[Closed] Any point subscribing to the mag anymore?

Do all the articles appear free, and in full, when you aren't signed in?

Yeh I thought they were only available on the website if you are a subscriber.

You can't access them without a subscription. I assume it's a marketing strategy as I now keep getting articles coming up in my Google feed that tell me to subscribe when I open them.

I subscribed purely to support STW Towers up until the botched upgrade, which pissed me off, so I cancelled my subscription and joined the freeloaders...

I rarely read the magazine.

I find It has generally well written (and copy edited) articles that are entertaining, or though provoking, I particularly enjoy the travel articles, so for me, he's it's worth it. It's the only biking mag my GF will read as a non biker.

So, yeah, for me it's worth it, if it's not for you, stop buying it?

You're a P member so you get the best of both.

Whereas I like still being able to read things on paper.  You read at a different pace and it feels differently.  I was left a bit meh by the long LosAngeles article but Tykepacking had me giggling.

Paper is still good

Dunno, I just came here to say I really enjoyed Barney's" Tyke Packing" article. The Hans Rey piece didn't really appeal though. I guess I like stuff I can relate to and "me and my rockstar mates went on a supported ride around LA finishing up motor boating on my Lady Friends private motor cruiser" doesn't really reflect my lifestyle! It all felt a bit forced "aren't GT e-bikes wicked!"

Haha lefeboy - great minds...

The last 4-5 magazines are sat unread , the constant pissing about with the site - I won't be re subscribing .

I subscribed as someone who regularly lurks on the forum and would hate to see it go. Used to buy a lot of magazines in the past but digital content has, to a large part for me, stopped me buying them. Singletrack however is a relatively quality feeling production and I enjoy having a browse when it arrives, though haven't yet loooked at this months. I also keep hold of the issues on a shelf in the bike shed as part of my manly marking of the territory, thus discouraging my wife from going in there.

I can appreciate that this is a strategy to draw website viewers into taking out a subscription (you need to have at least a digital sub to see the full articles), but it does make me wonder what I'm gaining by having a print subscription.

As someone who has every issue from 001 in print form, I'm starting to doubt whether it's worth paying for the hard copy magazine if all of the content is available here.  Don't get me started on the click-bait headline style...

I'm happy for some of the content to be on the front page, but to have many of the main articles online only a few days after receiving the magazine in the post cheapens the experience.  Somehow it feels different to people downloading a digital version of the magazine, even if the end result is no different.

I did like the tyke packing article though, having a small daughter there was a lot that seemed familiar.

Epic fail.....

Has the Mag got MTBs in it ?

If so I’m oout 😜💋💄

Yes.

I enjoy having a pile of mags to read in an evening, not on a screen.

Additionally, they are read and then inspire the kids - priceless seeing my 16 year old read this months Canada road trip and then start looking up airfares and places mentioned....

I’m happy for some of the content to be on the front page, but to have many of the main articles online only a few days after receiving the magazine in the post cheapens the experience.  Somehow it feels different to people downloading a digital version of the magazine, even if the end result is no different.

But only you (as in subscribers) can read them.

The rest of us plebs just get a message telling us to cough up.

I like having easy access to the magazine, the paper copy is beautiful but having access to the digital means I can read it pretty when and where I want.

For the £2 p.m. for a digital sub to have a clean non-add site, then yes. But if that's the main reason many of us are subscribing, the business is facing some major challenges. To put so many obtrusive ads plastered all over the site, just so that it annoys us enough to put our hands in our pockets is not a sustainable business model. I download the mag and probably spend 30 minutes tops flicking through it nowadays. It's become a little too one-dimensional for my taste, with travel feature after travel feature.

I can see how more straight-forward it is to plan and commission lots of one-author articles with nice pics to fill the mag out months in advance, as opposed to dealing with brands and their supply of kit to test. Personally I don't travel much with bikes, so the features are just meh, but I know how much of the readership loves them, so I guess they're valued by many.

I'd like to see more bikes and kit tested - whatever happened to Through The Grinder? UK brands' factory visits, etc. If I want to read a bike mag, I'll usually pick up a newsstand copy of MBR or MBUK if one or two features seem interesting enough.

(you need to have at least a digital sub to see the full articles), but it does make me wonder what I’m gaining by having a print subscription.

Without wanting to be too facile: what you are gaining with a print subscription is the print.

Some folk like having paper magazines. That is what you pay for.

Personally I got sick of the massive unsanitary pile of mags next to my bog so in a decluttering effort I went digital only. Now I just have a virtual pile of PDFs instead.

(you need to have at least a digital sub to see the full articles), but it does make me wonder what I’m gaining by having a print subscription.

I don't like reading on ipad so gone changed to print, thats what I'm getting out of it.

Not sure why people are moaning, you're here because you like mountain biking. For £1.50 a month you can fill your boots with as much or little mountain biking articles you want. Hardly going to break the bank and gives you a forum to frequent too..

Apologies, I got it wrong as to being able to read the articles without a subscription. I did log out and they were still there so my perception was that I could have.

"whatever happened to Through The Grinder? UK brands’ factory visits, etc. If I want to read a bike mag, I’ll usually pick up a newsstand copy of MBR or MBUK if one or two features seem interesting enough."

We moved technical reviews to the website. People no longer tend to refer to a print magazine review for buying advice (or to confirm a purchase they've already made). If you're in the market for a car, washing machine or 2.4in tyre, you tend to look online these days, so that's where our reviews have been going. Still the same writers and the same (or in many cases, greater) number of words.

In terms of relevant content for non-jetset readers, we tend to limit any foreign features to two per issue, meaning that there's usually at least two UK features, plus route guide and interviews that don't feature far-off places.

As for a lack of company visits and so on, there are plenty of those already lined up to keep you going through the winter months, so stay tuned on that one.

Hope that helps.

Cheers!

There's a learning point here for us.

While it's really bloody obvious that the features on the front page currently are only accessible to subscribers IF you are not a subscriber as soon as you click it, it's NOT obvious to subscribers that only they can read it since we've made it really slick for subscribers.

It just looks like a really nice article laid out with no RH column to subscribers.

So, I've added a heading/note at the point where the paywall has kicked in for subscribers to remind them that only they get to read it from that point on.

As for publishing the articles online from the mag for subscribers, we've always intended that our magazine content should be accessible to all subscribers on whatever device or format or wherever they are, whenever they want. Our default subscription starting point is that all mag content, going back 17 years, be available to all subscribers. The only option you get is if you ALSO want to get it in print too.

The issues have always been available as PDF downloads and via our app. What we are doing now is also now making the features available as web stories too. This gives us two new features we can offer.

1) We can also publish all the images and video that we couldn't fit or publish in the print mag (Videos are available in the app). Like the extra features on a DVD

2) By publishing all our mag features like this we finally build a searchable archive of all magazine content (The plan is we also publish web versions of our archive too).

I'm currently working on all the features in issue 120. When I've done that i will spend the time between 120 and 121 working backwards through the archive. When I'm done our entire published works will be available on here as searchable web stories. being able to search our archive has been one of the most asked for features by our subscribers for years.

Anyone who thinks that because of all these options they don't now see a need for the printed issue then that's totally fine and you can drop the print part at your next renewal if you like. The whole point is that you get the mag content in the format that works best for you. Don't stick with print for our sake if you think a digital only subscription would suit you better. Whether you are digital or print and digital you are worth the same to us.

But print is still lovely.

I take my printed magazine down my local for a quiet pint every so often and always manage to drink x4 the monthly subscription cost. I do not moan to the bar staff about their prices and toast STW for their excellent value.

I'd like to put that on a t-shirt 🙂

Thank you Wally

There’s a learning point here for us.

Defo, especially the folk that subscribe and then moan because they get the content in digital format too, as part of the SUBSCRIPTION!!! Haha!

"I can appreciate that this is a strategy to draw website viewers into taking out a subscription (you need to have at least a digital sub to see the full articles), but it does make me wonder what I’m gaining by having a print subscription."

You're gaining the print. That's it- if you want digital then why not get the digital sub? The print sub is for dinosaurs like me that like magazines (because there's no such thing as a digital magazine)

We moved technical reviews to the website. People no longer tend to refer to a print magazine review for buying advice (or to confirm a purchase they’ve already made).

But some folks, i.e. me, read that stuff just out of interest and to know what is currently out there rather than for a specific purchase.  In fact the through the grinder articles were one of the things that made me subscribe first time round as they didn't read like the heavily promoted stuff that I was seeing elsewhere and I felt I could trust it.

You know, that's an interesting psychological question.  Do people inherently trust print reviews more - even maybe subconsciously - because they're in the magazine rather than online?

Thanks for the reply Mark. Although it might seem silly to some people, the addition of a header clarifying the content is subscriber only, makes it a lot clearer.

Like I said in my original post, I like the content. I wouldn’t have paid for 120 issues otherwise.

While it’s really bloody obvious that the features on the front page currently are only accessible to subscribers IF you are not a subscriber as soon as you click it, it’s NOT obvious to subscribers that only they can read it since we’ve made it really slick for subscribers.

It just looks like a really nice article laid out with no RH column to subscribers.

You could just surround the article in a picture of a gold-coloured rope, 1990s stylee, with "VIPs only - you da man*" at the top. Just a suggestion.

*or woman.

I’ve just taken out a sub for the first time on the strength of not being able to access the front page articles.  I usually buy the print mag anyway so now I’ll get more stuff for less money - seemed like a good deal to me...😃

footflaps

I subscribed purely to support STW Towers up until the botched upgrade, which pissed me off, so I cancelled my subscription and joined the freeloaders…

I rarely read the magazine.

+1

☺️

In fact the through the grinder articles were one of the things that made me subscribe first time round as they didn’t read like the heavily promoted stuff that I was seeing elsewhere and I felt I could trust it.

That was the only part of the mag I read!

I subscribe to keep Aussie Wil well stocked in brylcreem and tim-tams

As for a lack of company visits and so on, there are plenty of those already lined up to keep you going through the winter months, so stay tuned on that one.

Great, thanks Chipps, looking forward to reading them. BTW, my post wasn't critical or a rant, just observations from a happy paying digital member. The price point isn't worth weighing up even, it's so low. And if I count the sale of an old frame I made through the forum on the w/e I'm quids in this year anyway 🙂 (there's no way I'd have sold my uber-niche frame to the outside world).

I get that you're facing market disruption, like many industries are (including B2B publishing which I'm in), but you're incredibly lucky (patronising perhaps - given you built the forum, luck probably doesn't have much to do with it) to have such a passionate customer base and active forum to gather feedback from. It's nice to see that Mark's been able to pick up a trick off this thread alone, instead of getting annoyed at the ranters (we only do it because of the love). Take solace from the fact that you will always have us lot willing to waste enough time on here every day 🙂

I've had a subscription to the magazine since edition 1 and can't see me dropping it. I much prefer reading paper to online, I get far more immersed in the articles. And the writing (and photography) is still generally of a pretty high quality.

In a similar vein I was chatting to friends recently about how a decade or so ago everyone thought Kindles and the like would be the death of paper books. Whereas (and this is just from what I see) paper books are now as popular as ever.

Okay, I've thought about this some more.  My initial view was that having the same content so easily available online in some way devalued my print subscription, but having read all of the above I'm happy that it's horses for courses.  I like the print version as hate reading a tablet whilst eating my breakfast!

Thanks Team STW for the explanations, I can see having a searchable database of everything is of value, and will keep the pennies rolling in.

Thing is I want my paper archive of STW searchable....<runs>

Thanks Team STW for the explanations, I can see having a searchable database of everything is of value, and will keep the pennies rolling in.

What? You actually read the replies and change your position? Do you not understand how this works 😉

(One of the reasons I like this place is that i have changed my opinions on stuff. As long as you ignore the trolls)

Dunno, I just came here to say I really enjoyed Barney’s” Tyke Packing” article

@mat - that's funny, there was no collusion, honestly.  I've no idea where that Hans Rey piece came from as it read like a piece that the sponsors had commissioned and then they pushed around various mags to find someone who would pick it up.  The tykepacking piece looked like something that mcmoonter wood write which is more entertaining

You lot should moan, I buy pretty much every issue, but I deliberately buy it from my LBS cos, y'know, support your LBS and all that, hopefully they make 20p or so each time and it might help them still be there next time I need something, or something fixed, at 4pm on a Friday before a bank holiday weekend.

But I only get the bloody paper copy, no online access, no fancy "P" next to my name, page cluttered with adverts, and I'm paying full whack for every issue! If you agree to give the equivalent of a year's margin on the mag (probably about £1) to my nominated LBS out of my DD, I'll subscribe!

While I'm here and as others have given feedback on the content, I'd just like to say I really, really like the content and I'm pretty much the diametric opposite of @Trailrider Jim - I want to read about riding bikes, and riding bikes in interesting places. I don't want a mag full of reviews and tests, MBR already exists for that. I'd agree with what Chipps said - when I do want to compare and contrast options if I'm in the market for something, that's when the internet is best.

been getting the print mag since Issue 1, but it was becoming a chore to read it -- and not much travelling / easy time to curl up and read. Some stuff got dropped I didn't like, some travel stuff doesn't appeal -- retained digital though to support the magazine and get some reading when I can.

Additionally, they are read and then inspire the kids

Completely agree with @matt_outandabout, one of my main reasons for having a print copy. Plus the mag is high quality and reflects the way I ride and the stuff I'm interested in more than other mags. Sometimes, when I have 5 min free it's great to pick up a magazine and thumb through. No boot up time, no batteries that need recharging etc...

I also miss through the grinder in the magazine

I get why some people think Mark rants.  However, I would get more than a little ranty if:

- The industry I was I was in was in a state of extensive change and my team were doing their best to adapt and survive

- I had built something based on my passion and had taken significant risk and huge commitment to get to where I was

- My team were relying on what was built to keep a roof over their heads

In general, it’s too easy to forget that this STW is a small business, with large risks and what must be a relatively low margin.  To lead it must be bloody stressful.  I certainly would not want to do it!

On top of this we are a demanding and none too diplomatic or patient customer base...

I miss through the grinder too...It's a shame it's moved online

If I happen to go to the home page I actively avoid half the stories as I have the magazine so will read the paper version.

I also miss the kit reviews - I rarely read them on the Web.

Also, aussie boy Will being the poster boy in the Pivot advert makes me doubt the impartiality of that bike review..

You can relax about Wil. His reputation and integrity are things I'd happily risk my house on.

That photo was shot on a press launch that he attended and the first we knew about him being in that ad was when the ad turned up. We generally discourage advertisers using images of us in their ads.

I've been a print subscriber since about issue 4 I think - I picked up a copy at WHS (remember them) in an airport back in the early 2000's and then subscribed. I do like the print copy, but in honesty I don't get the chance to read it now, and with digital so easy to use the only benefit to the print version is the smell of the ink when first opened.

In fact - there's a decision made.... how do i switch my D&P to D only?

I mainly read the mag in the smallest room and so prefer print to digital.  As for the articles there's still plenty that pass Bob Hoskins' [url= http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/a130932/hoskins-reads-film-scripts-on-toilet/ ]"cold bum test"[/url].  Personally I'm not a fan of the 'we rode some amazing trails in an amazing place' articles, I prefer the 'riding bikes gave us an amazing experience' type (yes there's a fine line between the two sometimes).   I miss 'Through the Grinder' too as I'm not an avid follower of the latest gizmology and sometimes I'd find stuff in there that actually looked like it might be useful.

I also miss through the grinder in the magazine

Agreed.  I understand the thought process behind moving this to online only, but I think it is a big mistake to have cut it down as much as it has been.

If the proportion of travel related articles increases any further I'll probably end my subscription as I rarely find these of interest.  Just padding the mag out with lots of full page photos etc.  Most of the these articles come across as a way to fund the trip rather than an attempt to entertain the reader.  I'd rather the stuff I wasn't particularly interested in was on line only.  Shouldn't make a difference when I have access to both online and mag....but it does.  Must admit, I don't even consider the online content when I think of what I get for the subscription, and I wouldn't pay for online only content.

If the proportion of travel related articles increases any further I’ll probably end my subscription as I rarely find these of interest.

Yeah, the last couple of issues have been very samey.

There's a magazine?

Also, aussie boy Will being the poster boy in the Pivot advert makes me doubt the impartiality of that bike review..

Aren't STW committed to "full disclosure"anyway? I doubt there was any dodgy under the table deals

how do i switch my D&P to D only?

Email subs@ is probably the easiest way.

I miss through the grinder too…It’s a shame it’s moved online

I always view it a bit like nosing around a bike shop.  I'm not necessarily looking to buy and wanting advice.  Sometimes I just like a nose to see what is around and whats new and shiny shiny.

I get why some people think Mark rants. However, I would get more than a little ranty if:

Still not a good habit if you're in a customer facing business. We had a LBS whose owners were known by everyone who cycled as 'miserable bastards', you'd never recommend it to anyone for that reason alone. Closed now and not really missed (although they were the only ones importing Specialised MTB parts in the 1980s which was why I went there). You really need to have a smily disposition if you're dealing with the public, no matter how fricking annoying they are!

You really need to have a smily disposition if you’re dealing with the public, no matter how fricking annoying they are!

Not all if people are being annoying they need told, no need to put up with it.

You really need to have a smily disposition if you’re dealing with the public, no matter how fricking annoying they are!

I disagree.

You really need to have a smily disposition if you’re dealing with the public, no matter how fricking annoying they are!

I disagree.

There is a happy medium between American style fake 'have a nice day/customer is always right' public facing annoyance, and arrogantly dismissing anyone that disagrees with you.  You risk bad feeling (and losing subscribers) if you veer to far towards the latter.

Chipps nails public facing in my opinion and it should all come through him

I miss through the grinder too…It’s a shame it’s moved online

I always view it a bit like nosing around a bike shop.  I’m not necessarily looking to buy and wanting advice.  Sometimes I just like a nose to see what is around and whats new and shiny shiny.

+1, well put. i don't spend a great deal of time on the front page, and wouldn't have sought out gear reviews here.

Chipps nails public facing in my opinion and it should all come through him

Yep agreed, although to be fair he tends not to get involved with the contentious stuff?

If you want an example of how the public face of a company effects business, I'd be happy to continue to support STW (via subscription) based on Chipp's input, while some of the responses we get from Mark make me reluctant to continue sending money their way (and that's despite my view that the subscription is solely for the print mag, not any online content).

I miss having 'through the grinder' in the Mag too, as others have said, it's nice having a nosey at whats on the market even if it's not something you're looking to buy (it's also great having the reviews available online).

Likewise I'm not so keen on the travel articles too, I agree with this:

Most of the these articles come across as a way to fund the trip rather than an attempt to entertain the reader

Keep doing Pete's rides, they're entertaining and it's good to see he's putting his history degree to use! (not being facetious, I like having the history of the landscape woven into the piece - adds a bit more depth).

Thinking more about it maybe it's me prefering the regular writers, you feel a bit more connected with them (as cringey as that sounds).

Ah, the old "good cop / bad cop" routine.  Drac and I take the same approach to public Moderation, only it's "bad cop / worse cop." (-:

I've just subscribed. In summary, I don't like the 'paid for by ads' model, and I'd like to see the web move towards 'small subs for what you want to see', so I've put my money where my mouth is, and while I'm about it, get the print magazine.

In a bit more detail: since the start of the internet I've run or help run a number web sites about my sports, all on a voluntary basis, as part of my input to the sport. So, historically, since I've provided free forums for others, I've never felt morally obliged to pay for forums I use (and the Forum is the bit of the site I use most).

I'm now fed up with the constant ad-driven hassles in using the web, and I don't think the model is sustainable. We (the consumers) pay for it in the end, as the advertising costs end up on the price of goods, so why don't we just pay for the web.

A point for Mark - both the 'Magazines' link under the Shop menu and the 'Print Issues' submenu under Magazines return 'Nothing Found'. It took me a little while to work out how to subscribe.

You really need to have a smily disposition if you’re dealing with the public, no matter how fricking annoying they are!

Generally aye good advice, but after a certain level you're perfectly entitled to say bolt ya rocket! 😆

Cheers Greybeard.

There’s a subscribe link to right on the menu bar for subscription options.

I miss having ‘through the grinder’ in the Mag too, as others have said, it’s nice having a nosey at whats on the market even if it’s not something you’re looking to buy (it’s also great having the reviews available online).

Likewise I’m not so keen on the travel articles too, I agree with this:

How many more of these do we need before they take notice?  Few people on here expressing the same opinion.  Poll?

I've just unsubscribed having been a print subscriber for a few years.  Less product reviews, and foreign travel ride articles that I can't relate to, means I'm just flicking through and maybe reading them when I'm bored.  Certainly haven't been eager to read the mag when it drops through the letter box these past few months...although I was still getting enjoyment from the smell of it!

I miss through the grinder too…It’s a shame it’s moved online

I always view it a bit like nosing around a bike shop.  I’m not necessarily looking to buy and wanting advice.  Sometimes I just like a nose to see what is around and whats new and shiny shiny

Yes I agree with this too. The one pagers also break the longer multipage articles up a bit, which I prefer.

I am pleased that there seems to be more focus on UK riding articles recently, I find them more relevant to me than many of the overseas trips.

although I was still getting enjoyment from the smell of it!

My wife was the same, she loved the smell of the magazine...

OP up there mentioned that the articles within the Premier section are not good enough for the general magazine. Hannah's short article on riding in the States, in the current issue, was great.

I would like to see Grinder back too, though.

The actual truth is that reviews in the mag are not worth our time - No matter how many dozen people on here claim that because they miss them or even that this is the reason they cancelled their subscription, that does not alter the fact that the few who do like reviews in print are in the minority. The amount of space they take up and the cost of their production is better spent on content that we know DOES work in print and does get a better response.

This is in addition to the fact that the brands who supply us the product also prefer online reviews to print reviews as they are a) then shareable and b) get a much much larger audience reading them (orders of magnitude more).

And there's more...

In print we can afford 500 compressed words per product. That's what fits on a page. For the people who actually read reviews this is simply not enough space to include the important details that influence buying choices. Online we can include far more information and be much more indepth with the content. That is better for everyone.

In the modern world of publishing content must match the medium in which it is delivered and print is now an unsuitable medium for product reviews. I've not made that up. It's widely accepted in the publishing world. We can serve our readers far better by reviewing products online. We can serve our print readers better by using that saved space for content that does suit print.

I'm not being arrogant in this. I'm being careful and basing my judgement on trusted research from the wider industry and on our own data sources. That data includes input fromreaders who miss the reviews in print, but they do not outweigh the data that tells me that print is not where we should publish reviews. If that honesty and truth upsets you or you disagree with me or perhaps you are in that minority group who miss print reviews enough to cancel your subscription then I am totally ok with that. Not out of arrogance but out of an acceptance of the reality that what we do won't satisfy everyone.

Is our approach working? Yes it is. We are not losing subscribers and we are not desperately trying to gain more. Our subscriber numbers have hovered around the 6000 mark for over 5 years now. The grinder has been gone from the mag for over a year and our figures have remained the same. I'm currently campaigning for more subscribers more aggressively because the bottom has finally fallen out of the online advertising market and we need to increase revenues in other areas to make up that drop. Subscriptions is one revenue stream that we focus on but there are others. Sponsored content is another. Video monetisation is another. We earn revenue directly from Facebook too. We earn commission on outgoing links from our site, including the forum. We have multiple revenue streams and they are all being reballanced to deal with the dynamic changes that are happening in publishing that are affecting our incomes. The print mag is just another medium for our content and that doesn't escape changes. Reviews are out, apart from bike tests, because we know they don't work in a digital world.

If this saddens you then understand that I too miss print reviews - but me missing them doesn't influence my decisions when it comes to keeping Singletrack functioning as a source of income for a dozen people.

This is the upfront truth. It may not provide the answers you were hoping for. I sympathise with you if that's the case but still... now you have actual information.

If you prefer I can start smiling and saying things like, 'I get where you are coming from and we'll definitely take that on board.' But I kind of think telling you the actual reasons behind choices we make is a better option.

As always, our doors here are open to any that want to come and visit and discuss anything with me or the team personally. You will be welcomed in, as all our readers who visit are, and you can see what we do all day, everyday and you can ask us any questions you like and they wil be answered, as always, with honesty.

I still can't promise you will like the answers you get though.

You should attach a small piece of velcro to the front of the magazine, like MBUK did this month. That would bring back the masses.

Edit: Apologies, after that long post, this doesn't feel hugely constructive.

I'm hoping to bring back the Snickers 'energy bar' cover gift we ran a decade ago. That earned considerable 'engagement' to say the least 🙂

The actual truth is that reviews in the mag are not worth our time ... etc

That background's good to know Mark. Everybody can't be pleased by everything all the time.

I’m hoping to bring back the Snickers ‘energy bar’ cover gift we ran a decade ago. That earned considerable ‘engagement’ to say the least

Seems like a marathon task.

I see what you did there.