A long downhill ride...

Having regularly read "Bicycling" for many years (even when it was called "Bicycling!" in a tasteless 1970s way), I find it surprising to see how much the quality of the magazine has declined. In spite of all those people spending huge amounts of money on fancy equipment, "Bicycling" has become thinner and thinner. It has recently improved somewhat, after most of the editorial staff was fired, and a sign is the dropping of the truly horrible marginal comments (Bike Love and so forth) but it is only suitable for real neophytes. Unfortunately, there is no other single magazine that covers racing, bike touring, test reviews, technique and fitness in North America, no matter how poorly. The articles are very short and sometimes, well, just stupid. There is very little on cycling destinations or serious equipment tests. The photography remains decent, but compared to the German magazine "Tour," for example, "Bicycling" is a pretty sad effort. If you can read this, you have access to the Internet, which means you have far better sources of information to draw on. I am letting my subscription lapse and advise you to save your money. A big disappointment, "Bicycling" has not advanced with its readers.

Useful for All Cyclists

Rarely does a sports magazine hit all levels of expertise and interest capably. "Bicycling" does this well. As a long-time local century and touring rider, I've found this magazine helpful to me in my own biking adventures.

Are you the next Lance Armstrong? Or maybe you ARE Lance Armstrong? Learn about the newest high-end bike toys.

Are you a beginning century rider? Learn about fixing your bike on the fly.

Are you a casual rider, looking to learn about getting it better shape through longer rides? Read fitness plans geared for bikers.

Read about diets. Equipment. Which jersey is the better one. How about the various kinds of touring brakes. They got those covered too.

Really... amateurs will understand the lingo, the pros will still be challenged. And everyone can read about the Tour de France.

I fully recommend "Bicycling."

Anthony Trendl

Still very good

I'm not sure how many (25?)years I've been reading this magazine but it continues to be the "bible" of cycling enthusiasts. It is slanted more towards the road rider as opposed to the mountain biker but they do publish a partner magazine entitled Mountain Bike. I've had many on and off again subscriptions only to return to reading or fantasizing about the latest toys and people's adventures on bikes. This is the time to gear up! You may see the cyclosaurus out and about in their colorful spandex outfits, bronzed bodies in all shapes and sizes, grazing on a protein energy bar or sipping a carb loaded drink as they motor through traffic propelled by their own energy. Or you might see the cyclosaurus counterpart off road in a more trendy, lined baggy shorts and t-shirt, sipping from a hydration pak on their backs as they kick up dust barreling down an exhilirating single track. In any event this is the time of year when weekend warriors become Lance Armstrong or Dotsie Cowden. The magazine for the cyclosaurus is Bicycling because of it's informative tidbits of information that tells you where the best organized rides are, the latest product developments, training and nuitrition tips and the exciting outdoor adventures that can only be experienced on bike. One of the mainstay features are bike recommendations that can run the gamut from a cool $3-$5k to the more sensible priced deals at around $1,500. Whether you want to know about the latest road shoes available, bibs, shorts, helmets, tandems, tape, tires, cages, bottles, sunglasses, tools, timers or trainers, it is all here for the cyclosaurus. Recommended for bike riders everywhere, as Willie Nelson once sang, it just might get you back "on the road again."