The emergence of a new style of cycling ‘magazine’ has caused waves of excitement around the community.  Not just for its content and format, but for the writers behind it. 

2r is a new multi-media magazine about cycling available to download monthly and looks to feature some very interesting and inspiring writers as well as beautiful photo essays and in-depth written articles.

2r is a monthly “magazine” about the hidden side of pro cycling; the untold stories, riders before they were stars, the politics that shape this sport. – 2r

It seems Gerard Vroomen has had quite a bit to play in this ‘magazine’ coming to fruition and recently posted basic details of the release on his blog. So too has the superb blogger @inrng who highlighted the inaugural edition on his page, which sparked a very interesting debate between people with two main issues.

The first being the inclusion of legendary cycling commentator and all round wind-up merchant, Paul Kimmage who is set to dig deeper into the endless drama of cycling every month. I’ve long been a fan of Kimmage and think his knowledge of cycling and the inner workings of teams and of course doping is superb and fully support him sharing this knowledge with the public in order to broaden their minds.

The second major talking point is one I do certainly have a problem with and that’s that currently 2r is only available on iPad running iOS 6. I don’t have an iPad… which meant it was going to make writing this review particularly difficult! I contacted some of the writers and to be honest they seemed as bemused as I did as to why the current target audience was so small. All current reviews of 2r state that they will soon be releasing it for other platforms, but this is still no good for you reading this review! It seems like a wonderful concept for a magazine and I’m really looking forward to reading it and in truth I was seriously annoyed when I realised I couldn’t view it.

However, Mr Vroomen tells us that “In issue 1, Paul interviews LeMond about his relationships with Hinault, Fignon and Armstrong. In the 44(!) page interview, they also cover races being sold, cocaine, and awkward dinners (with the chef of Renault and Lance). Boonen revisits his worst loss, Gesink draws his first bike and Nuyens contemplates retirement. To top it off, Cavendish thinks about what he would do as the UCI president. Plus the most beautiful photos from l’Équipe and Sirotti.”

So if you have already read the new 2r, or have been inspired to go and check it out following this completely flawed review (let’s not sugar coat this!) then please do comment below and let us know what you think.  How do you feel about the concept, the writers, it’s availability etc….and maybe you could write the next review after I get fired!

Stevie

When I was growing up, I wasn’t a huge magazine addict but I do remember a few subscriptions that I had.  My interest started with Mad Magazine, and then moved on to Waterski, MuscleMag, and a couple other sports related type mags.  The last magazine I can remember buying would have been around 8 to 10 years ago, and it was Maxim.

Along the way, I often thought how cool it would be to work for one of these magazines or at least contribute an article here and there.  As I got older, I dreamt about working for a travel magazine….flying around the world checking out new locations and getting paid to write all about it. I still have that as one of my goals, but in today’s world it is so much more of a possibility.

You see, up until the blog explosion….the only way you could voice your opinion or provide writing material for the world to see was through books and magazines.  But in order for your words to become something others would see, you first had to convince the editor or publishing company that you had the goods they were looking for.  The same thing used to apply to photographers and videographers, and those of us who do photo or video blogs.  In the old days, you’d have to find someone willing to buy your footage, hire you on staff, or freelance.  Oh how the world has changed.

All of that has gone out the window.  These days, absolutely anyone can create their own “magazine” and not only contribute articles or photos to it, we get to become the editor, publisher, designer, and everything else.  We ARE the magazine.  Today’s bloggers don’t need to sit in on an interview and hope to win over the publication in order to get hired.  We also don’t have editors telling us what to write about.  Every single one of us get all the creative freedom we desire.

So here we are….smack in the middle of my own cycling magazine called Loving the Bike.  Am I providing the stuff that would make it worthy of a prime location on the magazine shelf?  What was it about Mad, Waterski, MuscleMag, and Maxxim that made me purchase issue after issue?  Mad contained silly humour and great artistry which was what my adolescent mind was after.  Waterski and MuscleMag was full of the latest news and information on the two sports I was so passionate about growing up.  And Maxxim…….ummm, let’s just say that they had really interesting articles.

When I started Loving the Bike, I set out to speak to all types of cyclists by providing posts that were a commonality to all of us.  I was after people who were in this for the love of the bike whether they were roadies, mtb’ers, commuters, adventurers, bmx’ers….whatever.  As far as I was concerned, all cyclists were champions and this blog was a celebration of that fact.  Because of my background, the other angle I wanted it to take was to be a place where cyclists could come to find out some great nutrition and fitness tips that would help make them even better at the sport they love.

Six months later, this “magazine” hasn’t strayed too far from that game plan.  What I have discovered is that when you love cycling, almost every single thing in your life revolves around the bike.  That is the crack that Loving the Bike has sunk itself into.  This “magazine” is about life, and how it so beautifully revolves around two wheels on a frame.  It is where I live, and I’m pretty sure you readers live there as well.

So, yeah, this is a cycling blog.  It’s my magazine, and that which carries my voice to the world. We’re a young new mag and we’re still trying hard to find our place in the cycling universe. Hoping hard that we find that “X” factor which keeps people coming back.  That little something that provides us with a prime spot on the magazine shelf.

If you’re a fellow blogger, congratulations on being the creator of your own magazine.  If you are a subscriber…THANK YOU.  What is it that keeps you coming back?