Competitive Cyclist

2009 Rouleur Magazine

Why is our sport of cycling so deeply captivating? Is it the depth of suffering we feel when we push too far? Is it the fact that what we feel often engages all of our senses and that no ride is ever as memorable as the ones where we suffer worst? Is it the never-ending temptation to overextend ambition -- be it the pace of a climb or the distance of ride? Agony becomes a means of ecstasy. In this way every cyclist is one part mystic and one part athlete.

We see the occasional photo that captures this darkness. And from time to time an inspired article or even a book (run, don't walk, to buy a copy of Tim Krabbe's "The Rider") does the same. A small group of cyclists in the UK have made it their mission in life to sing their praises of suffering on a bicycle, and with "Rouleur" magazine they've done a service for us all.

Each issue is a jaw-dropping testimony to the sensuousness of serious road cycling. The photos are lavish and tantalizing. The writing is thoughtful, crisp, and as full of quality content as it is devoid of pretense. And the layout is bold and lovely -- reminiscent of the art magazines sitting on tabletops of the hipster cafés of New York or LA.

Rouleur comes out on a quarterly basis. Each issue is roughly 130 pages. We can assure you that each issue is timeless and no one has ever (intentionally) thrown one away. Breathtaking, must-have stuff.