Trail Rider Magazine

January

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WHEEL SPIN the Digital era By Kevin Novello W ell, here it is, our foray into the digital era. I'll admit, it feels a little weird. Maybe like when the old school Enduro riders first experienced the new National Enduro format? The new enduro format kinda felt like an old school Enduro, but it really wasn't. Being here in digital-land is somewhat bittersweet. I still prefer print and we will pick it up again in February, but sometimes producing a regional print magazine is like trying to squeeze into clothes that just don't fit anymore. I like not being bound by page count, or feeling otherwise restricted by the depressing economics of a regional print magazine. While print is still our first priority, I can easily see the advantages and huge potential associated with a Digital Trail Rider, some of which are a larger and more diverse audience, the option for more Editorial content and expanded coverage of different regions. I also can't leave out the option for embedded video.....all at a fraction of the production cost, and free to you. Maybe I should back up, as there are many people that are probably seeing Trail Rider for the first time. Believe it or not, Trail Rider is the nation's oldest off- road magazine. The magazine was started in 1970, and has been in print since. We have always been a regional publication with an emphasis on the northeast off-road scene and its amateur riders. We do not cover moto - our life is the rolling single track amongst the trees. We are moving into the digital era because it has become increasingly difficult to eke out an existence as a regional print magazine given the new ways in which many receive their information, i.e., social media and the web. Therefore, it's time to evolve and join the digital parade. And keep in mind that for next couple of issues, we will run some content from past print editions to give you an idea of what we're about. As mentioned above, Trail Rider is largely committed to covering amateur series and providing product reviews 6 Trail Rider and editorial content with general focus on the East Coast. Right now coverage of the NETRA, ECEA, NEOC, ACE, and Rocky MTN Enduro Circuit (not East Coast, I know), WYNOA, JDAY, and NEOC will be regular inclusions in the monthly digital edition. If you want coverage of your local series, please get in touch with us and we will work with you. And yes, overseas submittals are encouraged! If you have a Youtube channel and want some exposure to a wider audience, get in touch with us. We like to provide the amateur racer with the same sparkly coverage that the MX Pro's receive. Also, covering the Professional offroad racer is a priority - check out the story we did on Mike Lafferty from 2012 (page 38), or our 2013 National Enduro predictions on page 64. We also want to tap into the dual sport and turkey run scene and appeal more to the casual rider; something the economics of print has made challenging. So how else will the digital version differ from the print in addition to the aforementioned examples? For starters, we will have the ability to update the magazine 5 times per month. This means we will be able to provide national coverage in a timely manner. Print coverage will often lag behind digital by several weeks, which drives readers to web sites. With our ability to update the magazine weekly, we will now be on an even playing field with those web sites that too often provide a version of someone else's race report. We'll create our own unique version, thanks. I think perhaps the most important aspect of a digital magazine is the option for embedding video. How cool will it be to have a video accompany an article on tech tips, product review, riding techniques, race footage or interviews in a monthly magazine (again: that can be updated weekly!)? And what about helmet cam footage from regional AA or C senior riders? I'm sure we can entice the occasional pro

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