[Closed] Farewell Privateer and chapeau.

I never found the price to be excessive... It's double the price of a "normal" magazine, but it's more than double the content (and 5x the quality). And seeing as it was only released every-other-month, the subscription price works out to be pretty similar.

I never had an issue with the price, it was that I never could grasp the concept of presenting MTB in the same fashion as road cycling, it just seemed a bit forced. The two sports are so very different, historically, culturally, and seemingly in those that partake in it/read about it.

Long time reader and collector of Rouluer which I love.

Sad news for the team at Privateer and readers who much prefer to experience in print a magazine with production standards as high as theirs. Distribution (WH Smiths I'm looking at you) is a major pain for small publications.
Could also be more than a coincidence that ST has recently taken a few leaves out of Privateer's book.

I recall an article in TGO a few years ago, explaining why their magazine was so hard to find in the stores. It seems that the like of WH Smiths and the supermarkets, charge the publishers to have magazines just on the shelves. It must be very hard for small and new independent magazines to even get going against that kind of backdrop.

And IMO is a perfect example of how unfettered commercialism constrains the "free market" to reduce the buyers freedom of choice.

i really enjoyed the journal. the last but one with the road trip to SoCa was superb.
A great shame its going.
would be nice if someone from the publishers would firm up the postion with regards to subs.

[i]someone from the publishers would firm up the postion with regards to subs. [/i]

The email I had from them said;

[i]We will be writing to any subscribers who have issues remaining on their Privateer subscription in the next few days with details of how they may claim a refund for all un-mailed issues (due after 18), or alternatively switch over to Rouleur.[/i]

It's not ambiguous, really?

The last 3 issues are sitting here largely unread, but that's true of most of my mags. I've just had a big subscription cull.

It must have been annoying for them to put a big call out to Missy Giove in one issue and then DiRT get the big interview. (unless I missed an interview in the last 3 issues).

I don't think I'll miss it too much although it did have some incredible photography.

I imagine the number of people who use the word 'chapeau' are quite small and as such they had a small market. Funnily enough, the type of person who buys 'coffee table statement' magazines I always iamgined using words like chapeau, spiffing, etc

I don't think £9 is bad for decent writing on interesting subjects, better value than the mainstream mags. I currently have a road mag in which there is a light review that is simply a copy of the info you'd find on the product box or website. Look at the dodgy press releases passed off as news, that this rag puts on it's website, lazy, lazy; a 9 year old can copy & paste.

*does a search, realises he's used both spiffing and chapeau in the past month*

😳

It was much more than a coffee table magazine, I only ever read it whilst on the loo.

It must have been annoying for them to put a big call out to Missy Giove in one issue and then DiRT get the big interview. (unless I missed an interview in the last 3 issues).

Yes, especially because Privateer is well written, and Dirt appears to be written (or at least sub-edited) by a five year old.

I didnt know it had no ads, because I never got over the £9 price

I'm pretty sure it does have ads, only they're a bit more subtle than MBUK ...

Yes, especially because Privateer is well written, and Dirt appears to be written (or at least sub-edited) by a five year old.

Did you read the interview?

It has ads but a low percentage.

[i]£9 is way to much for a magazine[/i]

Privateer and Rouleur are more coffee table book than magazine though.

I for one will miss it I liked its expanse & freedom in content from philosophy, history, illustration, photography to racing, materials & people. It didn't try to tow any party line which is an element I love about MTB riding. I think it really tried to capture a spirit that runs through all of us regardless of what discipline of dirt we ride. Shame hope all involved moved on to better things & most of all keep riding

Did you read the interview?

Yes, it was good. Unlike the Öhlins [s]word salad[/s] article, which was a good demonstration of how enthusiasm and knowledge don't make for good journalism if they can't be translated into coherent English.

So, I'm still trying to work out who 'chapeau' is...

"wwaswas It's not ambiguous, really?"

To be fair you are right. In the email they have sent to [b]you[/b] they have made the position clear.
Can you make your account details public just in case there are any further emails from them?

I'll miss Privateer. £9 every other month for a quality product is not worth complaining about if you compare it to other recreational costs. (eg beer, cinema tickets, sports tickets, gig prices, books.)

I looked at the Bunyan Velo. It looks interesting but just takes far too long loading. One of the problems with some online mags, I find. By the time a handful of pages have loaded I've finished my poo... 😀

Privateer and Rouleur are more coffee table book than magazine though.

Here's me thinking it's a Journal.

It's a magazine.

Speshpaul - I guess they're writing to everyone and, in the meantime, emailing those they have confirmed email addresses for?

[i]It's a magazine.[/i]

Which one?

Either.

I picked up Privateer once. The little bit I read was pretentious piffle so I never bothered to look at it again - probably unfairly by the sound of it.

Timbur - I also mysteriously kept getting free issues arriving in the post!

The only reason I could think of was attending a Retrobike ride in the Lakes and I'd won a subscription as a prize (didn't stay until the end when they gave out some swag as we had to ride off ahead due to babysitter deadline).

The mag was quite good but content fluctuated with each issue. Slightly annoying when they started posting it in a cardboard package that didn't fit through standard letterboxes. Duh...

On the opposite side of the spectrum Wideopen seem to be doing really well.
I always love their issues. They've even started printing them now.
Long may they continue their excellent work.

They sent me a free copy once after I'd slagged off the price on here.
It was very good, I picked up a few copies subsequently.

Anyway, Rouleur;
£9 for a magazine?!???!? I'm not paying that etc....
Same postal address as last time, thanks.