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Future has created a dedicated bike and product testing team, serving Future’s cycling and triathlon brands with expert technical reviews – for Cycling Plus, Procycling, Mountain Bike UK, What Mountain Bike, Triathlon Plus, BikeRadar.com and Cyclingnews.com.
The Sports Product and Testing Hub will provide one point of editorial contact for the industry for all product tests and reviews.
Manufacturers will be able to contact the Hub directly with product for review, and content will be channelled off to Future brands in print, online and on the move. The creation of the hub also means products with a wide-ranging appeal will receive coverage across a range of Future’s sports platforms.
Key contacts in the Hub team include:
• Warren Rossiter – Senior Technical Editor, Road – warren.rossiter@futurenet.com
• Rob Weaver – Senior Technical Editor, MTB – robin.weaver@futurenet.com
• Justin Loretz (pictured) – Technical Editor, MTB – justin.loretz@futurenet.com
• James Huang – Technical Editor, USA – jhuang@futureus.com
Other Hub staff include BikeRadar stalwart James Costley-White and incorporates Future’s Bike Workshop, led by George Ramelkamp. Editorial workflow specialist Josse Vander-Bilson will manage the Hub, working with magazine and website editors.
“Our brands are already recognised as the most authoritative in the world, and our millions of consumers come to us for trusted guidance on product purchases,” said Richard Schofield, group publishing director of Future’s sports portfolio. “The Hub will enable us to deliver a more expert and wide-reaching service than ever before, across each distinct brand experience.
“Working with Future’s tech editors will be easier for the cycling industry and these changes mean we can work closely with marketing managers and product managers to plan content throughout a product’s full lifecycle – from pre-launch rumours and sneak previews, through first looks, first rides, group tests against key rivals, to long-term tests.”
With the Hub in place, Future said it will up the amount of coverage of key products (with previews, hands-on-tests, reviews, etc), provide more video tests and expand the ‘Best for’ super-tests, which are aimed at helping consumers find the best gear for their needs.
