Archive:
EIBike Status
(January '05)
Well gosh, everyone seems to be wondering what's up with the Eastern Idaho Bicycle Magazine. This is indeed a question.
At present the magazine is "on hold" for the winter, and publication may resume in the spring.
We concluded 2004 early, having "gone to print" with only two of four planned issues. Several factors combined to
cause this shortfall, but primarily it comes down to two things: (1) time, and (2) money. Many people mistakenly
assume that EIBike is a money-making capitalist machine that pays lucrative salaries to everyone involved. However, this
simply is not true. All participants are volunteers, and some even PAY for the privilege of volunteering.
Getting straight to the point,
a modest 20-page issue consumes at least 200 hours from the various participants. General tasks can be grouped as
follows.
- Sales
- Selling ad space
- Acquiring usable ads from advertisers
- Writing -- staff and independent submissions.
- Photography
- Assemble all content using publishing software.
- Editing
- Color-correcting
- Design/layout
- Printing
- Send final proof to the printer
- Receive 10,000 copies from the printer
- Distribution: Driving all over Southeastern Idaho delivering the magazines where they will be seen.
Given that there are 10,000 copies per issue, this is indeed a huge task.
- Collections: getting slow-pays to pay for advertising.
- Update the website for the latest issue.
- Harrassing people who commit to participate, but then renege. (This is an endless task.)
Advertisment (main thought continues below)
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Advertise your business online at www.eibike.com. Eibike Magazine is Idaho's Internet-only cycling publication (no longer printed, sorry) and is dedicated to our road, mountain and BMX grass-root communities. Contact peter: peter@eibike.com Get in touch with thousands of outdoor enthusiasts in Idaho, Wyoming and the world. What are you waiting for call today!
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After we spend 200 hours on one issue, then we get to pay for the printing. If there is sufficient advertising revenue,
then we don't have to pull money out of our own pockets. Generally, we have "just enough" revenue to pay for printing
(approximately $1,500), and no "extra" money to pay for salaries or gas money.
As you might guess, most of the 200 hours falls on the shoulders of one or two people, and although many cyclists truly
appreciate our work, there are many far easier ways to collect appreciation. For example, walking little old ladies
across the street. Or taking an extra long pull into the wind. Or giving someone a spare tube when they forgot
to bring one.
After much soul-searching, we have decided that if EIBike is to continue in printed form, then we must have
sincere and sufficient commitments of both time and money prior to the upcoming bicycling season. We believe that
regional magazines such as EIBike have a lot to offer, and we hope that you will join us for the coming year.
For more information, please contact Peter Jensen at peter@eibike.com.
(Note: the magazine's website, EIBike.com, will continue regardless...)
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Sneaky Pete's Winter Workout Rant!
Road Riding at Night!
Actually it's not as insane
as you might think.
For more information contact
peter@eibike.com
(Reduced version... hafta watch our bandwidth.)
New Section! Letters To President Bush
League of American Bicyclists - bike advocacy and political action.
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