Preorder Volume 1, Issue 2 of Trail Builder Mag To Secure Your Print Copy
It’s time to release Issue 2 of Trail Builder Magazine! We’re stoked that this day has come. After the success of Issue 1 and selling out of our print copies in less than a week, we’re doing something different this time around. We’re taking preorders. Here’s how you can secure your copy (at the end of the bottom of the page) … but first, what kind of articles and content can you expect in Issue 2?
When Sanctioning Trails Benefits Everyone by Mathew Wanbon
While the origin story of mountain biking is all about illegal or wildcat trails, Mathew shares what happens when these kinds of trails become sanctioned. I’m so glad to have this topic addressed in our first two issues, as it is an important conversation. Mathew also writes from the interior of British Columbia. Here’s a great quote from his article:
While rogue trail building is where it all began for freeride mountain biking, doing so in the Gillard Trail Network potentially causes more significant harm than it is worth.
Price & Purpose by Dillon Osleger
I’m stoked that Dillon wrote this article. Why? He addresses the tension of what happens when we blindly push for more trails without considering the long-term (negative) impact it can have on a community. While we all push for and advocate for more trails (and rightly so), this article challenges us about how to do it in a way that benefits everyone in the community. Here’s an excerpt:
Beyond the dollars flying out the door, trails come at a cost, especially so in terms of ecosystem and culture degradation.
Washoe County Builds Sustainable Trail Program by Hiring Its First Trails Coordinator by Helena Guglielmino
Helena does a phenomenal job of detailing the story of Washoe County hiring its first trails coordinator. If the scenery looks familiar to some, it’s because the story takes place in Reno, Nevada, where the International Trails Summit was held earlier this year. This article also delves into the challenges of funding and getting new trails put in. Here’s a key quote:
In addition to the trove of health and mental benefits trails provide people, in places like Washoe County the underlying goal of trails is to provide connection.
Uganda, the Home of Runners, Not Cyclists … Yet by Sam Mutton
This is an exciting article with spectacular photos about the story of the first free-to-use bike park in Uganda. Sam does a great job of sharing what this bike park means for Uganda and the collaborative effort to build it. Check this quote out:
Building a bike park in a country which has never had a bike park has certainly come with its fair share of challenges.
Dakine Builder Pack Review by Alexis Brown and Heather DeChoudens
The folks over at Dakine were kind enough to send us both sizes (25L and 40L) of their updated Builder Pack. We sent them out to Alexis Brown of the Redding Trail Alliance and Heather deChoudens of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance to test drive and then give us their honest feedback.
With this pack, we would use it daily to complete our 2-year-long project of a fully shuttleable 5-mile trail named Sweepstakes.
Why Trail Building Needs Rezduro by (me)
For the past two issues (including this one), I’ve been able to nerd out a bit on the academic side. Recently, when I met up with Greg Mazu of Singletrack Trails, I shared with him that I certainly want a bit of an academic leaning with the magazine. No, not in a mind-numbing way like many academic journal articles, but at least a little more robust than storytelling. That goes hand-in-hand with trail building since there is definitely a technical side to the industry as well. My article on Rezduro explores the topic of diversity within trail building and mountain biking as I draw from a good bit of research on these topics related to the outdoor industry.
The United States continues to grow in diversity. Yet, that diversity is not represented in outdoor recreation and activities.
Update on Pricing
In our user survey from back in September, we received some feedback regarding the magazine’s pricing. I committed to adjusting the price, which I am for Issue 2. Pricing this magazine has been a personal challenge for me. I don’t want to overcharge, and I don’t want to undercharge, so it is not profitable. The goal is to find that sweet spot in the middle. Obviously, there are innumerable factors at hand as well. Since I mentioned I will be honest with you throughout the process, here’s where we’re at for Issue 2.
Price: $13.95
Why this price? Some of you mentioned getting more paid ads to offset the cost of the printing. Interestingly, I contacted between 20 and 30 companies related to trail building and mountain biking. I only received one ad. That’s also on me, so I own that. I also wrestle with ads in magazines as a reader. I recently received a magazine issue I’m subscribed to (not related to trail building or mountain biking). I counted every page of content and every page of ads. The magazine has 130 pages, and only 26% was actual content. That means only 1 in 4 pages was readable content or even the table of contents. Everything else? An ad.
I certainly don’t want that for Trail Builder Mag, but I also know there’s a balance in there somewhere. That’s why I still hesitate to roll out a subscription plan. There are too many variables as I am dialing everything in. I hope you understand. Shipping prices will remain roughly the same. I did tweak a couple of things, but not much. For international orders, we’re eating some of the shipping costs ourselves. The good news is that Issue 2 is 90 pages long, and only one page has an ad. That means it is 98.88% content.
Last but not least, thank you for your patience. I’ve been itching to get this magazine issue out sooner, but this fall, particularly the past two months, has been hectic. I appreciate your grace. Click the button below to secure your copy of Issue 2.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean Benesh
Sean is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Trail Builder Mag. He is also the Communications Director for the Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland, Oregon. While in grad school, he worked as a mountain biking guide in Southern Arizona. Sean also spends time in the classroom as a digital media instructor at Warner Pacific University.
