smd4

Does anybody remember "Bicycle Rider" magazine? This started out as a quarterly (eventually going to bi-monthly) glossy magazine published in the mid-to late 1980s. It initially billed itself as "The Grand Touring Magazine," but after the first year, they removed that tag line. It was a great magazine, and covered not just touring bikes, but road racing and mountain bikes. It had in-depth reviews of bikes, components, accessories and fashion, and long articles detailing tours around the world. It was really a great magazine for the "every-man" rider, and wasn't really geared to the cat-whatever road racer or the hard-core mountain bike rider.

I guess I really miss the days when you might find a review of a bicycle in a magazine that was several pages long and very in-depth, with gorgeous photos, instead of a paragraph or two. (Oh, and I also liked seeing bikes reviewed with pedals installed).

They folded after only a couple years of publications, but if you can get your hands on a copy, you'll be taken back to those halcyon days of the mid-1980s, and reminded of what draws many of us to C&V bikes today.

52telecaster

I used to buy it at the drug store in my neighborhood. It was my favorite bike magazine of all time until bicycle times. I remember being very happy when a new issue showed up. Plus the lady at the counter was very cool.

SpeedofLite 

My plate is bit full right now, but if anyone remembers a favorite article from Bicycle Rider, send me a PM and I'll add it to the queue.
I probably have the issue.

cb400bill

https://www.ebay.com/itm/32509143920...oAAOSwORZiKFDK

cb400bill

So, who purchased them?

smd4

Not me, but I got a similar lot last year.

motogeek 

I always enjoyed reading this magazine. It was a review in one issue that prompted me to order a frame from John Stinsman who built bikes under the label of Veloce. I still have my Veloce but I've long since gotten rid of all my Bicycle Rider mags

steelbikeguy

I hadn't heard of Bicycle Rider before, but I hope a few samples do get posted.

For me, it brings up a broader question: just how many bike magazines were published in the C&V era? I guess I'm thinking of roughly 1970 to 2000. In my little collection, I've got some Adventure Cycling, Asphalt, Bicycling (with and without the "!"), Bicyclist, Bicycle Guide, Bike World, Cycling Plus, Cyclist, Rivendell Reader, Road Bike Action, and Vintage Bicycle Quarterly (as well as after the "Vintage" was excised).

Has anyone come up with a fairly exhaustive list of all the road bike magazines of that era? I'm excluding mountain bikes, BMX, and maybe race specific magazines (Velonews), as that opens up a much wider range of publications that might not be of general interest to the C&V members.

Steve in Peoria

smd4

Bicycle Rider and Bicycle Guide were the two that I used to pick up regularly, with Bicycling on occasion. I enjoyed all three, but Bicycle Rider seemed to have the higher production values. I haven't really heard of the other ones (except Road Bike Action--but isn't that more modern?). When I worked at the shop, of course, there were also trade magazines, but they tended to focus on business and marketing issues, naturally.

steelbikeguy

just as a glimpse into what Asphalt was like, I should say that it was the next step for a number of the folks from Bicycle Guide when it shut down. They seemed to be trying to really make it the best magazine that they could. As an example, the first issue had a full page on Pacenti lugs....



The magazine lasted less than a year, IIRC. I think I only have three issues.

Steve in Peoria

smd4

Oooohhh...nice. Time for yet another Ebay search!

steelbikeguy

my issues are scanned and loaded onto Flickr, so that is a place to look if you just want to see what the full issues look like. I think it might be the best road bike magazine of its era, which might be why it didn't last long. Maintaining that level of quality and production value takes a lot of resources.

edit: I have 5 issues of Asphalt.. Winter 2002 is the first, and the last is just marked "Vol 2, number 1". It is copyrighted as 2004, though, which suggests they weren't sure when it would get to press.

Steve in Peoria

smd4

Thanks Steve. These may be tricky to track down, especially since there was a car mag called "Asphalt!"

The early 2000s might have been a little late in the game to do a magazine like this on classic bikes, which would have hastened its demise. I have a Bicycle Guide from the early 1990s (1992?) where one of the writers talks about how road bikes were majorly on the decline in favor of mountain bikes at that time.

Kabuki12

I remember in the late eighties , maybe early nineties being the odd guy on my road bike with narrow tires. Most of the folks were riding mountain bikes.

sbarner 

I'm in the time machine with this request, but I've been looking for more information on what I believe to be a Torelli Corsa Strada frameset that I have, and I found a scan of Torelli's 1986 catalog that references a review of the Corsa Strada in the September/October issue of Bicycle Rider. I don't know if it would have been the 1986 or 1985 edition, but if you have a chance to check your collection sometime, I would appreciate it.

smd4

September/October 1986, page 36. “It’s a colorful, responsive bike with intelligently chosen components.”

Andy Antipas 

I remember buying a few issues of that magazine. One issue had a road test of a Vitus 979 and I would like a copy of that article after building a 979 a couple of months ago. If anyone has a copy or can point me to that issue/article I would appreciate it!

smd4

The only Vitus review I saw (with an issue or two missing) was for just a “Vitus” frameset. No number. I think this might be it, though, since the article mentions it’s made from Vitus 979 Duralinox tubing. The premier issue, Spring 1985. Blue anodized main tubes, silver everywhere else. Would be happy to scan a color copy and email you if you think this is the one.

EDIT: Unless I’m misremembering, I may have a second copy. If I do I can send it to you. But I have to check tomorrow.

Andy Antipas 

Yes, I think that is the article in the first issue. Yes, blue anodized tubes. I thought the writer took the bike on a test ride and had some comments, but it was a long time ago! Here is mine:

smd4

Yes, they built it up and did a road test. Lettering is different. Down tube only, maybe chainstay, not Italics. All caps. other than that and color, looks similar.

zukahn1 

I brought a bunch of these had a subscription for a year or so also has sub for BMX plus for a couple years. I do really miss the great looking glossy mag of the 80's and early 90's and a bunch of others when you could get a subscription on special for few dollars a year.

smd4

I’ve got a subscription to Road Bike Action magazine. Not really sure why. The “Road Bike” part initially snagged me, but they spend so much time on gravel, they should probably just change the name.

I’ve got to think there’s room for a bike magazine version of C&V. Filled with gorgeous photos and articles about bikes from the golden age.

Repack Rider

I just posted a couple of articles from the first issue to my mountain bike legacy blog.

smd4

The fact that you think it lasted “4 or 5” issues is extremely detrimental to your credibility. Please correct it. It lasted at least 18 issues over almost three years.

God I hate historical hacks on the internet.

Repack Rider

Corrected. Thanks for the input.