Cycling Magazines/what do you subscribe to?

[stella]

I no longer read Bicycling magazine. I enjoy RoadBike Premium site and occasionaly VeloNews. (they, at least, usually have a small blurb of the women's pro road and mtn biking races).

I agree with what has been voice already about the male-centric "performance--not about the bike" (Lance's new book?? sorry...my sick sense of humor) theme going on.

It would be nice to not always see us portrayed as eye candy or mom's in cycling mags. just my 0.02. o.k., rant over. Thanks for listening!

with all that said: I really like this forum, very helpful and supportive.

[Tuckervill]

Please, ladies, DO write. If not about the illustration or anything specific, just a comment. I'll start paying more attention and finding the addresses for advertising companies too.

From long experience with legislative battles on certain issues, don't write unless you have something unique and legitimate to say. Don't write because everyone else is. If Bicycling magazine read this thread, they would discount a large influx of letters about the latest issue as just an anomoly spurred by this thread.

What would be better is if subscribers wrote promptly about their opinion of the latest issue and they did it every month--not a coordinated effort but honest feedback.

That's not to say a large influx of letters couldn't make a difference. They just need to be genuine complaints.

Karen

[Grog]

From long experience with legislative battles on certain issues, don't write unless you have something unique and legitimate to say. Don't write because everyone else is. If Bicycling magazine read this thread, they would discount a large influx of letters about the latest issue as just an anomoly spurred by this thread.

What would be better is if subscribers wrote promptly about their opinion of the latest issue and they did it every month--not a coordinated effort but honest feedback.

That's not to say a large influx of letters couldn't make a difference. They just need to be genuine complaints.

I am quite certain there IS a genuine complaint here.

Besides, Bicycling is NOT a legislating body. It's a magazine trying to sell copies (and advertising space).

If all letters are the exact same (petition-like) of course it can be discarded. At the same time, I know, as someone who has worked in retail and politics, that when I receive a letter from someone who has taken the time to actually write a note and send it, it does have some impact on me, as I keep thinking about it for a while, and may change my actions in consequence. For example, I can imagine a woman (or a man) on the sales team at Bicycling having new ideas about how to pitch her stuff to potential ad buyers. Or the illustrator of Bicycling realizing: gosh, have I really been drawing only men? I doubt that this is a totally conscious strategy on their part. Or maybe it is, but certainly not for all. And if the illustrator starts drawing women instead of men say one out of four times, I don't think the editor will stop him from doing so. And if there already is a woman (or man) on staff trying to change things, a few letters will give her (or him) further weight on the editorial board.

So it's worth trying.

[Tuckervill]

No, I didn't mean the complaints weren't legit or genuine. Only that it will have less impact if there are a bunch of letters all saying basically the same thing in a short amount of time. Sustained complaints over current issues will be more effective, in my opinion.

Karen

[Grog]

No, I didn't mean the complaints weren't legit or genuine. Only that it will have less impact if there are a bunch of letters all saying basically the same thing in a short amount of time. Sustained complaints over current issues will be more effective, in my opinion.

I totally agree.

[Trek420]

and arriving in my mail today.....Bicycling magazine with special 8 page promotional insert for "Best Life" from the editors of "Men's Health" including the feature "How to Drive Women Wild". According to them the top 3 things we want to hear

1) I can't wait to see you
2) I love waking up with you
3) I brought you something

thought it was
1) I'll do the dishes
2) I love doing laundry
3) I brought you something from the LBS

[Prairiedog]

and arriving in my mail today.....Bicycling magazine with special 8 page promotional insert for "Best Life" from the editors of "Men's Health" including the feature "How to Drive Women Wild". According to them the top 3 things we want to hear

1) I can't wait to see you
2) I love waking up with you
3) I brought you something

thought it was
1) I'll do the dishes
2) I love doing laundry
3) I brought you something from the LBS

Trek...I'm sending you a "high-five" on that one!! After reading this thread I got out the May issue of Bicycling and after going page-by-page I was appalled that 99% of the people in the magazine ARE men. I am usually so miffed by the articles they write that I have never paid attention before to the fact that the magazine does in fact totally ignore woman as serious cyclists.

So much for burning our sports bras.