Crank Brothers US Gran Prix Weekend

SmugMug has set it up that we can now embed some prety cool slideshows into our Blogs. Here is a few sample images from this past weekends Crank Brothers USGP Cyclocross race.



I photographes both days. Would have been nice to spend the night over instead of driving home and back the next morning.
Saturday was partly sunny which mad for some excellent lighting, Sunday was a deep and dark overcast with a light rain pretty much the entire day. Funny thing is last week a was looking as some camera rain gear - should have bought it.

On a side note, since I threw my back out at the Fair Hill Cyclocross race almost three weeks ago I have not been able to ride a bike or do any sort of exercising! Three weeks - That is a record for me!! I am hoping to try and get back on the bike by the weekend and see how I make out.

Beacon UCI Cyclocross

Saturday was my first time to photographing a race that I would not be racing myself. Since I threw out my back last weekend at the Fair Hill Cyclocross race I am still in a lot of pain but decided I would head out to Bridgton NJ to photograph the race. The day was pretty crappy, dark and cloudy with a bit of early rain. A lot of the course was covered in trees making it even darker. A lot of photographers complain about full sun and having to deal with back lighting and shadows, etc.....I prefer full sun to dark days like this and to top it off it was one of those days where you just feel like you are shooting like

crap. I had to use flash pretty much 90% which I do not like. Now don't get me wrong as I enjoy using flash for certain type of photos as you can see in my galleries, but not for a whole day.

Getting to the race I decided to leave my 300 2.8vr at home as I did not want to carry it around all day with a bad back, plus I though the course was a bit tight for a 300mm lens. So today I just shot with the 70-200 2.8vr, 17.5 2.8 and a few with the 10.5x fisheye. Another bonus for the day is since I race in the B Masters and my photog buddy Dennis S also races in the B Masters - this class never gets any real photos taken for them - so at least at Beacon I could get that class photographed once this year.

I posted a few sample images from the day - complete race galleries can be viewed here: Beacon Cyclocross
Next up will be this weekends Crank Brothers US Grand Prix Race in NJ. I am still not 100% sure I am am just going to shoot only the Pro races or a few other classes as well. Have to wait and see what the schedule looks like first.

Fair Hill "I'm dead now" Cross Race

This past Saturday I headed out to the Fair Hill "not dead yet" cyclocross race. This is a race I could not pass up since it is so close to my house. I have not been riding much - around 2-3 hours a week so I really do not expect much as far as results. I just like race cross - so well call it just racing for FUN! I showed up early to get the chance to pre-ride the course since I have never raced cross here. Did a two partial laps with team mate and photographer Dennis S. The course layout was very fun, but the laps were pretty long - rumour had it they were 2 mile laps.

Set out and photographed the earlier Womens B race and then the Mens C race. Today I decided to leave the 300 2.8vr lens in the trunk (even though I just love that lens) and wanted to focus a bit more on shooting with the 70-200 2.8vr as well as attempt some panning. I did a lot of panning earlier in the year with mountain biking, but none so far with cross. Thought today would be a good day to get some panning experience in.

So on to my race - B Masters.

Once again I pretty much only had time for a 10 minute warm up before heading to the start to get lined up. I get lined up in the 2nd row which was nice for a change (usually in the back). Start goes off and for some reason it did not seem all that fast. I was sitting nicely in aroud 6th position heading into the first switch back technical section. My race would go pretty much like this.....Slowly but surely I was loosing ground and heading back from my good starting position. Nothing dramatic, but I WAS heading in the wrong direction. The groups I were riding with I would make some attacks and move ahead, loose ground and move , back, attack and move up, etc. The course was not suited well for me since it required a lot of flat out accelerations which I have none this time of year (or any time for that matter). There were two portions of this course that hurt me - 1st was the running section thru the horse arena - I am not a runner and spend no time running so although I did not loose any positions in the running section, it did put a hurting on my lungs and any chance to recover and attack once back on the bike. 2nd was my crash heading into the barriers. Barriers were set after a 180 degree left turn. No biggie other than when I was doing my step thru to dismount my foot did not unclip from the pedal and I took a header. I was up fast and recovered well - the rider right behind me did not even have time to pass, but this is where I think I threw out my back. The remaining 2 lap my back started getting very sore and stiff. I was luckly able to hold off anyone else from passing me, but I paid for this mistake. After my race - which I finished 14th .

I photographed the remaining races of the day. and slowly but surely my back completely went out and I had a very difficlt time getting around. I should have played it smart and just went home right away.

Saturday evening I am completely out of action unable to stand or move around....Sunday is the same. Today I am still not a whle lot better, but at least able to stand straight after a few minutes.

So now my cross race season is over, but I'll continue to photograph a few additional cross races.

Some updates on photographs I have had in some national magazines: This months edition of Road Bike Action I have a photo in the rear of the magazine (2 page spread) as well they did an article on the Rock and Republic Racing Team and used several of my photos for this article. The next issue of Road Bike Action, I will have the cover photo from the US Grand Prix race earlier this fall (my 1st cover) which is pretty cool. I have also had several photos (although small) printed in VeloNews - VeloNews contacted me this week about shooting the Crank Brothers GP cyclocross race in NJ in two weeks for them - possible cover photo opportunity here - crossing my fingers.

Granogue Cyclocross and First Place!

Actually the title is misleading....don't expect a 1st place from me in cross!

Starting with the latter - My daughters had a 3v3 soccer tournament on Sunday with the Hockessin Soccer Club. I was asked to coach my older daughters team and then try to watch my younger daughters games in between - so I though this would be a excellent day to leave the camera at home and just focus on watching my kids play.

Maeve (older daughter) had an unfortunate day and went 0-4 in U12. The kids played great - better than I think they had all year, the unfortunate part was they were short a player at the start (up to 6 players on a team) and a week prior to the tournament - lost another player to injury - so they would have to play with 4 players (only 1 sub) vs other teams with 2-3 subs. Big difference especially since they had back to back games twice. The one sub we did have I tried to rotate in every minute so at most they would play 3 minutes with a 1 minute rest - still they were very tied but played their hearts out! I'll take some of the blame as well as I have no experience with 3v3 play and did not really know how to coach this game - I played soccer in high school, college and many years after that, but 3v3 play is very different. We also did not have any practices prior to help the kids with 3v3. I now kind of understand the principles and keys of a 3v3 game so if I get roped into coacing again, I'll have a better understanding.

My younger daughter had an opposite day and went undefeted in the U8 age group - I think it was 5-0. Coach was realistic advising most parents prior to the tournament that there was a team of older girls that would be near impossible to beat - they were that good. We beat then twice!! The kids played great and in the semi final game it actually ended in a shoot-out (after overtime) with Ella's team winning the shootout - off to the finals. There was an A and B group in the division which was supposed to be A=your stronger team B=...your "B" team. Rumor had it that "One" coach switch his teams putting his A team in the B division so he will make it to the finals. Ella's team put the underdog hurting on this team with a pretty decisive win - I think the final score was around 6-3.

Both kids (and us parents) were proud of how well they played. Maeve has come along way and improves each week. Smart player who understands the play of soccer and will improve each season. Ella is fearless and will play against anyone, anysize. Once she learns a bot more control will develop into a strong player as well.

Both are already talking about playing indoor this winter.

GRANOGUE CYCLOCROSS

Raced on Saturday at Granogue - MAC Series race - UCI-C1 which is the best of the best in sanction cross races. Arived at the Granogue Estate at 6am to help with parking and decided to get kited up around 8:30 to get a pre ride in before the start of my 10am Master B race. Looking through the trunk I noticed I left my shoes at home, Damn! Raced home to get my shoes and was back in enough time to check out a bit of the C race and a very minimal warm-up. Got a great position in the line up - 2nd row - which is unusual for me..I tend to fnd myself lined up in the back. Course was in excellent shape and this was the first race for me with my new wheels and tubie. I picked up a set of Token C50 carbon tubluars. Wheels and Grifo tires where excellent and the traction was better than my prior setup.

Race startd with a short prolog and my strategy was to just maintain a decent position on the long road stretch and try and save something for the climb where hopefully some would be instantly blow up. Did just the same - Probably held a position during the prollog around 15th and going into the climb. Start of the 1st real lap I was struggling with dead legs - just did not have anything there and was getting passed my a number of racers. My legs would never really come around - just seemd to be sore and offering now power.

I road the course technically sound without any incidents - no crashes, bobbles, miss turns, etc. 3rd lap heading down the last hill section to Fatmarcs section I had a rider try to pas me on the inside at a left hand corner - where there was no rome for him to fit. I held my position and was not going to give any ground. he still tried to squeeze thru and we ended up locking bars heading straight thru the tape. I was not backing off - so a quick and strong elbow knocked him off! Gotta LOVE Cross!

Last 2 laps I was right behind the top 10 group - I could hear Rick yelling it out thru my dazzed thoughts, but I still just did not have the legs to accelerate. just held my ground and ended up 13th out of probably 60 racers. Not that bad considering how I felt, plus I know my riding time is getting less and less (I'm at about 3 maybe 4 hours a week including race time now). Fitness is dwlindling, but the fun level is still p there.

Complete race photos for Granogue can be found here:

http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/2007%20Sports/398004/

Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross - Wasted Call-up

Sunday I ventured out to Buckeystown Md for the Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross race, the second MABRA series race. Normally this is further than I would travel for a cyclocross race (2+ hours), but this is the race that got me started in cross a few years ago so there is just something that I really like about it - I just keep coming back. I have been showing up very early at races this season trying to get in a few warm up laps prior to the "C" race and to be able to check out the course. I photograph about 1/2 of the "C" race and then get kitted up and ready for the Masters 3/4 race. Due to shooting the prior race, my warm ups have been very short.

The race is held at LilyPon which is a landscapers/retail area full of ponds next to more ponds..all full of lilys. A portion of the race zig zags thru, in and around a section of the network of ponds. This is a course that is not really all that well suited for me as it has a lot of flat gravel road section which are great for power type riders (which I am not) - I am better suited on technical and hilly courses.

Today's race waiting in the line for call ups and the scrum I am chatting with a few racers about how I prefer starting in the back - at least this way you are passing people, when you start in the front you get passed which is discouraging - all in god humor, but I end up getting my wish so to speak. Announcers are making the call ups and then I hear my name??? Me, a call up?

So now I am lined up in the second row - must be a photographers call up as shortly Dennis Smith (another photographer) gets a call up. WOW, pretty excited to be so close to the front row.

And the race is off..........into the short pre lap and over the barriers and out into the pond area. I am hanging with the lead group in around 10th or so - feeling excited and good about my current situation. Into the first sharp right the pace immediately drops and everyone is getting congested - then 1/2 way into my turn I get T-boned and end up going down, quick up and looking down I have dropped my chain - no problem (so I think) I quickly remount and shift my front derailleur up and start spinning....and the chain should have came back on, it should of really! Must be an issue with the Ultegra compact crank/rings - 34/50. I thing the 50 is too large a ring. So now I am off my bike putting the chain back on by hand....and everyone is flying by me at this point, everyone. Chain on and I remount - look back and there is just one rider left.....I am now 2nd from LAST! in 64th place! DAMN! What a waste of a once a year call-up.

So now I have two choices, sit back and just finish the race or try and make something out of a bad situation - I choose the latter and immediately put my head down and set to work. Immediately thru the ponds I am making some passes, but looking ahead I can see the field is way strung out in front not even able to see the leaders anymore.

Lap after lap I am passing thru the ponds and back side technical sections....but as I knew, in the flats I was just hanging on or getting dropped. Slowly but surely I am making my way up thru the ranks, riding technically sound, fast thru the corners and actually being aggressive out of the corners standing and getting in some short sprints. At this point I have no idea where I am in the field.

Last lap and I am still making some nice passes and no one is gaining or passing me back - I catch up with Mike Connair and a group of 4-5 other riders who are riding very strong. I join the group and try working ahead....now we hit the long gravel road section. I am feeling pretty cooked a this point, Mike looks over like he wants to work together on the road and I tell him to go on - I don't really have anything left. The group moves ahead and gaps me a bit so I think I'm done but still trying to keep a strong pace. Heading into the backside "Party Zone" and up to the short run-up I see the group right in front - hey! I still have a group I can battle with!

Up the run up and into the switchback section I catch the group, take Mike on an inside corner and two other shortly there after. Up the last hill I surge forward and make another pass. So now its just me and one left from the group. Down hill to the "endo gravel pit" and to the finish.

I make a pass right before heading into the endo pit and he would have nothing to do with it and surged to stay even, into a quick right and left we are riding side by sis and not giving up an inch to each other. Now I see the "endo pit" - I had dismounted and run this section throughout the race just as everyone else had done as it was not really ridable, but this lap - the finishing lap I see a potentially rideable section and go for it...make it thru the corner to the finish and looking back - no one in sight.

I ended up crossing the line in 17th place (35/45 combined). Not a great placing result, but I had to pass 47 other racers to get there which in itself I am very proud of. Plus when I thought I was ready to roll over for dead, I managed to dig deep enough and pass a group of 5 strong riders in the last 1/4 lap. This was a race that brought out the pure enjoyment of cyclocross racing and why I love this sport so much.

Cleaned up and finished the day off by photographing the remaining races.

With the MAIN EVENT of the day being the Pro 1/2/3 race. Guest appearance by Trek Factory rider Jeremiah Bishop vs Local hero Weston Schempf. Great race with Wes leading most of the race and Jeremiah right in tow - giving you the feeling that Mr Bishop was just letting Wes do all the work and would make a strong move on the last lap. With 3 laps to go Wes got tripped up on the barriers and Jeremiah made an immediate attack, Wes was able to recover, attack and get back on Jeremiah wheel. Jeremiah then caught a pedal thru a corner and almost crashed, Wes got a small gap but did not notice what had happened so Bishop was right back on.

Then right at the end of the lap into the bell lap, Jeremiah had a flat and did not have a pit bike so he had to change his wheel. Wes would take full advantage of this and go on to wing the race.

Great race for Wes who I am sure will be a soon to be Sponsored Pro.

Can't wait for Granogue Cyclocross when Wes will be racing against Nationally ranked Pro's.

MLK

Charm City Cyclocross - 1st cross race of the year!

Sunday was the first cross race of the year - Charm City Cross in Baltimore Maryland.

Thought I would put my best foot forward and attempt another year at a handfull of cyclocross racing. Prior to Sundays race I had made it out to two practice sessions with the DCCoD and hoped it would be enought to help lower the ensuing pain I know I was in my future.


For Sundays race I set a realistic goal of a mid pack finish in the Masters Cat 3/4 35/45+ race. Sorry - no top 5's, top 10's or anything link that - I just do not ride enough or for that matter do any sort of interval work that would allow me to have anything resembling a top finish.

Charm City...and my race almost did not happen - I am out riding the starting section heading down to the start line and some idiot in front of me decides he wants to get off the course by cutting across the course right in front of me on an off camber hill. I have to swerve and lock up my brakes to keep from T-boning him and in doing so I rolled my front tire (tubular/clincher). I run back to the car and get the tire remounted....race back to the start and line up almost in the last row. Thank goodness they rearranged the line up by numbers and I end up in the 6th row out of about 10. Super large turnout with around 100 racers line up on the Masters Race.

Race starts and I get held up a bit by some riders who just don't know much about riding a bike. It's really as easy as jumping on and turning the pedals around in circles! I start moving up a bit and my race prodeeds as follows - I handled the bike, technical corners and barriers very well and probably made 95% of my passes in these areas - Flats are where I struggled for the most part, plus I had no real accellerations out of the corners. I'd really have to say my favorite sections where the tight switchbacks - I was pimping everyone in these sections, everyone was swinging wide to cut into the turns while I was taking the inside lines faster and more aggressively. I think there was one corner right before exiting the field section and back across the road where I passed a group of 4 racers in one corner! Pimp-o-mania!

Two laps to go and Henry's teamate Tom M. was gaining ground on me. I did my best to hold him off, but my fitness just is not there and I was starting to struggle.....one lap to go and Tom pulls on my wheel. I try and tell him to grab my wheel and I'll pull him thru on the road section, but it was too late as Tom had already pull along and past me. I was able to keep from loosing ground on Tom on the last lap, but just did not have the energy to close the gap. At the finish I was right behind Tom(with 2 racers inbetween).

I finished in 24th place which was much better than I expected so I guess I am satisfied. I really need to do some work on accelerating out of corners - here I'm slow as a pig.

Michael

1st Place! - Kennett Mushroom Festival Art Show

Kennett Square has it's annual Mushroom Festival in early September and with it is an Arts Festival which I had no idea about. I had no intention of entering especially since I did not know it was there, but my neighbor (who is an artist) told me about it and after some pushing and encouragement from her I decided to enter 4 photos. Now this was a last minute thing for me as we were heading on vacation the week of the art show, I only had two photos printed (which were in my sons bedroom framed in a inexpensive poster frame from Walmart). So I quickly ordered two additional prints, bought some frames and matting, did my own mat cutting which in itself is a bad experience. I did not want to put too much $$ into this because having someone inexpensively frame a print is easily over $100 x 4 and I seriously did not think much would come of it. I then handed off my framed photos to my neighbor who while I was on vacation dropped them off at the art show.

When we got back from vacation we heading into town on the following Monday to pick up my photos. Low and behold - I took the Blue Ribbon - 1st place - The Grand Pubah - in the photography division...and as a bonus I sold two of the four framed prints I dropped off. I seriously did not think I had a chance especially due to the number of artist entered in the event. Not a bad week for not even being there!

So now I think I may even stop by our towns art shop/gallery and talk to them about how to get some photos placed on display in the gallery.

Here are the prints I entered in the show:
This first one took the Blue Ribbon and top honors:































and these are the two prints that sold: