[Closed] Benjis' rant in the new mag

Funny, I had a couple of months off the bike due to injury. I didn't notice any change in myself but everyone else did. I wondered why everyone was asking me what was wrong. I thought it was them!
The ability to ride has everything to do with personal circumstance; kids, sick relatives, job and also proximity to decent riding all effect the amount of time which people can put in. An hours blast from the front door is far easier to squeeze in than a 4 hour trip.
I do agree with many of his points though particularly the trail centres and the sneering at peoples "skill compensating" bikes.

binners, if i'm ever lucky enough to meet you... you will have to stop me from licking your eyeballs in appreciation.

Cheers Phil. I may even let you 😉

But remember: we are all individuals. All together now

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[i]YES! WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS![/i]

"what do you think about on a bike while your riding?" My answer is always "Nothing"

Spot on at least when I am mountain biking although I find I have more time to contemplate and think things through on my commute to work by bike as you are just sitting there pedalling.

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That "offended people" article that binners linked to is great, especially this phrase:

gratuitous offence, when performed with aplomb, is the funniest thing in the world.

Ben's article is similar in tone to something that Jeremy Clarkson would write/say. Something done to get a reaction. It's got enough truths in there (the sneering about trail centre riders/skill compensators being the obvious one) combined with enough rhetoric and (God forbid) [i]opinion[/i] to do the job it's intended to do. I think a lot of people on here have recognised in themselves enough of the character traits that Ben assassinates in the article and reacted accordingly.

Personally I quite like to read something a bit different in a bike mag these days rather than another regurgitated press release or a product test of something I'll never buy.

Read the article, accept it for what it is and move on.

I think I know what the problem with this article is for me. I thought it was this;

To be told by someone who works in the bike trade that what they do isn't enough and that they've effectively sold out is like a red rag to a bull.

But it's not. Actually the tone of the article wasn't the problem - I deal with preachy self-righteous teenagers on a daily basis, so reading a similarly veined article by a journo doesn't bug me.

It's the intimation that cycling is essential or [i]you live listlessly and die[/i] (metaphorically, socially, physically etc) [i]a slow boring death[/i]. This is bollocks. Ironically, it actually [b]is[/b] a life-or-death matter for me due to my illness, so to read someone's excessively dramatic musings gets on my tits a bit. I think it just has to be put in context, although I'm happy to be corrected by the author of the article.

i havent read it yet, nor beyond the first 5 posts of this thread.

however i can definitely state that all of you are wrong and nobbers. FACT.

i havent read it yet, nor beyond the first 5 posts of this thread.

however i can definitely state that all of you are wrong and nobbers. FACT.

Ah, **** it. You're probably correct! 😀

I should probably add that although I didnt agree with the tone or preachyness, I do wholeheartedly agree thats it better to read an opinion that the usual dross in MTB magazines.

I dont think the tone of the article was tongue in cheek (willing to be proven wrong).
I dont agree with much of what he said
I should probably lighten up
I will be subscribing to the magazine.

cant say fairer than that.

I read it all last night and still liked it. Really liked it in fact and failed to spot half of the stuff folks on here seem to be frothing about. TBH I'm not that keen on a lot of the writing in the mag (subject, style etc). There are other mags I prefer because they do stuff better than STW does, AFAIC.

This forum is the home of some sanctimonious, hystrionic plonkers though.

P&L 😎

As a result of this thread I'm now a Premium Member and have read the article. It's good, I get what Benji is trying to say. Maaaaaybe he'd had a couple of drinks when he wrote it and maaaybe someone could have done a sub-ed job on it but otherwise is good.

My mag arrived yesterday so had a chance to read the article last night. There seems to be a lot of contradiction in the article, almost as if it is written by someone who doesn't naturally like confrontation trying to provoke a reaction, so it all comes over a bit confused to me. Has obviously worked though; it would certainly appear to have provoked a reaction 😯

To be fair to singletrack mag, at least its printed in a font size that can be read, unlike Dirt.

at least its printed in a font size that can be read,

probably because the projected age of reader most likely to take umbrage at the article wouldn't actually be able to read it in a smaller font... 8)

The ability to ride has everything to do with personal circumstance; kids, sick relatives, job and also proximity to decent riding all effect the amount of time which people can put in.

Whilst sick relatives are things that just happen to people, and kids are things people have, the rest of it is all personal choice - what job you do, how hard you decide to work, where you choose to live.

I would love to not have to be away from the house for 15+ hours a day and have perfect trails on the doorstep. Not choice but reality for me.

Like this - you choose a lifestyle that requires 15 hour working days, you choose to live somewhere without trails to ride.

Obviously for some biking is not a high priority in their life choices, whereas for others it is, but that doesn't stop most stuff being a choice.

Personally, whilst having a kid has curtailed my riding a bit (and other unavoidable family stuff somewhat more so), I've still done 6 hours riding since Monday plus a quick 6km offroad jog up the hill. I made the choice to go down to 4 days a week, so Thursday I'll go riding with my daughter. I chose where to live partly in order that I a)have trails from the door, and b)I have a nice ride to work. But they are all choices, and doing fun exercise is a high priority for me.

Joe

It's almost back to the first few years of the magazine.

Samuri - I really wish you would come back to writing in STmag, I miss the wit and observations of your articles (back in the day). Once I laughed so much (the article where you were stuck to the bed sheets because of puss) that tears were rolling down my cheeks.

The mag needs more humour - oh and girly things.

please no more sixth form poetry drivel about a bead of sweat rolling down a leg

There seems to be a lot of contradiction in the article, almost as if it is written by someone who doesn't naturally like confrontation trying to provoke a reaction, so it all comes over a bit confused to me.

+1

T'was a bit 'trying to be clever' , but fell a bit short.

I love how the STW dwellers (of which I am certainly one) cannot wait to vent their ire over the contents of a magazine they feel that they own.

Let go of the reins people - it's not your mag; it's the writers'. And if they want to srite stuff that gets up your nose, respond in kind.

Write a letter. Or an email. Or a blog. Or a tweet. But make it interesting enough to justify the irritation to your sensibilities.

I want opinions. Even poorly thought through ones. It shows people still care about something.

I love how the STW dwellers (of which I am certainly one) cannot wait to vent their ire over the contents of a magazine they feel that they own.
Let go of the reins people - it's not your mag; it's the writers'. And if they want to srite stuff that gets up your nose, respond in kind.
Write a letter. Or an email. Or a blog. Or a tweet. But make it interesting enough to justify the irritation to your sensibilities.
I want opinions. Even poorly thought through ones. It shows people still care about something.

and thats exactly what youve got in response - opinions.

You're argument would stand up if the article in question didn't in some way contribute to ostracising a large percentage of its readers (if it is to be taken seriously).
What are you suggesting, that people don't react when they feel they have been unfairly criticised?

and thats exactly what youve got in response - opinions.

See. It worked.

And, yes, I'm delighted people have responded here. And it would be ace if thet responded everywhere else too.

(Sorry, self amusement, this one, but I figured in a lengthy thread about something we all take just as seriously as Mr Haworth, it would suffice.)

I dont get your point?
You criticise people for being precious and having opinions, yet want people to have opinions?

ST mag content gets loads of posts on mag's forum - winner for them.

1) if mag content is intelligent, well thought-out and thought-provoking - winner for us.

2) if mag content is just opinions stated for a pre-determined reaction - loser for all, mag sinks to the lowest level of media and takes only lowest level of reader with them (see many daily papers for example)

It's far easier to be eg 2 in modern media. There's still plenty of eg 1 in bike media because people are passionate about what they do. Benji's article read as a passionate piece on his take on 'current MTB', simple as that. It'd be dull if we all agreed, read stuff that aligned with our fixed views and were played by a writer for a reaction - we may as well read the Mail then.

I love how the STW dwellers (of which I am certainly one) cannot wait to vent their ire over the contents of a magazine they feel that they own.

Let go of the reins people - it's not your mag; it's the writers'. And if they want to srite stuff that gets up your nose, respond in kind

Well, it's "owned" by the writers but paid for by the readers so this sort of feedback is probably useful if it switches off a load of people. Some of Ferrentino's articles have been remarkably similar in the "You're doing it wrong" sort of tone. Personally I'll stick with enjoying riding bikes in whatever form I have time for between my "so called life" and work.

You criticise people for being precious and having opinions, yet want people to have opinions?

Difference between precious and having an opinion. They are not necessarily combined. The feeling of ownership is really just a transacitonal relationship.

The opinions of people who have real lives and real opinions and passion for riding bikes and so many other things are what are most interesting. They show a greater truth about riding bikes than a professional writer contradicting himself in print.

I have children and ride my bike every day - but wouldnt look down my nose at other people who cant/dont either.

I will look down my nose at bell-end churnalists making a poor attempt at recycling forum drivel that someone wrote when they were bored at lunchtime.

Did I say the lad comes across as a bell-end?

I think it's good that his article promoted such a good debate good or bad!!

Let's face it the regular content doesn't generally get this kind of reaction

I do think some of his comments contradict the words of his editors piece on "British Summer hardtails"

Benji's article was a deliberate troll / cat-amongst-the-pigeons exercise. Mission accomplished 🙂

Poor bell-end Benji, newly married and such a lot to learn...

I live over an hour's drive from the nearest decent trails, I work long hours in a high stress environment and only get to see my other half at weekends. So no I don't ride my mountain bike as much as I would like and yes it is my choice to put my career and partner first.

So do you know what I did - went and bought a road bike and never looked back.

Loved the comment about asking what you're doing with your life. I'm making a career, future and life for myself. What about you Benji? Oh you're riding your bike. Thats nice.

Just seems Benji has a lot of growing up to do.

Benji's article was a deliberate troll / cat-amongst-the-pigeons exercise

Benji's article was a deliberate troll

mag sales lost = journo job cuts = an awful lot more time for Benji to ride his bike...

They took 'r jobs!

Did I say the lad comes across as a bell-end?

No but you do fella.

It reminds me of the obligatory lynch mob in the simpsons with burning torches and pitch forks 🙂

Great First Big Day Out article in the mag this month btw..

Yeah leave Benji alone.
After all, we are all just sad losers who waste our lives doing other stuff when we should be riding. Or something.

But then, it was all just a joke. Init.

People that spend all weekend bickering on the forum can't really complain when some one calls them on the excuse that they don't have enough time to go riding. If you look at a site like UKbouldering where a lot of really good climbers post, there is pretty much zero traffic on the weekend as they are all out climbing.

Oh and Kids are not an excuse not to do ride. Take them with you.

which has the potential to put off people thumbing through the mag in whsmiths, with it being the first article.

Really?

oh do me a favour ianv - please recommend me a suitable carry sack for transporting my 14 month old son downhill on my back at 40mph.

Oh, and whilst your at it, a bucket load of good excuses for her indoors as to why ive abandoned her with the kids yet again to go whistling through the woods.

You dont have to ride 18hrs a day to consider yourself a keen rider.

Seriously, some of the comments on here make me think im mixing with a very limited gene pool.

twoundred

which has the potential to put off people thumbing through the mag in whsmiths, with it being the first article.
Really?

Uh - yeah?

consider average Joe who likes riding MTB and wants to know more - picks up mag and reads ''if you dont live/breath/shit MTB then do me a favour and piss off because youre not welcome round ere mate''

Still cant work out your earlier posts either. You seem to thrive on contradiction just like good ol Benji

"I'm making a career, future and life for myself. What about you Benji? Oh you're riding your bike. Thats nice."

To be fair, some might say choosing future gains from a high-stress career where you miss your loved ones over a job doing something you love, based around one of the simple pleasures in life, is having your priorities wrong.

I'm not criticising your life choice, just saying it's not a choice everyone would make.

oh do me a favour ianv - please recommend me a suitable carry sack for transporting my 14 month old son downhill on my back at 40mph.

You might have to lay off the downhill but you can still ride. 2 year olds are fine on tailgators, 3/4 yr olds love pumptracks and skate parks etc etc

Only read the first and last page of this (are there some edited highlights?), but...

To be fair, some might say choosing future gains from a high-stress career where you miss your loved ones over a job doing something you love, based around one of the simple pleasures in life, is having your priorities wrong

If only life were so black and white. I would argue that working on a magazine with tight deadlines, potential for long hours and time away from home is pretty family [i][b]un[/b][/i]friendly. However I guess many of us on here have reasonable jobs that are not too stressful, afford us a couple of good holidays each year, a nice bike (or several) and give us evenings and weekends free for family or riding.

That said, my subs copy hasn't arrived yet so I've not even read the article 🙂

Fair point Jameso - I'd love to work less and live near the Peak District, Lake District or North York Moors and ride every day. Unfortunately that doesn't pay the bills.

I make my choice and I live with it. I've put work before bikes because (shock horror) there are more important things in life than going for a pedal. I know that comment won't go down well on here.

You might have to lay off the downhill but you can still ride. 2 year olds are fine on tailgators, 3/4 yr olds love pumptracks and skate parks etc etc

indeed, and he gets ridden in his childseat regular at the park etc, but that hardly scratches the surface when it comes to a 'proper' ride out does it?..

My lord, imagine all the trails centres and best trails loaded up with fella's riding their kids around in trailers.. what would Benji say?

''if you dont live/breath/shit MTB then do me a favour and piss off because youre not welcome round ere mate''

Which might be just the thing for them - "hell, there's someone who loves riding as much as I do *swoon*". Doesn't do it for me, but for those who want deeper entrenchment in their lifestyle choice, it might be just the thing.

Think of all the ****tish anti-road riding posts you get on here - I remember reading those in MBUK 20 years ago and thinking "yeah, mountain biking is the one true path". Then, like you, I got it that there's more to life than that....

My eaerlier possts were: 1 - being all precious isn't necessary. 2 - riding a bike and having a life is much more interesting than a bloke who only rides a bike. I'm on your side..!

Sure, i'm just generalising, there's pro's and con's to every job. To have a choice at all is a priviledge and balance is what most of us aim for, myself included.

I think Benji's article was (in part) saying that for some people, something like riding (or surfing, climbing, paragliding..) IS the priority in life, and it influences job / lack of, location, material expectations in life, everything. That's a personal choice and I can see how some think there is nothing more important. I know I read books about people who spent most of their lives exploring or climbing and usually think it's a bold but wise choice to make.

I'm on your side..

oh do me a favour ianv - please recommend me a suitable carry sack for transporting my 14 month old son downhill on my back at 40mph.

Trailer for decent long journeys. If I had a speedometer, I imagine I would know my trailer has been well over 30mph and would have to slow down to stay within the recommended speed limit of 25km/h. Although obviously that is on road, not on any kind of downhill, where I'd go pretty slow.

To be fair, some might say choosing future gains from a high-stress career where you miss your loved ones over a job doing something you love, based around one of the simple pleasures in life, is having your priorities wrong

Personally, I think careers are overrated - everyone I've ever known who left uni and did a 'career' job has got bored at points and many have changed career / dropped out in some way after a few years, whereas I've never really planned very far forward in life, and found myself going from one interesting thing to another, and doing some really fun stuff on the way, plus building up quite a lot of quite marketable skills while I was at it. Right now, my kid is young, so I think being an active part of that rather than an out all the time semi-absent father is an absolute priority for me over massive high speed career gains.

I'd love to work less and live near the Peak District, Lake District or North York Moors and ride every day. Unfortunately that doesn't pay the bills.

I think I might have thought that in the past, looking at salaries in the Midlands versus salaries in London. But then you look at living costs, and the bills are so much shockingly lower that it is nothing like as bad as you might think - two of us lived a pretty comfortable life on £24,000 a year total up here when we were doing PhDs, I reckon at least as comfortable as when we were on quite a lot more (like double that at times) in London. That's going from 2 bedroom ex council flat to 3 bedroom semi too. You can even work in a city, where the pay differential is not so bad, and there are actually jobs (Nottingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds) and easily live within riding distance of the Peak District, Dales etc.

I cant believe you are recommending taking kids on a trailer whilst in the pursuit of a true ride out.

kids in trailors = recreation/family time

MTB = blood/sweat/tears etc etc.

Two completely different subjects. You lot are barmy.

Hi, as a 64yr old I identified with the whole of the rant...
You just can't beat a good rant..
and I have to admit I assumed it was tongue in cheek...
on another tack..
Shame no one at STW thought to reproduce the questions and answers for the cycling cloak of invisibility offered for sale on e-bay a few weeks back...

I was with him right up until he said that you only need to own one bike.

He's clearly deranged.

At least he never said one set of tyres 😯

It's like northern soul. Erm or stamp collecting maybe. You need some people to keep the faith. Keep the torch burning. There are flaws to this for sure and ultimately not everyone can do it. For some it'd be daft, a bad priority call, childish, selfish, whatever. Of course. Depends who you are, where you are, blah blah blah.

But it's great to see something provocative pricking consciences, making people think. Beats reviews of gloves or bikes or whatever any day.

Loved the article.

I cant believe you are recommending taking kids on a trailer whilst in the pursuit of a true ride out.

kids in trailors = recreation/family time

MTB = blood/sweat/tears etc etc.

Two completely different subjects. You lot are barmy.

Depends on how hilly it is where you live, and where you ride the trailer. Yeah, you aren't going to get a full on singletrack fest, or go downhilling, but even like a 20 mile spin up and down the High Peak Trail with the midget slave-driver encouraging you to go fast up the inclines feels like a decent ride out to me. Even road rides are a lot of fun - there's a lovely ride from ours, out to Whatstandwell then up to Crich Monument, with the trailer it's one of the hardest climbs I've ever done. I find myself using way higher gears when I don't have the trailer nowadays with all the trailer training too, so it helps for fitness, which makes other riding more fun.

It isn't a substitute for normal riding I agree, it is another type of riding, but it can certainly be a proper good ride, plus you have a guaranteed nice person with you (and a good excuse to stop for picnics, play on swings etc.) It doesn't have to be a 5 minute pootle in the park. At least with our one, it appears kids like going fast pretty much as much as I do - if anything she'll moan if I go slow on the uphills.

Joe
(not biking right now because I'm doing a babysitting favour for someone, but I did bike here and will bike back later obviously)

Could have been written by Chris Porter. Not his finest work.

The fact is, some people change, while others stay the same. This is nothing to worry, or write a magazine articles about IMO.

Saying it doesn't pay the bills is a bit of a cop out, mainly because you have made the choice to have a nice car or house or whatever, you could have chosen a different path just like benji has.

Man approaches middle age, having enjoyed some success in his chosen field. Begins to think that everyone who thinks differently to him must be wrong and that the only way is his. Spits vitriol at others, reserving the worst for those closest to his 'beliefs'. History repeats.

and I have to admit I assumed it was tongue in cheek...

I do hope so, otherwise shut up you pompous twonk.

😆

you could have chosen a different path just like benji has

get a room you two 🙄

jebus, people still greetin about this...

Well, you've just posted.....

read this article this morning whilst on the bog..

not great was it.. mainly as it was so contradictory with itself.

pictures were ace though!

Good entertainment, that's all, and I agree... Great photos.

Nice work Benji, keepin' the mag different from the crowd. 😀

Well done Benji!. Six pages of debate (mostly). Ideal.

read it the other day, pretty good rant. that is the thing though, it is just a rant.....

He was spot on about the trail centre and skill compensator things though and we all know it. I bet a load of flat field riding dicks hated that.
Those who turned to road bikes were never mountain bikers anyway, just people trying different types of cycling. Nothing wrong with that, mud isn't for everyone. It was well written and presented as an opinion and as we all know, none of ours match ( it would be very dull if they did).
In short, get your heads out of your ****ing arses, appreciate that we all have different views ( printed or not) and stop being so judgemental.
Good article benji, well done.

I read it yesterday and I could have written most of it! Wise man, our Benji 🙂

Binners +10

Great link too.

Wish I'd written the piece.