Latest "cycle" mag!

[Traction_man]

The Feb/March 2025 issue...

I thought pretty readable and interesting content overall, the 'ton of fun' tour around Wales was a good read, and the 'Great rides' feature on the Camino includes a useful summary of transporting bikes by train in France.

What do others think?

cheers,

Keith

[Carlton green]

The CUK mag didn’t seem any worse than usual and was maybe better than most issues - I’d agree that the 'ton of fun' tour around Wales was a good read. In general I’m not impressed with the mag though and it’s unlikely that my views will change. As far as I’m concerned it seems focused on high cost products and the marketing of such whereas my cycling is definitely focused on the fun and utility you can get out of cycling in exchange for (if you choose with some care) a very modest financial outlay. Years ago the mag decided to do away with member’s free small add’s (items for sale), that was a sign of how it is and will be; opinions vary but some might say it’s become an advertisers’ rag …

I live in hope of change, it’d be nice to see grass roots and budget cycling fully represented in the mag. It’d be nice to see them talking to utility riders and short distance commuters. It’d be nice to see them talking about old bikes that just keep on working - well that and how it’s a wonderful goal to aim for. It’d be nice to see an article about the bloke who just did some easy paced touring of his local countryside and used what cheap gear he could afford. Simple stuff about everyday folk - many of limited disposable income - achieving an improvement in their lives. Oh well, you can dream.

[mattheus]

As far as I’m concerned it seems focused on high cost products and the marketing of such whereas my cycling is definitely focused on the fun and utility you can get out of cycling in exchange for (if you choose with some care) a very modest financial outlay.

I haven't opened mine yet, so I'll do you a deal:
Please tell me how many pages are "focused on high cost products and the marketing of such". And
- The total pages of actual content (so we can put the above in context). And ideally,
- How many pages show people "getting fun and utility out of cycling" without mention of what kit they need, or indeed financial outlay.

Then I'll read mine, and if your numbers are roughly right I'll buy you a pint (or some cheap bike part chose with care!)

[Carlton green]

As far as I’m concerned it seems focused on high cost products and the marketing of such whereas my cycling is definitely focused on the fun and utility you can get out of cycling in exchange for (if you choose with some care) a very modest financial outlay.

I haven't opened mine yet, so I'll do you a deal:
Please tell me how many pages are "focused on high cost products and the marketing of such". And
- The total pages of actual content (so we can put the above in context). And ideally,
- How many pages show people "getting fun and utility out of cycling" without mention of what kit they need, or indeed financial outlay.

Then I'll read mine, and if your numbers are roughly right I'll buy you a pint (or some cheap bike part chose with care!)

You’re late off of the mark, my copy was read several days ago and has now disappeared into the recycling.

Views on content and evaluation vary, I’ve shared mine and others are free to share theirs too. Though it’s been a bit more recently (with getting an old folder as another utility bike) I probably spend circa £100 per year on cycling stuff, so low budget.

Yesterday I rode about three miles, the day before was about twelve and today will be about ten miles, so my mileage isn’t high but the bike takes me where I want to go to. My bikes give me high mobility for a cost affordable to virtually all, and that’s precisely what cycling UK should be all about. I read their product reviews and virtually all of them are about stuff that’d break a limited budget and none of it focuses on achieving much with little costs.

Anyway believe what makes you happy and don’t concern yourself too much with those who, like I was as a young man, are struggling to get by and desperate for affordable transport. After all cycling’s really a leisure activity for the well heeled and the entry bar needs to be kept suitably high .

[mattsccm]

They'll never win though. Everything Carlton wants would put me off. I do all that he does or wants but do not want to read about it. Commuting is 20 daily miles for exercise and cost not something to think about when reading in the bath.
But then I am one of those who ditched the whole thing when CUK came about .

[Traction_man]

They'll never win though.

it's just a magazine!

why do threads and posts on here draw such ire?

[Carlton green]

They'll never win though.

it's just a magazine!

why do threads and posts on here draw such ire?

I don’t know but the written word on forums can be rather bald. Someone on here has the ‘signature’: ‘there’s your way and there’s my way but there is no the way’. Maybe I’m a little bit guilty too but a lot of folk just don’t get that there is space for more than one idea, they tend to be bio polar … but that’s only my opinion .

[mattheus]

Some people don't seem to get the "Discussion" element of forums.
If you state a view that I disagree with, and I can give reasons(so it's not just an emotion), don't be surprised when I post those reasons!

[Traction_man]

Some people don't seem to get the "Discussion" element of forums.
If you state a view that I disagree with, and I can give reasons(so it's not just an emotion), don't be surprised when I post those reasons!

There's a way of agreeing to disagree!