The Way of the Cycling Disciple: Publication & e-Book Sampler

The Rules: The Way of the Cycling Disciple

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)

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Septre/”/]

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.

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View Comments

Chris says:

Jun 4 2013 at 1:40 pm

@meursault And maybe not in London itself.

It's about time we got a London Cogal organised. If anyone is interested use the link my Facebook on my profile page to get in touch.
Chris says:

Jun 4 2013 at 2:16 pm
@Gianni It would be a hoot and should be done but I reckon we'd be struggling with the current cogal guidelines:
- First, Cogals are free, organized and supported through Velominati, though not necessarily a Keeper (legally speaking, however, we have no involvement, so if you crash or die, it's your own problem. Anyone is welcome to join a Cogal.
- Second, a Cogal is a day-long undertaking that focuses 100% on the bike. The rides are categorized (Casually Deliberate, Rule #5, Rule #10, for example) but are long. This is what you're doing today, nothing else; see Rule #4. Rides can be any length, but a minimum distance of 130km should be expected.
- Third, Cogals always include a session of Malted Recovery Beverage Consumption after the ride. Whenever possible, it should also include a pre-ride espresso.
- The dying bit may be problematic if we're topping up on Belgian rocket fuel every 28 minutes.
- 130km on a Boris Bike would be pushing it for the fittest pro. Trying to ride one all day and keep to the aforementioned re-hydration schedule would be require way too much Rule 5.
- And I'm note sure anyone would be in much of a mood for a session of Malted Recovery Beverage Consumption after the ride.
The massed ranks of the Velominati riding in formation down the Mall would be quite a site though. Maybe to coincide with the launch of the movie.
frank says:

Jun 4 2013 at 2:17 pm

@Gianni

@Davidlhill

mmmmm..... a London BB cogal - I like the sound of that. Of course, there has to be the obligatory bike change every 28 minutes to keep the rental cost down to, precisely, zero pence.

Which allows for more to be spent on malted recovery beverages.

I'm not too far from Grays Inn Road, but since the Amazon order has been placed I guess I have to wait.......

David

This, my friends, is the best idea in ages. Someone with a go-pro of helmet camera or something to record the fun. The 28minute intervals, lots of pints, yes. If I joined I would be dead after an hour as I breezed out of the pub looking left instead of right. pow, out go the lights.

One afternoon in London was all it took for me to realize that drinking and walking was a born way to get plowed over by a double decker bus. At least it would be quick and I'd die with a happy nitro buzz.
frank says:

Jun 4 2013 at 2:19 pm

@Chris

Hey, your link is busted. Take off the "http://facebook.com/" bit off there on your profile page. I will need to fix that bug to be less ignorant about the link, but that will sadly have to do for now.
Deakus says:

Jun 4 2013 at 2:33 pm

@Ron

Wow, good lord...imagine telling The Prophet that you're into "trying" new sports? That wouldn't be an easy conversation, especially after he just returned from the 80th anniversary of Campagnolo.

I had to nod snob a whole bunch of try folks on my Saturday loop. They were out in force. I was concerned if they removed a hand from their aerobars they might crash. I would have said hello but they all had earbuds in. What a sad way to ruin a good ride. Instead I spent my time saving three different turtles from the middle of the road, including a snapping one that tried to bite me.

Talk about good comedy - a fella in Lycra running in cycling shoes with a snapping turtle in his hands. Thankfully the tifosi were thin at that part of the stage.

Bravo....turtles feel the V too!
Chris says:

Jun 4 2013 at 2:57 pm

@frank

@Chris

Hey, your link is busted. Take off the "http://facebook.com/" bit off there on your profile page. I will need to fix that bug to be less ignorant about the link, but that will sadly have to do for now.

Cheers mate. Fixed. I think.
meursault says:

Jun 4 2013 at 3:13 pm

I don't have arsebook unfort my mail is simon.gentleman@ntlworld.com or I will use one of kids 'book.
Gianni says:

Jun 4 2013 at 3:18 pm
@Chris
@Gianni It would be a hoot and should be done but I reckon we'd be struggling with the current cogal guidelines:
First, Cogals are free, organized and supported through Velominati, though not necessarily a Keeper (legally speaking, however, we have no involvement, so if you crash or die, it's your own problem. Anyone is welcome to join a Cogal.

Second, a Cogal is a day-long undertaking that focuses 100% on the bike. The rides are categorized (Casually Deliberate, Rule #5, Rule #10, for example) but are long. This is what you're doing today, nothing else; see Rule #4. Rides can be any length, but a minimum distance of 130km should be expected.

Third, Cogals always include a session of Malted Recovery Beverage Consumption after the ride. Whenever possible, it should also include a pre-ride espresso.
- The dying bit may be problematic if we're topping up on Belgian rocket fuel every 28 minutes.
- 130km on a Boris Bike would be pushing it for the fittest pro. Trying to ride one all day and keep to the aforementioned re-hydration schedule would be require way too much Rule #5.
- And I'm note sure anyone would be in much of a mood for a session of Malted Recovery Beverage Consumption after the ride.
The massed ranks of the Velominati riding in formation down the Mall would be quite a site though. Maybe to coincide with the launch of the movie.
I see no problem with Cogal guidelines. No one said 160km, it says a day on the bike(s). Malted beverage recovery fluid would just be folded into the ride. It would be good to do it on June 20th, to go with the book launch. A large rolling paceline around London at 20 kph, full kit, shaved up. I already am stamping it for approval. The arrests would be good publicity. Roadslave will provide bail money.
Chris says:

Jun 5 2013 at 3:25 am

@Gianni Surely for something like the book launch, the keepers should all fly over to lead the charge (we'll even get some Boris Bikes done up with white bar tap for the occasion).
Chris says:

Jun 5 2013 at 3:26 am

@meursault Got it, thanks.