Do whatever the guy on the cover of Bicycling is doing (March 2010). Let’s take a look (click on the picture to see the happy cyclist larger).
I got home from riding in negative temperatures, the Kansas wind, and the slippery snow to be greeted at home by this grinning cyclist on the cover of this month’s magazine. Yeah, I know a lot of bike snobs diss this magazine, but I am a newbie and like reading it. (Must be like Popular Photography to me, which I despise). Anyway, I took offense to this cyclist having such a great time in the Winter. What’s he doing wearing shorts, a short sleeve jersey, completely ripped and smiling this time of year?
If I designed the cover, it would go more like this:
My new friend, Bobby would be on the cover. He’s a good looking kid with chiseled features and doesn’t have the money to match his gear quite as well as the cheesy cyclist. We would make him ride about 70 miles, hard. Then I would shoot this cover shot while the sun was descending in the western sky. He’d be climbing a snow covered hill in Kansas. I guarantee you there would be no blue skies or smiling. The bike would be covered in frozen grit and grime and although Bobby is ripped it would be hiding under layers of muddy and sweaty clothing. I’d add some hard light from the side for contrast. This intense image would be in black and white. That’s right, a black and white cover shot with a colored flag (Bicycling text). No way would it say “Spring Training Issue.” It’s still winter for most of us in North America. Cyclists around here are going through withdrawals. Some have even resorted to going to spin class. Seeing that Spring statement at this time of year in Kansas is likely to put a cyclist over the edge.
Two more things would have to be changed. “Party at Lance’s place” needs to go. You might as well spit in my face. Here’s another reason you suck. You will never go to Lance’s place. How about something like, “Hanging with Matt at the bike shop to avoid cold weather” or “Just hang on, Spring will be here soon.” The other change would have to be the “Get” line. Seems like this particular magazine uses it quite a bit. “Get Fit and Fast,” “Get Power Abs,” “Get Lean Now,” and last Summer “Get Fit Fast.” It doesn’t always say Get, but it is always something great I as an aspiring cyclist need to have – “Legs of Steel,” “The best Shape of Your LIfe,” Make Your Bike Faster,” Beat Stress,” you get the picture. This time of year, get real, it should say, “Get Off The Couch,” or maybe “Get Warm With Cycling,” something a little more realistic to people in this hemisphere in the Winter.
The rest is pretty good and something exciting, Emporia, Kansas and the Dirty Kanza 200 indirectly made the cover. The “10 Amazing Rides” Headline. Check it out. On page 71 there is a list of ten rides to try around the country. The Dirty Kanza is listed – Nice!
Hey Bobby, maybe we should shoot that cover idea? Anyone want to see Kansas Bicycling Magazine?
Get outside. Feed Your Monkey!
-Eric
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