt

MattB said:

JD said:

MattB said:

I really like Western
Flier, which a couple of my friends produce.

Their first issue was very race-oriented. Did it change?

JD

I think they diversified a little. There's definitely some race stories,
but there were several good features in the last one I read that weren't
race oriented.
Not sure how that compares to the first issue, I didn't pay attention to
the ratio. I liked the writing and photographs, and whether it's a story
about racing or not, it's refreshingly different from anything else out
there.
One story I really liked was about community racing (various local
series in small towns), which was racing, but in the fun community way,
not the big corporate NORBA way.
Anyway, I know the guys and they are upstanding guys. There's not going
to be any bias for sale in their magazine.
One of the big content contributors cut some of the singletrack around
here you've enjoyed in the past...

Matt

The first issue was all about racing, except one article. It got
round-filed after a quick flip through. It's good to hear they
diversified because anything other than the pandering rags is a welcome
sight, especially if it has a diverse content.

JD