Weekend Competition: The Hardmen

Contents Page 1

As I said last week when we announced the new book, The Hardmen, we had a much harder time of it writing this one than we did with The Rules. There are a variety of reasons why this is true, not least the fact that we had to actually choose which Hardmen to include in the book, a bigger chore than it might seem. Some of them were pretty obvious, some were pretty obscure, but mostly it was simply a difficult chore to narrow down the list to something we could fit in a single book without turning it into War and Peace.

Not to mention that we were basically working from memory, for our oft-stated Anti-Research Policies.

Given that, there are some major omissions, whether deliberate or otherwise. Maybe we simply didn’t like a particular rider, hardness notwithstanding (Pharsmstrong). Maybe we loved a rider and we acknowledged their hardness, but the hardness was so universal that we couldn’t zero in on a particular ride that would make the book (Boonen). Other riders featured more than once because they were so universally hard but still managed to drop majorly epic rides in often enough that we simply couldn’t keep from adding a few of their stories (Kelly, Merckx).

With that, I give you your weekend assignment: which is the most glaring omission from the book, and why? But here’s the catch: you have to be specific on which rider, and you have to be specific on preciesely which ride/action merits inclusion. Vote for your favorite omission by using the (new) like button*. If you’d like to add your own notes to someone else’s entry, just respond inline as usual. Top three omissions** will receive a free copy of The Hardmen, signed by all three authors (this will take a little time as we have to ship them around the world.)

* I have resisted adding a Like button to posts since Velominati’s inception in 2009, feeling strongly that if you have something to say, you should take the time to say it rather than anonymously tapping a like button. However, given my own limited available time to commit to posting, I have come to appreciate the elegance of being able to recognize a post for its humor without needing to respond to it with something unimaginative like, “Ha!” I hold fast on my view that there will never be a “Dislike” button, as I firmly believe that while you are welcome to dislike something, you need to hold yourself accountable for your remarks.

** We reserve the right to override the voting system and choose the winner at our discretion.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

Next Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2017 »

Previous « The Color White

View Comments

chuckp says:

Jun 12 2017 at 5:31 am

I would argue that LeMond riding with diarrhea is more #9 than any #9 ride. Compare that to Dumoulin having to get off his bike in this year's Giro.
Teocalli says:

Jun 12 2017 at 5:45 am

@chuckp

I would argue that LeMond riding with diarrhea is more #9 than any #9 ride. Compare that to Dumoulin having to get off his bike in this year’s Giro.

0

By all accounts it was for those around him.................
wiscot says:

Jun 12 2017 at 5:45 am

@sthilzy

@RobSandy

@sthilzy

Hah. No one reads the articles anyway.

The chapter on Hansen is well worth a read, btw. I hadn’t realised what a cool fucker he is.

0

Cool fucker – he can make you a shoe! https://hanseeno.myshopify.com/collections/shoes

0

Not to diminish Hansen's achievement in any way, but it has only been possible in the modern era. Until fairly recently, the Vuelta was held in April, then the Giro in May and the Tour in July - three grand tours on four months. No rider could do 17 consecutive GTs with that schedule. Chapeau to Hansen!
Blackjohn says:

Jun 12 2017 at 7:50 am

Briek Schotte

20 consecutive Ronde's, won twice, 8 podiums.

First world championship in 1948 was in a 150 mile break including 27 climbs of the Cauberg, only 10 others finished.

Died on the day of the 2004 Ronde.
Ron says:

Jun 12 2017 at 8:25 am

^ 150 miles. What are those?

Oh man, The Accidental COTHO? What a superb chapter title! That is aVVwesome.

Also, cannot imagine racing 60 km with a soiled chamois. That sounds like torture!
Ron says:

Jun 12 2017 at 8:54 am

Oh, and did anyone else notice Dumoulin's Maglia Rosa was not a full zip jersey? Goddamn, he was probably angrier than ever to be in the lead on that day!
Buck Rogers says:

Jun 12 2017 at 9:02 am

@chuckp

I am late to this. But how could LeMan not be considered? To wit … the Prologue to Richard Moore’s “Slaying the Badger.”

1

One of my favorite cycling Hardman stories of all time. I told it to my five kids with a deep reverence a few years ago and they all just looked at me like I was fucking insane (they might be right).

LeMan deserves a whole fucking Hardman book just devoted to him.
wiscot says:

Jun 12 2017 at 9:46 am

@Blackjohn

Briek Schotte

20 consecutive Ronde’s, won twice, 8 podiums.

First world championship in 1948 was in a 150 mile break including 27 climbs of the Cauberg, only 10 others finished.

Died on the day of the 2004 Ronde.

1

Schotte gets in on the basis of that photo alone. He looks like he's just stepped out of Bergman's The Seventh Seal.
Buck Rogers says:

Jun 12 2017 at 9:58 am

@wiscot

@Blackjohn

Briek Schotte 20 consecutive Ronde’s, won twice, 8 podiums. First world championship in 1948 was in a 150 mile break including 27 climbs of the Cauberg, only 10 others finished. Died on the day of the 2004 Ronde.

1'!Schotte gets in on the basis of that photo alone. He looks like he’s just stepped out of Bergman’s The Seventh Seal.

1

Ha! Touche'!
Buck Rogers says:

Jun 12 2017 at 10:02 am

@wiscot

@Blackjohn

Briek Schotte 20 consecutive Ronde’s, won twice, 8 podiums. First world championship in 1948 was in a 150 mile break including 27 climbs of the Cauberg, only 10 others finished. Died on the day of the 2004 Ronde.

1

Schotte gets in on the basis of that photo alone. He looks like he’s just stepped out of Bergman’s The Seventh Seal.

0

Wonder if he plays chess well?