Poll: Women specific cycling magazine

[spazzdog]

To be perfectly honest I've always wanted to be involved in publishing. More on that later.

It needs to be a magazine... just like the big boys. I prefer the format (i.e. size) of a ProCycling rather than the oversize VeloNews. I don't want to copy Bicycling or Bike magazine. Though there will definitely be articles addressing recreational riders, I really want to take this into the racing scene... pro and amateur, all disciplines, including the spot lighting of cat3/4 up & comers. I think it's important to give these women a podium to stand on and in the process open up racing to more and more women.

As for the blog idea... too many blogs, very little, if any intellectual property protection.

First, as Trek420 mentioned, without TE, we wouldn't even be brainstorming this idea, not in a conference room, but around the world with a group of extraordinary women. And, yes... if this comes to fruition, TE ads are free. Perhaps they'll even link up to the online subscription request form.

There is a lot to do... a lot of it tedious and legal. Demographic studies ( I hit USAC up for some info today... and they sent it!).

Here's what/who I've got so far:

Robyn M - checking into women's sport foundations that do funding (grants)

betagirl & Grog - grant writers.

spazzdog - I'm looking into getting incorporated and trademarking the mag name, looking into advertising rates, putting togeter a listing of prospective advertisors.

I need a financial/business guru who can put together a business plan for probable inclusion in the grant and or bank loan.

Is there a lawyer in the house?

Does anybody know any billionaires that would be interested in backing this endeavor?

Until this becomes reality, I realize this is all volunteer activity. Up front, thanks for all the help, the ideas, and the support. When/if it becomes real... we're talking quite an exciting gig. Get those passports updated.

spazzdog

[Grog]

Though there will definitely be articles addressing recreational riders, I really want to take this into the racing scene... pro and amateur, all disciplines, including the spot lighting of cat3/4 up & comers. I think it's important to give these women a podium to stand on and in the process open up racing to more and more women.

[/QUOTE]

I'm afraid I really had a different thing on my mind. Women racers coverage is certainly VERY important and should be more out there, but, to be honest in turn, I'm not very interested in racing, be it by women or men, and I probably wouldn't read about it on a regular basis. And while I'm sure there is a marketing "niche" for a mag tending TO women cyclists, I'm not sure that there is one for a mag ABOUT women cyclist racers specifically. Women readers are the main readership of mags about women, and my feeling is that, in order to get them to pick up the mag AND buy it (and subscribe to it), it will have to talk to them somehow. Racing has to be introduced to them and they'll certainly enjoy learning about those women who challenge themselves racing, especially once they've been educated to the basics of the sport. But can it be the focus of a whole mag? Isn't the recreational/health/technical info more precious to a greater number of women riders at this moment?

However, I must say that I have no knowledge whatsoever of the women's racing scene. Maybe there is a high volume of women out there who would be the obvious primary subscription base of the mag... With your experience in this sport, you probably know better...

[Crankin]

I agree, Grog, with much of what you said. I do think that there should be all the stuff that Spazz listed, especially articles about Cat 3/4 riders, juniors, etc. It would be nice for more people to understand what racing is all about. That said, though, I think you will be left with a very small audience if you don't include articles for recreational/fitness riders. That is a huge group of people, which means $$$$. I am never going to race. But I would consider myself a serious recreational rider, who spends tons of money on cycling related stuff, clothes, equipment, vacations, books.... Judging from what i have seen around the area where i live there seems to be a huge increase in the number of people starting to ride... beginners who have bought nice hybrids, cruisers, etc who are out there riding. Get these people hooked and pretty soon they will buying that $1000.00 road or mountain bike. I don't think i would subscribe if the mag was just about racing.

[han-grrl]

A friend had sent me this womens special edition of Bicycling years ago. It was a great issue. They explained road and mountain bike parts, some skills, some articles on women's only trips, women's clothing.

I had always hoped another would pop up someday, but never has...

[spazzdog]

You misunderstand... or more likely, my response was too short. Sorry.

While I want to really put a spot light on women's racing, I do want to make content "speak to" the recreational cyclist. I understand the importance of not specializing ones self out of a very important (and large) readership.

Monthly (or quarterly, if a journal) standards should include not only racing results/features, but material for riders like us: gear reviews, maint tips, training tips, "best ride" locales, upcoming or reviews of charity rides, etc, etc.

I feel certain that this could be appealing to the many, not just a few. I and I'm sure others here are making note of what's wanted on the non-racing side of things.

spazz

[han-grrl]

Since i do race, i think having a racing component in a womens magazine is important. Its very difficult to please everyone all the time. one issue may be more race oriented while another might please the touring gals. Don't forget the free-ride/DH chicks...they are a growing population too!

Spazzdog, if you are seriously looking into this project, you need to decide what your mission is: who your target is and what is the message you are trying to convey e.g. To encourage women cycling everywhere. ok very general...but something like that means what i said earlier, each issue may have a slightly different focus.

my two cents ...alway s

[nuthatch]

Judging from what i have seen around the area where i live there seems to be a huge increase in the number of people starting to ride... beginners who have bought nice hybrids, cruisers, etc who are out there riding. Get these people hooked and pretty soon they will buying that $1000.00 road or mountain bike.

Interesting you mention this. I spent a few minutes looking for webzines about women's cycling after reading this thread and there's girlbike, of course, which is great (and currently on a pink break while sorting out technical difficulties) but the other one I found called straight bar hybrid bikes "crap bikes"!! I'm not going to support their website, needless to say. I'd buy a mag that covers all aspects of women's cycling. There's room for all of us on the roads and trails (and race courses )

[Grog]

Great I'm happy with that.

Just keep me posted.

[administrator]

You might try to get in contact with the publisher/editors of Her Sports magazine. They have a high quality glossy publication that recently launched (in the last year or two) so I'm sure they would have lots of relevant info to share (if they are willing to - they might consider it too close to home - you'd be a competitor for their ad dollars).

[SadieKate]

This? http://www.hersports.com

I get it for free for some reason. It may be of interest to runners but I find it worthless for cyclists. It's a little too soft and frilly for my taste. It does weight down the recycling bin well. It seems a little too much like the Ladies' Home Journal for runners. Just my 2 cents, feel free to rag on me now.

PS - Jeff, I saw your ads in the BicyclePaper tour/race guides. Hope they bring you business. I thought those were cool publications and I'm going to subscribe to the newspaper itself.

[spazzdog]

Thanks Susan/Jeff (don't know who was 'admin' at that moment). I'll check the publication out.

spazz

[yvonne]

I think its a great idea. I am starting my own cycling line just for women so the magazine would be a great place for me to advertise, and include the magazine as part of my press release, when were you thinking of starting this?
Was it nuthatch that posted the response about nike, I'm very interested in getting more details about Nike wanting to get into womens cycling clothing/accessories, do you have any more info?
Your gonna love my ideas on getting womens cycling gear out of the dark ages, hope to have a line out for next spring.

yvonne

[spazzdog]

yvonne go to www.nikecycling.com for their complete line.

as for a date, who knows. this is the research/get a plan stage of the birth process.

good luck to you! we all await news of your line.

[RoadRaven]

Wow... so this is really happening huh?
So fantastic...

I'm a long way from you all, but if I can do anything to help, lemme know... will certainly take the mag into shops and promote at the clubs I have connections with once you are ready to make distribution international!

[spazzdog]

Working on it, at any rate. I'll keep y'all in the loop. It takes a village, after all.

If push comes to shove (i.e. no $$ to be found), I can probably convert my website to a clearing house for women specific products, gear reviews, features, etc. Direct feeds from other sites...

And a new original cartoon strip... (uh-uh, I ain't tellin').

wishin' on blurider's daydream tree,
spazzdog