Do you know the story of Monty Python's "Life of Brian"? One of the primary investors was George Harrison. He said it wasn't really an investment, he just wanted to see the movie. I feel like you have your George Harrison out there, someone with money who just wants your brand of cycling content.
I am a huge admirer of you and your work. I first heard you talking to Richard Moore on TCP years ago. Then started following your articles on “the magazine that shall not be named”. In the paraphrased words of Luke Durbridge, you’re one of the good guys. Your attitude to inclusivity, championing young journalists and telling the human stories of the peloton are why you and your troupe have such a great following.
Indeed, when we heard the completely fucked-up situation that led to your early (albeit brief) retirement, many loyal readers and listeners found you on the placeholders. I am thrilled you have a new online magazine venture to add to the two podcasts. And the cast of writers are a who’s who of cycling journalism. We fans are silently punching the air that pretty much everyone came over from the now sinking ship that was your previous home! Nicely done!
I wish you nothing but success. I’m writing this because I was confronted by my own choice and thought it might be instructive. As a fan of course I chased down your website via the podcast show notes. I knew membership was on the table - and I wasn’t immediately put off because I value your content and was willing to pay for it. I scroll down to find the two payment options:$99/year or €1000 life long. Sharp intake of breath.
Ok let’s take each in turn. The sell would be that the first option is $8.25/month right? What’s that - less than two cappuccinos a month? Or one journey on the London tube, which I do several time a week. But psychologically I just can’t get there to dump $99 in one go. Now, I appreciate you need larger sums for your start up capital. But that doesn’t really affect my mindset as a consumer. I try again to justify it - ok what am I getting? I’ve read the website pitch, I’ve heard the podcast speech and yes I agree these are fantastic goals. Laudable aims. Essentially I’m getting cycling news, bike tech, great stories, coverage of a plurality of races and cycling disciplines. I can get most of that for free by listening to you, TCP and catching up on news via more mediocre websites. So really it’s the great stories that I’m missing out on. This is a luxury for me. And I am in the fortunate position of having a decent job, but currently many people are going through a cost of living crisis and disposable income is far more guarded than a few years ago.
I have contributed to funding cycling projects before: I made a one off contribution to EF education through crowd funding when they were going to fold. I was a Friend of TCP (£15/year), until COVID-19. Why did I stop: a) some financial belt tightening and b) I thought the content has declined a bit. I am considering rejoining because it sound like there’s some good stuff back on again. TCP have a lot of friends and it seriously supports their operation. I think it works because we feel that the membership fee is easy to justify and the extra content is definitely different to what the regular (free) pod offers. Plus we have a relationship with the presenters, we are familiar with and invested in the brand which they have worked hard over many years to harness. All of which helps be press “confirm payment”, on my AmEx app.
Why am I telling you all this? I hope it shows the mindset of a fan who wants to help and support you, but for whom the current offer just doesn’t quite work. And I genuinely want you to succeed because your voice is essential in the world of cycling. I think you may need secure an investor with the right attitude and passion to support truly independent and innovative cycling journalism. You’ll know far better than me but I think there have to be plenty of wealthy investors out there who love cycling. It’s hard to find the good guys, I guess. If you succeed then perhaps your membership model can be more competitive and it’ll take the pressure off, allowing you to be creative and grow the brand. Either way I hope it works out.
Dear Wade: I wish you the best of luck on your new Escape Collective project. It's quite the lineup that you've put together there. It's great to see that there are lots of cycling fans who can afford to pay your membership rates, and even though I can't get enough of cycling coverage, I most definitely cannot afford it, so it's a no go for me.
Wonderful work, Wade (couldn't help myself with the alliteration there!) Having got my start in a local Manitoban indy newspaper (only to be later hoovered up by Sun Media), what you, Caley and the Collective are set to achieve is mind-blowing in this era! Chapeau!
Do you know the story of Monty Python's "Life of Brian"? One of the primary investors was George Harrison. He said it wasn't really an investment, he just wanted to see the movie. I feel like you have your George Harrison out there, someone with money who just wants your brand of cycling content.
Iain and his family are saved! We need his words to brighten the day. .........sorry, and the rest of the team too. Cat 1.
We need this!. We need and want local content from the likes of Matt De Neef and others! Bring it on. Keep up the good work.
I am a huge admirer of you and your work. I first heard you talking to Richard Moore on TCP years ago. Then started following your articles on “the magazine that shall not be named”. In the paraphrased words of Luke Durbridge, you’re one of the good guys. Your attitude to inclusivity, championing young journalists and telling the human stories of the peloton are why you and your troupe have such a great following.
Indeed, when we heard the completely fucked-up situation that led to your early (albeit brief) retirement, many loyal readers and listeners found you on the placeholders. I am thrilled you have a new online magazine venture to add to the two podcasts. And the cast of writers are a who’s who of cycling journalism. We fans are silently punching the air that pretty much everyone came over from the now sinking ship that was your previous home! Nicely done!
I wish you nothing but success. I’m writing this because I was confronted by my own choice and thought it might be instructive. As a fan of course I chased down your website via the podcast show notes. I knew membership was on the table - and I wasn’t immediately put off because I value your content and was willing to pay for it. I scroll down to find the two payment options:$99/year or €1000 life long. Sharp intake of breath.
Ok let’s take each in turn. The sell would be that the first option is $8.25/month right? What’s that - less than two cappuccinos a month? Or one journey on the London tube, which I do several time a week. But psychologically I just can’t get there to dump $99 in one go. Now, I appreciate you need larger sums for your start up capital. But that doesn’t really affect my mindset as a consumer. I try again to justify it - ok what am I getting? I’ve read the website pitch, I’ve heard the podcast speech and yes I agree these are fantastic goals. Laudable aims. Essentially I’m getting cycling news, bike tech, great stories, coverage of a plurality of races and cycling disciplines. I can get most of that for free by listening to you, TCP and catching up on news via more mediocre websites. So really it’s the great stories that I’m missing out on. This is a luxury for me. And I am in the fortunate position of having a decent job, but currently many people are going through a cost of living crisis and disposable income is far more guarded than a few years ago.
I have contributed to funding cycling projects before: I made a one off contribution to EF education through crowd funding when they were going to fold. I was a Friend of TCP (£15/year), until COVID-19. Why did I stop: a) some financial belt tightening and b) I thought the content has declined a bit. I am considering rejoining because it sound like there’s some good stuff back on again. TCP have a lot of friends and it seriously supports their operation. I think it works because we feel that the membership fee is easy to justify and the extra content is definitely different to what the regular (free) pod offers. Plus we have a relationship with the presenters, we are familiar with and invested in the brand which they have worked hard over many years to harness. All of which helps be press “confirm payment”, on my AmEx app.
Why am I telling you all this? I hope it shows the mindset of a fan who wants to help and support you, but for whom the current offer just doesn’t quite work. And I genuinely want you to succeed because your voice is essential in the world of cycling. I think you may need secure an investor with the right attitude and passion to support truly independent and innovative cycling journalism. You’ll know far better than me but I think there have to be plenty of wealthy investors out there who love cycling. It’s hard to find the good guys, I guess. If you succeed then perhaps your membership model can be more competitive and it’ll take the pressure off, allowing you to be creative and grow the brand. Either way I hope it works out.
I wish you the very best of luck.
Wade, what about The Procrastinators? When is the deadline?
In your breakdown of subscribers, you forgot "those waiting for next payday"...
Dear Wade: I wish you the best of luck on your new Escape Collective project. It's quite the lineup that you've put together there. It's great to see that there are lots of cycling fans who can afford to pay your membership rates, and even though I can't get enough of cycling coverage, I most definitely cannot afford it, so it's a no go for me.
Wonderful work, Wade (couldn't help myself with the alliteration there!) Having got my start in a local Manitoban indy newspaper (only to be later hoovered up by Sun Media), what you, Caley and the Collective are set to achieve is mind-blowing in this era! Chapeau!
Have already signed up as a Founding Member - a no brainer.
Would love to be a Life Member ... but couldn't get it across the line with the minister of my finances.
Made a compromise... now a 2 x Founder Member ☺️
Great to hear your confidence. Will you be producing any interim content to turn some #2s into #1s?