Modest Bike Magazine

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02-19-2006, 07:42 PM
bagtagley

Modest Bike Magazine

Anybody seen this pub? I flipped through an issue the other day, and I'm pretty impressed. It's a bit pricey at $11-12 an issue (newsstand), but with a grand total of 3 ads (1 of which was for the magazine itself), I'd say it's more than worth it. It was full of articles, and more importantly pictures...lots of pictures. I skimmed over a couple of the shorter articles, and the writing seems decent. I was wallet-less when I was at the book store, but I plan to scoop it up next time I'm in there.

I don't know about anybody else, but I'd happily pay in the $10 range for a reduced-ad version of Powder. Something that allowed for a few more long articles, and lots more pictures.
02-19-2006, 08:35 PM
shirk

The pics are cool. It's a Whistler/Vancouver based crew that put it together.
I have grabbed this months issue for a read.
Persoanlly I didn't like the content of the articles. It seems like all the articles in this months issue are play by play of filming trips by up and coming young semi-pros. They go to spots not for the established riding, but to some spot they can build a stunt or single line for a short film clip. Looks cool in a finished edited film or in a magazine. But I don't want to read about some guys braving black flys and digging a single line in some remote spot that actually has no riding.

It reminds me of this sense less jump built by some kids back in Ontario at my old stomping grounds. It's a hundred yards off from the trail, running in the opposite direction and not linked at the top or bottom to any trail. Whats the point, sure you can ride it and get a cool picture, but it's not built into the trail with any flow.

I hope future issues are different or this will be the last one I put out my cash for.
02-19-2006, 08:54 PM
bagtagley

Quote:

Originally Posted by shirk

I hope future issues are different or this will be the last one I put out my cash for.

Hmm, thanks for the info shirk. It sucks that the articles are ho-hum, especially given how long some of them are.

That's a shame, seems this type of mag could have tons of potential.
02-19-2006, 09:03 PM
stompinlines

I've been reading modestbike webpage over the last year and half. The guy usually has a pretty good handle on current news within the freeride community. Himself and Lutz over at Matchvidoezine, keep me in the loop.
02-19-2006, 09:22 PM
shirk

bagtagley - if you want this months copy I can toss it in the mail. I've read it cover to cover.

I keep bike mag for the 411 type info on riding spots and drool worthy travel articles. I don't feel the need to keep modestbike, atleast not this issue.
02-19-2006, 10:03 PM
flowtron

I stumbled onto one at Tattered Cover bookstore in Denver. Its a cool, rootsy Canadian mag. Lots of good pictures, and the writing wasn't bad. Seems like its written by people that I'd like to actually talk about bike stuff with...as opposed to MBA and Mountain Bike...even Decline.
I winced a little, paying 9 bucks for the thing, but I feel like I'm supporting a good culture and lifestyle.... or something like that.
02-20-2006, 10:28 AM
uncle crud

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagtagley

Anybody seen this pub? I flipped through an issue the other day, and I'm pretty impressed. It's a bit pricey at $11-12 an issue (newsstand), but with a grand total of 3 ads (1 of which was for the magazine itself), I'd say it's more than worth it. It was full of articles, and more importantly pictures...lots of pictures. I skimmed over a couple of the shorter articles, and the writing seems decent. I was wallet-less when I was at the book store, but I plan to scoop it up next time I'm in there.

I don't know about anybody else, but I'd happily pay in the $10 range for a reduced-ad version of Powder. Something that allowed for a few more long articles, and lots more pictures.

Bike magazine from the UK is expensive and tends to focus more on the UC World Cup scene and euro DH riding generally, but the writing tends to be a bit better and more interesting (mind the euro insider slang though) and jeezus kroyste they make those rippin vids Earthed, Earthed 2, Earthed 3.

Modest Bike is a great setup, but when I browsed the mag recently I felt like they were stuck in 2000 during the days when Digger's North Shore Extreme 3 was the hot new vid. but maybe that says more about where I moved toward, and less about Modest Bike. either way, totally agree that the format is excellent and the ad-free nature takes the sting out of the price.
02-20-2006, 10:43 AM
uncle crud

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowtron

Seems like its written by people that I'd like to actually talk about bike stuff with...as opposed to MBA and Mountain Bike...even Decline.

here's an odd story.

MBA, a/k/a Mountain Bike Fiction, a/k/a Richard Cunningham's ode to Santa Cruz MTBs, is well known for having a stubborn and sanctimonious tone, occasionally if not often filled with bogus "expertise."

in 2000 I went to Durango CO to visit a friend who lives there and she urged me to schedule the visit for the IMBA Epic that was coming, so that we could participate in that trail work day/trail ride next day gig. so I went during that time.

on the trail work day, we were broken into groups of 3-5 people (depended on tools). in my group was a wise-cracking dude of maybe 40 or 45. he was constantly riffing on one of my favorite issues, IMBA trail width standards that don't allow for technical singletrack that challenges anyone beyond intermediate skill levels. he was sarcastic, funny, and friendly to everyone in our group.

at the end of the day, my friend Clare told me that she was pretty sure the dude was Richard Cunningham from MB Fiction. at the time I knew of MBFiction but not Cunningham or his connection to the mag. we went to a bike shop and opened a mag that had the editor's page with a picture of Richard Cunningham. sure enoug... it was that dude in my trail work group.

a sort oif Massengill Water & Vinegar in his magazine, but a funny guy in person.