New Bike Trials Magazine!

[Drummond]

Hi guys,

I've been wanting to put a trials mag out ever since BTM disappeared and after some changes in personal circumstance and finding some pretty nifty cash flow solutions I have come up with a business plan that would allow a sustainable publication.

As we've seen in the past trials mags have come and gone, they are certainly not a money maker. I'm entering this project as I love trials and personally want to put together a platform that promotes the sport and the riders, sponsors, companies and events that make it great.

Heres an out line of what we are planning;

Tuck magazine will be a monthly publication solely dedicated to all areas of Bike trials

A4 sized, we are currently looking at around 60 pages all in

Solely distributed through our website

Priced at £3 posted

We are aiming to launch the mag in August

We already have a good idea of what the features and other content will be, but you guys inevitably decide what you want to read so please post your ideas and comments so we can get a good solid foundation from issue one.

To register for updates on the mag and show your support please simply send a blank email to the address below. Please only send one email so we can get a true estimate of interest.

tawtteam@googlemail.com

Looking forward to reading all your ideas and receiving lots of emails........Spread the word!!!!

Cheers,

Ian Drummond

PS; We were going to call it TUK magazine, as in Trials UK, but there is already a mag out with that name, its a Dutch amature porn mag!!!!

[Mark W]

There's also a trials shop called Trials UK so I guess that might have clashed a bit. All the best for it though Ian

[robster]

Good luck, I hope it goes well.

Rider profiles

comp scene including results

demos

funies page

street section

I would subscribe to it if it has some of the above in it.

JP

Edited June 5, 2008 by robster

[JB1]

Hey, I would definatly subscribe! Email sent!

[Rich Hill]

Just a suggestion but how about a feature on different citys/towns with pictures of a few of the riding spots, local riders etc.

and a 'star' rating on different things in that area , like security, varity of riding spots and other things which affect how good or not the place is too ride

[steve@banbury-trials]

Just a suggestion but how about a feature on different citys/towns with pictures of a few of the riding spots, local riders etc.

and a 'star' rating on different things in that area , like security, varity of riding spots and other things which affect how good or not the place is too ride

excellent idea

i'd also buy this magazine,sounds like it could be good.any plans to have a section where people write in or send pictures of there riding?

steve

[Dan Clark]

Don't call it Tuck magazine, it'll only encourage them.

[Kieran@ZSClothing]

Good idea ian

not to keen on the name though lol

But always i will subscribe.

[Nick Manning]

Hey buddy, so this is what you've been upto. Was wandering why you've been quiet, lol. I think it's a great idea Ian, fair play to you. I think this would be really good for rider's of all levels. It would be a good read, but could also inspire rider's that have just started, aswell as old timer's such as yourself and others.

Unless you can get rider's to send in media coverage of different places to ride, I don't think that would work to well, as it would be alot of hassle for yourself, though it would be a really good feature. It would allow people to see what places are like to ride, and if its appropriate for them without having to go there.

Other than, I'd say the usual stuff, comp info/results, big organised events (DJ ride).

If possible, what about a product review 9 maybe reviews from rider's testing new products), or new products info for upcoming products shortly due out.

In all honesty, I would think laying out alot similar to mbuk, but just trials orientated. Just because if your anything but a trials rider MBUK is probably the best mag out for that, with reviews, product info, different ride locations.

Just a few suggestions there for you mate.

[Jonny Jones]

Yes Dummond! Lets get this beast rolling!

[ogre]

photo competitions, + online vote for the winner, so it gets to make next months cover. every other month

also wouldn't mind seeing the shots of the line no one can do every town has one or two..

[robster]

training bit ""how to's" for new riders make em feel welcome.............

[Luke Rainbird]

Sounds great, other than "Tuck Magazine"

[Gandalf the Yellow]

there's some good ideas on here, i think a product preview/review would be awesome, and tested by a particular rider, maybe a good idea to get the tarty guys or trials-uk riders involved in this as they will be most likely to see and have access to new products.

im looking forward to this 1..

steve

[monkeyseemonkeydo]

Sounds great, other than "Tuck Magazine"

Hehe, +1

[spode@thinkbikes]

Why are you doing this in print? Magazine sales have dropped immensely over the past 5 years - by as much as 75% on some of the magazines I've worked for.

If you did it as a website, you could trickle feed articles as and when. Coming up with fresh content for each issue in a scene such as trials, would be very hard. It's also a lot less work - doing layout for magazines is very time consuming. Doing it for a website is usually as simple as a word processor

Something to think about. You'll get a wider audience on the web, and some Google Ads would probably pay for itself.

[Luke Rainbird]

I'm pretty half and half between the full printed mag idea and an e-zine style thing.

You may or may not have seen it, but for Jon Mack's final year project, he knocked up "Revolution" e-zine/website, which was pretty cool, and being an online thing meant it was accessible to most people without needing to spend anything other than their standard internet costs.

I spoke to Jon briefly about continuation of the mag, and we agreed that it could be done, but would need a decent selection of contributers from around the country submitting photos, articles, reviews etc, however could this be sorted (and I don't think it'd be too hard to put in place) then it could be a cheaper and easier way to do it, along with keeping things a little more fresh with the ever changing set of contributers.

Stuff like road trip write ups and the like are always nice and fresh, so stuff like that needs to be in the mix somewhere, to avoid it just being news as we get on TF. Perhaps some articles on the comp scene to keep the rest of us a little more up to date, but making it more interesting than just results etc asw we so often get spoonfed.

Of course, taking this approach, it'd be best to try and keep it as a monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly (etc) thing, as opposed to the drip-feed, else it turns into trials forum, and look where we are

[spode@thinkbikes]

I'm pretty half and half between the full printed mag idea and an e-zine style thing.

You may or may not have seen it, but for Jon Mack's final year project, he knocked up "Revolution" e-zine/website, which was pretty cool, and being an online thing meant it was accessible to most people without needing to spend anything other than their standard internet costs.

I spoke to Jon briefly about continuation of the mag, and we agreed that it could be done, but would need a decent selection of contributers from around the country submitting photos, articles, reviews etc, however could this be sorted (and I don't think it'd be too hard to put in place) then it could be a cheaper and easier way to do it, along with keeping things a little more fresh with the ever changing set of contributers.

Stuff like road trip write ups and the like are always nice and fresh, so stuff like that needs to be in the mix somewhere, to avoid it just being news as we get on TF. Perhaps some articles on the comp scene to keep the rest of us a little more up to date, but making it more interesting than just results etc asw we so often get spoonfed.

Of course, taking this approach, it'd be best to try and keep it as a monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly (etc) thing, as opposed to the drip-feed, else it turns into trials forum, and look where we are

Who wants to read about a ride 3 weeks after it happened?

A lot of the people on here can't write properly. Even professional writers have sub-editors. Running/starting a magazine is a lot of work and needs a lot of dedicated people. Writing content is actually the easiest aspect of it. Maybe the trials-forum approach is best.

[Luke Rainbird]

What I mean is, in a lot of respects, we find out about new parts, get reviews, see a lot of pictures etc on here. If it's already available free on here as soon as it's happened, then yeah a magazine that's monthly or whatever will put it a bit out of date, but then do we really need it posted up somewhere else as well?

I'm not saying that it should be done one way or another (far from it), just that it needs to be thought about properly either way. Road trips, DVD reviews, rider interviews; that sort of thing can all be put into an e-zine or blog style site without really running the risk of being on here already, which would be a nice addition.

A decent range of contributers writing articles, submitting pictures and content is all well and good, and should be relatively easy to set up, but there will need to be someone (or a few people) 'vetting' (for want of a better word) the submissions before they 'go live', so to speak

[F-Stop Junkie]

Print magazines have two major problems:

Contributors

Layout

The reason why forums do so well is that users are generating content - at varying levels of quality - very frequently. Plus the reward for posting content is very quick. To get people to have to write so many words by such and such a date (and for no money, at least at first) is hard to sustain. Look at HipHop, it often includes bits about motorbike trials or some such to fill up space. Product news is hard to do these days as you'll get neighsayers on the forums going 'heard it, old news...'

Once you've got words and photos, if you've got someone to proof read and do layout then you're onto a winner. If you haven't, it's a long, hard process.

I'm sure you've got high hopes and expectations for this Ian, but you need to maintain high quality. If you're accepting content from anyone, then you need to be able to turn stuff down. Nothing will kill a magazine more quickly than mis-spellings and blurry photos. You can get away with it on a forum because you're not paying for it. When someone is paying good money, you need to provide a good product. This leads me onto...

One thing that always comes up is 'let's feature riders of all levels'. A noble sentiment, but why do I want to read about a load of people I've never heard of who arn't great riders? By all means, feature riders of all ages, but there has to be substance and reason as to why - not just because we feature anyone. If I'm paying good money, I want to read about good riders who do things I can't.

I'm sure you've already done the comparisons, but look at magazines and work out what you want to imitate. Take elements from existing mags, use their experience, and put it together best you think.

If I were going to do this, I'd build a news website, then launch a magazine off that once you've got an established brand and product. It gives you a chance to learn, experiment, test the water and make mistakes in a low cost, low risk environment. It also means you can keep upto date with stuff too urgent for the magazine, and it's another avenue to sell to advertisers too.

Good luck Ian, it's a difficult business - especially during the winter when news dries up! - but think widely and you'll do well.

I'm not saying that it should be done one way or another (far from it), just that it needs to be thought about properly either way. Road trips, DVD reviews, rider interviews; that sort of thing can all be put into an e-zine or blog style site without really running the risk of being on here already, which would be a nice addition.

There are some things forums don't do well - interviews, features, etc - which do work well in print. Magazines also have an authorative tone, but quality and integrity need to be maintained at all costs.

If you can build a reputation as a good writer or reviewer, then people will take your opinion onboard far more than some forum monkey.

[Revolver]

Don't call it Tuck magazine, it'll only encourage them.

I'd also not call it tuck magazine.

Nevertheless, I'd be tempted to buy one, and if it's good I'll buy it as often as I can

[Skoze]

If most of the above suggestions are included, i'd buy one

The ideas about city riding profiles etc is a really good idea!

Matt

[Diz]

I'd definately buy it every issue. Although there's a lot of talk about the e-zine idea, i still prefer to see things in print. Especially when i'm not able to get to a computer.

You could also speak to a few shops (trials specific) and see if they wanted to contribute to the magazine with adverts etc. Idont know about anyone else but when i buy a magazine i quite like looking through the shops to see if theyve got any offers, new products etc. I know all the info is available on the net but again its nice to have it in print.

Other than that, lots of pics, rider profiles, reviews etc.

Good luck with it all if you decide to go ahead with it.

[that NBR dude]

There are some advantages to producing a "hard copy" as opposed to a "soft copy" such as a website/e-zine ect.

I like to buy magazines, as it gives me something to do at points when Im not near a PC, such as on my lunch break, or sat in the car waiting to pick someone up ect ect. Having a magazine with me is a great way of passing the time, reading up on articles, interviews, looking at photos ect. A magaizine doesnt depend on internet speeds, or other limitations, you just turn a page and you have more content.

I know people say you get things for free on here, but in terms of reviews ect, I would far rather read it in a magazine, written and punctuated properly, with thorough test structures backed up facts and proper photos, not just some kid saying "its crap because it broke when i fell off doing something I clearly wasnt going to make". If I looked for a review of Try-all rims for example, on trials-forum, I'd have to sieve through about 12million posts of complete garbage, before I find any substantiated facts.

Whenever I look at an MBUK, I always go to HipHop first, dispite knowing that what Im about to read, I probably know or have heard anyway. Its hard to explain but theres something nice about having a magazine, even if what you're reading may be out of date.

As for what I'd like to see, most people have said the generals such as interviews with home grown riders that no ones heard of, reviews of products, places to ride. I'd also like to see, even just a small section, on mototrials. I know they have MTN (or whatever that newspapers called) but the actual amount of trials included in that newspaper is awful. Even just a quick run down positions in the indoor and outdoor champs ect. I know of lot of poeple on there are really into it, and it may be a nice addition for people who dont know much about the sport.

Anyway nice one Ian for giving this ago. Many have tried, most have failed, but I really hope you do well out of this, and get the enjoyment and pleasure out of it. You dont have to do it, so big thanks for having a go!

Andy

Edited June 6, 2008 by NBRCycles

[F-Stop Junkie]

I'd also like to see, even just a small section, on mototrials. I know they have MTN (or whatever that newspapers called) but the actual amount of trials included in that newspaper is awful. Even just a quick run down positions in the indoor and outdoor champs ect. I know of lot of poeple on there are really into it, and it may be a nice addition for people who dont know much about the sport.

But then if you're going to include moto trials, why not include BMX? That's like trials and a lot of people are into it. What about Formula 1? What about putting some car reviews in for people who are into trials and cars?

There's enough work to do on a magazine just about biketrials, there's no need to make it harder than it already is!