TE ladies in Bicycling Mag

[Trek420]

It wouldn't be so bad if they had been up front about it. Thanks so much for putting these up for us to see, but I am sad that they used personal victory stories to advertise products.

Little tiny portrait of each of you, models on the bikes. You all look waaay better than the models (sorry if the models are lurking).

[kelownagirl]

Oh but if I buy all that stuff, I'll look like the model won't I???

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh but if I buy all that stuff, I'll look like the model won't I???

I think so, because all those models look exactly alike from wearing the gear! If we all buy that stuff, we're sure to look just like that too!

(or... is it all the same model??)

P.S. The model in KelownGal's article looks like either she's taken too much Claritin or else she is screaming in pain from the TORTUROUS CONTORTIONS she is in!!! =8-O

[limewave]

well, I am a little disappointed but not surprised. Originally I thought we would get coaching tips as well. I was also asked about how cycling has changed my life and what skills I would like to work on. So, maybe the intentions originally were to do more with the article but got scaled back later????

[Bikingmomof3]

I was looking forward to this issue to see my TE friends. I am sorry the magazine took your stories and boiled them down to the point where your achievements do not shine through and the use of teeny, tiny pictures of the actual woman, verses the huge pictures on the models is sad. All three of you are beautiful, no models were needed. You three are athletes!

So, what did the article teach me about my TE friends?

-KG girl uses "cheater platforms" on one side because she fell.
-CWR-owns a heavy bike, has thick hair (which I wish I had), and recent bunion surgery.
-Limewave-has very, very wide feet (I have never seen your feet, just the impression the article gave).

I am proud you three are my TE Sisters and I am proud you three were willing to write about your passions. It iws indeed a pity the magazine did not focus more on each of you, as individual athletes, rather than the silly little "problems" the mag reported...see above.

[Thorn]

As an engineer who looks at marketing folks with a wary gaze, this episode has got to be going into the marketing hall of shame. Here a magazine which has had a reputation of catering primarily to the male gender had a fantastic opportunity to reach out to the female audience. If they had done this issue right, there would be many new readers out of these forums alone.

Instead, they did a pretty good job of insulting us. No training...just buy gear. Yeah, that will make us better riders...not!

Very sad. My guess is that the TE members interviewed must have mentioned TE once or twice, but clearly Bicycling didn't come here and find out that here there a women who ride; who train; who love the road and trails; and, most importantly know that the tools don't make the rider. Sure, we love our toys just like anyone else, but there is more to riding than kit. Sigh...

[chickwhorips]

-CWR-owns a heavy bike, has thick hair (which I wish I had), and recent bunion surgery.

i'm disappointed they didn't mention Cold Bay. Hey that's a feat in and of itself! I have so many more goals than that. Just because my bike is heavy doesn't mean I don't rock it. It was bunionette surgery (hey, they are cuter!) and I wish I had thick hair, no idea even where that one came from. All in all, they did spell my name correctly.

Oh and for the record, I did find a pair of shoes. I LOVE my new Sidi's.

Ok my rant is over. I guess we couldn't have expected more......

I must say KG and Lime you do look very pretty.

[mimitabby]

As an engineer who looks at marketing folks with a wary gaze, this episode has got to be going into the marketing hall of shame. Here a magazine which has had a reputation of catering primarily to the male gender had a fantastic opportunity to reach out to the female audience. If they had done this issue right, there would be many new readers out of these forums alone.

Instead, they did a pretty good job of insulting us. No training...just buy gear. Yeah, that will make us better riders...not!

Very sad. My guess is that the TE members interviewed must have mentioned TE once or twice, but clearly Bicycling didn't come here and find out that here there a women who ride; who train; who love the road and trails; and, most importantly know that the tools don't make the rider. Sure, we love our toys just like anyone else, but there is more to riding than kit. Sigh...

yeah! and the fact that they didn't send it to everyone! How many guys that get Bicycling magazine have a woman in the house?? I mean, really, talk about stupidity!!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ok my rant is over. I guess we couldn't have expected more......

Why not?

[Kitsune06]

Boo. CWR's WAY cuter than the chick they had modeling the bike and the gear! (but Iiiiiii know what piiiiiiic you uuuuuused....!!! I <3 that pic. )

oh, and yeah, crappy write-up, too. Ahh, Buycycling mag is turning into commercialist pr0n. Joy. Hey, CWR, we should get our tank bikes out and tear up some singletrack... ...very slowly. ...bring bandaids.

It's things like this that make me want to be a freelance writer for such magazines. ...then I really think about it and realize all my ideas would be rejected- they'd have substance.

[chickwhorips]

kit i love ya. you always make me feel good. btw slow and steady wins the race right? and I have tons of band aids!

next thing to do, is get you published!

[Bikingmomof3]

i'm disappointed they didn't mention Cold Bay. Hey that's a feat in and of itself! I have so many more goals than that. Just because my bike is heavy doesn't mean I don't rock it. It was bunionette surgery (hey, they are cuter!) and I wish I had thick hair, no idea even where that one came from. All in all, they did spell my name correctly.

That is something. If nothing else you could use the write up if you apply to be a contestant on a game show. Seriously, I think the writer(s) did a dreadful job and you are much, much better lookingthat the model.

Oh and for the record, I did find a pair of shoes. I LOVE my new Sidi's.

Fantastic!!

I guess we couldn't have expected more......

Why? Write and express your displeasure. I have not even seen that section (besides what was posted here) and I subscribe to the magazine. I am a very displeased customer.

I must say KG and Lime you do look very pretty.

Agreed. All three you you look fantastic!

[mimitabby]

I got a response:


Dear Mimi:
Thanks for your interest in Bicycling. It's true that the women's insert was only in selected issues, but you can read all the articles that were in it at bicycling.com/womenriders.

Sincerely,

Emily Furia ( Emily.Furia at rodale.com ) (remove the at and put in @ )
Associate editor
Bicycling magazine
www.bicycling.com

[HillSlugger]

I got a response:


Dear Mimi:
Thanks for your interest in Bicycling. It's true that the women's insert was only in selected issues, but you can read all the articles that were in it at bicycling.com/womenriders.

Sincerely,

Emily Furia ( Emily.Furia at rodale.com ) (remove the at and put in @ )
Associate editor
Bicycling magazine
www.bicycling.com

But no explanation of how they decided who gets the insert and who doesn't. Do you think they left it out if the subscription was in a guy's name?

[madscot13]

I still liked to read the articles because it was about such cool women, even if it is only peripherally. You know the thing is those gear recommendations were really short and superficial. I wish they had gone more in depth somewhere, either in the bios or the gear recomendations. It felt more like a marketing tool.


But for anyone who wants to read the online version
http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6...6028-1,00.html