It’s always a little astounding when you think about how many mountain bike media outlets there actually are. If we are talking internationally, the number of publishers would probably take up more than four hands’ worth of fingers.
For most media camps — events where brands invite journalists to try their product first-hand — most of the time, there are close to ten journalists on deck to experience the new product, each one representing a different media outlet. It might seem like over-saturation, but each publication has accumulated a certain audience and while they often overlap each other, no audience — or publication, for the matter — is exactly the same. Every publication is a reminder of how diverse mountain biking actually is.
Last week, after 30 years of print, Dirt Rag announced that it is shutting down operations. No more print magazine, no more Dirtragmag.com, and no more Dirt Fest.
It is with a heavy heart that we’re writing to say, that after 30 years of publishing, Dirt Rag is shutting its doors and ceasing all operations, including the website and Dirt Fest.
The reasons are myriad, but the bottom line is that the Dirt Rag print magazine, Dirt Rag website, and Dirt Fest festivals were all integral to our bottom line and that no part of our operation could survive without the others. Hence, all operations are shutting down.
Thanks to everyone who helped keep the lights on for over three decades by supporting our special brand of off-beat journalism and our killer events. Here’s to the legacy of the last 30 years, to the future of our sport, and to every one of you that came along for the ride.Sincerely,
Maurice and the entire Dirt Rag staff
As a magazine, Dirt Rag embraced mountain bike counter culture and explored topics that others clearly wouldn’t. (You probably won’t see a story about mountain biking while micro-dosing LSD on Singletracks anytime soon.) The pages were filled with heartfelt writing, great photography, and inspirational design.
Editorial content ranged from personal essays to gear (or beer) reviews, to long-form feature journalism, in a widely varied, but collective manner that offered insightful information to an audience that wanted more than quick hits about the latest products. Dirt Rag also regularly invited readers to engage with the magazine through literary contests, photo submissions, and writing submissions. In a world of exclusive-feeling, uber-pro, mountain bike media outlets, Dirt Rag let the normal girl or guy put their voice into print.
As for the Singletracks’ staff, we have much respect and admiration for everything Dirt Rag has accomplished over the years. While there’s no shortage of other mountain bike publications out there, it won’t feel the same without them.
