Poll: Women specific cycling magazine

[betagirl]

I'm in Spazz. I think it's a great idea.

[Grog]

Count me in. But I have NO idea how I could help for now.

I'm a university researcher too so I'm used to grants writing. Mostly in French, but I can sure edit a bit in English too.

We could have travel articles. I read about the brew&bike tour and the like, and I'm quite excited every time. Women-specific tour companies (who was writing about the Trek&Spa tours??) would certainly be interested in advertising.

I generally can manage projects (basic budgetting, managing lists of all sorts, etc.) so I guess that could come in handy.

I'm glad you had this idea Spazz! That's great!

[runnergirl]

I'd love to help!

I just started as an editorial assistent for a academic journal, so I may have some insights into publishing in a couple months!

[nuthatch]

Just like RoadRaven said, it's not the assembly of the mag that's the big challenge - it's attracting advertisers. You have to have an awesome marketing person who can find and keep advertisers who want to sell specifically to women, and it's not a big field out there, unfortunately. My sister-in-law started a mag called Dandelion (dandelionmag.com) that is dedicated to women in the outdoors (all sports) and it's pretty tough to 1) find startup funding and 2) keep advertisers interested in investing. So, if anybody has marketing experience.... I would LOVE to subscribe to a women's cycling mag!!

Articles on where to locate cute women's apparel
Bike fit for women with "body type" guidelines
Where to bike - safety issues
Interviews with women pros and how they got started
Encouragement for beginners
Success stories of "average janes"
Tips from folks like Irulan, who make bike clothing
Tips from mechanics
Recipes for on-road nutrition (Corsair, where are you?)
Special issues, like allergies, injuries, etc.
More articles that address the "spiritual" aspect of cycling, like this forum does!

[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

[JanT]

The bike magazines I've seen, both mountain and road, are lots of ads and hype for high end equipment. I usually don't feel there is much in there for little old average me, who rides for the fun of it. I rarely buy a bike magazine, although I will sit down at the library and read whatever they have there. I have never come across an issue that I've wanted to go out and buy because there was some really good information in it for me. So, I'd be looking for a magazine that provided lots of practical information, such as the kind that's shared here on the forum. I'd also like to see products reviewed and compared, but some lower priced things I could afford. Of course, maintenance and repair articles with step by step directions and photos, would be mandatory. A women's mag is a good idea. Back when I was a runner, there was a women's running magazine; I wonder if it still exists?

[Irulan]

ok, how about a serious post?

I have very little use for most cylcing and sports magazines. I can most everything that interests me in 15 minutes or less. I find most of them, if you read them long, just keep recycling ideas.

I was just kidding about the beefcake, you know. I'd be much more interested in the use of "real women" in photo shoots.

irulan