Bicycling Magazine

Price Paid:  $0.00 at They send it to me f

Favorite Ride:
El Tour de Tucson

Bike Setup:
Cervelo R3 Dura Ace
Ciocc COM 12.5
Specialized Epic Expert
Surly Cross Check (coming soon)

Summary:
Okay, after receiving my latest copy, I just couldn't help but write a review. This is the absolute worst bicycle magazine on the face of the earth. If I could get Team Performance to stop sending it to me for free,I would. I subscribed years ago but never renewed.

Bicycling is like the Cosmopolitan or The National Enquirer of bicycling. It's full of fluff and articles for no-nothings with short attention spans. I still give it the courtesy 5-minute thumb-through when it comes... I guess just to see if anyone there has a clue yet. Nope, just looked again... they don't. Don't waste your hard earned money on this trash.

Strengths:
Absolutely nothing! Oh yeah, and Style Man's a fake!

Weaknesses:
Not enough room here to list them all.

Similar Products Used:
Composted steer manure
Junk mail
Realtor door hangers

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Gee, no updated review in a few years. Well, not much has changed. Either Bicycling only reviews great items or someones getting paid off.
Still, it does give me something to read while I'm sitting on....well, it gives me something to read.

Strengths:
It has lots of pictures of Bicycles. Its cheaper than the other bike mags.

Weaknesses:
I wish they would actually give a negative review of something.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Many bikes, road, commutting, mountain, track......

Summary:
Although I still get excited when it comes each month, I guess it's from habit, they need to quit selling out to the advertisers. Although I only buy used bikes, I would like to see a buyers guide that just covered the vendors that paid to have the merchandise shown on the pages.

Getting the annual subscription is so cheap, it's still worth it.

Strengths:
You can pick up good tips to try out once in a while

Weaknesses:
Style man

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Mail Box

Favorite Ride:
Noble Canyon

Summary:
I really no longer appreciate this magazine. To me, it's more like a stupid infomercial than a real cycling mag. They have been sending it to me for free and can't get them to stop. I usually thumb through it in the kitchen, then toss in the recycle bin. My two cents.

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Buy this, buy that, blah, blah... The "I'm a moron with $4,000 to throw away" colum really makes me ill.

Similar Products Used:
Costco Toilet Paper

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
dirt and road...

Summary:
Crap......don't waste your hard earned $$.

I don't subscribe to this one, but I do pick it up regularly. Writing is mailed in at best. Take for example the Nov. 2003 issue which reviewed the Ellsworth Truth (by Matt Phillips). The writing in this review couldn't muster a D in high school, let alone be allowed in a published, for-profit magazine.....all the input is lifted directly from Ellsworth marketing materials, and it doesn't appear the writer really even rode/tested the product. On the cover and at the start of the review they show a 2004 Truth, go to the last page of the review and see a photo of a 2001 Truth lifted from Ellsworth's website.....loads of hardwork went into this review, huh.

Lastly, I know a lot of people have a problem spelling "Thomson" correctly (the common mistake is almost always spelled Thompson). For regular enthusiasts, I'll let it slide to normal lack of attention. For a professional writer from the cycling industry to not be able to correctly spell the name of the company who is widely considered to produce the best seatposts and stems, this "mistake" is unexcusable.

Strengths:
Nope

Weaknesses:
piss poor writing, no editing, and an apparant complete lack of pride or professionalism from the staff.