Cycling Weekly, pitiful!!!

crapaudthepitbull
crapaudthepitbull Posts: 47
edited June 2013 in Road general
As a buyer of Cycling Weekly for then past 25 years I have now vowed never to buy it again. Call me sad but i used to look forward to Thursday morning and it dropping onto the front matt. All it seems to be now is an advertising front for the ever expanding cyclo sportif market. I know the "market" of cycling is going in that direction more and more but lets not forget sportifs have been going for generations, just under different names (Reliability Trials, Audax's etc), they are not some new and wonderful concept discovered in the last 5 years. Imagine 20 years ago CW having 2/3 page spreads of the Wobbly Wheelers 100km tourist trial instead of the Peter Buckley Junior series, it would not have happened.
The coverage of the UK domestic racing scene, both road and time trail is woeful. There is almost zero coverage of amateur road racing whether it be schoolboy, junior or senior. This magazine should be its showcase.
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Comments

  • ju5t1n
    ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
    I agree

    I look to velouk.net as a results service now, you're lucky to see half a dozen TT results in the comic these days
  • ju5t1n
    ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
    they wanted 4 quid for it last week too, just because it had a few more pages than normal
  • FoldingJoe
    FoldingJoe Posts: 1,327
    I used to buy it every now and again, but stopped recently.

    Have just cancelled my subscription to Cycling Active and subscribed to Cyclist.
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  • Strith
    Strith Posts: 541
    Yeah it's pretty grim these days. Online content is generally much better these days, which is abit of a shame, bt hey ho
  • I like the format, the heritage and some of the content (some of the training and nutrition stuff is helpful), but I do agree; as someone not especially interested in sportives, that aspect doesn't thrill me much.

    Nevertheless, I still prefer that to C+. ;)
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    When they made weekly downloads for you iPad I was going to occasionally download it, but discovered there was no advantage on cost it was the same price, totally robbing barstewards. :twisted: :evil: :roll: :shock:
  • They've gone where the money is. MAMILs and sportives.
  • whitestar1
    whitestar1 Posts: 530
    I like reading it but I am also upset with them too. I can't see why the electronic version cost the same has the printed version. You don't even get the pull outs!
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  • cyclingfury
    cyclingfury Posts: 676
    I cancelled my subscription 9 months ago and I don't miss it one iota. I need to check out this "cyclist" magazine though that everyone seems to be raving about! :)
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  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    The article last week on Ben Swift and his nutrition diary was nothing more than a shamless advert for the products featured. Here's a picture of Ben with his feet up, eating a xxx bar (which is also nicely pictured), Ben goes out for a ride making sure he is carrying xxx gels (also nicely pictured). It was painful to read and added no value at all.

    However, the articles that really get me are the psuedo science ones..."eating cherries will make you recover faster*" (*survey based on 3 people who did exercise, one of which had the odd cherry and he achieved 2% better fitness on the second day). Bloody laughable and I can't imagine the Lancet getting worried about losing out on these scientific breakthroughs...
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Stopped reading it about a year ago - was a regular reader since the early 80s. Trouble is I can get all the race results and chat online, rather than wait another week. There's only so much you can write about diet, nutrition and training without repeating yourself. I still get Cyclesport because a sub is dirt cheap with Tesco vouchers and the only magazine I pay for is Cyclist. Likewise, stopped my C+ sub because of the heavy mamil content.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • It's gone down the tubes, just like the NME, actually it's produced by the same people as the NME so maybe that explains a lot. agree £3.99 is a joke
  • PaulC555
    PaulC555 Posts: 58
    Dr Hutch is still funny though.........first bit I turn to... :D:D:D
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  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    Same here, I cancelled both C+ and CW as I was fed up of the adverts and no real news. I now get all I need off Twitter for race results and the various web sites for more info CTT etc
  • farrina
    farrina Posts: 360
    Velonutter wrote:
    When they made weekly downloads for you iPad I was going to occasionally download it, but discovered there was no advantage on cost it was the same price, totally robbing barstewards. :twisted: :evil: :roll: :shock:

    I managed to pick up an annual subscription via Zinio for circa £38 which I thought was not a bad price ( it's currently £99 but keep your eyes open as I have seen a number of "funny" pricing over the years.

    Fully agree as to previous observations regarding content.

    Regards

    Alan
    Regards
    Alan
  • rob21
    rob21 Posts: 284
    They've gone where the money is. MAMILs and sportives.
    and whats wrong with MAMILS :lol:
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    I wrote to them about the cost of the Electronic download, got a read receipt but no reply, which just about sums up their attitude, if they don't listen to their readers then they are the ones who will lose.
  • dempsey1
    dempsey1 Posts: 320
    i keep persisting with it in the hope it will get better but it doesn't. After a quick scan then a proper look through I get through it in about 15 mins. i dont even go back to it like my other mags. pound for pound, very poor
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    I have a subscription on the ipad but really only for Hutchinson's column at the back. Cheers me up every week and is just about worth the subscription cost on its own. I wonder what would happen to sales of the magazine if that column was dropped..
  • marylogic
    marylogic Posts: 355
    Bobbinogs wrote:
    The article last week on Ben Swift and his nutrition diary was nothing more than a shamless advert for the products featured. Here's a picture of Ben with his feet up, eating a xxx bar (which is also nicely pictured), Ben goes out for a ride making sure he is carrying xxx gels (also nicely pictured). It was painful to read and added no value at all.

    However, the articles that really get me are the psuedo science ones..."eating cherries will make you recover faster*" (*survey based on 3 people who did exercise, one of which had the odd cherry and he achieved 2% better fitness on the second day). Bloody laughable and I can't imagine the Lancet getting worried about losing out on these scientific breakthroughs...

    +1

    completely agree - dubious studies presented with even more tenuous conclusions added by the magazine. The other week I saw what amounted to - study has shown long low intensity training makes you live longer so maybe we should all stop doing intervals. What?
  • I stopped buying it when the letters page began to remind me of rags like the Daily Mail or Express. I found also that I was getting through it in about 20 minutes, almost no content just a re-hash of articles/news/reviews from around the internet (and not particularly well written either IMHO). The only section that kept it's quality was Dr Hutch but I can't warrant spending 3 sometimes 4 quid for that. In nearly stopped getting Cycling Plus as well but that seems to have improved of late, the Tech Editor is still annoying as hell though! The team behind Cyclist seem to be getting it right, really enjoy reading it every month.
  • RDB66
    RDB66 Posts: 492
    The Comic has been getting worse over the last few years !! Its not even a real Magazine in my eyes..its a Paper !!

    Now, ProCycling on the other hand is superb...this months is a Giro special, its fantastic. Well worth the extra 2£.
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  • Philly8mt
    Philly8mt Posts: 552
    PaulC555 wrote:
    Dr Hutch is still funny though.........first bit I turn to... :D:D:D

    Just goes to show ...

    I find him about as funny as nuclear war tbh! I've bought the thing in the past but recently took the cyclist instead and just glance at CW when I'm passing through the local Sainsbury Store.
    Still thinking of something clever to say!
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    Well Surprise Surprise I actually got a reply from them: -
    Thank you for your email.

    There are various costs we have to take into consideration when making these issues available in a digital format, such as sales commission costs charged by Apple plus a VAT charge in the UK, which is not applicable to print subscriptions. We do our best to keep any charges to a minimum, but we do however have to reflect these in the overall cost of the digital subscriptions.

    It is always worth remembering that if you were to purchase a print subscription, where we have many different offers currently available, you would also receive the digital editions free for a period of 1 year. In order to view offers on all our titles, please visit our website http://www.magazinesdirect.com.

    I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time and trouble to contact us. We are always looking to improve our service, and your feedback is very important to us.

    If you require any further assistance, please do contact me.

    I replied with: -

    "Thank-you for your reply.

    As a company by the very virtue that you promote cycling should mean that you have concerns about the waste of resources in the world and the ecology of the earth, yet you try to still promote that I buy the printed and get the digital copy free.

    You are missing the whole point, it costs you far less to produce a digital copy, savings which you could offset on making the digital copy cheaper, everyone else makes the digital copy cheaper so why can’t Cycling Weekly.

    Very disappointed with your reply and I will make it known on other forums what CW’s thoughts are on the digital copy.

    Yours sincerely,"

    I'm really surprised that their reply was like that, I've said for a long time that they are too big for their boots! :roll:
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    Can't believe the reply I have just received from my email to Cycling weekly above :? :shock: :? :roll: : -
    Thank you for your reply.

    We are currently investigating this matter; and hope to resolve the situation very shortly. As soon as we have further information, we will be in contact.

    If we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.
  • mrbubbaman
    mrbubbaman Posts: 171
    You only get the iPad version free, which is no good for me. I bought the last 2 weeks copies from Zinio as I had 2 free $10 gift vouchers, I would not buy them otherwise (at £2.99 each)
  • Gazspurs
    Gazspurs Posts: 122
    I've stopped buying them all & now only subscribe to Cyclist.

    Absolutely superb magazine. The others do have a place for newer people to the road but Cyclist has an excellent blend of advanced rider but not coming across up its own a**e.
  • Velonutter wrote:
    You are missing the whole point, it costs you far less to produce a digital copy, savings which you could offset on making the digital copy cheaper, everyone else makes the digital copy cheaper so why can’t Cycling Weekly.
    I wouldn't bet on that. Apple take 30%, and VAT's 20%. That's a serious whack out of the purchase cost.
    Mangeur
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    Velonutter wrote:
    You are missing the whole point, it costs you far less to produce a digital copy, savings which you could offset on making the digital copy cheaper, everyone else makes the digital copy cheaper so why can’t Cycling Weekly.
    I wouldn't bet on that. Apple take 30%, and VAT's 20%. That's a serious whack out of the purchase cost.

    Wouldn't they have similar costs through WH Smiths, plus they have to agree to returns, so I would have thought that with no printing requirement it is a win win situation.
  • Cycling Weakly.