Ride-Ride-Ride ~ Part 1

If you want to get your adrenalin flowing, and your heart pumping, and your spirits lifted, then all you need to do is get yourself a bike, get yourself some friends, and join a cycling club such as the one I ran across last week at Lifetime Fitness 218. After that, you will know what cyclists  mean when they talk about the freedom to “just be”.

This was my first cycling shoot, and I had no idea what to expect, but I figured that it could make for some good spring color and flash, what with all the chrome and brightly colored jerseys. I had previously shot running events, and if it turned out to be anything like those, then it would be a lot of fun and get me some great shots.

I was not disappointed. I showed up in the parking lot at the front of the Lifetime Fitness at about 7 am and after a while the riders started showing up. I first met David, an avid cyclist who essentially has a day job at Solers Sports  just so that he can be around something he loves and so that he can ride ~ ride ~ ride.

I asked how far the group was going to ride, and he told me that they had laid on a 30 mile and a 60 mile course. Holy Crap Batman! Considering that the bike I used to ride was a 30 pound Sears 2 speed (Stop and Slow) which my mother made me use to get to piano lessons 45 years ago, I was pretty impressed. Sure , I remember the exhilaration of going down the hill on Borgfeld at the intersection of Borgfeld and Blanco, but I also remember the hell of getting only 1/3 the way up the other side and having to get off and walk that f&(& bike up the rest of the way, cursing my mother and those piano lessons all the way.

As the group assembled, I went down track about 1/4 mile to set up to get some shots of the pack as they went by on a gentle curve at the bottom of the traffic circle @ Ridgewood Parkway. I saw them coming down the slope and then there was this whirring noise that got louder and louder - it was almost like a covey of quail on a flyby, but instead of birds flying by, it was the cycling pack, the sound being made by the overrunning of the sprocket gearing as the set up to make the gliding turn.

So then, how long did I have to take shots ????? ABOUT 2 SECONDS and after that I was looking at their backsides as they slipped into gear to make the climb after crossing the bridge
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Oh Crap - this was turning out to be a fast action, sport photography gig. Making my way to my car, and starting to head out after them, I hear a lone overunner and looking to my rear, I see a lone late-start rider. As I made the turn and started the climb on the upgrade after crossing Mud Creek and could not see any of the riders ( it had only been a minute), I thought to myself,  “Man, this poor guy will never be able to catch them”. Slowing down, I had him hop his bike to the bed of my truck, and we set out after the pack.

Do you know where we finally saw them??? At the intersection of Redland Road and 1604! Passing them, we drove ahead about 3 miles and offloaded where he was able to join the pack.

Again - I was amazed at how F A S T these riders moved.

I continued to be amazed as I drove ahead of the group to set up for some shots on the upgrade at Green Mountain Road and 1604. I remembered how I struggled with my bike of the upgrades and figured that they pack would have to slow down and that I could better frame my shots. W R O N G! These people go just as fast uphill as they do on the flats, and in about 20 seconds the string had passed by and I must have taken too long to regroup, because I lost them and was not able to make contact again until, coming by one of the riders on the way back, I saw that they needed some help adn so stopped my tail on the group.

Some Observations

They move fast

They travel in a safety pack

They travel to the right and did not take up entire lanes

They are colorful

Cars are a major danger, especially with the cell phone and texting nowadays

They have a ride leader that sets the pace and shepherds the safety aspects of the ride

They have a trailing secondary that brings up the rear

Intersections are tricky and can be dangerous/deadly

An auto could run into problems trying to pass on an upgrade and misjudge the distance required and riders must always be ready to bail if the car has to get back into the lane due to an overhill car coming to view.

Would be nice if the drivers ed courses required a bike safety orientation.

A bike safety “school” such as they have for motorcycle ( Motorcycle School)??

Shameless Plug

If you would like to hire me to do sport action photography art at you next event, my wife would be happy. I will make you a good price ... but not too good.

Go to KoenigPhotoArt to see more images and book a shoot.