“Toronto is a great city, and cycling is the greatest way to get around it,” says Tammy Thorne, editor of Dandyhorse. It’s been almost a year for the indie magazine aimed at urban riders. Founded by the Toronto Public Space Committee’s Dave Meslin (whose current title is founding publisher), Dandyhorse launched in August 2008 with a party at Cinecycle. They have since released the Spring 2009 edition, putting the pedal to the proverbial metal.
“Right now we operate like a lean non-profit,” says Thorne. “All our income is reinvested into building and enhancing the magazine, with the ultimate goal of paying our contributors for their work. We have never lost money, and have been able to finance our aggressive growth with the support of our advertisers and readers.”

Aggressive growth might be an overstatement for the mag’s bi-yearly schedule, yet the 48-page colour product (augmented by a healthy ad ratio) is impressive for a niche publication in the death knell of print. With news briefs illustrating local issues, a feature on “door prizes” (MP Olivia Chow has “won” two!) and a profile on Mariposa cycle designer Michael Barry whose wares were commemorated by late Canadian painter Greg Curnoe, the latest Dandyhorse is an engaging read. So what’s next?

“Our next issue will come out in August,” says Thorne. “We’ll have a spread on local musicians, rockers who roll and an exclusive story on the film about the first Tall Bike trip across Africa, which will be shown at the Bicycle Film Festival this year. We will also have a look at bike-sharing potential and possibilities for Toronto, and will tell you what the perfect commuter bike looks like.”

Complementing the interests of gear-heads and vintage cruisers alike, Dandyhorse achieves the aspirations of Toronto’s most prolific indie publications. Capturing the vibrant culture of local bike riders, it’s a solid reminder for City Hall that it’s time to get in gear.