How We Choose the Bikes We Review

The boss, Bill Strickland, forwarded me a letter—a real snail-mail letter, even—from a Bicycling reader who had some great questions and comments about our bike testing. I want to answer them here because they’re questions that many of you may wonder about as well. I’ll preface this by saying I don’t have any secrets. There’s nothing about my cycling equipment testing—or Bicycling’s—that’s opaque or hidden, or that I wouldn’t share with you. There’s no one behind any curtains. No cabal, no conspiracies. Sometimes there are details I legally can’t talk about because of nondisclosure agreements, but once those expire, I’m happy to talk about them, too. Like many things, the whole process is probably a lot more straightforward—and frankly rather mundane—than you imagine. Why does the magazine do a review on a bike for $12,000? I think the average reader would not buy the bike, and if they buy the lesser version of the model reviewed they might be disappointed in its inherent characteristics—weight, components, and handling. The recent article on the Trek Checkpoint SLR 9 was informative. I understand it was created for gravel racers, but who could afford that bike if they did not have a sponsorship or weren’t independently wealthy? I understand the SL and ALR versions are the next levels down. So, what about the SL and ALR models? Have you got any data on those? Did I miss it in a previous issue? There are two basic kinds of bike reviews. [View in Browser]( [Bicycling]( [SHOP]( [EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [How We Choose the Bikes We Review]( [How We Choose the Bikes We Review]( The boss, Bill Strickland, forwarded me a letter—a real snail-mail letter, even—from a Bicycling reader who had some great questions and comments about our bike testing. I want to answer them here because they’re questions that many of you may wonder about as well. I’ll preface this by saying I don’t have any secrets. There’s nothing about my cycling equipment testing—or Bicycling’s—that’s opaque or hidden, or that I wouldn’t share with you. There’s no one behind any curtains. No cabal, no conspiracies. Sometimes there are details I legally can’t talk about because of nondisclosure agreements, but once those expire, I’m happy to talk about them, too. Like many things, the whole process is probably a lot more straightforward—and frankly rather mundane—than you imagine. Why does the magazine do a review on a bike for $12,000? I think the average reader would not buy the bike, and if they buy the lesser version of the model reviewed they might be disappointed in its inherent characteristics—weight, components, and handling. The recent article on the Trek Checkpoint SLR 9 was informative. I understand it was created for gravel racers, but who could afford that bike if they did not have a sponsorship or weren’t independently wealthy? I understand the SL and ALR versions are the next levels down. So, what about the SL and ALR models? Have you got any data on those? Did I miss it in a previous issue? There are two basic kinds of bike reviews. [Read More]( [10 Best Bike Sheds for Keeping Your Gear Protected]( [10 Best Bike Sheds for Keeping Your Gear Protected]( Store your ride safely without sacrificing space in your basement or garage. [Read More]( [Support the People of Ukraine With These Cycling-Related Initiatives and More]( [Support the People of Ukraine With These Cycling-Related Initiatives and More]( Here are some of the ways you can support Ukraine—both on and off the bike. [Read More]( [If You Really Want to Build Strength, You Have to Try the 5x5 Workout]( [If You Really Want to Build Strength, You Have to Try the 5x5 Workout]( The gains you make at the gym will help your performance on the road. [Read More]( [A Barre Workout Can Improve Strength, Flexibility, and Muscular Endurance]( [A Barre Workout Can Improve Strength, Flexibility, and Muscular Endurance]( Here’s what to know before you take a class, plus exercises to try at home. [Read More]( [This Cyclist With Cerebral Palsy Found Freedom on Her Tricycle]( [This Cyclist With Cerebral Palsy Found Freedom on Her Tricycle]( A trainer challenged her to a 20K back in 2015, and now she plans to ride more than 1,200 miles in 2022. [Read More]( [Join Bicycling today for only $20/Year!]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( Bicycling.com ©2022 Hearst Magazines, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019