“Cyclocross, Maine” or “Why is that dude running with his bike?”

We wandered over to a cyclocross race this past weekend on the way back from another assignment, and snapped a few pics just for the fun of it.  I’ve been hearing all about the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series for a few years now, but never managed to get myself over to watch a race.  Cyclocross, is a short (40-60 minute) circuit bike race on dirt/mud/gravel that includes a variety of obstacles (hills/barriers/stone walls) that force a rider off their bike briefly, before they remount to ride again.

Following the circuit.

Honestly, I was hoping for mud… and LOTS of it.  But Mother Nature did not cooperate.

Lots of short, steep, winding hills.

Running past the log sections.

Racing through the leaves on skinny tires.

All the arrows pointed the wrong way.  Must be a ‘cross thing.

Women Elite race begins… with an amazing backdrop and slow shutter speeds.

Stone wall bike handling skills.

Running the barriers.

Farm implements everywhere.  I couldn’t resist a few snaps.

Focus.

A nice excuse to plug my boys at Cannondale… makers of some of the best ‘cross rigs in the world.

Cows and bikes.  You can’t go wrong.

Some more log barriers.

Action.

Sweet Victory (please do NOT mention the giant booger coming out of his nostril).  Dude was working hard.  We get it.

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We have a couple hundred more images in a gallery.  If you want to see them, just click the link below:

http://www.brianwedge.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=771

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  • November 3, 2010 - 2:40 pm

    John Lawless - Photo Stud.

    Damn fine shots. These are great images and different from all the other captures we see so often. Share some more!

    jl

    PS: MORE!
    PPS: BOOGERReplyCancel

  • November 3, 2010 - 8:14 pm

    Anderson - Brian, I’ve got to hand it to you man: these are some REALLY amazing shots. You’ve got a real talent for this, and if you can rock photos like these on a day with no light, no mud and few crowds… you have to come back and flex your muscles when there’s more action and drama. I’m happy you stopped by. It was great meeting you and getting to see your incredible work was awesome.
    AReplyCancel

  • November 4, 2010 - 10:36 am

    iamtedking - Giant booger.

    That is all.ReplyCancel

  • November 4, 2010 - 11:37 am

    Becca G. - Wooohooo!!! These rock!

    You have to come back Brian for more.
    As much as I’d like to see you racing with us, I want to see MORE PHOTOS please. This is great for our sport to have someone like you “roll through” and randomly capture moments like these.

    NICE JOB!
    BeccaReplyCancel

  • November 4, 2010 - 11:47 am

    Pro - The booger is pro. It’s a sign you’ve given everything you can, and if I remember correctly, homeboy won by 2-3 bike lengths: which is always pro.ReplyCancel

  • November 4, 2010 - 2:50 pm

    SavageCross - The cow shot and the arrow/line shots are my favs. Just stuff we NEVER get to see in regular race photos. Really unique perspectives and amazing composition.

    Question: how the hell do you get the entire image slightly blurry but just one part of it in focus? Like the second to last image? Is that a special lens?

    Post some more when you can.
    ZandahReplyCancel

  • November 4, 2010 - 4:42 pm

    brianwedge - Thanks everyone for the feedback. ‘Specially for not mentioning the BOOGER. We kept it classy somehow.

    In answer to your questions:
    1.) A hundred or so more photos are now here: http://www.brianwedge.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=771

    2.) Mr. Zandah/SavageCross: There is no “special lens” for capturing motion blur. It’s actually not hard so long as you set your camera to manual and slow the shutter speed down to a point that motion blurs… but not so much that you have no idea what the heck you’re looking at. Like most good things in life, finding that ideal shutter speed depends on many factors, but with trial and error you’ll get it… though I should mention that 1/100th of a second is a happy place to start for me. If you practice enough, you’ll get it.ReplyCancel

  • November 4, 2010 - 10:24 pm

    John Lawless - Is that really Ted King? I’m wondering what the KoS thinks about a giant booger as a victory salute. Has to be bad form. Right? Weigh in Ted… is this a common pro occurrence? How does one deal with that in a split second?ReplyCancel

  • November 5, 2010 - 7:38 am

    Jamie Shields - These are great photos Brian.
    Not that I expect anything less from you, but these are awesome.
    JamieReplyCancel

  • November 5, 2010 - 9:12 am

    Giant Booger - Amazing.ReplyCancel

  • November 5, 2010 - 2:36 pm

    KOLIVIN - Wow. Nice shots Brian, and yeah… that was a pretty boring day. You should come back for some mud and rain or sun or whatever.

    And Wow again for that boogie. That guy is so pissed. Otherwise a killer shot.ReplyCancel

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