Former staff of Bike Magazine will form a new mountain bike media title with Pocket Outdoor Media (POM),
Bicycle Retailer and Industry News reports.
Pocket Outdoor Media, which also bought B.R.A.I.N in January 2019 and VeloNews in October 2017, has reportedly hired five of the furloughed editors of Bike Mag after it was
shut down by American Media Inc. in October. Bike’s former editor-in-chief, Nicole Formosa, along with Ryan Palmer, Anthony Smith, Travis Engel and Satchel Cronk will form the new venture that does not yet have a title but is being referred to as 'The Phoenix Project' internally at POM. There is apparently a brand new website set to launch in December and this will be followed by quarterly print issues starting in the first quarter of 2021.
The new title is hoping to reach a wide audience including those who recently started mountain biking
due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside Bike's usual mix of reviews and photos, POM is hoping to expand the video output as part of the new title.
Formosa said, "The Bike-born ethos of long-form storytelling, beautiful photography, authoritative gear reviews and compelling video projects will Iive on in this new project, alongside a greater focus on creating more daily engagement, expanding our sense of community, and creating greater inclusivity for riders from all backgrounds and skill levels. We can’t wait to get started.”
As a side note, I just received a postcard in the mail from the corporation that bought and terminated both Bike and Powder Magazine. Since my subscription is still active, instead of a refund, the company that killed both magazines has transferred my subscription (without my consent) to something called Men's Journal. I've never heard of that publication, and definitely do not want to subscribe to it.
To cancel and request a refund, any subscribers of those magazines have to submit a request via phone before December 1st. The number to do so is 1-800-765-5501.
If you subscribe to either of these magazines, and do not want to support the vulture capitalists that killed them, I suggest calling that number above to request a refund.
I'm going to use that money to extend my subscription to Freehub, Trailforks, buy a Pinkbike T-shirt, or other ways to spend money to support businesses that do not suck.
Incidentally, I don’t think Mens Journal is a terrible publication (like say Men’s Health). But I wanted bike content, so I wanted money back.
I called bullshit on them and copied the post that Nicole did on Bike's website... they didn't reply : (
Thanks @jerrytek .... I will try the phone route.
I also oddly started receiving Men's Journal emails.... No Thanks : )
/s
If anyone doubts the impact a mag can have on a culture, ask a skateboarder what Thrasher means to them. Or just read the comments here and see what Bike Mag still means to a lot of mountain bikers.
http://https://www.bikemag.com/features/opinion/butcher-paper/
Chuffed to hear these guys are coming back!
Hopefully the future will be Grimy.
And LOL @ "The Phoenix Project"....what a great MacGuyver ode.
And another vote to include Ferrentino. Best mtb column ever: The Never-Ending Gift of Shit!
Glad they’re able to get the band back together.
P.S. not sure about @Dolores
Peace
If I wanted to read bullshit like this I'd sign-up for Twitter.