Utter bool ox STW article
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It surprises me how few people will ask the people that work on bikes what they think is good , or more importantly , what isn't .
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Having just read it I would say it's a reasonably well written rant. But ultimately that's what it is. A rant.
The author seems to completely miss the point about why people ride, and enjoy riding, old bikes. At the same time he accuses those same people of missing the point of riding, and enjoying riding, new bikes.
This seems a bit a paradox to me, accusing with one hand whilst committing the same perceived crime of narrow mindedness with the other.
The start of the article with it's reference to soapboxes is perhaps a warning, or perhaps a disclaimer.
So getting all shouty about how good new bikes are and completely dismissing anything old as utter crap is an opinion I suppose, and that's fair enough. But as a result of his belief he seems to imply that we, as retrobikers, all believe that all new bikes are utter crap too.
This simply isn't the case, and implying that the enjoyment of riding old and new bikes are mutually exclusive things; ie you can't appreciate both, is just lazy, one-sided and completely subjective journalism.
Collecting, restoring and riding old bikes is still a niche, albeit a growing one, and I'm sure the majority of people on here do realise that technology has moved forward. Modern bikes are of course easier to ride over some types of terrain, and modern full suspension bikes do 'enable' many riders to tackle terrain that they otherwise wouldn't consider. Maybe this is more enjoyable, or maybe it's just a different means of satisfaction?
But as we know, old or 'retro' bikes are far more capable than the majority of magazines would have the consumer believe. There is certainly enjoyment and satisfaction in that.
As for Singletrack, although in the past I used to buy the magazine regularly, (I've even had an article published in it) regrettably this month I picked it up in the newsagents, flicked through, read a couple of articles, and then put it back on the shelf again.
Just like many modern bikes I don't really see the value for money any more.
The author seems to completely miss the point about why people ride, and enjoy riding, old bikes. At the same time he accuses those same people of missing the point of riding, and enjoying riding, new bikes.
This seems a bit a paradox to me, accusing with one hand whilst committing the same perceived crime of narrow mindedness with the other.
The start of the article with it's reference to soapboxes is perhaps a warning, or perhaps a disclaimer.
So getting all shouty about how good new bikes are and completely dismissing anything old as utter crap is an opinion I suppose, and that's fair enough. But as a result of his belief he seems to imply that we, as retrobikers, all believe that all new bikes are utter crap too.
This simply isn't the case, and implying that the enjoyment of riding old and new bikes are mutually exclusive things; ie you can't appreciate both, is just lazy, one-sided and completely subjective journalism.
Collecting, restoring and riding old bikes is still a niche, albeit a growing one, and I'm sure the majority of people on here do realise that technology has moved forward. Modern bikes are of course easier to ride over some types of terrain, and modern full suspension bikes do 'enable' many riders to tackle terrain that they otherwise wouldn't consider. Maybe this is more enjoyable, or maybe it's just a different means of satisfaction?
But as we know, old or 'retro' bikes are far more capable than the majority of magazines would have the consumer believe. There is certainly enjoyment and satisfaction in that.
As for Singletrack, although in the past I used to buy the magazine regularly, (I've even had an article published in it) regrettably this month I picked it up in the newsagents, flicked through, read a couple of articles, and then put it back on the shelf again.
Just like many modern bikes I don't really see the value for money any more.
Privateer is worth a read, hardly any ads, good well researched and written articles, bi monrthly and twice the price of a normal mag but well worth it.
For the other stuff and keeping up with the "kids" I read IMB online mag...
http://www.imbikemag.com/issue12/ even has wee movies which is nice.
For the other stuff and keeping up with the "kids" I read IMB online mag...
http://www.imbikemag.com/issue12/ even has wee movies which is nice.
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+1 for Privateer. Excellent, balanced and intelligent content.
Very good value for money.
Very good value for money.
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I see the article doesn't seem to have gone down that well on the STW forum either: --> http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/t ... he-new-mag
I think one comment that sums things up nicely is "Taking a number of well-worn trolls from the forum and putting them in print is hardly creative journalism."
I think one comment that sums things up nicely is "Taking a number of well-worn trolls from the forum and putting them in print is hardly creative journalism."
It is a poorly written article, there is a point but is a bit lost. I subscribe to Singletrack and find the writing normally very good this does seem a bit out of place. As for Privateer, first two were great last two were a bit dull :? If you want some good reading try to find The Ride Journal 
As others have said - completely self-indulgent, all-you-need-is-me, reactionary tripe.
Yet, that said, objectively, I also saw through his eyes. Once there was a time, probably more with other hobbies than mountain biking, truth be told, that I also probably had similar perspective in my youth / young adulthood - were I had no real commitments, as much free time as I really needed, and a perspective of JFDI. So something of a dichotomy for me - some head nodding, yet some of that in the knowledge, that I was really agreeing with utter twaddle - but there's the rub, you see - probably at times most had similar, stupid, arrogance and dismissiveness to our perspective on things. Most grow out of that phase, though...
All the same, though, and it's hard not to see the wires, and the desire to make a point, to brandish ego, to be controversial, to write an article as if all that matters are his values. But then I suspect that was largely by design, largely done for effect, largely to make HIS point - whether it was exaggerated for effect or otherwise.
Whether it was feckless, arrogant, and / or ignorant - and whether on purpose, or simply belligerent - is probably a tad irrelevant. The reality is - for countless pastimes, hobbies or pursuits - that people are involved for a variety of reasons - and I see that as a positive, rather than a negative - and the only people standing out, loud and proud, by saying something brash, are doing so simply for attention.
Yet, that said, objectively, I also saw through his eyes. Once there was a time, probably more with other hobbies than mountain biking, truth be told, that I also probably had similar perspective in my youth / young adulthood - were I had no real commitments, as much free time as I really needed, and a perspective of JFDI. So something of a dichotomy for me - some head nodding, yet some of that in the knowledge, that I was really agreeing with utter twaddle - but there's the rub, you see - probably at times most had similar, stupid, arrogance and dismissiveness to our perspective on things. Most grow out of that phase, though...
All the same, though, and it's hard not to see the wires, and the desire to make a point, to brandish ego, to be controversial, to write an article as if all that matters are his values. But then I suspect that was largely by design, largely done for effect, largely to make HIS point - whether it was exaggerated for effect or otherwise.
Whether it was feckless, arrogant, and / or ignorant - and whether on purpose, or simply belligerent - is probably a tad irrelevant. The reality is - for countless pastimes, hobbies or pursuits - that people are involved for a variety of reasons - and I see that as a positive, rather than a negative - and the only people standing out, loud and proud, by saying something brash, are doing so simply for attention.
mechagouki
Senior Retro Guru
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MikeD":19uh7t6a said:
I hear that. I think that works both ways though - if you haven't shelled out $$$$$ you're likely to care less about the shortcomings of a bike.
Also the major MTB magazines are basically just advertising flyers wrapped around a minimal amount of original content. There are exceptions, I've always enjoyed DirtRag, and whilst I'm yet to read Privateer (which I'm guessing you're in some way involved with?), I've heard good things.
There's really no better way to judge a bike for yourself than to thoroughly demo one - at a race I recently attended TREK had a huge fleet of brand new demo bikes including XTR and XX top of the range models which they were happily loaning to people participating in the race (an 8 hour relay - 10km laps).
I guess word of mouth is becoming a more valuable form of marketing in a digital age where people can skip the ads to read what they want and will more likely listen to a fellow forum member than a bike company rep.
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