Escape Collective to Replace Cycling Tips
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I didn't find the original website anything special, same with the podcast. I do hope they succeed as they all seem like nice people but i'll be giving it a while before I subscribe.
If there were honest reviews and they didn't avoid any talk of PED's or scandals then I'd be in. It would be nice to get genuine insights and news.
Currently I find it hard to beat forums like this for everything I need.
If there were honest reviews and they didn't avoid any talk of PED's or scandals then I'd be in. It would be nice to get genuine insights and news.
Currently I find it hard to beat forums like this for everything I need.
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I pay £72 for an annual subscription to Rouleur and more than half of that magazine is just blatant paid advertising nowadays, with no effort made to judge or assess products objectively. And Rouleur's podcast is a joke in that respect too.
So to swap that for actual independent journalism seems like a sensible idea.
So to swap that for actual independent journalism seems like a sensible idea.
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I see the old Rouleur editor, Andy McGrath is part of the Escape Collective team. He's a good writer.Poddle wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 2:59 pmI pay £72 for an annual subscription to Rouleur and more than half of that magazine is just blatant paid advertising nowadays, with no effort made to judge or assess products objectively. And Rouleur's podcast is a joke in that respect too.
So to swap that for actual independent journalism seems like a sensible idea.
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If you read reviews on CT you'd have seen that these same journalists don't hold back when they dislike a bike. For example the Dogma F was heavily panned. I think it's easy to forget that the dependence goes both ways: in a crowded market bicycle manufacturers also *want* their products reviewed by someone like James Huang (widely considered one of the best in the biz) because a good review helps them stand out.thirdsun wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 12:01 pmThat's the problem. If a bike disappoints they should be able to come out and say that. They could also have a discussion with different reviewers and viewpoints. However at the end of the day they still rely on manufacturers sending them their bikes to test. I don't see how a lack of advertising can change that dependance...unless they are willing to go out and buy their own S-Works and Pinarellos to review.
And yes, I agree that we need more hard facts in addition to ride impressions. Again, I'm very grateful for Tour's testing. Nobody else seems to be able to pull it off. These days manufacturers won't even tell you what their bikes weigh.
The best thing about a subscription model is that if you (and enough others) want more "hard" data then the incentives of the publication are 100% aligned with you.
That was a very good example, very detailed, but the only one I recall.thebikemanguy wrote: If you read reviews on CT you'd have seen that these same journalists don't hold back when they dislike a bike. For example the Dogma F was heavily panned. I think it's easy to forget that the dependence goes both ways: in a crowded market bicycle manufacturers also *want* their products reviewed by someone like James Huang (widely considered one of the best in the biz) because a good review helps them stand out.
I Just listen their latest podcast and during the talk about the new SRAM groupset, they mentioned the previous gen « looked absolutely terrible »… while I totally agree… I don’t recall CT previously saying this and saying it at the last minute of the game only makes me wonder, why wasn’t it raised during launch?
Those are the comments that annoy me, those gentle critics made to smooth the angles with the brands.
Last edited by C36 on Fri Mar 03, 2023 7:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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As weight weenie long before I was a tech writer, I hear ye all on the hard data and facts. I am planning to include a hefty chunk more in my Escape Collective reviews. Currently working on finalising exactly how this will look. Stay tuned.
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As far as I know, there is no new Cycling Tips podcast related to the new SRAM groupset. Am I reading your statement correctly? The Podcast went down the tubes when everyone quit last year.C36 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 7:54 pmThat was a very good example, very detailed, but the only one I recall.thebikemanguy wrote: If you read reviews on CT you'd have seen that these same journalists don't hold back when they dislike a bike. For example the Dogma F was heavily panned. I think it's easy to forget that the dependence goes both ways: in a crowded market bicycle manufacturers also *want* their products reviewed by someone like James Huang (widely considered one of the best in the biz) because a good review helps them stand out.
I Just listen their latest podcast and during the talk about the new SRAM groupset, they mentioned the previous gen « looked absolutely terrible »… while I totally agree… I don’t recall CT previously saying this and saying it at the last minute of the game only makes me wonder, why wasn’t it raised during launch?
Those are the comments that annoy me, those gentle critics made to smooth the angles with the brands.
Moots Vamoots RSL (2019)-Super Record 12
Cervelo S1 (2010)-Super Record 12
Kestrel RT700 (2008)-Dura Ace 9000
Mosaic GT-1 (2020)-SRAM Red viewtopic.php?f=10&t=174523
Cervelo S1 (2010)-Super Record 12
Kestrel RT700 (2008)-Dura Ace 9000
Mosaic GT-1 (2020)-SRAM Red viewtopic.php?f=10&t=174523
The former CT is running the podcast “the placeholders” and are the same team launching the “escape collective” we are discussing here.rollinslow wrote:As far as I know, there is no new Cycling Tips podcast related to the new SRAM groupset. Am I reading your statement correctly? The Podcast went down the tubes when everyone quit last year.C36 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 7:54 pmThat was a very good example, very detailed, but the only one I recall.thebikemanguy wrote: If you read reviews on CT you'd have seen that these same journalists don't hold back when they dislike a bike. For example the Dogma F was heavily panned. I think it's easy to forget that the dependence goes both ways: in a crowded market bicycle manufacturers also *want* their products reviewed by someone like James Huang (widely considered one of the best in the biz) because a good review helps them stand out.
I Just listen their latest podcast and during the talk about the new SRAM groupset, they mentioned the previous gen « looked absolutely terrible »… while I totally agree… I don’t recall CT previously saying this and saying it at the last minute of the game only makes me wonder, why wasn’t it raised during launch?
Those are the comments that annoy me, those gentle critics made to smooth the angles with the brands.
https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/t ... 0602560729 (I liked it, prefer them talking technical than race coverage, but that’s my personal taste).
That would be great! Curious how you can do it with such a dispersed team but I like that you have it in mind!ronanmclaughlin wrote:As weight weenie long before I was a tech writer, I hear ye all on the hard data and facts. I am planning to include a hefty chunk more in my Escape Collective reviews. Currently working on finalising exactly how this will look. Stay tuned.
Last edited by C36 on Fri Mar 03, 2023 10:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I just went back and re-read the original Force AXS review on CT and the aesthetics were criticized there too.C36 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 7:54 pmThat was a very good example, very detailed, but the only one I recall.thebikemanguy wrote: If you read reviews on CT you'd have seen that these same journalists don't hold back when they dislike a bike. For example the Dogma F was heavily panned. I think it's easy to forget that the dependence goes both ways: in a crowded market bicycle manufacturers also *want* their products reviewed by someone like James Huang (widely considered one of the best in the biz) because a good review helps them stand out.
I Just listen their latest podcast and during the talk about the new SRAM groupset, they mentioned the previous gen « looked absolutely terrible »… while I totally agree… I don’t recall CT previously saying this and saying it at the last minute of the game only makes me wonder, why wasn’t it raised during launch?
Those are the comments that annoy me, those gentle critics made to smooth the angles with the brands.
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Oh wow, had no idea the "placeholders" podcast even existed. Thanks C36
Moots Vamoots RSL (2019)-Super Record 12
Cervelo S1 (2010)-Super Record 12
Kestrel RT700 (2008)-Dura Ace 9000
Mosaic GT-1 (2020)-SRAM Red viewtopic.php?f=10&t=174523
Cervelo S1 (2010)-Super Record 12
Kestrel RT700 (2008)-Dura Ace 9000
Mosaic GT-1 (2020)-SRAM Red viewtopic.php?f=10&t=174523
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As someone who is in the cycling industry, this is appreciated. Keeps everyone honest.ronanmclaughlin wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 8:08 pmAs weight weenie long before I was a tech writer, I hear ye all on the hard data and facts. I am planning to include a hefty chunk more in my Escape Collective reviews. Currently working on finalising exactly how this will look. Stay tuned.
Doing bike things.
You got me curious since that’s something I usually have good memory for but that is what was published (if I grabbed the same article as you):thebikemanguy wrote: I just went back and re-read the original Force AXS review on CT and the aesthetics were criticized there too.
2021 at launch: “I have to tip my hat to SRAM for putting in the effort to make Rival AXS look good with its polished and black anodized finish”
Versus 2023 when it’s about of being replaced: “it looks absolutely terrible” and “it was absolutely horrendous”.
I it is crap I am expecting them to say it is terrible, not a “well others do better” or some sort of soft phrasing.
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That’s Rival. This is what they wrote about Force.C36 wrote:You got me curious since that’s something I usually have good memory for but that is what was published:thebikemanguy wrote: I just went back and re-read the original Force AXS review on CT and the aesthetics were criticized there too.
2021 at launch: “I have to tip my hat to SRAM for putting in the effort to make Rival AXS look good with its polished and black anodized finish”
Versus 2023 when it’s about of being replaced: “it looks absolutely terrible” and “it was absolutely horrendous”.
I it is crap I am expecting them to say it is terrible, not a “well others do better” or some sort of soft phrasing.
“Unfortunately, that budget look carries through elsewhere, too; it just isn’t the prettiest of groupsets, to say the least. It’s just a bit too utilitarian and industrial-looking to me; the sort of groupset I imagine Bruce Wayne might use if he was having a night off from driving the Batmobile around.”
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Thanks for correcting, then need to look what was force and what was rival but even saying “it just isn’t the prettiest of groupsets, to say the least” and say “it is absolutely horrendous” there is a league of difference.ultimobici wrote:That’s Rival. This is what they wrote about Force.C36 wrote:You got me curious since that’s something I usually have good memory for but that is what was published:thebikemanguy wrote: I just went back and re-read the original Force AXS review on CT and the aesthetics were criticized there too.
2021 at launch: “I have to tip my hat to SRAM for putting in the effort to make Rival AXS look good with its polished and black anodized finish”
Versus 2023 when it’s about of being replaced: “it looks absolutely terrible” and “it was absolutely horrendous”.
I it is crap I am expecting them to say it is terrible, not a “well others do better” or some sort of soft phrasing.
“Unfortunately, that budget look carries through elsewhere, too; it just isn’t the prettiest of groupsets, to say the least. It’s just a bit too utilitarian and industrial-looking to me; the sort of groupset I imagine Bruce Wayne might use if he was having a night off from driving the Batmobile around.”
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk