| SteveCee |
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| 26/06/2008 20:36 |
This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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I read that the Editor did not know that the Doc has won the Nat 50 for the last nine years.
I am not surprised, if this weeks comic is a repeat of previous years, there is no write up.
What has Andy Bason done,no write up after his win in the Anfield and no write up for second in the Nat 50.
TheFatControlleR
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| 26/06/2008 20:49 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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Welcome to the forum...
| Rocco |
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| 26/06/2008 22:17 |
Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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no space in CW for time trials, full of Fitness Specials
this weeks edition should have been given away, to charge £2.50 for it is daylight robbery
of which there will be more no doubt when they charge £3.75 and £4.50 and any amount they care to think of when they have TDF special editions for the next 6 weeks
| wuverley |
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| 26/06/2008 23:15 |
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It wasn't just full of fitness stuff, it always is now. But it devoted four pages to Campagnolo. 2 were taken up with what might be described as news but the other 2 were just stuff about the history of the company.(Which might be interesting in another section, tech maybe).
There was next to no coverage of the 50TT, which was a surprise, the race reports were only editorial stuff at the beginning rather than analysis and reporting at the end of the comic, which is how it is usually done.
I know that sportives are popular, but are they more popular than TTs?
The Tour de France overcharging is annoying!
| LionelBirnie |
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| 27/06/2008 10:43 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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I don't wish to pour oil on the flames, but in what way do you consider all the freely available content on this website? Is it not possible to see the magazine and the site as working in tandem?
Having said that, we are hiking the price up for the Tour, from 0 pence per article... to 0 pence per article.
| James70 |
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| 27/06/2008 10:50 |
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Quote:
.I know that sportives are popular, but are they more popular than TTs?
Well, how many people entered the 50 champs and how many people entered the Dragon Ride?
That should answer your question.
(BTW, I've got nothing against either discipline, I happily do them both)
| Sly |
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| 27/06/2008 11:36 |
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None of it really matters. If the mag writes about things that the majority of readers are interested in, it will sell copies. Sportives and fitness seem like the in thing thing at present with hundreds of people attending each event, a packed calendar for the entire spring, summer and autumn months, and people discussing them in depth at places like this. If suddenly readership dropped because people were unhappy with topics the mag would surely re-evaluate and change accordingly or collapse. It doesn't need to stick to its traditions, and similarly it doesn't need to extensively cover minority cycling issues if it's not what people want.
Hence no Critical Mass or silly ladies fashion accessories special editions!
| wuverley |
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| 27/06/2008 12:36 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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I was aking a genuine question about sportives and TTs.
Anyone know, not just guess, if there are more participants in either one. A single sportive will of course be a larger event than a single TT, but there tend to be quite a few of them going on all over the country at roughly the same time.
I suppose the London to Brighton should be covered every week if its just about numbers.
| WillingHorse |
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| 27/06/2008 13:42 |
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TT's are very probably more popular than sportives in terms of numbers. But it's not just about numbers. There must be tens of thousands of evening '10' rides alone, every season. But how many of these would you like to read about?
Sportives are challenging, scenic, aspirational to many, and entirely inclusive. That's why they make a great feature in the magazine.
Not everyone wants to read about them, but not everyone is interested in the Premier Calendar either - you can't please everyone all the time.
(I've nothing against TT'ing at all, by the way. It's a fine branch of our sport)
| SteveCee |
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| 27/06/2008 16:01 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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Lionel wrote
"I don't wish to pour oil on the flames, but in what way do you consider all the freely available content on this website? Is it not possible to see the magazine and the site as working in tandem? "
Thats fine, I must have missed the write up on the following
Anfield 100
Burton 100
National 50
Please direct me to the said articles. I am very interested to read what Andy Basons comments were after smashing Lloydy's Anfield record and did he comment on the close call for his second place in the National 50.
Please copy and paste me to the links
Thanks for your help
S
| rover1971 |
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| 27/06/2008 21:29 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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Quote:Quote:
.I know that sportives are popular, but are they more popular than TTs?
Well, how many people entered the 50 champs and how many people entered the Dragon Ride?
That should answer your question.
(BTW, I've got nothing against either discipline, I happily do them both)
Don't quite follow your logic there, the national 50 is heavily restricted in the number of entrants compared to any sportive ride, you can hardly compare the two events like for like!
| wuverley |
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| 27/06/2008 23:13 |
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I assume that this website is mostly supported by sponsors, or to use the real term advertisers. You know the truth, maybe its Cycling Weekly buyers, which include me.
The Tour de France price hike is merely to profit from the slightly interested, occasional supporter of cycle sport.
Rather like the What Bike to Buy specials.
The comic used to be a comic giving results and some editorial, but nowadays it has become a cycling version of Marie-Claire. Which is great if you like that but to almost ignore major British races, like the national 50 is a mistake.
You know I will probably continue buying, so this rant is probably wasted.
Dr Hutch is good, if you put him on the website then I might stop buying the comic. So don't do it.
| Smokin_Joe |
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| 27/06/2008 23:41 |
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I would have liked to have seen a write up on the 50, but being realistic time trialing is a dying branch of the sport. The blue riband event in the calender, the 25 Championship could not even attract a full field this year. Competition record has stood since 1993, the longest in the history of the event, which reflects the lack of interest from our top riders.
| wuverley |
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| 27/06/2008 23:54 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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Boardman, I presume.
Or Obree?
| Smokin_Joe |
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| 28/06/2008 00:13 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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Boardman.
| SteveCee |
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| 28/06/2008 09:53 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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Smokin Joe
Where did you get the idea that Time Trialing is a dying branch of the sport. It might be in your part of the world "Little England beyond Wales"
Full fields in national events usually depend in which district held. The also rans would not drive hundreds of miles to get a time in the second half of the field.
And as for your comment
"Competition record has stood since 1993, the longest in the history of the event, which reflects the lack of interest from our top riders."
What a load of tosh. . . Boardmans ride on the Oxford By Pass was on a floatnight, it was at a time when he was at the top of his game.
So, should Dr Hutch get comp record next week, we can take it that there is A LOT INTEREST from the top ridres.
Look at the results in the National ten 29th place 20.02
82nd place 21.00
That does not tell me that Time Trialling is dying.
| Smokin_Joe |
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| 28/06/2008 10:02 |
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It isn't the sport it used to be Steve, in terms of number of participants or the interest in it. Of course Boardman's record was set on a float evening, so was every competition record. no-one is going to break one on a wet and windy afternoon. This is the first year in the history of the event that the National championship could not attract a full field, which it always did whereever it was held.
Look at the BBAR, it used to be headline news throughout the season but if you asked anyone who the present champion is or who is leading this year very few could tell you. I am not knocking testing, but it's hayday is long past.
| SteveCee |
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| 28/06/2008 10:42 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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It has had its hayday because there are now more elements of the sport at competition level.
And it will become a minority if Cycling Weekly never report on it.
The demise of the BBAR is another subject. However, in years gone by there would be a full page of the top twelve finishers, with in depth insight on training methods etc. Also would list all BBAR qualifiers even if down to 18mph. From August onwards the comic would give an update on the BBAR Table.
All the above matter and keep the sport alive.
| scm |
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| 28/06/2008 11:41 |
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Quote:
And it will become a minority if Cycling Weekly never report on it.
Ah, the chicken and the egg! Maybe CW has stopped giving it any prominence because it thinks its readers aren't interested. So, should it "force" it on an unwilling readership to try to make it more popular?
| SteveCee |
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| 28/06/2008 11:54 |
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because it thinks its readers
So where would they get that "THINK" though from
If there are still Testers riding up and down the country why would they not want to read about the top events.
| Smokin_Joe |
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| 28/06/2008 11:58 |
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Quote:
So where would they get that "THINK" though from
Sales figures?
I can remember the biggest complaint about CW in the seventies was that it gave too much coverage to time trials.
| thatwomanagain |
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| 28/06/2008 12:25 |
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The problem with 'testing' is that it's not really a spectator sport so unless you're personally involved in it you can't really follow it or understand it. I mean who wants to stand alongside a busy dual carriageway at 6am on a Sunday morning??
Then when it's discussed in the comic it's at a level that supposes that the reader is either a participant, or otherwise born with an inherent knowledge of the rules and concept.
So I'm going to be brave, display my ignorance, and ask questions -
What's the difference between testing and time-trials?
What's the difference between the National 10s, 25, 50s etc and the National Time Trial Championships held in September??
If Hutch is unbeatable in the 10", 25" and 50" why isn't he unbeatable in the National Time-Trial Championships too?
| cliff |
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| 28/06/2008 12:29 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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Quote:
Lionel wrote
"I don't wish to pour oil on the flames, but in what way do you consider all the freely available content on this website? Is it not possible to see the magazine and the site as working in tandem? "
Thats fine, I must have missed the write up on the following
Anfield 100
Burton 100
National 50
Please direct me to the said articles. I am very interested to read what Andy Basons comments were after smashing Lloydy's Anfield record and did he comment on the close call for his second place in the National 50.
Please copy and paste me to the links
Thanks for your help
S
Lloydy's record's gone?! I didn't even know about it, thanks to the lack of write-up in the Comic
I remember how exciting it seemed when Lloyd set the record - back in the days of Cammish with his 'Lloyd-beater' T-shirt.
| Rocco |
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| 28/06/2008 13:21 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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if time trialling is one's preferred branch of cycling then buying Cycling Weekly is utterly pointless
if however you like reading a magazine that has been prepared months in advance bar a couple of pages then it's ideal, rather like the Sunday supplements it could have been put together anytime in the past few years, same anonymous cyclists photographed, same Assos caps for £150 reviewed, same carrots are good for, same ride your bike and you'll get fitter, the good thing is you only have to buy it once then change the date on the front cover with a pencil as each week passes
| wuverley |
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| 28/06/2008 14:05 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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Testing is another word for time trialling, they are the same thing.
The Time Trial Championship is The BC competition (ie. UCI rules). The winner gets to wear the national champions jersey at the Tour de France Time Trials, for example(assuming they're there}
As for Hutch, there is a debate that could be had, the BC course is rarely a standard time-trialling distance (10,25,50) and is usually more hilly and twisty than a standard TT. Dave Millar etc. turn up for it because they want the jersey, whereas there is not much for them to gain by winning a CTT event.
Hope that helps a bit.
| aphextwin |
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| 28/06/2008 18:20 |
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Quote:
Dave Millar etc. turn up for it because they want the jersey, whereas there is not much for them to gain by winning a CTT event.
What! Who *wouldn't* want one of those stunning gold CTT champions' caps?
| wuverley |
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| 29/06/2008 01:22 |
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I have never been to a Champions Night. Are they the glittering, oscar style, presentations I imagine?
| thatwomanagain |
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| 29/06/2008 12:55 |
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Quote:
As for Hutch, there is a debate that could be had, the BC course is rarely a standard time-trialling distance (10,25,50) and is usually more hilly and twisty than a standard TT. Dave Millar etc. turn up for it because they want the jersey, whereas there is not much for them to gain by winning a CTT event.
Hope that helps a bit.
Yes, thanks. So what is the customary distance for the National Time-Trials championship?? I note that in the other countries of Europe the National TT champs have taken place this week, alongside the National road race comps. In fact the the entire week seems to have taken on some kind of Biblical aura - 'and in the 3rd week of June every rider shall return, each to his own country'.
But here the National TTs comp is taking place in September, running the risk of being overlooked. Any good reason for this??
| Smokin_Joe |
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| 29/06/2008 13:48 |
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Re: This Weeks Cycling 26 June
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Probably because BC need to avoid clashing with it's own road championships and all the CTT nationals that are taking place at the moment. To attract a decent field they then need to wait till after the TdF and the Olympics.
| fizban |
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| 29/06/2008 21:56 |
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Now I'm confused if the National TTs are in September, what's Huch just won (again)?
| thatwomanagain |
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| 29/06/2008 22:52 |
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Quote:
Now I'm confused if the National TTs are in September, what's Huch just won (again)?
The 50 something-or-other I think.
Maybe that's why testing is losing its popularity. It's become a bit of a secret society, outside the mainstream of cycling.
| Smokin_Joe |
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| 29/06/2008 23:01 |
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Quote:Quote:
Maybe that's why testing is losing its popularity. It's become a bit of a secret society, outside the mainstream of cycling.
Time trialing started off as a secret society so as not to annoy the police. Riders were required to dress in black, no numbers were worn and start sheets were sent out in envelopes bearing the phrase "Private and Confidential".
It wasn't till the fifties that things loosened up a bit.
| wuverley |
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| 30/06/2008 00:01 |
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Yhere is history involved as Smokin Joe says.
The RTTC (Road Time Trials Council) set up road racing in England(not sure about the whole of the UK) back in the 1930s.
The reason was it was essentially illegal to race on the roads. A massed start event was obviously easy to "detect" by the local coppers, but people turning up at 1 minute intervals, and just riding along the road were hard to prove they were riding a race
In Britain, where this was essentially unique, we developed a two tier system, the RTTC promoted time trials, and the BCF (or its forerunner,(ask an expert)) only promoted on tracks.
As with all history, imagine rugby League and Rugby Union, for example, they developed into slightly different organisations.
When, in the 90s, the BCF started running a Time Trial Championship because the UCI made them, they were sensitive to not invade the RTTC territory.
Things have sort of remained the same since.
The CTT are much more open nowadays, The Q10/30 near me was called the Reculver course for at least a year, but now seems to have returned to being Q10/30.
BC E/1/2/3/4 etc. is no more obvious until you find out what it means. I don't think testing is likely to die out soon.
| pete_the_bike |
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| 04/07/2008 22:28 |
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Cycling Weekly Content
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I do think the magasine has lost the plot a bit. 'Hutch' did a great ride in the National 50 with a very fast time. Surely this would have warranted more than just the bare bones of a result. The ride was mentioned in the editorial so I then looked for the race report, no luck. I'm interested in all aspects of cycling not just the pro-racing scene. Cycling weekly seems to become more and more like Cycle Sport every week. While I am few other questions;
1. Why are the almost no pictures of race winners on the front cover, instead we get anonymous cyclists looking vaguely cool. Presumably they are staffers testing bikes. I can think of one week in particular when ‘Cav’ won an important race, why wasn’t he on the front cover
2. Who on earth can afford all these £2000++ bikes that are lovingly tested in the Alps (maybe the testers could go and report on a few races instead)?
3. Just how much training advice do we need, maybe some of this copy space could be given up to reporting races. Yes, I agree bananas and carrots are good for me but I don’t need to be told week after week.
4. If cycling Weekly is to reflect the cycling scene in Britain and Europe why are there no reports of Sportive Events. Five hundred riders ride the Bealach Beag in the Scottish Highlands and nearly 2000 riders ride the Etape Caledonia. The fastest riders in these events are producing athletic performances on a par with any top road race. Yet these events received not a mention after they had taken place.A short report on each event round the country would be interesting.
My Dad was a life long cyclist and reader of Cycling, he regularly used t say to me, “load of rubbish, I don’t know why I buy it” but he never stopped his subscription, in fact I took it over after his death. I suppose it’s now my turn to say the same now but I do think a long hard look is needed at the magasines content.
| wuverley |
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| 04/07/2008 23:17 |
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1. God knows why we mostly have the androids, probably to do with deadlines, and to compete with Cycling Plus. Cavendish has been on the cover recently, the only pro to do so for a long time. Do you buy every week?
2. I don't know, I suppose its bike porn.
3. I agree
4. There are endless reports of sportive events. I am bored with them. I don't remember Audax or the CTC being covered in such detail. Incidentally there was a recent ride on Ascencion (or was it St Helena) reported recently for no obvious reason.(Maybe Pitcairn next time)
I want race stuff, and news stuff, a la Keith Bingham, and a small bit of tech and training, in case anything genuienly new comes up.
And Dr Hutch or Tony Bell, some humour is good (even Grapevine). Even Helms is worth looking at.
Maybe the comic is not trying to persuade me to buy.
| Sly |
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| 04/07/2008 23:23 |
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I'm not sure CW knows what it wants to be. I am probably different to most here in that the racing reports / results don't hold even the slightest interest to me (I have a TV and internet for watching and following the events I want to see). I am more into the participation aspect of cycling, so Cycling Plus is a far better choice of read for me. Perhaps CW should fall on one side of the fence or the other rather than not quite appeal to either neighbour?
| Smokin_Joe |
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| 04/07/2008 23:46 |
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I'd rather see racers on the cover than annonymous riders, but I do remember CW saying that sales were higher when the latter were featured on the front.
I would love more tech reports, though my pocket wouldn't
| wuverley |
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| 05/07/2008 00:05 |
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That is the problem with tech reports, I've got no money. The other thing is if Indurain can win on eight gears then what are we worrying about.
The comic is really becoming like Marie-Claire, 103 things to do this week in a massive 164 page issue, by Christmas there will be 343 things to do this week and make Christmas more fun for all the family. Keith Bingham, watch out.
| Smokin_Joe |
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| 05/07/2008 09:54 |
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Quote:
That is the problem with tech reports, I've got no money. The other thing is if Indurain can win on eight gears then what are we worrying about.
Merckx won with five gears, a steel frame and no aero aids. But if he was riding now he would be on 11, carbon fibre, and spending months in a wind tunnel.
Progress.
| cliff |
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| 05/07/2008 11:01 |
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Re: Cycling Weekly Content
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Quote:
I do think the magasine has lost the plot a bit. 'Hutch' did a great ride in the National 50 with a very fast time. Surely this would have warranted more than just the bare bones of a result. The ride was mentioned in the editorial so I then looked for the race report, no luck. I'm interested in all aspects of cycling not just the pro-racing scene. Cycling weekly seems to become more and more like Cycle Sport every week. While I am few other questions;
1. Why are the almost no pictures of race winners on the front cover, instead we get anonymous cyclists looking vaguely cool. Presumably they are staffers testing bikes. I can think of one week in particular when ‘Cav’ won an important race, why wasn’t he on the front cover
2. Who on earth can afford all these £2000++ bikes that are lovingly tested in the Alps (maybe the testers could go and report on a few races instead)?
3. Just how much training advice do we need, maybe some of this copy space could be given up to reporting races. Yes, I agree bananas and carrots are good for me but I don’t need to be told week after week.
4. If cycling Weekly is to reflect the cycling scene in Britain and Europe why are there no reports of Sportive Events. Five hundred riders ride the Bealach Beag in the Scottish Highlands and nearly 2000 riders ride the Etape Caledonia. The fastest riders in these events are producing athletic performances on a par with any top road race. Yet these events received not a mention after they had taken place.A short report on each event round the country would be interesting.
My Dad was a life long cyclist and reader of Cycling, he regularly used t say to me, “load of rubbish, I don’t know why I buy it” but he never stopped his subscription, in fact I took it over after his death. I suppose it’s now my turn to say the same now but I do think a long hard look is needed at the magasines content.
Given the number of times that questions like these are asked here, I wish that someone who actually works for the Comic would give us some definitive answers. I don't think that they're unreasonable questions! For example, there used to be a big photo of a race winner on the cover each week, so clearly someone's made a decision to stop doing that.
| thatwomanagain |
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| 05/07/2008 12:34 |
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I think they got fed up with putting race heroes on the cover who were subsequently found to be doping cheats. There's only as much egg on the face as you can take. The final straw I think was their famous, now infamous, "All Hail Landis The Hero" cover in 2006!!
The cover pages of today are pretty bland but I can understand the thinking behind it! Cav was on the cover a few weeks back.
| Smokin_Joe |
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| 05/07/2008 13:15 |
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Perhaps they ought to start putting Predictions League winners on the front cover?
| pete_the_bike |
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| 05/07/2008 14:29 |
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Sportive Reporting
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Yes, I do read the magazine every week; it gives me something to rant about!
I agree there are endless lengthy reports on Sportive Events and that, for many of us, these are races, albeit in a different way from a road race or time trial. If a guy goes round faster than 2000 others then surely this deserves some mention as it is a performance of some merit. The absolutely stunning performances of some the women riders in these events are also worth reporting. For example, this year in the Bealach Beag, Eleanor Reid finished less than 20mins behind the 'winner', and in 30th position out of 446 finishers. The time differences were even less in the Etape Caledonia. Maybe British Cycling should be studying the results of these events to find the next World Champion (I digress). If you put a couple of guys (or girls) side by side on bikes then sooner or later there will be a competition.
I have had huge enjoyment from taking part in Sportive events; I love the challenge of the route and the chance to ride, generally at the back, of a large, fast group (you wouldn’t ask an old guy like me to come through now would you?) Of course it’s not a race, but when I finish I am interested in:
1. Who ‘won’ ie was fastest?
2. How much was I beaten by?
3. What was my position overall?
4. Where did I finish in my 60+age group?
5. How far was I behind the fastest in my age group?
6. I also find it amusing to work out how many 20-40 year olds I showed a clean pair of wheels to!
I would be great if Cycling Weekly would produce short reports on Sportive events around the country; think of the fastest times in the Fred Whitton, wasn’t that a fantastic performance that at least deserves a mention.
I‘m really looking forward to the Southern Upland Sportive next Sunday although that final climb sounds pretty scary after over 100 miles! And finally, as they say, what about events like the Corrieyairack Challenge, as I write 400+ participants are whizzing past my house
| fizban |
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| 06/07/2008 09:18 |
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Quote:I thought they want to encourage sales, not scare them off with my mug (although I'd need to win something first).
Perhaps they ought to start putting Predictions League winners on the front cover?
| thatwomanagain |
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| 06/07/2008 10:58 |
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Re: Cycling Weekly Content
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Quote:
I thought they want to encourage sales, not scare them off with my mug (although I'd need to win something first).
But Fizban, don't forget you've got that season-opening Tour down Under victory in your palmares!!
I'm sure you'd make a great coverboy, posing on that new Bianchi!!
| cliff |
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| 07/07/2008 09:48 |
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Re: Cycling Weekly Content
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Quote:
I think they got fed up with putting race heroes on the cover who were subsequently found to be doping cheats. There's only as much egg on the face as you can take. The final straw I think was their famous, now infamous, "All Hail Landis The Hero" cover in 2006!!
The cover pages of today are pretty bland but I can understand the thinking behind it! Cav was on the cover a few weeks back.
This is what I mean: no shortage of people guessing but no-one who actually works for the Comic explaining to us once and for all why they've made these decisions.
| NigelWynn |
| (CW Staff) |
| 07/07/2008 21:43 |
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Re: Cycling Weekly Content
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I'll try and answer some of the questions that have been raised on this thread regarding Cycling Weekly.
Background:
Here's a very brief summary of how the magazine is made. There are a core number of staff who work in the office in Croydon, they write part of the magazine and also co-ordinate a small number of freelancers who contribute to specific sections - news, race reports, bike tests, fitness features, columns etc. The magazine is pretty much all written and designed in the week preceding when it's printed. It goes off to press on the Monday night before the Thursday it's out in the shops. Features are definitely not written months in advance, we're not that organised!
Cover:
Several people here have been correct in assuming that a decision was made to reduce the number of professional racers on the cover of the magazine. We had a string of issues a couple of years ago that featured cyclists on the cover (of CW and Cycle Sport) who in between the magazine being sent off to press and it actually appearing on the shelves were found guilty of doping. Step forward Floyd Landis, Tyler Hamilton, Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich, Alexandre Vinokourov.
All of these issues subsequently died a death in terms of sales, and the magazine is part of a business. Run it at a loss and it will disappear. We didn't want that to happen. In addition, if you put a specific racer on the cover some people will like them and others not. For example, whenever Lance appeared on the cover the issues sold well, but we received a large amount of complaints from people who didn't like him.
Ask any group of cyclists (and we have, many times) who they'd like to see on the cover, and they will not be able to agree... again, a reflection on the diverse tastes that the magazine has to cater for!
What we've tried to do is portray an image of a cyclist on the cover that reflects everything in the magazine - racing, sportives, fitness advice, latest products etc. We've even appealed to readers to come forward and appear on the cover themselves.
Time trials:
Road race fans say there's way too much testing in the magazine, testers say there's not enough. This argument will never be resolved. It's one of the reasons the magazine went up from 64 to 72 then 80 pages. The only way we could fit more in to try and accommodate everything was to physically have more pages. The magazine has to cater for broad tastes, and that means striking a balance. The inevitable consequence is that any given issue of the magazine will contain pages that don't directly interest you. Hopefully that only runs to about 10% of the entire magazine at the most. As an analogy, how much of us read every article in a daily paper?
Cycling Weekly is still the only magazine in Britain that covers time trials in any form. The plan is that this will continue.
Sportives:
It's a boom area of cycling that appeals to a broad section of readers - whether they race or not. They're great fun to take part in, are usually well organised and are inclusive. It would be odd if they were not included in the magazine.
Bikes:
No, we don't get to keep them!
Contrary to popular belief, the magazine isn't a cynical product constructed by statisticians and marketing men, but by a surprisingly small number of people who are enthusiastic about cycling. The magazine is, however, part of a large business and commercial decisions do have to be made to ensure its survival against ever-changing competition, particularly on the internet.
At present, the magazine is the biggest (physically) it has ever been in its history, and it's supplemented by this website, which is completely free to access. I honestly believe we offer good coverage of a broad section of cycling, particularly given the resources we have.
Sorry that this post is long, but I hope it answers your questions.
Best wishes
Nigel
| wuverley |
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| 07/07/2008 22:42 |
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Re: Cycling Weekly Content
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Thanks, it begins to answer some queeries, presumably the full explanation is commercially sensitive.
The point about reading every article is perhaps lost on most of us. We tend to be cycling enthusiasts, and I'm sure most of the staff are. I've never ridden a sportive, though I've been on plenty of CTC rides so I am happy to read about organised day rides in attractive parts of the country.
I have time trialled so am interested in this, particularly in major events, the coverage of which seems to be diminishing.
Road racing, at home and abroad, is of great interest to me, but this also seems to be diminishing.
The tech and particularly the fitness stuff, most of which is clearly prepared in advance, has got larger and is often repetitive.
News seems about the same as ever, Keith Bingham and his friends seem to be doing a good job.
The thing about Cycling Weekly is its the only place you can here about all these things in one place, apart from CW on the web.
Dr Hutch and the other light hearted stuff is also greatly appreciated, by me at least.
| rover1971 |
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| 07/07/2008 22:43 |
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In the 5 or so months I've been suscribing I've seen countless reviews on bikes costing over £2000+ yet I can't remember one on a bike nearer the £500 mark, the price a lot of people just taking up cycling have to spend!
| johnstrac |
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| 07/07/2008 22:49 |
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Anyone else notice 2 letters this week slagging of Campag ?
A groupset rarely seen on review bikes and tech reports.
If I was a cynical man...
| Roland808 |
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| 08/07/2008 07:54 |
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Quote:
Anyone else notice 2 letters this week slagging of Campag ?
A groupset rarely seen on review bikes and tech reports.
If I was a cynical man...
Er... wasn't it the comic that had the news about Campag 11 speed in the first place, including a history of the company/Record groupset. Not exactly ignoring Campag, is it. Most mass production bikes these days have Shimano - Trek, Specialized, Giant. That's hardly the magazine's fault!
| johnstrac |
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| 08/07/2008 22:49 |
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I didn't say it was ignored but I take your point, just seems a bit of a coincidence that's all.
| cliff |
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| 12/07/2008 13:48 |
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Quote:
I'll try and answer some of the questions that have been raised on this thread regarding Cycling Weekly.
Background:
Here's a very brief summary of how the magazine is made. There are a core number of staff who work in the office in Croydon, they write part of the magazine and also co-ordinate a small number of freelancers who contribute to specific sections - news, race reports, bike tests, fitness features, columns etc. The magazine is pretty much all written and designed in the week preceding when it's printed. It goes off to press on the Monday night before the Thursday it's out in the shops. Features are definitely not written months in advance, we're not that organised!
Cover:
Several people here have been correct in assuming that a decision was made to reduce the number of professional racers on the cover of the magazine. We had a string of issues a couple of years ago that featured cyclists on the cover (of CW and Cycle Sport) who in between the magazine being sent off to press and it actually appearing on the shelves were found guilty of doping. Step forward Floyd Landis, Tyler Hamilton, Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich, Alexandre Vinokourov.
All of these issues subsequently died a death in terms of sales, and the magazine is part of a business. Run it at a loss and it will disappear. We didn't want that to happen. In addition, if you put a specific racer on the cover some people will like them and others not. For example, whenever Lance appeared on the cover the issues sold well, but we received a large amount of complaints from people who didn't like him.
Ask any group of cyclists (and we have, many times) who they'd like to see on the cover, and they will not be able to agree... again, a reflection on the diverse tastes that the magazine has to cater for!
What we've tried to do is portray an image of a cyclist on the cover that reflects everything in the magazine - racing, sportives, fitness advice, latest products etc. We've even appealed to readers to come forward and appear on the cover themselves.
Time trials:
Road race fans say there's way too much testing in the magazine, testers say there's not enough. This argument will never be resolved. It's one of the reasons the magazine went up from 64 to 72 then 80 pages. The only way we could fit more in to try and accommodate everything was to physically have more pages. The magazine has to cater for broad tastes, and that means striking a balance. The inevitable consequence is that any given issue of the magazine will contain pages that don't directly interest you. Hopefully that only runs to about 10% of the entire magazine at the most. As an analogy, how much of us read every article in a daily paper?
Cycling Weekly is still the only magazine in Britain that covers time trials in any form. The plan is that this will continue.
Sportives:
It's a boom area of cycling that appeals to a broad section of readers - whether they race or not. They're great fun to take part in, are usually well organised and are inclusive. It would be odd if they were not included in the magazine.
Bikes:
No, we don't get to keep them!
Contrary to popular belief, the magazine isn't a cynical product constructed by statisticians and marketing men, but by a surprisingly small number of people who are enthusiastic about cycling. The magazine is, however, part of a large business and commercial decisions do have to be made to ensure its survival against ever-changing competition, particularly on the internet.
At present, the magazine is the biggest (physically) it has ever been in its history, and it's supplemented by this website, which is completely free to access. I honestly believe we offer good coverage of a broad section of cycling, particularly given the resources we have.
Sorry that this post is long, but I hope it answers your questions.
Best wishes
Nigel
Thanks very much: nice clear reply
| daveno7 |
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| 12/07/2008 16:08 |
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Re: Cycling Weekly Content
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i have been reading the magazine for a few years now and as the reader understands the bike speak, - i feel it does offer more value for money ..
while there are many other publications which appear slick and websites etc,cyclingweekly to me appears to have a friendly feel.
the magazine seems to strike a balance,but i also would like to see affordable bike reviews but reviewing a 2k piece of cycle porn ( yes i still like dreaming!)
lets hope the magazine keeps up with the cycling world and its readers and keep the forum/website for its readers
there are too many discontented cyclists out there
daveno7
| dang |
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| 12/07/2008 17:10 |
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Quote:
i have been reading the magazine for a few years now and as the reader understands the bike speak, - i feel it does offer more value for money ..
Likewise (although my wife thinks there might be better things to do with fifty years worth of old magazines!)
| rover1971 |
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| 12/07/2008 20:01 |
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There may be useful snippets in the mag, but do we really need four pages telling us how to steer a bike downhill? (Issue dated 12/07/08)
| hubbub |
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| 12/07/2008 22:13 |
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I think Nigel Wynn's reply shows an editorial team trying their best to walk a tightrope in what's rapidly becoming a tight economic climate. We should cut the team a bit of slack, at least until there's a bit more money floating around and the mag has more room for manoeuvre. Remember back in the 80's when there were bike mags on every newsagent shelf? Most of them died an early death when the money got tight, don't let The Comic go the same way because we argue too much over minor differences in outlook on our hobby.