Every once in a while, you stumble across a quote that changes your outlook on how you approach life. Of course, this requires that one does a good deal of “reading”, which is a problem for me, as reading anything that isn’t Cycling-related feels the same as doing “work”. I do the odd bit of it nevertheless, and in a recent such episode, I encountered a quote by Tommy Edison, inventer of several handy contraptions, including the lightbulb and motion picture:
Vision without execution is hallucination.
This brilliantly points out the fact that merely having an idea is nothing without the conversion of that idea into a tangible result. That, of course, is the elusive and difficult bit, but it is also the fun bit. Taking an idea from concept to reality is one of the most exciting and rewarding things a person can do.
It was about this time last year that James Spackman approached me via email and suggested we put a proposal together to do a book on The Rules. We loved the notion of this, and the Keepers set about putting a concept around this abstract notion, and a plan for how we might accomplish it. James provided feedback and guidance on how best to frame the concept, and led us through the proposal process. The proposal was approved, they made us an offer, we signed a contract, and turned around to stare down the business end of 70,000 unwritten words. Little by litte, we chipped away at it, and today, I am very happy to announce that the book has gone from concept to manuscript to editing to printing. What you see here are photographs of the actual book, printed and ready for sale on June 20, 2013. A free eBook Sampler with extracts from the book will be available free from June 6 to June 19. (Incidentally, the book will initially be published in the UK and Commonwealth countries; the US release of the book is expected in the Spring of 2014 through our US Publisher, WW Norton.)
The Rules stands apart from many blog-to-book concepts, where a book is little more than a re-publication of the blog’s archives. It was important to us that if people are paying for a book, that they are getting something they haven’t already read for free online. We also wanted to take advantage of the wonderful experience one has when reading a book; the sound and feel of a hard cover, the texture of quality paper, the creaking of the spine as you turn the pages, and the smell of the whole package.
The format of the book is very different from how The Rules are presented on Velominati. The book is organized into V sections, with each of The Rules aligned into one of them. The sections all have an introduction, and for every Rule, a passage has been written that either provides history or in some other way justifies the Rule, or provides an anecdote from our various lives as Velominati that might provide insight into why that particular Rule is in existence. The entire text is framed with a Prologue and Finale and topped off with an introduction by my personal Cycling Writer Hero, Will Fotheringham. With the exception of a paragraph here or there that was borrowed from our archives, the entire book is comprised of new material.
It gives us tremendous pleasure to see this project come to life as a real, tangible book. Special thanks to Sceptre Books for taking a chance on us. Words can’t describe our appreciation of our editor, Drummond Moir, who was the most incredibly patient man and guided us expertly through the process of write a great book. (Sorry for having accused you of being English, mate.) Thanks to Nikki Barrow, our publicist in the UK; keep your ears on the papers, radio and television waves as the fruits of her labors come to light. Finally, thanks to the Community for making this such a fun place that someone might want to do a book in the first place, and for tolerating our dull writing on account of all our creative powers having been drained into the book. I also suppose this means that the V Keepers should start considering themselves writers or, worse, authors. Strange to say the least, especially since I have always considered myself a software developer.
Keep your eye on the Sceptre Facebook and Twitter for the latest, and everyone rush to your nearest bookseller on June 20 to pick up your copy.
Amazon:
The Rules: The Way of the Cycling Disciple
Obey the Rules: A Free Extract (eBook)
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View Comments
@Mikael Liddy
Similar to my LbS enquiry in Sydney - July 7th.
I wanted to ask how much it weighs and does it come in carbon but restrained myself.
Thanks Frank! Solved the VMH's quest for my Father's Day surprise!
I cant wait till the samples are available this week and cant wait to get a copy. Well done and I look forward to the read.
Have not posted for a while (this year...) but drooling at the prospect of this. Have Kindle, but think the print version is a must. No local book store in Stevenage though, Amazon it is.
@gregorio
Pedalling under fire is always regarded above all other conditions as "hard man" territory...even "The Badger" would have thought twice about continuing....I hope the bruise is worthy of a story or two in the pub/bar!
We may also want to recruit the "striker" of that ball for sniper duties in Afghanistan....
Did Cycling News get an advanced publicity copy?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert-millar/tales-from-the-underground-the-honeymoon-is-over-for-sky-and-wiggins
Last paragraph refers...
Haven't we had the brake controversy discussion before?
@the Engine
What's the chances of the wee scot showing up on Saturday morning?
@the Engine
Yup we have and think we concluded it was a Geographical Cultural Issue to be left with the Proletariat to debate ad nauseum (I am still on UK right is front and left is back which makes me an amoeba probably)
However the Wiggo Froome thing seems to me to be much ado about nothing....this was a long time coming and I actually think a lot of it is mischevious press meddling by Sir Brad (who has that kind of sense of humour).
1. Twiglet has won the Tour, he is a big fan of the history of cycling and associated mythology, I always thought this year he was going to go for the Giro and Vuelta....I never for one moment thought he would be at the Tour (even riding for Froomedog) because it would ruin his chances at La Vuelta.
2. He does not have the performance to grand stand in front of the media and Brailsford will not be in the least be intimidated by any posturing because he already has a strong team even without Wiggins.
3. This is all media hype, largely fuelled by Sky, Twiglet and Froomey and their respective partners. The mantra "All publicity is good publicity" is defininately appropriate here.
4. He will be too heavily marked at the Tour, his inability to stand up on the pedals and accelerate in the mountains will mean he can not win it. It is not the kind of Tour that will allow a timetrialler to walk away with it, the pure climbers may show more face at this years tour and Sir Brad knows it.
This does not mean that I think Vroomey will win it, his form looks good, but I think he has some tough competition to beat and Sky need a new tactic other than "single pace, ride back up to the front at xyz watts". It was good enough last year, but not on this course.....I look forward to the Dauphine which will speak volumes...
Now you just watch, everything I have said be completely wrong when the Tour starts!
@eenies
Then I'd be truly buggered on the CoM
@the Engine
Is this a veiled suggestion that Froome needs to reign in his VMH?
Is suspect that he often thinks of this clip when she lets loose on twitter.