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Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Little Rock
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | Subscription | | Strengths: | Cover has a good layout | | Weaknesses: | Continues to descend ever deeper into the realm of irrelvency | | Similar Products Used: | Bunches | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur XT | | Bottom Line: | This used to be a good magazine. Then it became a supplement to Bicycling, and was still good but less content. Then it just started to re-write the articles in Bicycling. Now it's mainly just a collection of advertisements disguised as articles and the substance of the articles are just about as useless as you can get. The cover article on the last issue was o.k. Takes about 5 seconds to read the whole magazine cover to cover. Only reason to get it now is because it comes with your Bicycling subsription. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Little Rock
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | Subscription | | Strengths: | Cover has a good layout | | Weaknesses: | Continues to descend ever deeper into the realm of irrelvency | | Similar Products Used: | Bunches | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur XT | | Bottom Line: | This used to be a good magazine. Then it became a supplement to Bicycling, and was still good but less content. Then it just started to re-write the articles in Bicycling. Now it's mainly just a collection of advertisements disguised as articles and the substance of the articles are just about as useless as you can get. The cover article on the last issue was o.k. Takes about 5 seconds to read the whole magazine cover to cover. Only reason to get it now is because it comes with your Bicycling subsription. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Kerecz
a Cross Country Rider
from Bethlehem, PA
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Jim Thorpe, PA | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | free with Bicycling subscription | | Strengths: | Occasional good in-depth story | | Weaknesses: | Reviews are only for bikes costing several thousand dollars, not information most bikers will EVER use! | | Similar Products Used: | Bike | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Marlin stock, with barends, clipless pedals, and cyclocomputer | | Bottom Line: | This magazine is given away for free is you subscribe to Bicycling. If something is essentially given away, I think that alone speaks to its true value.
I must also add that some of the advice is questionable IMO, and that is putting it nicely. In a recent Q&A(Summer 2005 issue, forget the month), a rider asked about dehydration. The answer given by the supposed "expert" was that water was actually dangerous to riders because of hyponatremia. I understand this is a danger for ultra-distance riders, but I have never personally met someone I knew who suffered from hyponatremia. Usually, dehydration is the danger. The fact that they would say that drinking water is actually dangerous was mind boggling to me.
And then it hit me why this magazine was being given away for free;-) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Strengths: | Great pics, great ads, great advice, great "catalogue" at the end. Great reviews on bikes. | | Weaknesses: | Not enough pages.
| | Similar Products Used: | Bike magazine | | Bottom Line: | If you want to buy a bike or any products, this mag has great reviews on them and it can give you a rough idea of the price to pay for those products.
The stories are inspiring and htey gide you the urge to go rip up some trails or to bomb a hill. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott
a
from AK
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | So.... what happened to this mag? I looked for it last weekend at the grocery store, Walmart, Fred Meyer, and even Borders... which has everything. No sign of Mountain Bike. I joked they must have went under. Sure enough they did! I checked out the web site and they are now part of Bicycing magazine and are published 8 times a year.
Huh, that's great, I'm not a roadie fan so it's good bye losers. No loss to me, I never like the mag. Still it's funny that the (claimed) most widely subscribed to mag went under but yet MBA and Mountain Biking are still around.
Hmmm, I guess all the negitive reviews here on MTBR about MBA and Mountain Biking don't really mean that much in real world, now do they? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Edmonton, AB
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Cover entices you to buy | | Weaknesses: | Staffed by idiots, contradictory product reviews, Zap needs to find another planet to live on, because his stupidity exceeds the boundaries of humans | | Similar Products Used: | Damn near everything | | Bottom Line: | I read my final issue of this trash a couple months ago - the issue that profiled the Trans Rockies race, and Roland Green's indiscretions with loaned tools. Jasen Thorpe is a retard without peer - how he is writing for a major publication is beyond me. And Zap, come on up to Canada for a good ol' asskicking, eh?
All in all, an ego-boosting manifesto for a couple of self-serving, reality-challenged, self-confessed geeks. Do the mountain biking world a favour and boycott this publication. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Bloomfield Hills, Mi, USA
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | PLRA | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Book Store | | Strengths: | The actual articles it has on XC riding are generally very good. Not that i'm a full sus. rider but that ones are well written as well. | | Weaknesses: | When did all the mountain bike mags become downhill and freeride mags. Thats only a small faction of something that doesnt really speak for the whole sport in my opinion. | | Bike Setup: | Yep, its setup alright, but it'll get all busted up soon enough. | | Bottom Line: | Not that i have a major problem with DH and FR bikers, but nothing is really that appealing to me about riding a 40lbs beast of a bike off the biggest thing i can find. Its like skateboarding culture, its just becomming something where every DH or FR rider has his own clothes company or something. I'd just like to see more articles about the still widley used hardtail bike. If someone was to read this mag. you would thing the sport is limited to DH riders and the ocasional all mountain rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fade Away
a Weekend Warrior
from MA
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | not tellin | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Product reviews.
Opinions | | Weaknesses: | Product Reviews
Opinions. | | Similar Products Used: | Bike, Mountain Biking | | Bike Setup: | 98 Hoo Koo
IF Planet Cross | | Bottom Line: | This mag is still pretty decent. However, I feel I am a mountain biker and yet I don't know anything. I don't have a full sus., disk brakes. I don't care about motocross or even about the relationship it has with mountain biking. The guys at the mag are trying to tell us what exactly make a mountain biker and the motocross connection. Well they lost a connection with me and will not continue my subscription with them. The constant belittling of biking segments and lack of coverage of segments is and reading about their political thoughts- I just don't care what they have to say. By the way, my next bike will probably be a single speed and I hate disk brakes and loud mtn bike clothes. There is nothing more pathetic than seeing and "hearing" these guys out there in the woods. Am I still a mountain biker? The guys at the mag will never know. Now go fade away. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott
a Weekend Warrior
from hamilton ontario canada
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Strengths: | decent overall, some good reviews. getting better. | | Weaknesses: | to many ads. they seem to sell there ads. ex. xtr ad, next page 'xtr! best we've ever tested!
not enough 'simple' reviews(components, value, rating) and to many 4 page reviews on one bike. | | Similar Products Used: | mountain bike action (better)
v-brakes | | Bottom Line: | like i said, every issue seems to get better. it would help if they got rid of the zap column, half the time he talks about supercross bikes anyway! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Dillsburg, PA
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Purchased At: | I subscribe! | | Strengths: | It's a great magazine with lots of useful info and reviews. I wouldn't trade Mountain Bike for any other magazine. It's just the greatest. | | Weaknesses: | Too many ads! | | Similar Products Used: | Bicycling | | Bottom Line: | This is a great rag that shoud not be overlooked! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Webster
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Fits nicely in my recycle bin | | Weaknesses: | Zap, the writing/editing, stupid topics | | Similar Products Used: | Dirt Rag, Mountain Bike Action | | Bike Setup: | N/A | | Bottom Line: | What can I say that hasn't been posted already. I wouldn't recommend this mag to anyone. Credibility is suspect ($$$). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Achilles the XC Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Borrowed | | Strengths: | I heard it used to be good..... | | Weaknesses: | Too technical...the descriptions go on and on about components without giving any clues about the actual feel of the ride.....and the bikes are way out of my budget. | | Similar Products Used: | MBR(uk) .....similar in that it's also a mag that features mountain biking but thats where it stops. | | Bike Setup: | 1991 Diamondback Sorrento(RIP), Fuji Sunfire | | Bottom Line: | This is not a magazine you'd want to buy if you're looking for any decent info on mountainbiking. The eyecandy isn't that sweet looking either. Some of the ads give a hint of the ride-at-all costs mentality that this mag celebrates, ultimately sending the message that you've never actually *ridden* unless you broken some important bones in your body. There is nothing down to earth like simple bike maintenence and yet a lot of tecnhical jargon is employed in their write-ups. The reality of it is that people buy bikes that stay with them for a good while ....that is until the wallet feels fat enough for another and only for below the 1k range. I could go on but I would only be covering what others have already said.
-=Gets off sopbox now=- | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry
a
from Memphis, TN
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | yeah right | | Weaknesses: | articles are not useful for experienced riders who know their stuff, too much hardtail bashing and other full suspension hype, I really wish these people would turn from their ways and start writing at least some intelligent articles again - it used to be good. | | Similar Products Used: | Dirt Rag, MBA | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR | | Bottom Line: | how much would you pay for toilet paper? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Ishler
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, Az
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Absolutely ---NONE---!!!! | | Weaknesses: | Whoa, where do I start: 1. they will turn you over to !!!COLLECTION!!! if you let your subscription expire once you find out how stupid the magazine really is!!! (consumers beware) 2. the articles are nonsensical - if you can even find them between all the ads. 3. I will have to go through all the hassles of reporting them to the better business bureau. | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain Bike Action | | Bike Setup: | DS Hardtail | | Bottom Line: | eh... these guys should be out of business? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris mag reader
a Cross Country Rider
from richmond VA
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | buttermilk | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Purchased At: | gift | | Strengths: | I like to read about components and stuff | | Weaknesses: | ZAP | | Similar Products Used: | bicycling | | Bike Setup: | a full suspension XC schwinn rocket 88 stage one with all the trimmings. | | Bottom Line: | I like this magazine, ZAP sucks but Booty Call by leigh donovan rocks. I like the Geek and gear Queer they seems to know their stuff.
AND they trashed Rock shox in a review over the noodle crapy SID bushings and stuck to their guns when rock shox came a callin'. Rock shox got so pissed they pulled their ads. Now good for them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chad
a Cross Country Rider
from brooklyn
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | informative at times. website can be good. | | Weaknesses: | annoying at hell. i totally agree about the hardtail trashing being out of hand. it's why i stopped purchasing and reading for the most part. i love hardtails. i ride one. they make me happy. my bike is fast as hell. i ride it hard. i don't wanna take the ski lift up. i wanna pedal up the mountain. bite me. propagating and marketing your advertiser's products should not include offending your core riders. it's a horrible strategy that marginalizes the essence of what cycling is about. which is riding bikes and sharing that spirit. i don't need b.s. marketing telling me my bike is a piece of crap because it doesn't have a rear suspension system. dualies are great for freeriding, i might be buying one soon, but my hardtail is also a "MOUNTAIN BIKE". i mean WHAT are they talking about? your magazine is a piece of crap. | | Similar Products Used: | most others, dirt rag, bicycling etc | | Bike Setup: | 02 klein HARDTAIL | | Bottom Line: | it's good for occasionally seeing what new products are out there, and some of the editors are cool, but mostly trash. read something else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Cross Country Rider
from Little Rock, AR, USA
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Camp Robinson | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Somewhat informative | | Weaknesses: | Could be so much better | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain Bike Action, MBR, Bicycling | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher hardtail, Shimano XT, Marzocchi Atom Race fork | | Bottom Line: | This publication has definitely decided to trash the hardtail, and, to a lesser degree, the cross-country rider in general. It's ridiculous, because the majority of today's riders are cross-country riders, and a large percentage of them ride hardtails. But, according to Mountain Bike, if you're not riding full suspension, disc brakes, and tubeless tires, you might as well be on a tricycle. Recent quotes: "the hardtail is about as relevant as eight track tapes...." "the hardtail doesn't matter anymore..." "we all have our foolish pleasures..."
Give me a break. I'm all for technological advancement, and I'm also for having fun on your bike. And Mountain Bike says they are too. But they also want to make sure that you feel like some kind of dinosaur if you're not riding the latest and the greatest, whatever that is. At this point, it seems like there are about as many full suspension designs as there are full suspension bikes. Forgive me if I decide to keep things simple and ride what I know works. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Shapiro
a Racer
from Urbana, MD
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | 24 hours of Allamuchy,NJ | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Ex-Subscriber | | Strengths: | One of the few things on the shelf that has bikes in it | | Weaknesses: | Uninspiring to read. Needs a major overhaul in content,reviews,& cycle related stuff | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain Bike Action(excellent). Dirt Rag, and Bike | | Bike Setup: | 2 mtb's Lightspeed Obed,Atom race,Sweet Wing cranks,Crossmax,XT stuff..Pro Flex 856, Marzo MCR,Noleen NR4 | | Bottom Line: | Mountain Bike Magazine was once better. I subscribed for 6 years and then every issue began to suck. It still sucks... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | bookstore | | Strengths: | I got a free book called Tips that dont suck with my trial subscription. | | Weaknesses: | All those words contained within and all the damn ads | | Bottom Line: | This magazine is nothing but an assemblage of mountain biking yuppiedom. Granted, there are those who have the money to buy a $3000 bike or $1500 component group, but for guys like me its useless. I got into mountain biking for the fun and exercise. I spent $300 on my bike. I cannot stand these yuppie wannabees riding their stupid cannondales in their ugly jerseys and tights trying to look like they are sponsored. I really love how they try to act like some badass on nothing more than intermediate trails. Its this kind of mentality that is what this magazine is about. Im the fat guy in the old dirtbike t-shirt riding slow and getting in your way and proud of it. I am having a great time and your spandex stretchin, BMW SUV drivin, Red Bull energy drinkin a$$ can go to hell. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Northridge
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | The fact it is still published | | Similar Products Used: | Read them all. | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS | | Bottom Line: | This magizine is really bad. It is one long advertisemnent. The ads are not different from the copy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
george washington
a Cross Country Rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | USA | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | ANYWHERE | | Strengths: | THE COVER FOTOS | | Weaknesses: | EVERYTHING ELSE | | Similar Products Used: | MBA,MOUNTAIN BIKING, MOUNTAIN BIKER | | Bike Setup: | THE BEST | | Bottom Line: | I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL 5 YEAR SUBSCRIBER TO THIS MAGAZINE. BUT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE NOTICED A DICLINE IN THE QUALITY OF THIS RAG. IT HAS GONE FROM A GREAT MAGAZINE TO A GOOD MAG TO A POOR MAG. AND THE FACT THAT ZAP MAKES IT HIS FORUM FOR VOICING EVERY ONE OF HIS FREAKS OPINION MAKES IT GET OLD REAL FAST. THE WORST THING HAS BEEN THIS LAST TWO ISSUES THE COMPONENT BUYERS GUIDE AND THE BIKE BUYERS GUIDE BOTH OF WHICH MOST HAVE TAKEN A TOTAL OF 10 HOURS TO PUT TOGETHER AND FRANCLY THE LATER HAS NO INFO WHAT SO EVERRRRRRR. IT USE TO BE THAT THIS BUYER GUIDE WAS A REFERENCE TO HAVE THAT WAY YOU COULD COMPARE ALL THE NEW BIKES NOW IS A TROW AWAY MONTH, THAT IS TWO MONTH OF THE YEAR THAT IT IS TROW AWAY COUNT THE FACT THERE ARE 11 ISSUES THAT LEAVES YOU WITH NINE AND THE REST OF THE YEAR I GUESS THEY ARE RIDING. ONE LAST GRIPE THE RECYCLING OF ARTICLES THEY MAY THINK READERS DON'T NOTICE BUT WE DO AND IT SUCKS I USE TO LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVEING THIS MAG NOW I JUST RELIZE ITS HERE AND THUMB THROUGH ONLY TO REALIZE IT SUCKSSSS! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gurning Mandible
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami Florida USA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Oleta | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$5.00 | | Purchased At: | Circle k | | Strengths: | Good paper for wiping. | | Weaknesses: | The contents. | | Similar Products Used: | Charmin | | Bike Setup: | Nothing Fancy | | Bottom Line: | Weak at best.Corporate puppets writin' ads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vans Qui
a
from Lilw,Laguna, Philippines
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Liliw-Banahaw Wilderness | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2.00 | | Purchased At: | BookSale | | Strengths: | The bible for wannabees / poseurs like me! Best for wiping the drool off my face after reading / looking at the very expensive bikes and componenets which i cannot afford! Sigh! | | Weaknesses: | too technical for low-techies like those other freds reading other mags | | Similar Products Used: | mtb action, bmx plus | | Bike Setup: | mongoose nx 8.3, rst front and rear suspensions, taiwan made craps including the screechiest, weakest disk brakes in the philippines!(novatech! somebody review this S#!t) | | Bottom Line: | best reference for talking / bragging bike stuffs to non-bikers! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
broken arm
a Weekend Warrior
from canada
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$4.00 | | Purchased At: | book store/gas station | | Strengths: | good layout, objective reviews,glossy ads, swearing | | Weaknesses: | Caters to high end, hard to find brands(Ibis, turner, etc) which is not so bad but they are damn expensive and not sold in many plces in canada. Some pretty stupid articles about eating habits, waaaay to many road bikes, too many tips on how to reain to be a mountain biker...by riding a road bike. I ride a mountain bike to train for mountain biking, and road biking is boring as hell. | | Similar Products Used: | Bike, MBA, mountain biking(dont EVER buy that trash!) | | Bike Setup: | 98 kona, z1 bam xt/lx | | Bottom Line: | Not too bad overall, ditch the stupid road bike-biking articles and worry less about rear triangle flex(which seems to affect every single f/s bike reviewed in this mag) and review more bikes the average person is actually likely to buy. Fire Jasen Thorpe, have better buyers giude next year, keep up the rest
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The Stranger
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland,Oregon
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Strengths: | Good,honest reviews.Not afraid to have its own opinions,bold as they may be,but are not overtly biased to the point of weakness.Zap and Koeppel can be annoying,but the current issue and last month's issue both have priceless,spot-on pieces from each editor(Zap bagging American hypocrisy in the "energy crisis" of late;Koeppel making us aware of the environmental problems in Mexico).Lots of good articles based on travel,racing,riding tips,do-it-yourself wrenching,and the like.A good overall magazine that actually relates to most riders,not just the Bender wannabes out there. | | Weaknesses: | Panders a tad too much toward full-suspension and $3000+ bikes of late,although not as bad as MBA,and still reviews all kinds of bikes including hardtails.Zap and Koeppel,while they do produce some good writing occasionally,can also come off as annoyingly opinionated and irrelevant(the freeride debate and Koeppel's porky eating habits spring to mind).The women's issue contained some good stuff,but why the hell do we need to hear women racers whining about their periods?What's next,erectile dysfunction?!Some of the profanity borders on the gratuitous.Definitely biased toward the XC rider. | | Similar Products Used: | MBA,Bicycling | | Bike Setup: | '01 Kona Explosif,'00 Surly 1x1,and '97 Schwinn Paramount steel road bike | | Bottom Line: | If you want lots of techie bits,SoCal pretty-boys throwing themselves off cliffs,and the latest $4k suspension bikes,MBA is for you.But for everyone else,Mountain Bike Magazine is a great read and worth a subscription.Most of the criticism on this page is based on editions from 2-3 years ago;let me assure you,MBM is a LOT better now then it was back then.Just like anything else,take the opinions and the writing with a pinch of salt,and don't believe everything you hear.I give MBM credit for writing good,subjective reviews that you don't need to read between the lines to understand.They are also unafraid of offending advertisers,a very good thing.Zap,Koeppel,and crew are characters,but's that's another thing that sets them apart(obnoxious as they sometimes are).Worth the $12/year. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Reno
a Cross Country Rider
from somewhere in oregon
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Best mtb bike magizine out there! Good honest reviews. Funny commentary!! | | Weaknesses: | Stupid people might get offened by some of the commentary. | | Similar Products Used: | Bike | | Bottom Line: | Don't listen to any of the other jerks that gave this mag a bad review. I've read a lot of mb mags and this one is the best. buy it!! And Rock on ZAP!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
micah
a Cross Country Rider
from colo springs
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | i'm not telling you! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$27.00 | | Purchased At: | subscription | | Strengths: | just about everything
reviews are non bias
editorals are entertaining | | Weaknesses: | binding quality | | Similar Products Used: | most other mountain bike publications | | Bike Setup: | gary fisher marzocchi/shimano/bontrager/etc. | | Bottom Line: | this mag has the best all around quality hand down!
just give it a try. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
smokey
a Cross Country Rider
from gilliam,MO USA
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2.00 | | Purchased At: | subscription | | Strengths: | bike and product reviews are ok. | | Weaknesses: | zap, hug the bunny column, too much west coast content, only
like to cover latest(and most expensive) products, too wishy-washy and change their opinions all the time. | | Similar Products Used: | dirt rag, mba, bicycling. | | Bottom Line: | i gave mountain bike a fairly good review last year. this mag has gone way downhill since then. just got my last issue and they covered such important topics as how women are affected by their periods while racing(i REALLY wanted to hear about that), a glowing review on the ibis silk ti(after just saying how dumb soft-tail bikes were a couple of issues before), a zap column on women in mountain biking that i am still trying to figure out(note to zap; get stoned AFTER you write), and a bunch of other bullsh*t that
was of no interest to me. mountain bike has dumped on single
speed bikes, suspension seatposts, baggy shorts, almost everthing that's not full suspension, and just about totally forgotten about those of us that ride strictly for fun. get a clue, guys; one of the best things about mountain
biking is the many different ways you can enjoy it. your tunnel vision view of this sport leaves a lot of us out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sasquatch
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | -Good reviews
-fun articles
-opinionated
-fun stories and personal experiences
-good tech info | | Weaknesses: | -opinionated
-stories are a jigsaw puzzle throughout the mag.
| | Bottom Line: | I like this mag.
It's got good honest reviews. Testors try they're damndest to not be biased when testing.
and it's not over flowing with tech talk (still lots though) and not obsessed with any specific genre. (though they seem to really like they're XC.)
Overall i give it a good rating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The One That Got Away
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | -It's much improved(better editing,less juvenile language,fewer ads,etc.)
-Does have some good product reviews(still at least somewhat objective,unlike MBA)
-Has history in the bike industry
-Some good articles on travel and other topics | | Weaknesses: | -Still tends to jump on the newer=better bandwagon
-Zap can be a prick
-Gets a little too political
-Sometimes the language is a bit juvenile(used to be worse,though)
-Somewhat biased toward XC'ers
-The articles are always broken in half and such--it's annoying to have to sift through half the mag to continue an article you were reading | | Similar Products Used: | MBA(needs SERIOUS work before I ever buy it again),Dirt Rag( a good mag--just lose the music reviews and hippie nonsense),BIKE(pretty good),others | | Bike Setup: | Of course.. | | Bottom Line: | I read MBM about 8 months ago,and immediately wrote it off as a crappy mag.The editing was poor,the language was so unbelievably juvenile,the ads were placed EVERYWHERE,and the reviews sucked.I was determined to never buy this mag again.
..Then,my loving stepmom,as part of a freebie promo thing,subscribed me to this mag 3 months ago.I thought,"What was the woman thinking?!"
Then I read it,and actually liked it.The staff at MBM has improved their mag by leaps and bounds.True,it still has its flaws,including Zap,but it's still good,and a LOT better than MBA,which has become nothing more than techie parts porn.I like this mag so far.Good work! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
orchid
a Weekend Warrior
from illinois
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | work well as a coaster and kindling for the fireplace. does talk about mtn bike sometimes. best for xc riders with blinders on who dont like anyone who doesnt ride xc. | | Weaknesses: | too hung up on what they deem "cool". will label a product as one of the best of all time when it stinks and in the same review state they havent reall used it. also will deem something as "worst" even though the product is great (ODI lock-ons for example). the editors must think they invented mountainbiking and will say anything to keep it from being soiled by freeriders and dh'rs. | | Bottom Line: | like i said, good for the religious xc'rs out there (before i get flamed let me say that i have nothing against xc'rs, but you know the kind im refering to...freds) 4 chillies for being cheaper, 2 for the amount of real substance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Walter
a
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Occasional product review honesty | | Weaknesses: | Gets sucked into trends like everyone else
Too political-I don't care that it's left wing, I just care that it's taking up valuable space. I can always read The Nation for political diatribes.
Too irrelevant -what do I care about Koeppel's love life or his relationship with his family, jeez.. | | Similar Products Used: | MBA | | Bottom Line: | I often thought the best bike mag would combine MBA, Mountain BIKE, and BIKE into one mag. It would have the technical/scientific explanation expertise of MBA (some will laugh, but when I want to recall the movement analysis of a rear suspension design, I read old MBA articles, not Mountain Bike), the (sometimes) brutal product review honesty of Mountain Bike, and the photos and where-to-ride articles of BIKE.
Mountain Bike still needs work in its recognition of product/bike trends. They fell in love with the suspension seatpost, for example, recommending it for about a year until realizing the obvious - suspension seatpost does dot a FS bike make, plus it makes the bike top-heavy and handle weird. They spend way too much time on politics and the personal lives of their writers. And they could do with more long-term bike tests - this is a strength that should be exploited to the full. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AC
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Gift Subscription | | Strengths: | Honest reviews--they actually note that some products suck! | | Weaknesses: | Too many ads, urban attitude. | | Bottom Line: | I like the fact that the editors of this rag at least attempt to maintain a facade of objectivity. I don't like the unbalanced leftward leaning urban values of most of the writers. I like mountain biking because when I got started, some of my riding partners were vegetarian Druidic tree huggin Volvo drivers, and some of us were crypto fascist jackbooted bougeoise gangster lackeys, and nobody cared. We actually tolerated each other while abslutely eschewing shaved legs and lycra. Mountain Bike magazine has succumbed to the latest trend in political polarization, like all true Puritans. Have fun reading it, I'll not renew my subscription. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett Carpenter
a Cross Country Rider
from Carlisle, mass
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | estabrook | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | gift subscripton | | Strengths: | tells every thing you want toknow lots of useful fix-it tips and neat stuff you don't think about but you will after reading this. always produc reviews ad buyer guides | | Weaknesses: | only 11 isues in a subscription year. | | Similar Products Used: | this mag is in a class by itself | | Bottom Line: | this mag kicks @$$ and thats the bottom line! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SingleTrack Jack
a Cross Country Rider
from Manhattan Beach, CA USA
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Hmmm.... | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Purchased At: | Subscription | | Strengths: | In-depth bike and component reviews. (How 'bout it MBA?!)
Annual Best/Worst Lists.
Keeping abreast of Koeppel's girl-less existence.
Encourage reader participation via Uncle Knobby, Reader Mail, and "The Ridden Word."
Leftcoast yen to Dirt Rag's Eastie yang.
Zap and his innate ability to piss of the right wing, minivan disguised as truck drivers out there. | | Weaknesses: | Still waiting for that full length Odessa Gunn interview and pictorial. | | Similar Products Used: | Dirt Rag (awesome, but entire biking trends have come and gone in the time it takes them to print a single issue).
Mountain Bike Action (the place to go for reviews straight out of the product catalog). | | Bike Setup: | Whatever MBA doesn't like. | | Bottom Line: | Buy this mag if you like informative, thorough reviews written by a staff that gives a crud about mountain biking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry
a Cross Country Rider
from Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Island Lake | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Purchased At: | Subscription | | Strengths: | Very interesting articles. The writing is supberb. Where do they come up with those eye catching metaphors? Matt Phillips, Dan Koepel, Jason and Zap are masters of prose. Their reviews are insightful which is why I keep re-newing my subscription | | Weaknesses: | The language is sometimes inappropriate at times. | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain Bike Action (to be dropped this year) | | Bike Setup: | Curtlo Adv. Mountaineer steel HT; XTR/Sachs drivetrain; Avid Archsurpreme brakes; Mavic rims with White Ind. hubs. (Almost of items were reviewed by Mountain Bike. | | Bottom Line: | If you enjoy good prose, some excellent and insightful writeups and comparisons, read this mag. You won't be disappointed. As for the high end reviews and exotic locations, that's ok. It keeps the interest up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen
a
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Pretty much the same as the other glossy mags: some riding tips, some news about products. | | Weaknesses: | Zap Espinoza's boneheaded leftist political diatribes. | | Similar Products Used: | MBA, Bike, Dirt Rag, Velo News. | | Bottom Line: | I quit reading this mag for one reason: I got fed up to the teeth with Zap's partisan political rantings. Maybe if his comments were intelligent I wouldn't have minded them so much, but his understanding of policy issues is about as deep as Barbra Streisand's or Alec Baldwin's--if you catch my drift. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry Schultz
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lynn Woods | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | works well as TP for my bunghole when in I'm a bind | | Weaknesses: | that goofy geek "zap" and his childmolester-like pal Unlce Knobby | | Similar Products Used: | Charmin, Cottonelle | | Bike Setup: | pissa | | Bottom Line: | This mag is so anoying. That loser hippie zap (what a homo name!! ooooh zap, oohh zapster, you silly little freak, you!!!) where was I? Oh yeah, that little tattooed geek zapster refers to himself all over the friggin mag that its impossible to take this egomaniac seriously. cut the crap zappy!!!!! I think its obvious that this mag panders to your average illiterate 15 year old loser skater punk who was not cool enough to play baseball or football (probaly like the zapster!). As a well read, educated adult I find this mag void of any value. Its editorial content is piss-poor and its "dirt is my God" attitude is tiresome at best. Keep up the good work you morons!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CArider
a Cross Country Rider
from CA/CO
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Monarch Crest Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | It is not a crochet or cross-stitching magazine | | Weaknesses: | It sucks. These guys are big-company hos | | Similar Products Used: | BIKE, used to be the best, probably still is despite some changes for the worst | | Bike Setup: | Just like I like it | | Bottom Line: | These guys pretty much only review the Big Company Bikes. They are hos for Schwinn and Gary Fisher pimps.
Some of their articles look like a Don King production title bout. Read the Titus/Schwinn 88 comparison article. The Titus wins out in all categories, even when they swap parts on the Schwinn, then they vote for the Schwinn.
I think Matt Phillips is an Idiot.
I think Zapata is a hyprocrite for bagging big industry and "the man"
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Lundin
a Cross Country Rider
from Negaunee MI
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Dead River Basin | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Zap, Koep, reviews, ads in back, first 2 issues free | | Weaknesses: | Layout takes getting used to, little expensive thru newstand, better to just subscribe | | Similar Products Used: | MBR | | Bike Setup: | Giant Warp ds/2, titec barends, marzocchi jr. t, kore lite 3, etc. | | Bottom Line: | Great magazine, no real problems. My first issue I bought in April, I still find it useful. Great reviews and editorials. Better if you have lots of money to spend, most of the products are tempting but high priced. If you need riding tips so badly, and you're reading this, then look around online! There's plenty of sites with tips. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
smokey strodtman
a Weekend Warrior
from gilliam, MO usa
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | too many to list(are there any bad ones?) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | subsciption service. product reviews. maintenance tips, including those for trails. zap articles on mtb related issues. | | Weaknesses: | too much emphasis on big bucks bikes, pro-level riding, training, and riders, not enough on fun and fitness riding. zap articles on non-mtb related issues. too many ads. too hard to follow articles through magazine(cheap trick to expose us to all those ads. | | Similar Products Used: | most all u.s. mtb mags. | | Bike Setup: | read my other product reviews. | | Bottom Line: | living 50 miles from the nearest newsstand that carries mtb mags, i can't be too hard on one that gets my issue in the mailbox every month on time(are you listening, BIKE?). i guess it's only natural that a magazine located in southern california would devote too much space to articles aabout that region, and towards all those high dollar bikes that they get to ride for free. i would gladly trade a little higher subscription price for a reduction in overblown ads that make it hard to find the articles, but i'm probably in the minority there. i very much like the fact that zap knows that mtb riders must unite with other off-road users to fight the efforts being made to close our public lands to all public use. 4 chilis for value because of your subscription service, 3 overall. put in more articles for the average rider and cut back on the ads and you'll get 5 flamers from me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ghetto Ridah
a Weekend Warrior
from Glendale, CA
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Zapatos Espinoza, Exec. Editor. Confusing layout. Not much depth or breadth. MOSTLY manufacturer ads. | | Similar Products Used: | MBA, Bike, Bicycling | | Bottom Line: | Zap should just shut his trap. If I wanted to hear some anti-big business/government/"The Man" crap from some aging neo-hippy, I'd move to Berkley or Santa Cruz.
The layout sucks. I can't tell where or which articles begin or end. It's all mixed in with big business advertising. Almost, as if it was all shuffled togehter haphazardly the night before going to press. All the articles are pretty shallow, and there aren't very many of them. Mountain Bike is a lot like my gfriends fashion mags, mostly big glossy ads. And, there are lots of small ads that stick out in the middle of articles like annoying web banners. I get dizzy just trying to follow one article from start to finish. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trail Ripper
a Cross Country Rider
from La Crosse, WI
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Rock Lake in the Chequamegon | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Never fails to maintain my interest; not overloaded with pictures; Great reviews and honest comparisons; straight-forward and to the point; original | | Weaknesses: | Sometimes the "Continued on Page 1809" gets on my nerves. | | Similar Products Used: | Velo Tout Terrain (French); Bike Magazine; Mountain Bike Action | | Bike Setup: | Honestly, How much does this matter? | | Bottom Line: | This mag, as compared to others, is tied for the best. Hence, I subscribe to both Bike Magazine and Mountain Bike Mag. Bike for pics and gettin' pumped, MBM for the reviews and humor. Zap, who is always on the extreme side of things, is entertaining and funny. That's his writing style. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Osiowy
a Cross Country Rider
from Regina, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | White Tail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Gear reviews, Dan Koeppel(sp?),.not too expensive (unless you actually buy some of the products featured in the mag...) | | Weaknesses: | The mag. is soulless! | | Similar Products Used: | Bike Mag (the BEST!)
Mountain Bike Action (Even worse!) | | Bike Setup: | '99 Stumpjumper Comp w/ a Bonty Crowbar Riser, nicer tires, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This mag is way too commercialistic and corporate. It's sad how every second bike in the pages of it are $3000+, and how the guys promote such crap (didn't thses guys gush and rave over the '98 SID? Sheesh...)
On the other hand, I really enjoy reading Dan Koeppel's articles; he's a really good writer. And if you have the money to buy many of the reviewed products, the reviews themselves are OK...
But these guys have to grow up a bit: it isn't 1996 anymore, and guys will no longer pay $100 for Ringlé Skewers or a pair of Umma Gumma tires... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Devon Vig
a Cross Country Rider
from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Nordic Trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | -best for product reviews
-Zapata Espinoza
-Dan Koepel
-Pretty Good Tech Advice (uncle knobby)
| | Weaknesses: | -not much for riding tips or technique
-often strays off topic into areas like motocross
| | Similar Products Used: | Bike
Mountain Bike Action | | Bike Setup: | -Schwinn S-10 FS
-Coil/Oil Marzocchi Fork (sweet)
-Full XT
-Rhino Lite Wheel on back
-Mavic X222 wheel on front (Coda hubs) | | Bottom Line: | IF you're looking to buy or upgrade your current bike, this is an excellent choice. It has thourough, informative product reviews that cover every aspect of a bike's frame, geometry and parts. It does lack in riding tips and destinations though. If you're looking for those, go for Bike Magazine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jared W
a Racer
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | White Face - Lake Placid | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | - Some really nice peices of writing
- Training information is pretty good
- Tips and race info is also helpful | | Weaknesses: | - Way to many ads. Seem to full the entire mag.... | | Similar Products Used: | - Bicycling | | Bike Setup: | Custom rig: Easton Monkey Lite CTS riser, Sram/Shimano XT, XTR drivetrain... | | Bottom Line: | I am not so sure I would get this mag. for a subscription. I liked the info it had on off-season training, but bottom line I would rec. trying the mag. called Bicycling. Has fewer ads in it, and more content. Tips - traning - to repair - to trails reviews. I just got myself a subscription to it... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bike Master Mike
a Racer
from Canton, MI
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Any in MI | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Good writing
Decent pics
Good letters section
Uncle Knobby is one cool mofo | | Weaknesses: | Needs more material | | Similar Products Used: | MBA, Dirtrag, Mountain Biking | | Bottom Line: | I have been getting this mag since they were printing it in the back of the Bicycling Magazines. The product reviews are much better than MBA, especially since they test entry level bikes more often. The new products area has some good info.
As far as Zap, he's not too bad but still somewhat annoying. They could print some cool stuff in his place.Like more letters. I like it when he rips on honky crackers, that is amusing. Too many whites get offended by this. Why? Im a dumb honky, accept who you are.
Oh yeah, they have a good subscription rate. But its not even close to that of Bike Mag. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles
a Cross Country Rider
from Pasadena, Ca
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Chilao | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Magazine format which is very inviting to teeny bobpers. Zapata Espinoza has no credibility. Uncle knobbys useless advise. It's so bad, neither crown books or my local market carries their mag. | | Similar Products Used: | Bike, Mountain Bike Action | | Bike Setup: | Specialized fsr xc | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy this thread. It's so stupid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vin
a Cross Country Rider
from New Windsor, Maryland
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | nice pictures | | Weaknesses: | Supergo Ads | | Bottom Line: | DONT ORDER ANYTHING FROM SUPERGO!!!! All those ads that they put in this magazine finally got me to order some parts from them - well 6 weeks later they have my credit card number and all I got was frustration. IF you can get through to customer service (I use the service term very loosely) they will constantly lie to you about order status and their inventory. If you ask for a manager they will hang up on you. If you try talking to sales to get a manager they will say they're transfering you and instead hang up. Especially Dave in sales, he is a real #@$^!*!!!.
The best thing is - THEY CHARGED MY CREDIT CARD AND NEVER SHIPPED ANYTHING!! I'm refusing the charges, and have had to write a letter to my credit card company explaining the whole ordeal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stef
a
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Used to have some. | | Weaknesses: | Too many to mention. | | Similar Products Used: | All the mags out there. | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain | | Bottom Line: | I used to subscribe to this mag when it first came out but a couple of years after that I canceled. Years later I pick it up for the hell of it and I can't believe how it has deteriorated. I thought this was a mag about mtb bikes. I could list all the things that bother me about the mag but i'll just list the one that kills me the most. Why do they keep talking about motorcycles???
Oh yeah, they try too hard, I think i'll just keep to myself and ride my bike that way I don't have to be outraged at these idiots.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Harjo
a Cross Country Rider
from Henryetta,OK, USA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | still lookin' | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Varied opinions, nice content with creative writers. Bike reviews are good but the stories about people and trails great. Shows diversity, which is like some of the smaller mags. | | Weaknesses: | sometimes forgets who the readers are, with comments like a 25 lb full suspension bike is too heavy. Come on "J.T." my Bridgestone weighs 28 lbs and rides like a dream. Sometimes tries to cater to too young of a crowd. | | Similar Products Used: | Dirtrag, Mountain bike action | | Bike Setup: | bridgestone,fisher marlin(pre-trek),c'dale police model | | Bottom Line: | This mag has improved since the days when I seen it attached to the back of bicycling. The mag really geared up when they got Zap. Now everybody does not like him but the editor has a lot to do with the success of a mag and he has done a great job. Look at what has happened to his former employers product. Say what you will about him but he gets the job done. The other younger writers need to learn from their elders and this mag has a great future. I can relate to people like Koeppel, we have the same habits, except I am a engineer,not a writer. Younger readers need to read this type of varied mag. A consistent mag is a boring mag. I don't like all issues but I always find something in them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Linda
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Bottom Line: | This mag is not consistent. Some months it's great - this month they've done a nice job with product comparisons and much to my suprise they did a two page review on the new road bike I just brought home. In reading the review, however, I didn't feel like I got much substance out of it. Lot of words - fluff - something like this review. Perhaps I could be a writer for them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
El Joel
a Cross-Country Rider
from Laguna Niguel
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Articles by Dan Koeppel, Uncle Knobby, Product reviews, Zap (very rarely). | | Weaknesses: |
Horrible, confusing, eye-wrenching layout, Zap (usually). | | Similar Products Used: |
All of 'em. | | Bike Setup: |
Habanero, King headset, XT/XTR, Raceface crank. Purple streamers protruding from the end of grips. Highway pegs. | | Bottom Line: | This is a fair magazine with a horrible layout (too busy and confusing). The style of the mag sometimes seems somewhat immature (imagine listening in on two 18 year old kids talking about their lives with their bikes). Some annoying ranting, normally via Zap, who seems to be a self-absorbed knucklehead who can't get over being oppressed by the Man. ha ha. Dumbass. Too many articles about trips that most readers can't afford to make, and not often written in an interesting enough manner to deliver entertainment value to those same readers. Needs more articles about why we ride, not just desert trips and other crap. Uncle Knobby is great, Dan Koeppel's articles are consistently excellent. Lots of ads, which I also like. My wife gave me a year subscription as a gift, so I'll read it until then. I probably won't renew. Two stars. (Three if Zap would pull his head out, four if they smoke Zap and make the layout more less headache-inducing. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jamie
a Racer
from nova scotia
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
They wright what they feel
excellent bike reviews
uncle knobby
wrench section
race coverage
even review lots of road products
thick | | Weaknesses: |
well, I guess there is a lot of adds. | | Similar Products Used: |
MBA
mountain biking
BIKE
Pedal
bicyling | | Bike Setup: |
It dosn't matter but I have an s-works with a sid. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best mag. They have detailed bike reviews.(unlike bicyling which only allows about 100 words per bike) They speak their mind and the uncle knobby and wrench sections are very useful.
Their race coverage is second to none as well.
At least 5 stars. Oh yeah, its made from hemp too which saves trees. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis
a Racer
from California
Date Reviewed: December 21, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Lots of product reviews | | Weaknesses: |
Zap | | Similar Products Used: |
Bike Magazine, Bicycling, Mountain Bike Action | | Bike Setup: |
Subscription | | Bottom Line: | Great bike info, but hateful rhetoric and insulting socio-political commentary overshadowed the cycling. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Lieziert
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, Oregon
Date Reviewed: December 14, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Souxion near Mt. St. helens | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Not Sugar Coated
About the sport, not just the equipment | | Weaknesses: |
???Couldn't ask for much more in a magazine | | Similar Products Used: |
Most notably, MBA, but I've tried all of em | | Bottom Line: | The best out there right now. They say what they think and do a pretty good job of covering the entire sport and not just the equipment. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
EB
a Weekend Warrior
from Norcross, GA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Oak Mtn in Birmingham, AL | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
excellent bike reviews/comparisons, funny articles, good reviews of new products | | Weaknesses: |
LLLLAAAATTTTEEEE delivery | | Similar Products Used: |
Mtn Bike Action, Bicycling | | Bike Setup: |
Trek 6500 w/Judy C | | Bottom Line: | it's a really good magazine (the best on the market IMHO); just don't ever subscribe to it. Every month, I have had to correspond with their customer service dept about late delivery. I finally got tired of doing this, and cxld my subscription and requested a refund (which they promptly sent). Buy it at the newsstand!5 chillies for the mag/ 1 chillie for the delivery= 3 chillie average | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Pilip
a Cross-Country Rider
from Edmonton, Alta, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Lake Minniwanka (Banff) | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Like the help sections like wrench and knobby. | | Weaknesses: |
Tends to get overly descriptive about things that have nothing to do with riding. How about some riding tips? (I can already ride over a log) | | Similar Products Used: |
All other mags | | Bike Setup: |
KHS aluminum, Z2 bomber, pure trail riding parts. | | Bottom Line: | Better than staring at the wall. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross-Country Rider
from Keene, NH
Date Reviewed: October 28, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
Sometimes good reviews of bikes and components | | Weaknesses: |
very poor command of the english language, confusing layout, not enough meat, street slant, frequent use of the word suck, Zap's politics, I could go on... | | Similar Products Used: |
all others | | Bike Setup: |
Santa Cruz | | Bottom Line: | It all depends on why you buy magazines. Myself, I like to keep updated on all the new products, not the apparent hip lifestyle that these people try so desperately to portray. This is supposed to be a mountain bike mag, instead it has become a glitzy music video on paper that appeals to less than 1% of the actual mountain bike community. Get out and ride, don't just look good reading about it!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bloody Shins MacGee
a Cross-Country Rider
from Kentucky
Date Reviewed: October 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Anything dirt | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Zap | | Weaknesses: |
LAYOUT LAYOUT LAYOUT
Too many Ads | | Similar Products Used: |
All the bike rags | | Bike Setup: |
FSR | | Bottom Line: | The layout is TERRIBLE! You need glasses after 10 minutes of trying to read this thing. Come on guys, your magazine doesn't have to look like an MTV commercial. I only posted this review with the hope that Zap or somebody from the mag reads it. THE LAYOUT IS AWFUL. Plus, there are so many ads, the magazine should be free. Two chilis, cause the bike reviews are pretty accurate. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Racer
from Washington DC
Date Reviewed: September 7, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Great writing, with no crappy editors cutting out every little word that might offend somebody. | | Weaknesses: |
none. | | Similar Products Used: |
bike
bicycle
mba
etc. | | Bike Setup: |
doesn't matter here | | Bottom Line: | this is a great magazine, and i love the writing, especially dan koeppel, and some other guys who i don't remember. but they're funny as sh*t and aren't afraid to write what they're thinking, and zapata isn't afraid to let them. keep it real. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Woodstock, GA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Carter's Lake | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Great magazine | | Weaknesses: |
none at all | | Similar Products Used: |
Mountain Biker, Bike, Bicycling, Maximum Mountain Bike, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This is by far the best magazine there is!! There are great product reviews, articles, and technical tips!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sirius
a Cross-Country Rider
from Greensburg, PA
Date Reviewed: August 18, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Hug the Bunny, Uncle Knobby, Good Reviews | | Weaknesses: |
Zap, too many adds, poor layout....No more Dondo | | Similar Products Used: |
Dirt Rag, Bicycling | | Bike Setup: |
Hara Extreme EX2 | | Bottom Line: | Generally good if you can get past the political ramble and layout...They try too hard, and that's what hurts them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott
a Downhiller
from alaska
Date Reviewed: August 11, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
They used to have some decent bike reviews. | | Weaknesses: |
The layout sucks. | | Similar Products Used: |
Mountain Bike Action | | Bike Setup: |
Specialized FSR | | Bottom Line: | I just purchased the September issue after not buying the mag for 8 months. What a piece of shit. Everybody complains about MBA having lots of ads, huh, what! This mag has an ad every single page. I'm not joking, look for yourself. By and large you will find that the magazine info is on the left page while ads are on the right. I perfer mags that have bike and product tests, this one had two bike tests. I don't know who this mag is directed at but a lot of it looks like the BMX rags. I have a hard time believing that this is the biggest selling mountain bike magazine. Worthless publication, hope it goes under. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross-Country Rider
from Webster, Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: August 3, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Sugarbush, VT Norba Track | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Good reviews of products, bike vs. bike, etc... Good artcle on derailer adjustments in May or June issue. | | Weaknesses: |
Alterntive lingo. Cannot tell what the difference is between an ad and an article. Confusing layout. | | Bottom Line: | Get your act together, your losing plenty of readers! The layout of the TIPS section of the latest edition was horrible. To quote you guys, Mountain bike tip layout that SUCKS. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Reader
a Cross-Country Rider
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: August 2, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Weaknesses: |
Poor writing | | Similar Products Used: |
MBA | | Bottom Line: | This mag is written for teenagers of the sound bite generation. I can't tell the articles from the ads. I can't tell if the magazine is written by teenagers or just old fogies trying to sell to them. I am disapointed in Rodale for putting out such trash. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rudy
a Cross-Country Rider
from albuquerque
Date Reviewed: July 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
burns | | Weaknesses: |
lousy reviews, poor technical writing,
cut the gen x slang | | Similar Products Used: |
all | | Bike Setup: |
moots | | Bottom Line: | probably the worst of all the mtn bike mags | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from L.A.
Date Reviewed: July 9, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
paper, Zap. | | Weaknesses: |
new face | | Similar Products Used: |
all | | Bike Setup: |
one with a lot of travel | | Bottom Line: | MB was a really good mag till they started the web site. Now even trailhead that used to be my favorite sucks. I want to read the mag not the screen, if you the why buy it.
But something I have to admit is that Zap is the best mountain biking mag editor ever. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adam
a Cross-Country Rider
from silverton co
Date Reviewed: July 7, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
all of colorado | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
used to be the best, before Zap | | Weaknesses: |
immature, vulgar, pseudo-hip, Zap, Zap, and Zap | | Similar Products Used: |
read them all | | Bike Setup: |
titanium hardtails with shock seatposts | | Bottom Line: | They say a publication's editors should mirror its readership, and vice-versa. Check out the teenaged, foul-mouthed, illiterate, misspelled, boring crap posted on the ragazine's website flame forum, and you'll see proof that in this case, the rule about readers and editors pitifully rings true. For profanity, childishness and a general lack of any information useful to the serious mountain bike enthusiast, the website is just as valuable a resource as the magazine -- in other words, useless for anyone older than, say, 18, and even then, I know some teenagers with more decorum and good manners than this rag's editors and forum posters. Zap should stick to the crowd and lifestyle he knows something about -- pierced, tattooed jungle freaks from the surreal world of Hollywood. There's a huge mountain biking world out here, and Zap and Co. do not represent any of it. His warped world view is perverting and damaging mountain biking by conveying a false, shameful impression of mountain biking to the world at large, which takes its cues from media portrayals. No wonder we have trail closures and confrontations; the world at large thinks ALL mountain bikers are weird freaks who only live to rip em up at 40 mph on downhills. I think CO is more in tune with MTBing than Hollywood, and out here, no one rides those silly 40 lb. motorlesscycles. Zap probably couldn't even push his bike around the San Juans, let alone ride. Colorado's where it's at: No tattooed freakos, and no attitude. We show our mettle by pushing pedals, not strutting around, writing about all the other LA idiots we can hang out with. Dondo was the only soul rider left at the rag, so of course, they had to phase him out because, I guess, he was to genuine and not perverted enough to fit the rag's demographics. One flaming chili! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross-Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: June 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
jim thompson trail sadona | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
good information good writers seem like they really care for the sport | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
the less special, mountain bike action | | Bike Setup: |
G.F. stock shox | | Bottom Line: | any magazine with an article called hug the bunny you know you cant go wrong | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross-Country Rider
from Bridgeport, CT
Date Reviewed: May 29, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
best mag ever....hmmm that speaks for itslef, I guess | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Bottom Line: | First off Zap should not be taken so seriously, secondly, the advertising in the mag isn't THAT bad, and can be helpful for finding and comparing the lowest price, and thirdly, the language and style of writing and layout of the mag makes it so much more interesting that Bicycling, and it's not just a picture book with captions, like Mountain Bike Action. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Special Ed
a Cross-Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: May 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
All of 'em | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Ads from Pricepoint, Universal Cycles, Supergo (cuz they allow me to buy stuff cheeep!) . | | Weaknesses: |
Way too many ads. Way too little worthwhile content. | | Similar Products Used: |
Bike, MBA, Bicycling | | Bike Setup: |
VooDoo Zobop, SX-R front, Cane Creek AD-10 rear, XT/XTR. | | Bottom Line: | I subscribed to this mag on a whim after a couple articles by Dan Koeppel made me wet my pants from laughing so hard. I figured, what the hell, it's a mountain biking magazine and they're pretty much all the same. Whoa Bill, was I in for a reality check. I don't mind being exposed to new ideas, even if they make me chafe and bristle, but Zap's socio-political rantings have no place in a mag purportedly devoted to mountain biking, especially when they take a decidedly racist bent as they so often do. It's too bad really, because Zap is clearly a talented writer. Add to that the ubiquitous glossy advertising (yeah I know it's a fact of life, but man it's annoying) and the editor's decision to allow unnecessary profanity to be peppered liberally throughout the magazine's pages, and you have a product that really alienates a significant portion of the magazine's audience. I know it's alienated me, an average white 30 year old male. Thank God there are other choices, because I'm certainly not renewing my subscription to Mountain Bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Caleb Johnston
a Downhiller
from Spokane, Wa
Date Reviewed: May 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Becon Ride | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
The meg is kickass most of all I like reading Zap's articles | | Weaknesses: |
I think you guys might want to cover more races like the ones in the Great Northwest. Our race series is WIM (Washington, Idaho, Montana) This is a very competive series and I personaly would like to see some more publisity at our race series | | Similar Products Used: |
none other | | Bike Setup: |
Klien, Fox Vinalla back, Rock Shox XL front | | Bottom Line: | so once again your Meg. rules and keep up the good work. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Pefferlaw, Ontario
Date Reviewed: May 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Durham Forest | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
The whole mag | | Weaknesses: |
Not one | | Similar Products Used: |
All the ohter magazines | | Bike Setup: |
Rocky Mountain Thin Air
Rock Shox SID
XT and Race Face Components | | Bottom Line: | The best magazine available. Great articles, get reviews, great staff, the whole mag is great.For all of you bashing it because it reviews expensive bikes, do you want it to only review $500 bikes with crap components, every review concluding the same thing The bike worked like crap, Avilio components suck, it is what you would expect from a $500 bike. Because that is what it would be. Think about it, do you really want to read about crappy $500 bikes, I know I don't, so quite using it as a medium to bash the best mag available!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fancy
a Racer
from AZ
Date Reviewed: May 14, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Bike & product reviews, race coverage. | | Weaknesses: |
Late issue delivery (for me anyway) | | Similar Products Used: |
Bike (the best!) | | Bottom Line: | The magazine itself is fair, but the quality of content and layout seems a little weak compared to prior years.My complaint is about the delivery of my issues. I tend to receive my issues about 4 days before the next issue arrives in stores! By the time I receive my issue, I've already read the magazine at my friend's house or in a bike store.I know, minor beef.In future, I'm going to extend my subscription to Bike, they seem to have a better grasp on what mountain biking is all about anyway.Oh, Spaz Boy (Mark R) is great, seems like the only writer who has a normal view of the mtg'ing world. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from MPLS
Date Reviewed: May 12, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Snelling | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Info, Pictures, Commentary | | Weaknesses: |
Whiny saps who write in dogging the magazine | | Similar Products Used: |
MBA, Bike, Bicycle | | Bike Setup: |
Old One that's dope | | Bottom Line: | I love this mag, from Zap's endless rants(a little commentary is good for the soul, especially if it gets you charged up), to Uncle Knobby, to all the fiction that is spewwed from the bike reviews. I love it all. If it weren't for this mag, or others like it(MBA) I would have no clue what new expensive bikes i could drool over. All those 1000-1500 dollar bikes are so similar, I can get a good review here, but when I want action shots of a 3000 dollar rig in action I turn to my lastest Mountain Bike. All I have to say to you whiners who don't like MB, stop reading it. If you didn't read it you wouldn't have anything to beatch about, but obviusly something keeps you coming back. I say 5 Fat Flamin' Habaneros all around. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Huevos
a Weekend Warrior
from SD, CA
Date Reviewed: May 10, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Uncle Knobby | | Weaknesses: |
Writers
Photographers
Editors | | Similar Products Used: |
See list | | Bottom Line: | The people who work at this magazine are clueless. It seems they are all very young and their writing reflects that. Based on who I see buying bikes
and who I see on the trails, the average MTB rider is about 30 - 35. These kids at MBA just don't seem to understand, nor care about anything outside
their own little world. It is an immature magazine for a sport that deserves much better. The riding tips rarely help because they are either too basic
or too esoteric. The bike reviews always fall short of my ever reduced expectations. They don't do enough reviews to begin with and the reviews are
far too terse. 75% of a review describes the components on the bike - I want to know how it rides, how easy it is to maintain and how it compares to
other similar bikes. Product reviews are better, but they still need to review more products. It seems they try far more products than they write about.
The layout is confusing - I can't tell an advertisement from an article and their is no consistency in the design. My recommendation to MBA
employees is to attempt to mimick a quality magazine like Car and Driver. C/D does an excellent job of covering the auto market - read that mag for 6
months and you will be very well versed about cars. My recommendation to MBA readers is to read Bike and Bicycling - despite to being exclusive
to MTB these mags have more usefull info for us than MBA. Read MBA for 6 months and you are left with about as much MTB knowledge as you get
from Jeopardy on the Civil War. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from Mountaintop
Date Reviewed: May 6, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
It's a mountain bike magazine | | Weaknesses: |
Too many ads | | Similar Products Used: |
Bike, Mountain Bike Action, Dirt Rag | | Bottom Line: | This magazine has gone from bad to worse. It appears that this magazine has recently changed its focus. It seems to me that the only purpose of this magazine is to sell ads and publish articles that encourage riders to buy the latest, greatest, and most expensive products that manufacturers want to jam down consumer's throats. Subscription renewal? NO THANKS. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CHRIS
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
Date Reviewed: May 3, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Gatineaus | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Flashy Ads.
Some good wrench tips.
Always new stuff featured. | | Weaknesses: |
WAY too many ads
Extreme high end bikes always featured
Idiot writers | | Similar Products Used: |
Bike
Mountain Bike Action | | Bottom Line: | I have to agree with the other reviews about the large number of ads in the mag. I also agree with what is being said about the off-color humour of the editor.
I like mountain biking because it is fun and it is outdoors, I didn't know that it had to be political or a lifestyle decision. I guess there are some people in this world that always have to take something too seriously.
What really gets me about this mag is that it only features bikes that are well over $2000. Hell, my local bikestore doesn't even carry bikes like these! Just who is supposed to buy them? I realize that talking about low end bikes may get boring and it is fun to read about dream rides, but the magazine had a poll that showed most of the readers own a bike in the range of $1100 - $1500. Do you think that the magazine editors used this valuable piece of market information to better target their product... hell no. They went on to feature some dream bikes from c-dale and litespeed, then made fun of different cultures and races.
I get bike magazine now because of the pictures and writing. Oh... and there is no politics either, just mountain biking. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Boesgaard
a Cross-Country Rider
from Copenhagen, Denmark
Date Reviewed: April 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Furesøsporet | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
A magazine for mountainbiker's, not just about mountainbiking. The layout is just too cool. And they like steelbike's+++ | | Weaknesses: |
None | | Similar Products Used: |
Bike (German), Mountainbiker int (Britain) Mountainbike action and lots of other magazines | | Bottom Line: | Buy this magazine, so you can learn to become a mountainbiker | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Styron
a Cross-Country Rider
from Branson, MO
Date Reviewed: April 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
104, Chadwick Motocross Park, Chadwick, Mo | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Better than Mountain Bike Action. Well, better than most of the others. | | Weaknesses: |
Trashy, narcicistic(or however you spell it) | | Similar Products Used: |
Mountain Bike Action, bike, Dirt Rag, Mountain Biker, Bicycling, Hustler, Jet | | Bike Setup: |
DBR Vertex, Manitou SX, mud | | Bottom Line: | This magazine has provided me with hours of mediocre rainy day entertainment. It has its strong points, decent reviews and sometimes Zap says something of worth (I agree with him on motocross)and how-to articles for the novice (not me). However, the best part of it was on the last page, a thing called Club Tread which had a trail to ride and a big picture. This is now gone and replaced by a stupid column, much to my dismay. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Reeves
a Weekend Warrior
from Des Plaines,Illinois
Date Reviewed: April 18, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Kettle Moraine state park | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Lots of information.Plaenty of articles including Zap and his experiences and product reviews.It also has a omnthly list of trails that have been good ones to ride.So much info I couldn't mention everything. | | Weaknesses: |
The only one I can think of is that the bike tests are always for bikes that are so overpriced I doubt any of the readers could afford any of them. | | Similar Products Used: |
Mountain Bike Action,Bike Magazine. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best magazine. The pictures are great and colorful not black and white. I've been reading MB for 1 year and I'm definitly satisfied.It gives lots of information and i recommend it for sure. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from New York
Date Reviewed: April 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
n/a | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
None its sucks! | | Weaknesses: |
Poor writing, boring story lines, lack of substance, don't even get me started. | | Similar Products Used: |
Bicylcing magazine | | Bottom Line: | Save your money, this magazine is terrible, filled with adrvertisements and written in this prepubescent, condescendent pretending to be hip and cool. A real puke, I hate the magazine. These people glorify the fact that they have crashed so many times, they problably land on their head all the time since the writng is so poor.... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross-Country Rider
from NJ
Date Reviewed: April 9, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Bottom Line: | C'mon! I don't like the reviews in Mountain Bike either. In fact, you can find 2-3 letters to the editor with the same complaint in every issue. I guess the ed. doesn't actually read the letters. However, the mag is called Mountian BIKE, so of course they focus on products. If you want to know about mountain biking, get Mountain Biking magazine. It's quite simple. As far as Zap goes, I dunno. Maybe he likes the attention. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from Mountaintop
Date Reviewed: March 21, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Bottom Line: | after realizing that half of the last issue was advertisements, i called and cancled my subscription. a year ago i liked this maganzine, but now it has nothing for me. don't waste your money | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a weekend warrior
from pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: March 9, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Ditto BT from Canada! I already have parts catalogs. I don't need
several issues that just recite products and prices. More do it yourself
articles would be good.Get back to basics! My subscription renewal is
pending. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mario Cipolini
a racer
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: March 6, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Allreeeet, YESTERDAY, i went riding to my fav. trail, and guess who was there? Zap from Mountain Bike. And he was on a bike too. Hmmmmmm, you think this means he rides? Anyway...it's a great mag, too many advertisments, but excellent variety and very well written. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
XC RACER
a cross-country rider
from CALI
Date Reviewed: March 4, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I KNOW WHY MB REVIEWS SUCK SO BAD! THOSE GUYS NEVER RIDE! I KNOW THE MB STAFF AND THE MBA STAFF, MB GUYS NEVER RIDE MBA STAFF (THE ONES WHO REVIEW PRODUCTS) RIDE EVERY DAY. I GET A KICK OUT OF READING ZAP'S TALES OF EPIC RIDES--THE ARE ACTUALLY 1 HOUR JAUNTS ACROSS TOWN IN THE GRANNY GEAR. HE THEN WRITES ABOUT HOW BRUTAL IT WAS. THAT MATT GUY AVOIDS RIDING ALL TOGETHER! MBA GUYS GO EPIC! I HATE TO DEFEND MBA BUT IT IS THE TRUTH! THEY KNOW WHAT IS UP ABOUT RIDING, MB KNOWS WHAT IS UP ABOUT WATCHING OTHERS RIDE. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Z.L. Freiwald
a cross-country rider
from Crescent City, CA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I followed Zapata over. When he moved to Mountain Bike I folowed instantly and with no hesitation. Although I surely don't always agree with what he has to say I feel that he could make a magazine anywhere he went. He could take over Marth Stewart's mag and make it great. I'm the animal of Del Norte County cycling and experience, I've seen things here come and go like loving from dusk till dawn, but assuredly Mountain Bike Magazine is a fine example of things that are here to stay!!! Thanks Zap! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BT
a weekend warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: March 3, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Has this mag become a joke? Hmmm, since '96 it's been touting its common man angst and yet let's see... The absolute necessities to be a mountain biker are $200 Oakleys, full suspension (or hardtails costing no less than $1900+), tons of carbon fiber (or, wait, was it high cost anodized parts?), and clothing costing almost the same as a mid-end bike... Uncle Knobby and the occasional tech/ride tip section are the only parts worth reading. The useless political rants have to go. And perhaps the staff should live up to the regular guy claim by including those whose budgets are at best mid-range, and who do ride more than pursuing the new-toys chic mentality. Maybe start giving real repair tips instead of breathlessly endorsing big-cash aftermarket parts? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Archie R.
a weekend warrior
from Houston, Texas USA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
After reading a few posts in this forum, I see that I'm not the only one who can't stomach Zap's endless political malarkey. Some things never change. FWIW, many years ago I had an entertaining little private exchange with cycling's most famous socialist malcontent. After that little encounter, I explained to the publisher that Zap's mouth was costing them readership. His response? Basically, If you don't like it, don't buy it. I don't...and I don't. Simple eh Mr. Pena?One smoldering, burnt out chili...Best regards,
Archie R.
Houston, TX
http://lonestar.texas.net/~arch/ | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a weekend warrior
from Jax, Florida
Date Reviewed: February 26, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I have have subscribed to this one for a long time - and I frankly don't know why. Uncle Knobby is the only thing in it worth reading. Now they have started to publish a lot of this DiGregorio character. A little of him goes a long way - EDITING NEEDED. Its almost like self-parody.And then there is Zap with his snide little political comments strewn about. Cripes, I just want to read about bikes and riding - not listen to your political views. For all I know, he may have stopped, though. I stopped reading him a while back.Topping it all off is the layout of the magazine itself. Man, this is one difficult magazine to read. Fonts change every 3 lines. Articles begin and end seemingly at random. In fact, finding the beginning of an article is ahhrrrggg frustrating.Why do I subscibe ? Dunno. Uncle Knobby, go get a job at BIKE, so I only have to get one magazine ! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a weekend warrior
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: February 20, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This magazine falls way short. If you want to read five pages of somebody's trip and look at a magazize full of ads its great. Its absolutely worthless for product reviews. Hits color. Miss color. No shit sherlock. I can see the bike tell me something useful about it. The product review is absolutely worthless. It is a big listing of bikes. No info. No subscription next year. One cold pepper. P.S. Forget zap. He's taking the Howard Stern approach to selling mags. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a cross-country rider
from
Date Reviewed: February 15, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I hate this magazine. I subscribed to it for a year when I first started biking, and I couldn't wait for it to end. Every month they bombarded me with reviews of $3000 bikes and all they can say is why aren't there 2 water bottle mounts? and this bike would be better if it was a Specialized FSR.I guess I'd give it 5 chili's if I were a wanna-be, but since I'm a real biker I'll go read Dirt Rag and give Mountain Bike 1 stinky chili. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom King
a cross-country rider
from Moreno Valley, Ca
Date Reviewed: February 15, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Bike magazines are for bikes. Bike reviews, technical how-to's, and part/accessory reviews. They are soapboxes for your personal political views, thats what political magazines are for. Mountain bike should publish as they feel they should, and freeriders, home mechanics and tech-weenies (like my friends and I) will read other mags. If you like it get it, but I'm spending my subscription dollars elsewhere. 2 stars for constantly shoving politics in my face. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RM
a cross-country rider
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: February 14, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Good mag, though pretty close to being modeled after MBA. Good reviews and written well. Maybe add a few more travel stories and higher quality pics. 4 chilis for this mag. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a cross-country rider
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: February 13, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This is the best mag. out there, much better than Mountain Bike Action and Mountain Biking. Uncle Knobby and Zap are great. I also find their product reviews and topics excellent. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a racer
from MI
Date Reviewed: February 5, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
i generally enjoy this magazine, but zap has to go. his latest has him going to a hockey game, where he berates white people for playing such a stupid game. he also cheers get the white guy. if i made remarks of this nature toward a black/hispanic/woman or any other non-white, i would be considered a racist.
4 chilies for the mag, minus 2 for the racist ramblings. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Olivier Rioux
a racer
from New-Brunswick, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 29, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This mag is OK but I'v paid them for my subscription 2 month ago and they still said that I'v nbot paid it. It's frustrating! An other bad things about this magazine is that it comes to my mail box a month after it arrives on the news stands... this suck! I'll give 2 stars 'cause of what's inside of this mag.. they have good stuff but their service just sucks!Thanks, Olivier=) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lane
a cross-country rider
from Sask, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 28, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This is the best mag I've ever read, far better than Bicycling at least in my opinion that is. Uncle knobby is ny favourite, and I kinda like reading Static
That's knda cool. I also like the product reviews, so this sweety pie of a mag gets the go ahead. | | Overall Rating: |
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