Last week, I received my last issues of Bicycling and Mountain Bike magazines. I’ll probably receive the customary last-issue-after-your-subscription-runs-out-to-entice-you-to-resubscribe, but I’m not bitin’.

I subscribed to these magazines three years ago. I was new to mountain biking and super hungry for info regarding my new sport. I wanted more. I just wanted more – lots more. Sure, I got some great training information, which is exactly what I wanted, but it got repetitive pretty quickly. Sometimes, it wasn’t really there at all.

What I really didn’t appreciate were their annual buyer’s guides – the same issue for both magazines. Basically, once per year, two magazines, bundled together, would arrive in my mailbox. They were completely useless to me because they were chock full of items I would never buy. Seriously, if I want to buy something, I do a little research on the Internet and then speak with my super-trustworthy bike guys who have done an amazing job, over the last three years, suggesting the best equipment for me.

Training wasn’t my only motivation for subscribing to these magazines. Receiving these magazines was great for motivation and inspiration. Fortunately for me, motivation and inspiration, along with education, now come with the responsibilities of my newest volunteer position: MMBA At-Large State Board Member. I get to see the world of mountain biking in a different light. I am now being provided with information and resources that are furthering my political education in mountain biking advocacy. It is new and exciting and it gives me something to do, which is really all I ever need.

Fairly recently, in the MMBA Forum, someone asked which mountain biking magazines were the best. Many people had different opinions because they had different needs, but all were looking for some sort of motivation or inspiration. If you find that this is what you are searching for, then I recommend pushing the magazines aside and volunteering in a trail day or searching for ways to fight for your favorite trails from the comfort of your keyboard. Getting involved is the greatest motivator of all. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to pick up the occasional bike magazine for the [porcelain] throne room.