Publisher's Statement

I’ve lost count of how many times my friends have told me how “lucky” I am to publish a bike magazine. Luck, my friend, has very little to do with it.

In this day and age, starting your own magazine is as easy as 1, 2, 3. But keeping it going, issue after issue, year after year is a matter of hard work, not luck. Ask any seasoned magazine editor and they’ll tell you that their life consists of working late nights and weekends. And it’s seldom because they’ve slacked off right up until deadline time—it’s simply the nature of the business.

“But you get all that free stuff,” is another thing I hear often. To a degree that’s true, and I’m certainly not complaining. But the last time I checked, my landlord won’t accept company branded bottle openers and cycling caps in lieu of cash. Even though the magazine does pay the bills and keep me well stocked in bike accessories, I could just as easily work as a bartender on the nights and weekends, and use that income to buy all the bikes I want. But I digress.

This issue marks the completion of five years worth of magazines—30 issues since our auspicious beginning in 2007. You might think I’m looking for a pat on the back for this accomplishment, but I’m perfectly satisfied even if nobody were to make mention of it. Because I simply love making magazines. I love being a part of the bicycle industry. I love telling the story of cyclists around the world.

And I am going to take that sweet new Bianchi out for a ride tomorrow morning!

Surly