Flutterby™! : Latest Bicycling Magazine 2007-09-22 00:28:45.613245+00

Latest Bicycling Magazine

2007-09-22 00:28:45.613245+00 by Dan Lyke 3 comments

Just got the latest issue of Bicycling magazine. The same articles claiming to be the ultimate workout. The same article on "cool upgrades" from the major advertisers. The same glossy ads. And the front advertises "5 easy ways to make your bike faster". Well, I'm trying to shave a few off my lunchtime rides of the Nicasio Valley Loop (17.7MPH today), so I went to the table of contents, which said "116 5 ways to make your bike faster".

Turn to page 116. "Upgrades under $25: 5 ultraeasy(sic) ways to make your bike look and feel new". So where'd the "faster" go? The closest that might do something is the shoe covers, but I know I'm losing time on the climb between Nicasio and the reservoir, and on the leaves on the bike path through Samuel P. Taylor State Park, so I'm pretty sure the making my shoe laces "aero" ain't gonna do it.

Into the recycling bin.

The funniest bit is that Charlene was sure she'd read this issue before. Even though it just came today.

#Comment Re: made: 2007-09-22 01:08:29.041882+00 by: meuon [edit history]

Other than newer shinier gear, that same goes for many magazines. I swear they recycle the articles and replace key nouns with this months big sponsor's items. Sometimes though, you actually WANT the adverts. I parse about every 3rd InfoWeek. CRN News, etc (free {to me} geek/IT magazines) just to get a glimpse of buzzwords and trends, but other than that, they are worthless except for the ads. I've also been enjoying Wired, it's my favorite bathroom read. Just enough about any topic or commercially touted item to have my interest for a bathroom break, and sometimes a gem that has me digging deeper on a subject or item. Sure, in some ways, Wired is tired, but it's pretty bleeding edge for Chattanooga.

As for shaving seconds off your rides, how about also thinking of ways to enjoy them more? Scenic detours, good snacks?

#Comment Re: Cyclic magazine topics made: 2007-09-22 11:46:44.608182+00 by: m

Woodworking, gardening, cooking, investing and other specialty magazines as well. Because I peruse more woodworking magazines than any others, I have noticed that the same topic will often appear in issues by two or more publishers in the same month. I wonder about an antitrust action occaisionally. Sometimes I think about giving up on the subscriptions, but the cost of a subscribed magazine is only about that of a third or half a board foot of cherry.

Retrieving something I have seen is by far the larger problem. Fine Woodworking has the right idea, a web site with searchable access to all of their back articles in PDF format for a reasonable annual fee.

Shoe covers? Sheez. If you want to make the bike faster, just go ahead and remove the brakes. That'll decrease air resistance significantly. Admittedly, sometimes you'll be going faster than you really want, but...