Decent Cycling Magazines / Publications

Decent Cycling Magazines / Publications

Author
Discussion

Greenish

Original Poster:

209 posts

118 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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I have started to want to read more about the topic, and as such bought my first cycling magazine today, Cycling Active.

I was surprised at the cost of it, £4.25 - although it appears to be a worthwhile publication.

What do others read and what are considered the best magazines?

Daveyraveygravey

2,026 posts

184 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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Got a good deal on "Cyclist" at the Bike Show, three issues for a fiver. It's a proper production effort beautiful pics great stories well written. I mainly like it for the reviews - they usually have 4 - but have got fed up with high end nature of it. Last month I think the cheapest review bike was 9 grand! There was also a ride story (which on its own was a great story) but in a cutaway box about the rider's bike they said it was great how entry level bikes were benefitting from trickle down technology from top end and team bikes. It was a Specialised something or other costing over 3k and that is NOT entry level IMHO.
Just got a new mag today called Bikes etc, not flicked through it all yet.

Jonnny

29,397 posts

189 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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Also love 'Cyclist' Magazine, features are good and writing quality is good. Photography is brilliant, has a really nice feel to the paper/cover they use too.

ALawson

7,815 posts

251 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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Cyclist is good, then again it published by the same people as Evo. You get the same balance of great photos, rides and bike reviews.

I got a Cyclist Active sub for xmas last year, if you only ride road bike and more than 20 miles then its a bit limited in my view. Lots of review of all types of bikes but normally fairly small group
test when they do them. I don't like the photos, editorial or stories really. The letters each month follow a general theme of either I the person has just started cycling and its changed there lives or a rant about cars.

Cycling Weekly is ok, get it now and then, it expensive at £2.99 of per week. I pick a choose the weeks depending upon what is in it.

Cycling Plus is pretty good, I get that from the library so it free, I wouldn't pay for it and normally get through it in 2 days, good reviews of kit, bike tests.

I may well try out the new BikesEtc, seems to be from the same stable as Cyclist.

IroningMan

10,154 posts

246 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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Another vote for Cyclist from me. Big ride stories are very good and they don't seem shy of writing negative reviews of expensive kit.

Celtic Dragon

3,169 posts

235 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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Im sat here surrounded by them as I get bored at lunch. Cycling fitness isn't bad, but certainly geared more to racers. Cycling plus left me feeling meh. Singletrack is a good mtb read.

m444ttb

3,160 posts

229 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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I read a copy of Cyclist while on holiday. Very much felt like a bike version of EVO (which I like). I hadn't realised until I got to an article by Henry Catchpole that that it was published by the same Dennis publishing company.

Daveyraveygravey

2,026 posts

184 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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Enjoyed "Bikes etc" last night. Possibly because they are reviewing £1400 road bikes which is where I'll be spending my money (if she who must be obeyed sees the light!).

tuffer

8,849 posts

267 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
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Cyclist, some great features but not enough gear reviews.

Gruffy

7,212 posts

259 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
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I think that's why they're launching Bikes Etc (same publisher).

Greenish

Original Poster:

209 posts

118 months

Wednesday 29th October 2014
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So am I the only sod to pick up Cycling Active for nigh on a fiver?

madzo14

159 posts

122 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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Rouleur is another good magazine, bit pricey at £10 a pop though.


Cookie220

856 posts

211 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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Picked up Bikes Etc this morning, cancelled my subscription to Cyclist. Much prefer looking at shiny bikes over riding in sunny climbs

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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Cyclist is nice but already a bit formulaic, posh bikes, interview, fitness bit, techy bit, UK ride, global ride....

Cycling Weekly is the best for race coverage during the season.

Rouleur is a fantastic read and the writing and photography is superb. Its my favourite and I do think its worth the money. It doesnt tell you what to buy or have reviews of kit, most of us know what bike/kit we want to buy next for example, its just written for the love of the sport.

There is a US magazine that I sometimes read in Smiths which is good, cant remember the name but the interviews and features are good and unlike the UK, the reviewers are very critical of kit and write honest reviews.

Daveyraveygravey

2,026 posts

184 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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Read Cycling Active on the plane to Italy. Ok but a bit too many "I was fifteen stone a year ago and got a road bike and now I am 8 stone and thinking of...."


F355GTB

47 posts

259 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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Cyclist is great, well written and interesting content.

Cycling Weekly great for racing but can get abit lightweight in the winter.

Pro Cycling and Cycle Sport are good if you like the race side of the sport and I think Marcel Wusts reviews are some of the best.

Cycling Plus is the worst, loads of reviews with results based on advertising. Just like many of the U.S. mags.

F355GTB

47 posts

259 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
Cyclist is great, well written and interesting content.

Cycling Weekly great for racing but can get abit lightweight in the winter.

Pro Cycling and Cycle Sport are good if you like the race side of the sport and I think Marcel Wusts reviews are some of the best.

Cycling Plus is the worst, loads of reviews with results based on advertising. Just like many of the U.S. mags.

2volvos

660 posts

201 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
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Seems to me that a lot of bike mags are (apparently, I'm told) like wedding and baby mags. You know, those actively planning a wedding or in the baby zone. Same wwith a lot of bike ones. Good for advice for getting started and motivating you to have a go. Once your married you don't keep buying wedding mags. And once you are a committed and active rider you need something more.

Personally, I'd like a mag that deals with the scene, races, personalities, history and tradition of cycling (and not just the racing side of it, touring and expedition reports would be great too) without the be-stubbled bloke looking into middle distance clad in Rapha on top of an Alp that he has probably been driven up anyway.

ecsrobin

17,117 posts

165 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
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2volvos said:
Seems to me that a lot of bike mags are (apparently, I'm told) like wedding and baby mags. You know, those actively planning a wedding or in the baby zone. Same wwith a lot of bike ones. Good for advice for getting started and motivating you to have a go. Once your married you don't keep buying wedding mags. And once you are a committed and active rider you need something more.

Personally, I'd like a mag that deals with the scene, races, personalities, history and tradition of cycling (and not just the racing side of it, touring and expedition reports would be great too) without the be-stubbled bloke looking into middle distance clad in Rapha on top of an Alp that he has probably been driven up anyway.
I know your after road magazines, next time your at WHsmiths take a look at Dirt magazine that ticks the boxes just the wrong terrain.

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
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2volvos said:
Seems to me that a lot of bike mags are (apparently, I'm told) like wedding and baby mags. You know, those actively planning a wedding or in the baby zone. Same wwith a lot of bike ones. Good for advice for getting started and motivating you to have a go. Once your married you don't keep buying wedding mags. And once you are a committed and active rider you need something more.

Personally, I'd like a mag that deals with the scene, races, personalities, history and tradition of cycling (and not just the racing side of it, touring and expedition reports would be great too) without the be-stubbled bloke looking into middle distance clad in Rapha on top of an Alp that he has probably been driven up anyway.
Rouleur sounds like the perfect cycling magazine for you...