Does anyone think the first revamped issue of inside Tri was outstanding and the second bimonthly issue lacked content. I was looking through and
found way too many slick full page ads and not enough stories or reports. What does everyone else think?
Does anyone think the first revamped issue of inside Tri was outstanding and the second bimonthly issue lacked content. I was looking through and found way too many slick full page ads and not enough stories or reports. What does everyone else think?
I did not get mine yet. Yes, I like the first. Hope mine comes soon and I’ll let you know.
I kind of thought the same thing as I was reading through mine last night. I like the format and great pictures. But take their high tech feature. Mostly full page displays of 1 item with just a short paragraph. I think they should just fold the two magazines together especially if Inside Tri is published only every other month. If you read the editors comments they are looking for input!
I feel like that is happening with a lot of magazines these days…
Thats funny I completely agree. Why was there a 10 page article on wind tunnel testing? Who cares about that? And then the rest of the magazine was basically ads… its not like anyone whos serious about tri hasnt seen those things before. If it continues like that i’m cancelling.
Really, you got nothing out of that article? No appreciation for what goes into building truly fast bikes or wheels? No understanding about what goes on behind the scenes at the tunnel? Something to give a tangible reason why things cost what they do? There has never been a forum to do an in-depth article like that in Triathlete. Suddenly we have one… I’m just trying to sort out what was lacking. I do a lot of tunnel stories about this brand or that brand, but we’ve never done anything like that article. I found a lot of stuff that was enlightening for me as I researched it, and thought the final product was equally enlightening. Maybe you’ve been to the tunnel a ton, maybe more than I have.
Please, let us know what you want. If you are bored by what was presented and consider it rote, please enlighten me/us about what it is that you find fascinating. We wanted to do a great issue highlighting the creme de la creme technology — true technology, no bullshit spin — that our sport has on offer. What came was a succinct explanation of that technology with beautiful photography done by a professional photographer who has shot Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky. We wanted to explain the mystery and nuance of the wind tunnel, and painted a picture that, I think, told that story in an interesting way.
Please let us know what you want. While I work for Triathlete, I was asked to help present the tech issue in IT. I am proud of what we delivered…it’s why I signed on to double my workload between the two magazines for that month, with no extra benefit other than to produce an issue that kicked ass and delivered something not seen in Triathlete—a true differentiation.
But if you see where there were holes for that particular issue (since I have some ownership in it), please let me know; obtuse criticism doesn’t really help much. Ads, not much we can do about that. I’m sure you would love a magazine with no ads, but then I would be out of a job. Personally, I like eating food and having a roof over my head. But I think IT is doing a great job of flowing the stories so they’re not totally broken up by ads.
Anyway, do shoot editor TJ Murphy a line if you have an opinion, good or bad… we all want this to kick ass, but he wants this to do more so than anyone. Two months in, I think they’re doing a pretty wonderful job, delivering something the sport has not seen. Email TJ at tjmurphy at competitorgroup dot com or me at jprasuhn at competitorgroup dot com, and give us some feedback, good or bad.
-Jay
While I’m interested somewhat in that stuff (aero testing) i felt the article was too long and somewhat boring. I also feel that having a “gear issue” is a waste of time, no matter what the sport. Casual triathletes dont care about fancy gear and most everyone else knows about new gear from other sources (ie slowtwitch). no need to fill a magazine with that stuff.
The race pics last time were amazing and beatiful. I liked Bob Babbit’s article last week, and I thought Scott Molina’s peice this time was nice. Everything else? So so, but thats just me.
What exactly is Inside doing to be different than Triathlete? I like them both, but for different reasons.
Well, now, I will go completely the opposite direction. I loved the wind tunnel article and found it quite insightful. I absolutely love the new format - the layout and pictures are spectacular. My only “complaint,” for lack of a better word, was that the latest issued seemed to end too quickly. I got through, what I felt was, a very informative wind tunnel article, was completely geeked out by the “Envelope’s Edge,” thought “How Far We’ve Come” was very interesting, then … poof … seemed like it was over. I wish there was more. It just went too quickly. I want more. Not different, just more.
I subscribe to Triathlete and Inside Tri. I get my fill of articles and training advice from Triathlete, so, I do not need more of what is contained in Triathlete. I just want more in Inside Tri. I guess that is not really a bad thing, from the mag’s perspective, because it has me eagerly awaiting the next issue. Don’t mistake me as saying I felt “cheated” by lack of content. I just want more.
Cannot wait to see the content when we get into the heart of the race season.
I wouldn’t want to be a print glossy with the attendant long lead times trying to compete with web based publications right now. It’s a new paradigm.
i completely agree with JSA. i really like the wind tunnel article, and want more articles with interesting and well researched items. i do NOT really need more of what is in triathlete mag.
i definitely dig the glossy format and the pictures.
i would like to see more in-depth gear reviews. and when i say reviews, i mean actually in depth testing and objective writeups, with an intelligent (and non-advertising-biased) subjective summary. when i say review, i dont mean copy/paste company blurb and press media. if nothing else, do a review of 3 top brands in any category (bikes, shoes, goggles, wheels, energy drinks, etc).
it’s connected with triathlete… read triathlete and look at inside tri. photos are more motivational?..
“What exactly is Inside doing to be different than Triathlete?”
It’s meant to hit a totally different consumer, one that has been in the sport for a while, who has had enough training articles. So you won’t find training articles in it, no "10-best’ anything in Inside Tri. The new flavor of Inside Tri is one more in-depth features, whether on elements of our sport, people within it, its history, stuff like that. Stuff that really wouldn’t be given its due in Triathlete.
So, Triathlete is more fostering growth of the sport on a more base level. But for those who either, or want to delve more into the sport’s nuiances and people, or want recall the sport’s history in a lengthy format, with big, beautiful art—and all in thick, glossy stock befitting a place on your coffee table—Inside Tri is that magazine.
Some will like one or the other, and some will like both, and I can appreciate those who fail to see the vision of Inside Tri, as it’s not for everyone. But given the high level of general knowledge—whether tech or history or appreciation of great race or studio photography—folks here on the forum have, I’d think the new version of IT would be more or less a hit.
I know TJ wants to deliver something you all look forward to every two months, so we appreciate the feedback for sure.
-Jay
Does anyone think the first revamped issue of inside Tri was outstanding and the second bimonthly issue lacked content. I was looking through and
found way too many slick full page ads and not enough stories or reports. What does everyone else think?
Yes, I agree and was going to initiate a post just like this one. The pictures are cool but I want even more articles. How about a more in depth discussion with Scott Molina including his positive drug test, his amazing career, etc. Wind test article was also enjoyable but once I finished that I was left with some nice pictures but not much reading. Where’s that Tinley thread anyway??
I was disappointed. The pictures were nice, I guess. I am not all that into gear/tech. I don’t really want to see an entire issue devoted to one topic.
I’d just like to actually receive the magazine. Subscribed in Nov. '08…never even seen an edition yet. Sent email requesting my subscription and told to basically wait my turn, that I had not subscribed in time to receive Dec. issue. So, it’s Feb. now and still no Inside Tri. Methinks emailing again will land on same dead end. 
Maybe you’ve some pull, Jay. Thanks.
I’m in the same boat. My check has been cashed and I have yet to see my first issue. I think I sent out my check in November.
x3
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Ok, mine came in the mail today. Since I’m home sick I had time to read it.
I liked it.
I thought the wind tunnel article was interesting.
It’s like Powder/Surfers Journal.
I like the spin IT has, well done.
PS: I hope they get the time to make it even better.
Thanks on the thoughts, y’all… seriously, keep it comin’. I know IT is meant to be esoteric, but to a degree, such that we’re not just catering solely to initiated few that shop exclusively at R&A , Inside Out and Nytro… we still want to educate a bit, just not to the base level as is seen in Triathlete. TJ is still building the mag, and all input is good toward creating something that every two months you’re jazzed to get with content you want to sit and absorb, rather than flip through. And gawd, I sure as hell don’t want it to be boring… particularly my own stuff!
Check me out, shilling for IT as an editor for Triathlete and spartan Slowtwitch contributor. I feel dirty. I should be stoned.
TJ has said he wants your subscription stuff looked after, so if you’re having sub troubles, email him directly, and he will be more than happy to rattle some cages to get something done.
-Jay
Frankly I was pretty disappointed. I’m an avid reader and after looking at the pictures (which I liked), I read the articles. Nothing really stood out and I walked away being like “what did I get out of that!”. First issue was interesting, I read some articles twice.