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Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Racing
For this day, the Cat 3 riders were the beneficiaries of June glum at the Elings Park mountain bike race. The cool morning weather with thick fog was sure to minimize any dehydration problems for these MTB riders. For the Cat 1 riders who rode later in the day, the piercing sun awaited them with upper 70 degree temperatures.
The mountain bike race at Elings Park is one of the largest in the area, and sure to remind people that Santa Barbara is one of the best locations in California to take a trip with the family. With the majestic Pacific Ocean as a backdrop to the rolling green hills, bringing a camera is highly recommended.
To capture some speed in motion, I decided to bring out the video camera today. With its mix of single track trails and fire roads on a multi-lap course with plenty twist and turns, there would be many opportunities to capture some good footage.
For this course, a solid warm-up is mandatory. Within a short distance after the start, you are going vertical. The course climbs to the top of Elings Park, mainly on fire roads, and then adds single track trails at the top. On the second lap, the course changes at the beginning section as you tackle a winding trail with plenty of U-Turn climbs to the summit.
After shooting some video and photographs of the mountain bike competitors, I discovered a good shooting location on the climb of the second lap. So far, today was going well. I hadn’t fallen down any hills with my gear. But I realized later, the day was just beginning.
The bright sun welcomed the Cat 1 and 2 riders with high 70 degree weather. The goal for the day was to shoot these MTB racers up close so I trekked through the hills to find a good location and the heart beat of the Elings Park mountain bike race. After sliding down a couple of hills, I realized I created some new ventilation in my jeans…an eight inch gap from the crotch downward. Thankfully, any competitors coming my way only cared about one thing…going fast.
Once the mountain bike racers reached the top of the hill, they were given a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. However, the view was short lived due to the winding trails.
Deep in the bushes, I managed to find a good location to capture the MTB riders as they raced around me. I was in the zone, and focused.
Since I got all the race footage I needed, I finally took a look at my surroundings. It was then that I realized one of the few disadvantages of focusing too much. Surrounding my eight inch rip in my pant leg stood multiple poison ivy plants! The mountain bike race at Elings Park will never be forgotten. It reminded me that I too must keep my eye on the path before me.
If you are looking for a great race to take the family for a few days, the Elings Park mountain bike race is one of the best. Put together by Team Big Bear, the race is sure to challenge your mountain bike fitness level.
Staying on the trail is highly recommended.
Keith Rejino is a sports photographer for Dreamscape Images, a personal trainer, mountain biker and triathlete. His Socal Mountain Bike website provides mountain bike event coverage, training and sports nutrition tips for the mountain biker. For more mountain bike event coverage, check out Dreamscape Images MTB site.
Alberto Contador Wins 2010 Tour De France
Alberto Contador held off Andy Sheck and took advantage of his rival’s unfortunate chain malfunction to win his third straight tour de france. Contador’s margin of victory was 39 seconds and provided considerable drama to the 20th and final stage of the race. American cycling icon Lance Armstrong raced in his final Tour De France and finished in 23rd place over thirty minutes behind his longtime rival and teammate Contador.
The decisive moment of the final stage-and ultimately the entire Tour De France-came on a steep climb with Luxembourg’s Sheck wearing the yellow jersey denoting the race leader. Sheck’s chain came undone, and Contador took the opportunity to speed by and regain the overall race lead. That violated the ‘gentleman’s code’ of the sport which suggests that other riders shouldn’t take advantage of another’s ‘unlucky breaks’ including mechanical failure. Contador’s opportunism has generated a lot of animosity from cycling fans and-initially at least-Sheck himself. Sheck shook his fist at Contador as he rode away, but was in a more conciliatory mood after the race:
“This year, it didn’t work. I have a rendezvous in one year with that color there (the yellow jersey). I am better than last year because then it [the deficit] was 4 minutes.”
Sheck was the runner up to Contador for the second straight year. Contador was unapologetic about his victory:
“I suffered to get this result. I don’t have words to express what I feel.”
In what has become the default 21st century mode for such a mea culpa, Contador later posted a video to YouTube apologizing for taking advantage of Sheck’s misfortune.
American Lance Armstrong saw his Tour De France career come to an unfortunate conclusion with a crash filled run that left him 39:20 behind the eventual winner. Armstrong summed up his feelings simply after the race:
“I need a cold beer.”
Armstrong won six consecutive Tour De France titles between 1999 and 2005, and at 27 years old and now just entering his prime there are suggestions that Contador could threaten that run. There are a number of contenders including Sheck, Menchov and mountain specialist Anthony Charteau of France that’ll make his fourth straight victory in 2011 anything but a foregone conclusion.
Ross Everett is a respected freelance writer specializing in travel, poker and NFL football handicapping. He is a staff handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and scuba diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.
Grudge bike Rumpling in the Gump Montgomery Al.
BIKE PAPARAZZI VISITED THE MONTGOMERY ALABAMA DRAGWAY FOR ONE OF THIS SEASON’S FIRST BIKE GRUDGE FESTS. WITH RIDERS LIKE TERRY, SMACK, SHINE, LEE, MISSISSIPPI SUPERMAN, KING KONG, LIL RICH, BABYFACE KILLAH, BILLY, JETHRO, GANG GREEN, AND MISSISSIPPI WHITE BOYS JUST TO NAME A FEW. ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE GRUDGE DAYS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS TRACK.
Duration : 0:10:40
Competitive Cycling : Warming Up for a Bicycle Race
How long should you warm up before a bicycle race? Find out and get warm up tips for competitive cyclers in this free online instructional sports video on bicycle racing.
Expert: Angela Dybdahl
Bio: Angela Dybdahl has been an athlete and involved in sports most of her adult life. In this series, she will demonstrate how to compete in cycling both for women and men.
Filmmaker: Nili Nathan
Duration : 0:1:46
Tour de France 2003 Stage 19 Time trial Pornic – Nantes
This video is a summary of stage 19 of the tour de france 2003. This last time trial made the decision whether Armstrong or Ullrich would win the Tour. Due to the bad weather, Ullrich crashed but didn’t lose the Tour because of that.
ENJOY!
Music (in order of appearance):
Paul Oakenfold – Point Zero
Paul Oakenfold – Legacy
City of Prague Philhamonic – Apollo 13
Paul Oakenfold – Legacy
I do NOT own the copyright for neither the footage nor the music!
Duration : 0:10:0
Racing in Vermont – Mountain bike racing and ultrarun
Racing in Vermont on the finest single track trails.
Duration : 0:0:35
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