Magazine Road Test Index - is there one?
08-29-23, 09:41 PM
#1
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Magazine Road Test Index - is there one?
Is there some index of road tests for old magazines like Bicycle Guide, Bicycling, Road Bike Action, etc.?
Forum member SpeedofLite graciously posts scans of magazines from the 1970's, 80's, etc.
Ideally I'd be able to think of a bike, look it up on the index, and the index tells me which magazine, month, year, wrote about the bike.
I could then try to purchase a copy of the magazine or article online and enjoy reading about the bike.
I used to be able to do this for motorcycles and cars. Is there something similar for bicycles?
Forum member SpeedofLite graciously posts scans of magazines from the 1970's, 80's, etc.
Ideally I'd be able to think of a bike, look it up on the index, and the index tells me which magazine, month, year, wrote about the bike.
I could then try to purchase a copy of the magazine or article online and enjoy reading about the bike.
I used to be able to do this for motorcycles and cars. Is there something similar for bicycles?
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08-30-23, 09:01 AM
#2
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Is there some index of road tests for old magazines like Bicycle Guide, Bicycling, Road Bike Action, etc.?
Forum member SpeedofLite graciously posts scans of magazines from the 1970's, 80's, etc.
Ideally I'd be able to think of a bike, look it up on the index, and the index tells me which magazine, month, year, wrote about the bike.
I could then try to purchase a copy of the magazine or article online and enjoy reading about the bike.
I used to be able to do this for motorcycles and cars. Is there something similar for bicycles?
Forum member SpeedofLite graciously posts scans of magazines from the 1970's, 80's, etc.
Ideally I'd be able to think of a bike, look it up on the index, and the index tells me which magazine, month, year, wrote about the bike.
I could then try to purchase a copy of the magazine or article online and enjoy reading about the bike.
I used to be able to do this for motorcycles and cars. Is there something similar for bicycles?
As far as I know, there is no index that covers all bikes reviewed in all cycling magazines that is available to the general public.
However, you can search BF C&V and check for articles about a specific bike 30+ years old by using Search Titles Only (enter Keyword; eg. Colnago) AND specify Threads Started By User (enter SpeedofLite)
Or you can broaden the search for all Road Test/Bike Review articles I've posted by entering "Road Test" in the Keywords section, but there must me a few hundred out there by now and I think they are organized by date which isn't all that helpful. Takes me about a minute to do it either way.
All Bicycling issues (1965 to present; incl predecessors American Cycling Newsletter, American Cycling, and Bicycling!) that are 30+ years old have been done and are updated monthly.
All Bike Worlds (1972-1980) have been done. Scanning of Bicycle Guide (1984? to 1998?; don't have all issues) is ongoing, currently at Aug 1988.
Bicycle Rider, Bicycle Sport, and Cyclist have yet to be started.
__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
Last edited by SpeedofLite; 08-30-23 at 09:05 AM. Reason: provide more detail
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08-30-23, 09:40 AM
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Keep in mind that bicycle reviews by various magazines are often no more than an attempt to garner a bike company's future advertising budget. Especially when an ad is placed for the product under review on the page preceding or immediately following the 'review'.
I totally agree with the desire to read about one's own bike. For C&V, many of us might like the documentation to rebuild a bike closer to the original spec, etc. Maybe that's a reason for a forum like this to exist. Aren't many of us seeking warm fuzzies about our hobby and the specific bikes we ride. I do from time to time.
Component reviews are often equally vaguely complimentary.
I totally agree with the desire to read about one's own bike. For C&V, many of us might like the documentation to rebuild a bike closer to the original spec, etc. Maybe that's a reason for a forum like this to exist. Aren't many of us seeking warm fuzzies about our hobby and the specific bikes we ride. I do from time to time.
Component reviews are often equally vaguely complimentary.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
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08-30-23, 09:45 AM
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Thank you!
You helped jog my memory. Some libraries, and individual magazines used to publish an index of vehicles they they tested during the preceding year in their December issue. I imagine plenty of members here are motorcycle or auto enthusiasts, so others must know what I'm talking about.
In any case, what you have created is not easy to carry out, and much appreciated.
You helped jog my memory. Some libraries, and individual magazines used to publish an index of vehicles they they tested during the preceding year in their December issue. I imagine plenty of members here are motorcycle or auto enthusiasts, so others must know what I'm talking about.
In any case, what you have created is not easy to carry out, and much appreciated.
08-30-23, 04:01 PM
#5
Retro on steroids
The Universal Bike Review applies to any bicycle.
08-30-23, 04:40 PM
#6
Senior Member
At one time there was the Reader’s Guide to Periodical literature.
no idea if it survived into the Internet era
no idea if it survived into the Internet era
And I thought I was vintage. I don't think it survived the 90's.
11-13-23, 12:05 PM
#8
Most cycling periodicals are indexed across various academic databases. However, none of these indexes are complete.
Looking at one of the most comprehensive databases available:
There are only about 230 search results for Bicycle Guide articles, dating from 1984 through 1997, with entire volumes missing/omitted from the index.
Bicycling magazine's index, on the other hand, is fairly complete, starting in 1974 and comprising more than 14000 articles/entries.
Just let me know what you're looking for and I'll send you the search results in the form of bibliographic records. Happy to help anyone interested.
Looking at one of the most comprehensive databases available:
There are only about 230 search results for Bicycle Guide articles, dating from 1984 through 1997, with entire volumes missing/omitted from the index.
Bicycling magazine's index, on the other hand, is fairly complete, starting in 1974 and comprising more than 14000 articles/entries.
Just let me know what you're looking for and I'll send you the search results in the form of bibliographic records. Happy to help anyone interested.
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