Reaching a Non-Cycling Audience

I received a copy of the first issue of Anthology magazine in the mail today - sent to me, because they ran a feature on Lovely Bicycle. I knew they'd made some illustrations based on my photos, but I did not expect to see a cartoon version of myself and the Pashley Princess (depicted complete with cream tires!) cycling through a cartoon version of Boston. Funny! Unlike the real me, my cartoon self likes to cycle in high heels - so perhaps she can teach me a thing or two!

The story they ran included an edited version of my "Bicycles for Everyday Cycling" page, which I hope will be helpful to readers of the magazine who are considering purchasing their first bike.

I think it's neat that Anthology presented the information as an "anatomy lesson" and made its own hand-drawn illustrations (by Kris Atomic). This makes the text a lot more engaging than my original version (I read it with interest!) - and achieving that is important for print publications trying to compete with online media. I can imagine somebody who is not into cycling at all picking up this magazine in their local coffee shop or book store and getting drawn into the article, becoming curious about bicycles as a result.

In addition to the "Anatomy of a Lovely Bike" article, there was also a beautiful feature on Meligrosa of Bikes and the City with her cool mixte, as well as a helpful piece on shopping for bicycles and accessories.

One reason I am pleased to be featured in Anthology, is because they are not a cycling publication, but a more general lifestyle magazine. Before I began Lovely Bicycle, there was a period of a year or so when I vaguely wanted  a bike but did not know how to even begin looking for one that was right for me. There was a disconnect between the sort of bicycle I wanted and what was available in most bike shops at the time, and I simply did not know where else to get information. A series of bike-related articles like the ones Anthology published would have helped me, and I hope that they can now help others. Besides, I just love the idea of things like dress guards, chain cases and "lugged steel construction" being presented as standard features. I hope that women walk into bike shops and ask for them, as casually and matter-of-factly as they would ask for cake in a bakery.

Comments

  1. You've made mainstream! Yay!!!! How utterly cool is that? I love the cartoon cover, and the bicycle anatomy drawing is great. The World Of Lycra which surrounds the general field of cycling can put people off. For those of us who remember riding a bike as a kid, in normal street clothes, this article will pique their interest. See? You CAN ride a bike in normal clothes, and look, these are lovely normal bicycles that people unused to cycling for years can simply hop onto and feel at home.
    If I'd seen an article like this 2 years ago it would certainly have helped me when I decided to start riding again after a long absence, but didn't want a 'modern' bike. I, too, hope it helps others make decisions that will give them a lot of two-wheeled joy in the future.

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  2. How fun! To think you've made such a difference in our world just by riding your bike and writing so well about it. Joy!

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  3. Congratulations!! I will head out to Barnes and Nobles today to see if I can find a copy!
    You are exactly right when you say many of us did not know where to look when we decided to buy a bicycle. I was lucky that a friend, Ann, who knows all about bikes (and is a regular reader of this blog) pointed me toward Dutch city bikes and this blog. I have learned a great deal from this blog and am very appreciative for all the info I have gained. Congratulations again!

    best,

    JimP

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  4. Just ordered my copy!!

    http://anthologymag.com/blog3/getthemagazine/

    best,

    JimP

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  5. I am happy to see that you made the first issue of this magazine. What an honor! I just ordered the issue. They make it so easy and I am anxious to read it and garner yet more of your information. Thanks for the post!

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  6. What a sweet little magazine! Congrats.

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  7. Congrats!
    I think that in some measure, you Velouria, are a "game changer". Thanks.

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  8. That's great! I actually pre-ordered Anthology a couple months ago; so fun to realize that's you and Boston on the cover! It's blogs like yours that have made so excited about getting a bike.

    I haven't gotten the magazine yet, but I did get that huge B+H catalog in the mail yesterday. :)

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  9. Thanks everyone : )

    Amy - ha! Yes that is a huge catalogue and I would actually prefer they stop sending it to me, since it's identical to their website and wastes so much paper.

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  10. Congratulations, that's fantastic! I think Lovely Bicycle is a great example of the idea that if you feel something is a good idea and want to promote it, just simply do it yourself and let people see.

    Cheers!

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  11. Ooh! I ran across the mag and the title of the article somewhere online last week, but couldn't read more than the first few pages, so didn't realize when we tweeted about it that it was you. :) Too cool! Now I am twice as interested in getting a copy.

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  12. Congrats! You're a master of weighing form and function, and with a keen eye, down to the level of nuance. I think because of this your perspective is often useful to bike experts and beginners alike. On this blog I think you do a nice job of presenting your observations and ideas in words and visuals, making even small topics interesting. Keep up the good work!

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  13. If I can't have a Pashley, I'll opt for an ish of Anthology with a story about Velouria and a Pashley.

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  14. Quite interesting that the formatting of the page resembles quite a bit like the old Bridgestone catalogues that Grant Peterson did in the early 90s.

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  15. Wow that's excellent - both that you have been featured, and that thanks to your blog they have picked up & are running with the 'anatomy of an everyday bike' idea.

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  16. Anon of Florida - That is intriguing, as I am pretty certain the editor has never seen a Bridgestone catalogue. But you are right, I can see the similarities now!

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  17. what's the book/magazine underneath the anthology???

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  18. a catalogue from B & H Photo
    what did you think it was?

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  19. Oh, this is too cool!! You and Meli! That cover is the cutest thing ever. It looks like your face is like a bunny or cat? Hard to see from the picture, but either one would be all sorts of awesome.

    I'm ordering the magazine right now ... okay, I'm back. Said it will take 4-6 weeks for delivery, so I will be impatiently waiting. :) I love really well-done, beautiful, intelligent, quality magazines (like Frankie and Lula) and this seems to be along the same lines. I'm sure lots of women who never thought much of bicycling before will start seriously considering it based on this issue and your approachable and knowledgable Anatomy of a Lovely Bike. Sweet!

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  20. Good call, my face does look like a catbunny : ))

    I am sorry that Meli's face is smushed, but I couldn't open the pages any wider without breaking the binding. She looks great in the picture though.

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  21. This looks beautiful! And you're right - this is just the thing for someone looking to start cycling and wanting some information but feeling too intimidated by the specialty magazines that are full of jargon. It took me a while to learn the lingo when reading things geared at a cycling insider. Something like this would have been a delight to find when I was first trying to figure out what I needed for a daily commuter bike or what my options would be.

    Lovely!
    S.

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  22. I just got home from my trip to discover my Anthology magazine waiting for me. I can't wait to dive into it...especially knowing you are featured into it. That is so exciting that you are in it! I just knew this my kind of magazine. Glad I subscribed!

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  23. hey velouria!! :D we love your anatomy article here in SF, very cool. mi gurl calitexican and I went to the opening this past week here in the bay area, and I shall be posting up sometime soon

    boston and SF within turning a page ;-)
    swoon swoon awesomenes in the bike lane, for everybody all over. everybody, grab a bike. GOOO!
    ♥xxomeli

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