The Hardmen: Cover Art.
Today’s a big deal over here at VHQ; V-Pints are being clinked and backs are being slapped in celebration of our second book, The Hardmen, being released in the UK and Commonwealth countries today, June 1. (It is due out in the United States in the Fall as well as The Netherlands and Belgium in Spring 2018.)
I have a new appreciation for what a band might go through when faced with putting out their sophomore effort (which in our case was something of a sophomoronic effort). While I would never put forward the idea that writing our first book, The Rules, was in any way “easy”, its writing was one unencumbered by the notion that anyone might actually read it. The pressure of expectation for our second book might well have been something we placed on ourselves, but the pressure felt very real nonetheless. The irony did not go unnoticed that we had to harden the fuck up and focus on the business of writing the best book we could manage, given the book was centered around the general notion of Rule #5.
The Hardmen is just that: the tales of the most epic rides and riders in history, or at least in our collective recollection. We wrote it in the style you’ve become familiar with, (ir)reverently with a focus more on legend than on fact, and avoiding research wherever possible for the simple fact that research feels a lot like cheating. Our inclination to make words up also proved an interesting challenge for our copyeditor.
Of the variety of obstacles we encountered along the way, that of selecting the riders to include in the book figured prominently; there are so many worth including that we could hardly set about including them all. So we picked at our whim and whimsy, and we welcome you to challenge us on both our inclusions and omissions.
With that, I will retire to the patio and indulge in more celebratory pints but not before leaving you with this very flattering and possibly unjustified review on the Washing Machine Post.
Thanks to everyone here for your support as our writing slacked off over the past year while we labored to get this book done. We owe you each a debt of gratitude and look forward to enjoying your company online and back out on the roads. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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View Comments
@Cary
Now THAT is a FUCKING Spot On cover!!!
@Buck Rogers
yeah i really like it. this era of cycling is what made me a fan for life. Lemond, Fignon, Hinault, in particular. they elevated cycling to pure ART. this book doesn't come out until the fall here in the states, but i'll be right at the front of the line when it does.
@Cary
That's the US cover...or at least a draft of it. Ironically, none of those guys actually made the book.
@frank
NO SPOILERS!!
Chapeau! Another most enjoyable book.
Since I am more of a pedant than a Hardman, my contribution would have to be to point out the typo in the Robbie McEwen story: the reference to the Tour first stage should surely be to 2007 and not 1997 (p 185).
@Cary
This will keep you wondering... According to books.google.com the US version looks like this:
however it turns up, i can't wait to read it
@Pete Linsley
Is this your first post? If so, chapeau.
@frank
WTF? No Fignon?!
@Pete Linsley
Reminds me of the story of some chap who got stuck up there in a car one winter, when asked how he survived he said something like "Well I was stuck in the car when this chap appeared across the moors on a pair of skis, he gave me a sandwich and a thermos of tea and disappeared back the way he came"......wasn't you by any chance?