This week's Thrive bike issue

Jim Powers did not say disc brakes were bling. His mech George Hemp said that.

The Great Fat Tire ad.... New Belgium did not want to buy an ad so it's not like they were left out. In newspapers there is supposed to be a steel curtain between editorial and advertising. It becomes advetorial when stories are written specifically for advertisers.

Where was SWIMBA? There was a story about the Adopt-A-Trail press release Cook sent out; they too have been in Thrive many times, and Cook was contacted for help on the status of the Willow Lane Complex dirt jump park, but due to the overwhelming number of last-second ads, a few stories were held. Those stories will appear in future issues and include the great photos cut from the bike issue.

Brian Grieger... the little post was a tongue-in-cheek deal. He did not say "no" to being in the paper. But he is busy enough, and it's not like the average reader is going to drive out to see him for a little chain lube. It was meant more for the person who does use Brian and understands how the grizzled recluse in the sticks is so sought after.

That said, there is never enough space, time or manpower to make everyone happy. Last year the recumbent folks got pissy when they were left out. This year they have a spot. Last year the casual riders said there was too much road content, and the freeriders were cheated, so they said. This year there was basically no pro or roadie content (except for the deserving Sima Trapp interview) and the freeriders got their 15 seconds of fame.

Many know a paper is both a business (the ads) and content (the part most readers either care or complain about). And when you have a writer(s) who is passionate about cycling battling the marketing/advertising managers who care about making money and reaching the broadest spectrum (read: beginners and newbies who don't care about the Cat 1/2 road scene or the ramps at Bogus) it can take away from the finished product. Thrive is indeed like fast food -- you get what you pay for, and seeing as how it's a free weekly...

Crash_Burn said:

Down at the Block last night trying to stuff my DVD's into the already over stuffed box, peered through the glass and I see a huckster styling the cover. I get home and read cover to cover and realize Bobs - the biggest ad buy - has every kind of bike you could ever want and do they even really work on bikes?. Got to love Brian Grieger - does'nt want his name/number in the mag cause he's already to busy. What's up with Jim Powers - disc brakes are bling? And of course where was SWIMBA? Where was the great FatTire ads? I'll give the staff at Thrive an A for effort but a C for substance - Kind of like fast food.

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