As the Tour de France approaches, it’s a busy time in the RIDE Media office. One job is finished… now it’s back on the road to ride and enjoy one of life’s true pleasures: cycling.

Here is a little update on delivery of the 2023 ‘Tour Guide’ by RIDE, and what comes next… 

RIDE Media news / update, by Rob Arnold

 

With the annual production of the Official Tour de France Guide complete, it’s time to start sharing some cycling-related product reviews again. This isn’t a new concept for RIDE Media, which celebrates 25 years in business in 2023, but I’m happy to say that some interesting items have been sent in for testing.

The ‘Tour Guide’ is a 212-page collectible magazine, complete with a giant pull-out poster featuring the route for the 110th edition of the Tour de France (1-23 July). It is a preview of #TDF2023 as well as the 2nd Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (23-30 July).

This is the 21st edition of the Australian edition of the Official Tour de France Guide, one cycling-related product that I hope you too will soon review.

Pre-ordered magazines were lodged with Australia Post in Sydney on Friday 9 June. Please understand that we strive to get the magazine to you as soon as possible. By pre-ordering, you get home delivery… and our hope is that you get your copy before it’s in the shops but we cannot guarantee this will always be the case.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the ‘Tour Guide’ being an ongoing success. It is Australia’s largest and best-selling cycling magazine each year; it has become part of an annual tradition for many.

This year’s magazine previews two races and has all the usual features – ie. complete team listings, comprehensive route information, plus interviews and profiles of some of the riders and race staff… and plenty of great photography.

The Tour Guide will be in shops from Thursday 15 June, more than a fortnight before the race begins in Bilbao, Spain at the start of next month.

It is a big production and this year you’ll find plenty of QR codes inside that direct you to related content on RIDE Media’s various digital platforms. This magazine+screen theme has helped free up the design a little. I hope you like the fresh look, big pictures, and overview of events that will ensure July is packed with cycling.

If you have any comments or questions about the Tour Guide, please don’t hesitate to write. And, of course, when you get your copy, please share on social media and let everyone know that it’s almost Tour Time! (I’d love to see some shots of where you hang your poster… and if it’s the map side or the other fantastic photo that features on the flipside.)

Time to ride again!

The Tour Guide (p)review above is the first in what will be a series of product features on RIDE Media in the coming weeks. 

There’s a long series of video reviews waiting to be edited that includes reviews on bikes, helmets, sunglasses, new clothing – styles and brands, and a whole host of other paraphernalia that I’m itching to share my thoughts on.

It may be that you find a written review with a video embedded. Sometimes the video might come first – with plenty of scenery and the occasional comment about my bike and what’s on it (or on me, in the case of clothing and accessories).

Some of the brands that have sent in items for review include:

  • SRAM (Force AXS groupset and Time pedals)
  • POC (helmets and kit)
  • EKOÏ (helmet, shoes, kit, etc)
  • Continental (tyres)
  • Tree Frog (bike carrying solutions for your car)
  • Trek (aero helmet)
  • Hammerhead and Bryton (cycle computers)
  • Fizik (saddles and shoes)
  • SciCon and Oakley (sunglasses)

Photos have been taken. Plenty of thoughts have emerged. Soon the stories will appear, on ridemedia.com.au as well as RIDE Media’s YouTube channel (click the ‘subscribe’ button and get notifications when new videos are uploaded).

Again, if you have any comments or questions, don’t hesitate to write.

Stay tuned, plenty more to come. And, of course, I’ll be watching the racing and offering comment when it seems appropriate.

I look forward to hearing what you think about the ‘Tour Guide’. Thanks again for reading. Say hello if you see me out there on the road…

Cheers

– Rob