Unique perspective:
Our contributors are everyday riders that form the heart of the mountain biking community. They are XC racers, downhillers, weekend warriors, and dirt jumpers. We’re not separate and seemingly superior from our readers. Dirt Rag comes from our readers and is for our readers – The mountain bike forum.
Original:
No repetitive, standardized, bullet-point articles here! We look for submissions that are original, clearly inspired and can inspire others, and that are entertaining to read, covering a wide spectrum of our community's interests.
Knowledgeable:
We develop articles on technical explanations and give exposure for important access and advocacy work.
As always, we’ll continue to offer the most thorough
and fair product reviews in the business.
After twenty years of being The Mountain Bike Forum, we now have another outlet for the collective creativity of the cycling world: Bicycle Times.
Forum:
This new magazine functions in the same way as Dirt Rag, featuring the best inspirational stories, practical advice, and intelligent discourse from everyday riders, but with a focus on the pavement side of things.
Broad spectrum:
We include many varieties of two-wheeled endeavors, from practical utility cycling and hauling cargo, to touring the country by bicycle, to using a bike for basic transportation, to just tooling around for fun.
Regular features:
You'll find relevant cycling news, advocacy, travel, and our thorough and balanced product reviews covering the rapidly expanding variety of bikes available for everyday riding, from townies, to folders, to touring bikes and beyond.
| Issue | cover date | space deadline | materials due |
| 147: - Product testing theme: Maintenance and Repair - General: cyclocross racing coverage, travel - Dirt Rag Skills Series: Cornering *Promotional copies at North American Handmade Bicycle Show |
2.15 | 12.10 | 12.17 |
| 148: - Product testing theme: Upgrades - General: NAHBS highlights - Dirt Rag Skills Series: Wheelies *Promotional copies at Sea Otter |
4.1 | 1.28 | 2.4 |
| 149: - Product testing theme: Racing - General: Race-related feature - Dirt Rag Skills Series: Bunny Hopping |
5.15 | 3.11 | 3.18 |
| 150: - Product testing theme: Bikepacking - General: Annual Ride Guide feature - Dirt Rag Skills Series: Obstacles |
7.1 | 4.29 | 5.6 |
| 151: - Product testing theme: Gravity - General: Dirt jumping feature - Dirt Rag Skills Series: Pivoting *Promotional copies at Interbike |
8.15 | 6.3 | 6.10 |
| 152: - Product testing theme: Night Riding - General: Literature Contest winning entry - Dirt Rag Skills Series: Momentum and Lines |
10.1 | 7.29 | 8.05 |
| 153: - Product testing theme: Winter - General: Interbike highlights, Literature Contest #2 entry - Dirt Rag Skills Series: Ice and Snow *Issue on the newsstand for 12 weeks |
11.15 | 9.30 | 10.7 |
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Our testing themes will cover some, but not all, of the reviews in a given issue—we'll strive to keep a wide variety of product reviews in each issue to keep our audience interested. A portion of our editorial will reflect our testing themes, but again, variety is the spice of life.
| Issue | cover date | space deadline | materials due |
| 5 Spring: - Product testing theme: Long-Distance Comfort - General: Touring and Long Distance Gear roundtable - Fenders Primer *Promotional copies at North American Handmade Bicycle Show and Sea Otter |
2.15 | 12.10 | 12.17 |
| 6 Summer - Product testing theme: Commuting by Bike - General: Multi-modal transportation - Locks Primer |
4.1 | 1.28 | 2.4 |
| 7 Fall - Product testing theme: Practicality and Utility - General: Hauling loads large and small - Tools Primer *Promotional copies at Interbike |
5.15 | 3.11 | 3.18 |
| 8 Winter - Product testing theme: Prepare for Winter - General: Interbike Highlights - Cold-weather roundtable |
7.1 | 4.29 | 5.6 |
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Our testing themes will cover some, but not all, of the reviews in a given issue—we'll strive to keep a wide variety of product reviews in each issue to keep our audience interested. A portion of our editorial will reflect our testing themes, but again, variety is the spice of life.