Argyle Armada: Behind the Scenes of the Pro Cycling Life [Hardcover]

Mark Johnson (Author), Jonathan Vaughters (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2012

From winter training camp on the cobbled lanes of medieval Girona, Spain, to hard-earned stage victories in July’s Tour de France, to flesh-shredding crashes at the Tour of Spain in September, Argyle Armada: Behind the Scenes of the Pro Cycling Life delivers an unprecedented look at America’s most celebrated cycling team. Embedded with Garmin-Cervélo for its entire 2011 season, writer-photographer Mark Johnson brilliantly chronicles the team’s most intimate personal dramas and its public celebrations.

More than a book about racing, Argyle Armada is a portrait of life as a member of a pro cycling team during a time of painful transition for the sport. Johnson unveils the dramatic forces that Garmin-Cervélo must navigate as team founder Jonathan Vaughters tries to push forward his vision of a reformed sport. Along the way, countless difficult decisions must be made to keep the team competitive in the chase for ProTour points, money, respect, and fame.

With all-access insight and spectacular color images, Argyle Armada offers an unprecedented look inside a team battling for the future of professional cycling.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Johnson was there, as he puts it, “like a jellyfish” to record a chapter in the life of one of the quirkiest teams in cycling.” — Bicycling magazine

 

“A happy medium between writing and photography…An insightful journey.” — BikeRumor.com

 

“From pre-season presentations through the Classics, Grand Tours and beyond, Johnson goes behind the scenes, beautifully documenting the ups, downs and sideways moments of Slipstream Sports’ 2011 season.” — Paved magazine

 

“Mark Johnson has done a great job portraying an unrestricted view of the inner workings of the annual traveling circus that is pro cycling. Inspirational photography paired with an uncanny recollection of anecdotes makes Argyle Armada a must read.” — Peter Stetina, professional cyclist for Team Garmin-Barracuda

 

“Argyle Armada brings back a lot of emotion of a long season. It’s amazing to see what a full year looks like in photos… Argyle Armada is a great keepsake from a great year.” — Christian Vande Velde, professional cyclist for Team Garmin-Barracuda

 

“With vivid photos of the racers and support crew, Johnson weaves a narrative of physical pressures and business stresses…Johnson takes full advantage of his special access.” — American Society of Media Photographers

 

"Johnson is a fine writer.... secondly, he is a truly excellent photographer in both technical and observational senses. The illustrative part of this volume is finely judged and highly entertaining." —TheWashingMachinePost.net

 

“Johnson rides inside the left ventricle of the team for a full year and the reader is rewarded with a raw and visceral look at how professional cycling is adapting to post-millennium strategies. [Argyle Armada is] a smart book written and photographed by a smart guy.” — Scott Tinley, teacher, author, and former professional triathlete

 

“Argyle Armada [is] an important book for all who are curious about what is going on behind the scenes in cycling. It’s a look at the sport itself, through moments in one team’s season.” — Cyclismas

 

“Mark Johnson is unique. It’s not often that someone is not only a great writer, but is also a great photographer.” — Competitor Radio

From the Back Cover

SPORTS/CYCLING

Victory at Paris–Roubaix. Four stage wins, seven days in the yellow jersey, and the team prize at the Tour de France. Stage wins at the Tour of California and the Vuelta a España. Fighting for first place with a budget half that of their main ProTour competitors, the 2011 Garmin-Cervélo team became one of the most admired teams in pro cycling.

Founded in 2003 as a low-key development squad for young American cyclists, by 2011 Garmin-Cervélo had evolved into a fully international enterprise that shook the foundation of the pro cycling establishment. Though the team lacked a lavish budget and the big-name stars of its ProTour competitors, it convincingly won some of the world’s greatest races.

Writer–photographer Mark Johnson spent a year embedded with the Garmin-Cervélo professional cycling team, recording its most intimate personal dramas and its public celebrations. From winter training camp on the cobbled lanes of medieval Girona, Spain, to hard-earned stage victories in July’s Tour de France, to flesh-shredding crashes at the Tour of Spain in September, Argyle Armada delivers an unprecedented look at America’s most celebrated cycling team.

Argyle Armada is a portrait of life as a member of a pro cycling team during a time of painful transition for the sport. Inside the team buses and stage-race hotels, cycling struggles to shake off the hidebound traditions of the past and expand to a global sports franchise. The charge is led by Garmin-Cervélo team founder Jonathan Vaughters and his unconventional band of bike racing revolutionaries.

More than a book about racing, Argyle Armada unveils the dramatic forces that Garmin-Cervélo navigates as team founder Jonathan Vaughters tries to push forward his vision of a reformed sport. Along the way, countless difficult decisions must be made to keep the team competitive in the chase for ProTour points, money, respect, and fame.

With all-access insight and spectacular color images, Argyle Armada offers an unprecedented look inside one team as it battles for the future of professional cycling.

Foreword by Jonathan Vaughters

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Velo Press (March 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934030813
• ISBN-13: 978-1934030813
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Johnson has written about and photographed cycling since the late 1980s. Born in San Diego, California, he studied English literature and photography at UC San Diego and completed a Ph.D. in English literature at Boston University. While in New England he began writing and shooting for cycling and general-interest publications, including the US-based magazine VeloNews beginning in 1993. He continues to do so today for titles such as VeloNews, Ride Cycling Review (Australia), Velo (France), Cycling Weekly (UK), Bicycle Club magazine (Japan) and the Wall Street Journal. He also writes and shoots for clients in the cycling industry. Mark has bicycled across the U.S. twice and is an avid surfer. He lives in Del Mar, California with his wife and two sons. Learn more at ironstring.com

To meet Mark in person, attend one of the his book talks where he'll discuss life with the Garmin team and show images from the book as well as fascinating outtakes. http://argylearmadabook.com/events/

You can also watch Mark talk about the creation of Argyle Armada in this short video from VeloNews magazine http://tinyurl.com/6rdejrg

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully crafted, informative and entertaining! March 9, 2012

By rongroth

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Every time I pick up this book I read another piece that gives me great insight into the life of a pro cyclist. The book is beautiful enough to be a coffee table art piece or can be an entertaining read on your bedside table. Yes, I am a huge fan of cycling and this book fills my need to know more. The personal touch throughout has me rooting for the team in the current season. The photos are wonderful and the writing is top notch. An excellent gift for a cyclist! (That's why I bought another one!)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book April 8, 2012

By Alvaro

Format:Hardcover

Reading Argyle Armada was an incredible experience, the photos were amazing. There are a lot of stories behind the scenes that we as fans never knew. Well written, beautiful photos and a lot of heart.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome photos and writing March 4, 2012

By Jane

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an incredible book. The writing is outstanding and captivating, and the photos are amazing. Great for people interested in learning more about the pro cycling tour, or for those who already know lots about it. Both a book you'll actually want to read as well as a beautiful coffee table book to display.