Taking photos at the race, and being Media

On race photography, and being credentialed Media/Photo

Over the years my race photography has improved with a lot of practice. What I have learned is that great photos are more about the eye, and the opportunity, than the equipment. When it comes to equipment I use it all from an iphone, a compact Sony camera, to my large Pentax with numerous lenses.

I like getting the unusual shot, taking close-ups(zoom), and capturing a moment between fans, riders, coaches, reactions, exhaustion, excitement. Go broad to capture the mood and setting, but zoom into capture human subjects.

My biggest tip is to see the race with your own eyes. Get as many photos as you can of yourself and your family and friends at the race. Take a sweeping video of you enjoying the scene at the race. And share those on social media. But when the race actually comes, put down the camera and WATCH IT. Peter Sagan or Taylor Phinney might only pass you once and you will miss looking into their faces if you are looking into your camera.

It also pays to know how to move around at a bike race. I often arrive early to map out how to get to and from different key areas of the race. Good shots can be gotten near the teams buses, near the sign-in stage before the start, at the start ramp of time trials or on the corners, or in the area just past the finish line where riders stop to meet their soigneurs post race. Or out on the road at KOM markers where the riders slow down slightly at the passes and the atmosphere is fun.

At race starts, I admit I sometimes set the camera on auto and use the zoom extensively. Because I spin constantly to react to riders approaching and leaving, taking in different light and length in shots, I let the camera do its thing and put my time into recognizing the riders and who I want to capture: who I think might be in the break, might win, might be the next big thing, or of interest to the fans.

At other times I experiment with focal length and either bring the whole picture into view or blur out the background to highlight the subject. I take lots of photos, most aren't so great, but plenty are fine. I have learned it is all about the light in fast bike racing, especially in Colorado where I like the northwest facing corners. I use all the settings when capturing cyclocross races to get a variety of shots. I do not like standing in the same place for long. Cyclocross races are excellent for practicing cycling photography - your subjects come by repeatedly and the whole scene is fantastic atmosphere.

Read more: My Photography - how I get the shots, by Pedal Dancer®.

Also read: Photog’s View: Darrell Parks 2016 Cycling Calendar, by Darrel Parks in PezCycling News, about photos he captured at the Tour of California for his annual calendar.

Also read: Jim Fryer and Iri Greco of Brake Through Media who write a fantastic series for VeloNews titled The Shot about how they achieve iconic images of the races in Europe.


How did I get this shot? I sat on the ground, on the dirty pavement, and watched the winner of the 2015 Tour of California pass by as I pushed the shutter button. My work was easy, Peter Sagan's hard work won him the race!

The magnificent Peter Sagan. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

What is it like being a credentialed photographer at the race?

I get to wear a fancy PHOTO badge that flips and spins in the wind and gets tangled up in my camera straps. I also get to wear the most unbecoming numbered blue vest (if I am deemed worthy in the great pecking order of photographers) that many a photographer has sweated in prior to my own wearing of the vest. There is an unspoken dress code among photographers that we wear black or khaki, which gets really hot on sunny days and appears so boring in the midst of all the colorful fans. I think we wear black because we are not supposed to stand out (as if the camera focuses in on us anyway). There are other norms I had to learn, like who stands where in the pack at finish lines or podium presentations. The yellow bib photographers are like mini-gods, I must give respect to the yellow-bibs, those who are more 'accomplished' and arrive late to the pack at the finish line on the back of motorcycles (really they are just bigger than me ... and more serious).

Basically photographing a pro bike race is juggling a series of implied laws yet trying to be unique within the boundaries. The pressure is intense, the fun is great, the reward is memorable.

In response to the intensity, I introduced the smile.

I can say it took me five years to melt the ice with that smile. Five years of smiling and getting to know people, making friends, not stepping on toes and being really really nice. All while moving around the venue like a banshee set on discovering the next great photograph or story. At times I feel intrusive by snapping photos of strangers, but I have enjoyed recognizing the riders and seeing their growth throughout their careers. For me, it really is about discovering what makes a particular competition excellent. Finding the stories in the people, discovering a new perspective and sharing my enthusiasm by participating in a sport I love.

Without the fans the sport of cycling would be so dull. If the riders do not notice the beautiful scenery they race through, they certainly remember which towns had huge crowds. My purpose in conjunction with the race is to help the crowds gather. To tell the story of the fan.

​I look forward to attending the 11th Amgen Tour of California.

How did I become Media?

I had to apply through an application form for media. I had to prove I worked for a publication which shone a positive light on the event and reached a community of old and new followers. I first got up the nerve to apply in 2011 when I realized, hey I am already promoting this race (for free), I want better access. I later discovered that a "photo" badge would get me into far more places than a "media" badge (there is a difference and it is printed on the badge). I can always do the job of media while photographing a story, but since I started as a writer I had to up my game in photography. Pictures might be worth a thousand words, but I have come back to the truth that the story matters. The story is the race. And the fans and sponsors who support the race by showing up.

What it is like being Media at the race?

Firstly, I had to drop my old habits of jumping barriers, hanging out with family and asking anybody the silliest questions. I had to remind myself not to ask Mark Cavendish, who was standing right in front of me, for an autograph, because 'Media' persons don't that. I do however have a tradition of asking the overall winner to sign my badge after the last press conference. I keep them, hanging in my bike room, which is covered with cycling memorabilia.

I have had the experience, on a number of occasions, of riding inside the Media car during the race along the race route. Let me tell you, it is true what they say - it is crazy out there on the road with motos zipping this way and that and the race radio reporting in multiple languages. But most of the people in motion following the peloton have a history together; they are experienced and they know the procedures and roads. Steve and Terry who have driven the two Media cars for many years in the major American Tour races are excellent drivers (Terry being an ex-racer himself).

Life on the road as one of the many photojournalists chasing the race, is a series of very long days of scouting out the stage, planning on the map where to get shots, capturing 1000s of photos, being severely dehydrated, rushing to the podium, maybe to the post-stage press conference, downloading, editing, posting, writing, finding food somewhere,driving to the next town, unpacking, packing and trying desperately to keep up with what is happening in the real race. The race becomes what is happening in front of my square footage view unless I read social media or other news reports. It is exhausting, but everyone stays in good mood knowing we need each other to get through the week, stage after stage.

Ideally I think it takes a crew of three to really cover a stage race well. A driver, a navigator, a planner/reader of race happenings. And definitely two out of three need an excellent sense of humor, patience and a love of adventure; maybe all three.

The type of stories I write need a light-hearted human and humorous approach. I try not to let the physical exhaustion over-power the pure giddy excitement I feel about being at a bike race. I love pro cycling, I love that there are so many moving parts and so much more to learn about the sport. I love that the competition is so unknown and yet the best riders, who often know each other well, and perhaps have been teammates on other teams, put all aside and try their very best to win the race, because each race is a new chance to prove themselves as a champion.

Read more specific Spectator Tips, Fans Education and How to Watch the Amgen Tour of California, starting in San Diego this Sunday!

Remember my new website Tour Chaser (TourChaser.com).

More Pedal Dancer® race coverage 2016 Amgen Tour of California:

• List of Riders Amgen Tour of California 2016
• The order of jerseys
• Taking photos at the race, and being Media 
• Top 22 tips to see the Amgen Tour of California
• How to watch the Tour of California Live in 2016
• Team jerseys and team bikes at the Tour of California
• Bikes, Equipment and Clothing at the Tour of California
• Classification jerseys for the 2016 Tour of California
• 10 UCI WorldTour Teams to compete in California
• Stage Route and Maps Tour of California 2016
• Profile Maps for the Tour of California 2016
• Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 1-4 PART I
• Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 4-8 PART II
• Tour of California Spectator Guide Page
• Race Preview for 2016 Tour of California on TourChaser.com: tourchaser.com/race-preview-atoc

"All good?"

Well sort of ...

It's July and the Tour de France has started, that means cyclists are madly racing toward France. Last I looked (rather last I posted) I was in California for the Tour of California. Now everyone has headed to Holland, Belgium and France for the biggest cycling event on the calendar (beside Paris-Roubaix of course!). Where am I? I am in Colorado. Why? Because life made a huge turn. Huge.

Last May, together with my most favorite cycling photographers, I was standing on the other side of the finish line on Mt Baldy waiting in the cold cold fog for the peloton to cross the line. I was leaning on the barrier when Jens Voigt walked by having exited the VIP tent. "Hi Jens, how ya doing?" I blurted out reflexively, "Hey, All good!?" he responded with a thumbs up is his typical high-octane positive manner.

I didn't say a word. I just starred at him, managing a meager smile; how would I have known I could not lie to Jens?

What could I respond when all was anything but good. I hadn't prepared for this question. I was in tremendous pain, my body still relatively strong, my brain was struggling to cope. I stood on that mountain - going through the motions - because I wanted to be there so badly, but I was really ill. I have a new found neuropathy. It is as all-consuming and as life-changing as a new found passion or a new found love; only I would never have chosen this one.

The jury of 3 is still out on the exact diagnosis (meaning I have far too many doctor appointments and tests scheduled), but the high dose of anticonvulsant medications leave me dizzy and uncoordinated - which makes bike riding a present past-time. The meds also diminish my ease with words and my creative flare. Cut to the chase: I am not much good on a bike or as a blogger these days. Seems I lost my identity in the Spring and it is too soon to say who I will become.

I always lived today as if there were no tomorrow, and now I understand why.

I climbed every mountain with an urgency as if I had to do it now. And sometimes scared myself by living too much in the moment. My brother Michael, whom I often mention in this blog, is traveling to the French Alps (on his own!) in August to ride every possible climb within two-weeks. "Why?" I asked him, "Because my sister got some random rare nerve disease and I decided to do it now." I really wish I could have motivated him in some other manner.

Believe me, all those people you might be riding charity rides for, really would rather be doing it themselves.

I have a friend recently diagnosed with cancer who over-uses the term it is what it is. Well it is not. This disease is not going to be me. I am going to ride again and/or go to a bike race again. I have spent time with men and women on Wounded Warrior rides, I have ridden next to Davis Phinney on a bike - these are individuals who fight against the irregularities in their bodies and somehow manage graciously to respond to the question "How are you doing?" with the word "Good." Even if they are not all good.

So get out and ride your bike, but if I hear you even mutter the words, "I am riding because Karen can't," know I will not be happy with my method of motivation. Ride because you know, as I did, that there is no putting off until tomorrow what you can (and must) do today.

And if you want a list of where to start, see some suggestions here: My Favorite Rides. And if you want to see a list of the rides my brother will be climbing in August in the Alps ... well I'll just have to write about those won't I?
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Now for a word of gratitude to a reader (Mike in Albuquerque) who wrote to me this morning to ask where I have been. Thank you for your concern, your kind email touched me so deeply it unleashed the words I know still reside in my head and the creativity born from passion and inspiration for the sport of cycling and a true love of travel.

Which promptly reminds me of this weeks topic -- the Tour de France, which I really should tend to but wasn't that USA Women's Soccer match amazing! I would also like to thank everyone from TripAdvisor who visit my French Travel posts for maintaining my blog statistics during my absence. It nearly makes me realize there is no need to talk about cycling.

I did write this about the TDF: Route of the 2015 Tour de France

Big news: did I share with you my greatest achievement of the recent (distant) Tour of California? My contribution to Peter Sagan's current Twitter profile picture. Yep, I took that photo for him. I am quite proud of this because it shows I did something in the past 3.5 months, although I cannot take credit for his good hair day.~

Peter Sagan in one of a series of serious poses

Happy Tour de France!

What I Know For Sure

What I have learned after 15 years of road biking in Colorado

Sharing my experiences in an honest humorous do's and don'ts way after being involved in many levels of cycling in Colorado.

Never be intimidated by any mountain climb in Colorado. Even if you go so slow you feel you will fall over, and even if you stop several times, you will make it to the top if you have it in your mind to succeed. The ride to the mountaintop is not about the journey (although it is about the scenery), or how many people pass you or do not, it is about the destination. You must believe deeply to get yourself to the top.

Do try to find 2-3 people to ride with whom encourage you, are dependable, make you laugh and at the end of the ride leave you feeling better in spirit; better in body is not a guarantee and is about as reliable as a consistent game of golf. Some days you will ride better than them, some days they will ride better than you, but together you will be stronger. You will know you have a mate who will be there for you in sickness and health, and in "Ha, I beat you to the city limit sign!"

Never trust or get involved in a conversation (rant) on Twitter with anyone who is antagonistic or eager to beat you down. Also never read the comments on 303Cycling.com, some people are just plain angry or mean. Be discreet and communicate directly with anyone you have an issue with in the cycling community. Tensions sometimes run high. Everyone makes mistakes and this community is too small to make enemies.

Do remember those who brought you to this point. Once you have ridden a bike next to someone, you have made a friend. I might not see all the people I used to ride with, but I always wish them well as years go by. When you experience the pavement rolling by under your wheel and ride side by side with someone whether in conversation or in quiet, or follow their wheel over the hill and dale, there is a bond built forever. I have only ever felt this kind of bond in sport in big wall rock climbing or back country skiing. I have learned so much from so many.

Never take your bike into a bike shop unwashed and ask for a "tune-up." Do ask the mechanic questions about your bike every time they make or plan a repair. You will learn exponentially; there is always more to learn. Maintenance of your bike is a responsibility of ownership. Do learn how to change a tire; the skill will afford you far more freedom.

Do talk to anyone who has a bike in hand. Honestly, all barriers vanish. If you ride a bike, you have something in common. Whether he/she is 12-years old or 75-years old, the most decorated racer or the newbie rider - talk to them. Say hi, give an honest compliment, ask a question, listen to their story, leave with a smile. I am serious - there are some very cool people riding bikes around this state and you never know their story until you break that silence.

Do understand that nutrition matters; weight of the bike less, bike handling is super important, and determination even more so. Try to learn not to be anxious and stressed out while riding, it takes away from your experience and your performance.

Never wear your helmet pushed too far back on your forehead. I will tolerate almost any other clothing style errors but this one. Okay, maybe no long dangling earrings either.

Do volunteer at races or events and please represent cyclists as law-abiding citizens. Enough said.

Never go into a porta-potty (portable toilet) with your cycling gloves on. Enough said.

Do find a bike that you love riding. Not a bike someone else has, or recommends for you, or thinks is top-of-the-line. Find a bike that makes you want to get out and ride. 

Never keep your chamois on for hours after your ride. Even if you do need to download your GPS ride data and Tweet or Facebook about your awesome speed and altitude gained. You have chamois priorities!

Do buy the very best technical clothing you can afford. It will last you for years (if you keep it out of the dryer) and might just save your ride.

Never neglect to return a wave or a hello while riding. Being rude has no place on this earth. Enough said.

Do know that most storms pass, including those pesky afternoon rain showers in Colorado. I say wait it out and remount. This motto applies to most things in life.

Do reach higher than you ever thought possible. It takes an idea, a step-by-step plan, an unwavering belief in yourself, passion and determination - but you can attain anything you put your heart and mind to in this sport. If you have ever said, "I have always wanted to...." or "Someday I want to...", then make it now. Start with the first big daring step and watch how the ball starts rolling. 

Never buy 3 full kits, plus jacket, vest and all the accessories of any team kit (unless they are free) because the team sponsors will change the next year, or somebody won't be happy with the leg elastic, and you are out considerable moolah.

Do at some point, ride both inside, and more importantly outside, the county borders of Boulder, Colorado. 

Do know that you will evolve. You will roll with the times and changes as much as your bike will. You will grow faster and then slower. You will have triumphs and disappointments. But in the end you will have racked up some awesome experiences along the way.

Do save some cool memorabilia from your cycling experiences. Not that we need more stuff, but memories are the right kind of stuff. 

Never build your entire identity around the bike. Everyone should be able to talk about at least 4 topics in depth. My dog counts as #2 of 4.

Do plan weekend trips to ride in other areas of Colorado. Within a two to five hour car drive, a whole new world of riding possibilities open up. Get out and explore by car, by tent, by trailer, by hotel, by bike!

What I do know for sure - and try hard to keep sight of - is that I would be more interested in sitting down to dinner with someone who described to me the view from the mountaintop than I would with someone who described to me the view from the podium. Over time, experiences had and connections made, count more. It is not about where you placed at the finish line but that you made it to the line. Unless, of course, you were first. Or you doped, denied it, won, got caught, said you were sorry, or didn't, and then made tons of money for the rest of your life in the industry you cheated and everyone seemed okay with that.

I'm still not okay with that. I'm hoping those types pay at the golden gates. For the rest of you - you are invited to dinner!


Memories ...

I bought my first road bike in 2001. The next weekend I rode from Boulder to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, over Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. I had no idea what I was doing (but at least my helmet was straight), I simply believed I could do it. This was such a great group I rode with, I think of them fondly but haven't seen them in years. They inspired me and changed my life.

Fall River Pass 11,795 feet of adventure

Our group of five who biked from Boulder to Steamboat in 2001 because Mike Ricci (left) planned the trip and thought it would be fun. I said "sure" probably because I didn't know any better. One thing is for sure - I should have kept that orange and yellow helmet.

Five years as a blogger

For five years I have tried to contribute to the cycling community

A sudden inspiration occurred to me while watching the Paris-Roubaix race in 2010. I should blog.

It was a time when I was really into pro races abroad and learning the roads and travel logistics to attend the races. I had friends in Belgium attending the Paris-Roubaix in April 2010; they were in Belgium and I was home watching the race online - it felt as if I was there with them. Then it occurred to me: I should share my experiences and research about cycling travel. Maybe I could help others by sharing what I know and more importantly, what I learn.

I was planning a five-week cycling trip to France that following July, it would be my fifth trip to see the Tour de France. I wanted a way to share my travels with friends and family back home, so I continued blogging while traveling through France ticking off many of the high Cols. I remember looking at my blog statistics one day in July 2010 and marveling that a hundred people had read my blog. One hundred people where interested in my stories of riding a bike in France - it was hard for me to comprehend.

Then a strange thing happened - people started to recognize me.

I began to hear from people through email, comments or in person; readers who recognized me from my blog. It was cool! Every person I met, told me their story. And I love travel stories! They told me where they had been, where they had stayed, and whom they had met along the way. My world suddenly became much bigger.

If you are a traveler - or better yet, a traveler who loves to ride a bike - I am guessing you have experienced the feeling when the mountain makes you feel so small. Where the world makes you marvel at how insignificant you are and yet how your actions impact so many others.

For me, this is the joy and purpose of getting out and riding a bike in new places. 

Sometimes I think I shouldn't be so transparent on my blog; that I should protect my privacy. As much as I love facts and information (and if you read my blog you know I love compiling and sharing data), it is the times when I share my humor (Irish humor that would be!) or tell of my woes, which seems to best connect me with all of you readers.

I've had some great times and I've had some hard times in the past 5 years. I long to be in the shape I was five years ago when the Triple Bypass was completed with ease. I have worked very hard on Pedal Dancer and enjoyed covering the pro races and traveling to France, Belgium and especially Ireland for the Giro d'Italia last May, but the time spent on creating the blog was great. I probably should have been following a regimented training plan instead to maintain that awesome shape that is now long gone.

I wish I never broke my pelvis mountain biking in Moab - that was a true bummer and I have never been the same cyclist since. I have fears and pains that I am still trying to solve 4-years later. I injured my left knee in the fall of 2014 and was recently diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. But through all the pain, I put together six totally awesome routes for Ride with GPS as a new Ambassador to Summit County bike rides in Colorado. I swear I wrote an entire guidebook to cycling in Summit County in the process.

Without a doubt, I can say that I contribute to the cycling community in Colorado. And that makes me feel good. I suppose we all want to feel as if we contribute in some small way to the great big world around us.

The topics I write about, in my blog, have varied greatly over the years. Like my fellow cyclists, I am sometimes interested in bikes, or training, nutrition, race routes, pro riders, hot topics, best new equipment, or simply a good place to grab a beer. If you scroll down my blog you will see the topics discussed vary as much as a conversation with a good friend. That is the exact joy of being a blogger - freedom of expression.

I get to take and share photos like this, even if they are not finish line shots, and especially because I like seeing Bradley Wiggins' kids in the frame ...

I get to be close enough to feel the spray of champagne after a good competition in sport ...

I get to recommend cool places to visit like this cafe in Carbondale, Colorado ...

I get to travel to places like this, in France and sit and have a picnic (with wine of course!) ...

I get to say "I've been there", "I've climbed there on my bike" ...

I get to direct Bradley and Cav to their team buses after sign-in before the stage start ...

I get to write a guide to Summit County bike rides, because I love Colorado! ...

I get to plan more travel and hopefully much more cycling ...

And I get to meet all of you!

Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement over the years. Those one hundred visitors have now turned into thousands daily. That makes me happy. If I had made a dime off of all of this - it would've made me even happier!

I have visitors from around the world, although most come from the U.K., Germany, Australia and France (along with those Russia spam visitors). Most visitors still come to read about races or equipment, or about roads and tollways in France. Plenty visit to see Marcel Kittel's legs. I hope I can provide visitors from outside the United States with a sense of what it is like to ride or race a bike in Colorado or California.

California is my home state, Colorado is now my home residence.

Some of the things I personally do for Colorado Cycling:

• Compile annual Event and Race Calendar Lists
• Detail the climbs in Colorado with facts and links to experts
• Write a Guide Page to Summit County Cycling
• Recommend local rides in Colorado
• Cover the race and write Fan Guides to the USA Pro Challenge
• Volunteer in the community at events and as a photographer at races

1.  Pedal Dancer® Colorado Bike Event and Race Calendar Lists

• 2015 Colorado Cycling Events and Bike Rides
• 2015 Cycling Events in the Western United States
• 2015 Colorado Bike Race Calendar
• 2015 Charity Bike Rides in Colorado

2.  Pedal Dancer® Colorado Climbs

• Colorado Climbs - The very best bike climbs in Colorado with all the facts, offered in one convenient place.

3.  Pedal Dancer® Summit County Cycling

• Summit County Cycling - A guide to road riding near Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Vail Pass.  I am a Ride with GPS Ambassador to Summit County.

4.  Pedal Dancer® Favorite Rides

• Favorite Rides - My favorite rides in Colorado and France are featured.

5.  Pedal Dancer® USA Pro Challenge Race Planning and Coverage

• USA Pro Challenge -  For information on the 2015 USA Pro Challenge bike race in Colorado, August 17-23, 2015, please go directly to this Pedal Dancer Guide Page. 

6.  Pedal Dancer® Volunteers!

• I will next volunteer at the 2015 Bicycle Colorado Gala on April 24, 2015.  
• My race photography that I give to local racers for free: Pedal Dancer Photography

I sure hope all this effort and good will has helped someone. If it hasn't, I should have just hired a personal coach and gone for those personal STRAVA records, then gone home, cleaned my bike and opened a beer. For five years!

Instead I wanted to contribute and accomplish a few things, I think I did that. And my photography got much better. Thanks again for the ride ! Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

Recommended Viewing: GCN video

Global Cycling Network (GCN) is in Calfornia

My beautiful home state where they have b-u-r-r-i-t-o-s  and  m-a-r-g-a-r-i-t-a-s.

As you may know I am a huge fan of GCN video, mostly because I really like their accents, secondly because they get to ride in the coolest places and thirdly because they have the best jobs ever.

Neal Rogers of VeloNews recently joined the GCN crew (he is a native of California) and so far his British accent is a bit lacking. Instead he appears to be influencing his co-workers speech patterns, which seems plainly odd to me, but then I remember how the Belfast City Bike Tour guides chuckled at my pronunciation of Anthony (Aahn-thun-neey) and realize California accents can be quite entertaining as well, especially when I pull out my so cal coastal surfing lingo.

This evening I was happily watching this week's GCN video, when I spotted a familiar photo - "Hey! I took that photo!"  The strange thing about being a photographer is that I can remember the angle of nearly every race shot I have taken and how the light shown on a blade of grass in the background. Sure enough it was my photo.

Some things in life bring me great joy:

1. Watching every single video that Global Cycling Network has ever made.
2. Seeing Neal Rogers' transition to blend into GCN.
3. Seeing my race photo of Neal Rogers on GCN (that would be at exactly 3:54).


GCN Video 03/24/215




www.PedalDancerPhotography.com

Oh the joy of a new Giant Liv bicycle

I cannot contain my joy any longer - I LOVE MY NEW BIKE!

Okay, maybe I didn't need a sixth bike. Maybe I already lack sufficient space in my home to lean a bike, maybe it is only possible to pedal two wheels at a time, which leaves 10 wheels idle at home -- but I love my new bike. It has changed my life.

You know the old story of how you can never change a person, or how sometimes we cannot change ourselves until we are forced to do so? Well I give credit to my brand new bicycle for wrapping change in one big blanket of love and pleasure. Yes the bike matters, and it might not be the bike you expected.

For me, change came at a price of $575.

No I did not leave off the last zero.

This modest machine has everything I want in a bike and I happily ride it everywhere. In fact, I think of places to go, simply so that I can ride this bike. Do you want to see it.

↴↴↴

It's a Giant Liv Alight City (2015)! It's perfect.

Advanced technical features of this bike:

• It's blue.
• It's super duper comfortable.
• It has a matching bike rack and fenders included in the bargain price.
• It has a bell, which I happily discovered while trying to shift gears. 
• It has really nice handlebar grips.
• It has a pie plate (not featured above). I am pretty sure I was 8-years old when I last had one of those on my bike.
• It has a kickstand! I bet you can't even remember how convenient those are.

Actual full specs which proves it has a fork and crankset and spokes and other important stuff.

After years of focusing on $6500 bike frames and $2500 wheelsets and $250 saddles, and top of the line components, I swear this bike brings me - I dare say - more pure joy than almost any bike I own (okay I admit they ALL bring me joy, that's why I need six). There is no such thing as junk miles or intervals on this bike. I ride it how I want, where I want, when I want. I zoom, I float, I smile.

And the world around me has changed.

Since the introduction of this fine machine into my life, I have noticed tons of other people in Denver riding bikes in t-shirts and pants and sandals, riding whatever rolls on two wheels, riding no matter the weather. And - they are all smiling. Smiling on a bike! Apparently there is pleasure in cycling. It's happening out on the roads of Denver, Colorado every single day. And I am out there with 'em.

The other good thing about this bike is that I do not need to wear a $195 Rapha road jersey to pedal in public. I can be so bold as to wear a hoodie and yoga pants (on my way to yoga class, of course) and feel just fine about my identity. Also, true to my character, I researched city bikes for two years to find just the right bike. This is the one.

I did make it out for a ride on my standard road bike this past Sunday. It felt like the bike weighed about 4.5 pounds under me, light and zippy in comparison .... but I missed having a bell. And a kickstand.

Change your life - buy a bike! (no matter if it's your sixth)

Happy Giant Liv Alight City bike photos:

A plastic pie plate; I'll keep it until it cracks off.



You kick it, and the bike stands.

It's a yoga mat carrying machine.

A very friendly handlebar with a hidden bell.

Happy dog to greet me upon my return from Pilates Class (not included).

Life is good. I love my new bike!


I bought my bike at Giant Denver in the USA.

A cold winter's thaw

It's 70 degrees in Denver!

Sorry to the inhabitants of the east coast of the United States and your severe recent winter storm, but I saw a man running around the park in Denver yesterday in short pants. I do remember summer, however distant a memory that might be, but this recent heat wave felt in Denver guarantees exciting conversational topics such as, "Why would anyone ride inside on a day like this," or "We went for a nice ride outside the other day," and my favorite, "You do plan to ride outside today don't you?" - and all this on a Tuesday in January.

Two days ago my niece Kristina, who was dreaming of moving to Denver, asked me, "Are there really marked seasons in Denver?" You bet there are. There is the I can wash my bike outside season, and the I can wash my bike outside but must remember to unhook the hose afterward season, and finally the no way in this frozen hell can I wash my bike outside season. That's three seasons, not four. That's all I care about.

When I shared with a friend the joy I experienced in washing all of my bikes outside last Sunday, he quickly asked, "Did you carefully towel off your chain rings and chain to remove every drop of water because they can rust!" He said this with such great concern, I smiled and responded, "Nop, I set them against the brick wall in the warm sun and let them heat like a TB patient at the Tuberculosis ward." Oh the joy of taking care of a bike in winter in Colorado.

Perhaps the period of not riding a bike outside makes me appreciate the act even more when the warm temperatures return to Colorado. Of course I can ride every day through winter if I wanted - and I know some crazy fools who do just that - but I am not one of them. I like a pleasant 50-70 degree temperature for optimal bike riding. I reason it is worth waiting for.

Sorry to have been away for a long bit

I haven't been posting lately, but had good reasons: no, it was not the fact that I was so disappointed in the Astana/UCI debacle (and thanks to everyone who worried I would never write again). Sure I was miffed, but as a blogger I get to write exactly how I feel about things and not what I am paid to write or think about things. My true absence was due in a small way to working on a new website and in a larger way to looking for a new job. Which I am still doing (although glaringly slacking at the moment). My Irish catholic guilt syndrome (or perhaps it's my American hard work ethic) always kicks in to make me feel that all work must be done before play commences.

But then this gorgeous weather happened and play just sprang forth with abandon.

All I know is I better find a real job before my season of I can wash my bike outside anytime becomes permanent, or it'll be a long broke jobless (but joyful) summer.

My bucket of joy

The day that pro cycling died

December 10, 2014 

Yesterday was a tough day personally. Surprisingly I headed into the day holding onto a small morsel of hope that the cycling world could be set back on track, a track which had been anything but straight and narrow for decades. By late morning that hope was dashed, gone with the news that the UCI and License Commission had awarded Team Astana a 2015 WorldTour License.

We can get into talk of probationary periods, legal evidence and rules, but these topics apply only when you are in the meetings and extremely close to the situation (or the bank accounts). It doesn't require too many steps back from the center of the storm to realize that most people were expecting a change to be loudly made. This time we really needed a demonstration of leadership.

In the weeks ahead of the licensing decision by UCI, the media embarked on a heavy campaign - digging through their archives - to write any additional information they had to throw in the incriminating pot of "they did wrong" against Astana. By Tuesday, people held their breath, the hope held dear - UCI has no choice, they must not give Astana the license, it is the only right thing to do.

Apparently in a cheating sport, right has no place.

On Wednesday, December 10th, the international governing body of professional cycling demonstrated, through their timid actions (report), that they have no real power at this point in time to correct the invalidity of the sport of cycling. A license was granted to Astana, a team with five recent positive doping samples from five athletes and a long history of trouble, yet denied to the Europcar team for insufficient financing.

From my view, I can no longer look at any bike race and know the best man will win. Instead I know the best cheater will win. I had hoped that reality would be corrected in the new era of cycling, it will not. It is clear the story of changes in cycling was PR to keep the sponsor dollars flowing and the fans coming (which is what the sponsors want).

It becomes senseless to spend time in the future getting excited about a competition, or promoting an event, when I can only visualize the outcome resembling the last 1 kilometer of the 2012 Olympic road race when the known doper Alexandre Vinokourov effortlessy broke free to win the gold medal with the peloton left staring ahead defenseless. My heart sunk knowing Vinokourov would be Olympic Champion for four years; my heart sinks every time I look at the seven-year gap in the history of the Tour de France; my heart sinks every time I realize a young athlete will be forced to dope to compete.

My mind becomes numb in trying to find some reason to continue to support professional cycling.

Yesterday voices were heard denouncing the UCI's actions, voices were heard commending the outcome, photos were seen of the Astana team celebrating with champagne. But tell me this - what rider wants to compete against a corrupt team, what sponsor wants to give money to either have their brand name tarnished by doping or watch their clean team consistently lose?

Why would any young rider want the shame of declaring he or she is a professional cyclist? Why would any sponsor support a corrupt sport? Why would any fan want to spend their time on the events of a cheating sport? I don't think the UCI fully realizes how many fans finally had enough yesterday and turned their backs on the highest level of professional cycling.

If I were a sponsor, I would immediately redirect my dollars to recreational cycling, to local events, to young junior riders and to the MAMILS of the world. There is no reason not to refocus our attention on the common man who loves riding on two wheels. It is the every day cyclist who is a much more noble cause than a cheating pro.

 - - - 

I was going to make plans to attend the 2015 Tour de France, I was going to make plans to attend the 2015 World Championships in Richmond, VA, I was going to make plans to attend the 2015 USA Pro Challenge in Colorado - instead I think I will take my own trips in 2015 to ride my own bike and not waste my time on what will be a corrupt outcome in a corrupt sport. I'd rather hang out with my friends and stay healthy.

Any sponsors interested in following the exodus from pro cycling can find the Regular Joe Cyclists out on the road using your products themselves. Come join us for some good honest fun. 

We'll be out doing it ourselves. Riding with my brother in the Alps - photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer.

Update 12/16/14: The highly respected voice of America sport - Juliet Macur - has written an honest article about the Steve Johnson finally departing USA Cycling. Executive’s Ride Into Sunset Signals Brighter Day for U.S.A. Cycling, By Juliet Macur for The New York Times.

Related Posts by Pedal Dancer: The structure of cycling in America

Update Feb/March 2015:

• UCI requests withdrawal of Astana Pro Team license, By VeloNews
• Astana given deadline for licence withdrawal defence By Cycling Weekly
• UCI moves to revoke licence of Vincenzo Nibali’s team Astana, By The Guardian
• UCI wants Astana team stripped of license, By NBS Sports
• Cycling Authority Recommends Withdrawal of Astana Pro Team License, By The Wall Street Journal
• Astana talking with lawyers after UCI request licence withdrawal, by CyclingNews

Meanwhile, I did not quite give up, I did spend the recent months updating the Pedal Dancer Guide Pages to:

• PRO TEAMS
• PRO RIDERS
• CALENDAR OF RACES AND EVENTS
• TOUR DE FRANCE
• SPRING CLASSICS
• TOUR OF CALIFORNIA

Spending and Giving

It is giving Tuesday, a global celebration

Most of us were brought up to believe that it is better to give than receive. That through giving we can be happy and feel productive, that giving makes us better people. But giving makes much of the good in this world possible. It is fact that much of the arts, non-profit organizations, research, medical advances and education have not only been funded through our governments and our taxes, but by businesses and very generous individuals.

We couldn't make changes in this world without the giving of the very rich and the very poor. Every day thousands give their time to volunteering, others give their money. Both are equally valuable.

Give wisely

Now this is where the lessons lie: how many of us have participated in sporting events for a cause, even when that cause is not one we selected, and even when the event organizers went looking for any cause so they looked good? I for one like to support a cause I believe in. I think ALS is a terrible disease, but when cancer has taken the lives of my grandfather, an Aunt, two Uncles, and has been diagnosed and treated in my Mother, Father, all three of my brothers, myself and my dog - Cancer will always be my cause of choice.

This year I made small donations to individual friends who were conquering their dreams, and to the Amy Dombroski Foundation; the Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado's Junior program; Trips for Kids; and today to StandUpToCancer. I hate cancer.

Give today, and if you hate cancer too - give here to S↑2C  Stand Up To Cancer

If you have no money to give The Guardian (UK) gives some excellent ideas on how your can give. Giving Tuesday: 10 ways to donate that don’t cost a penny.

Give to your favorite cause.

My Photography

I love photography

When I was a rock climber it took me years before I would title myself as such to others. Even long after I had climbed El Capitan and some other very difficult climbs; I found it hard to proclaim "I am a rock climber." But I have noticed lately that I have no problem telling people "I am a photographer." I think it may be because being a photographer is not bragging or over-stating accomplishments. Being a photographer is a way of looking at the world.

I have looked at the world with an artist's eye for as long as I can remember.

To see the world in frame, sensitive to light and composition seems to be the way my brain organizes stimuli. It's not just that I want to hold time as I experienced it, I need to see beauty. I am so sensitive to ugliness that I intentionally tunnel my vision when I am in particularly ugly places, like freeway interchanges. It is true. The only real pain I experience when riding a bike is when I have to pedal through ugliness.

I started taking pictures at a young age, filling photo albums and boxes, always happy if I had a camera in hand, just in case something caught me eye. My shots are not about look at me, but more about me looking at. Did you know I do not have any of my own photography in print around my house (in a house very full of artwork)? Most of my photography resides in a great big file cabinet inside my head. I can remember almost every photo I have taken, the place and year.

After friends (thanks Anthony!) asked if I collect my photos into albums for viewing, I decided to scratch off an item that has been on my to-do list for, oh, about three years - create a photography website. So I am doing it, as in, in the process of doing it. I figure if I spend six hours a week, I may have it complete in a year and a half. That's a lot of photos.

Ironically, just as I began this big project, I fearfully dragged myself into the ophthalmologist's office for an eye exam. I had been experiencing blurred vision in my right eye. Sure enough I have some vision loss in both, but more so in the right eye, which needs further testing by a specialist. Bummer. Strange, and sad, to be an individual so sensitive to beauty and be experiencing difficulty seeing beauty.

I look through my camera with my right eye. Photography treats me to capturing the world as I see it. In a way, it records my uniqueness. I now have new solid motivation to share my photography and get this website organized. Perhaps others will enjoy the beauty as I have.

The inside scoop on my photography

Sharing tips on how and what I am using these days for my travel and sports photography.

Hardware:

I am a mac user, but rely heavily on external hard drives for photo storage. I use a specific one for travel, not wanting to risk loosing or damaging the other portable hard drives. I also use cloud storage, but photos can overwhelm that type of storage very quickly. A photo card reader rapidly uploads pictures directly onto the external hard drive from my photo card.

Software:

I like Lightroom for photo editing and file management. It allows me to advance through and edit photos very quickly. There is so much to this software that I could take a year learning all its possibilities (but then that is what tutorials or Youtube are for). With some simple keystrokes I can select and edit. Lightroom also offers good file labeling, with very fast uploads of fully edited versions back to my hard drive or directly into Zenfolio.

Zenfolio displays my photographs in a style that appeals to me, it is not only the look, but the layout and file management behind the scenes that I like so much. Uploads are very rapid, instructions helpful. I tried to use smugmug but I could not achieve the layers of slideshows, group, galleries, and unique pages that Zenfolio offers, plus I didn't want to look like everyone else. On Zenfolio the set up was quick, with many more features yet to be discovered.

I don't do Instagram, I sometimes do Twitter. One can only spend so much time on social media, and with pressure to have hundreds/thousands of followers on all sites, it is just too much for me personally. I'd rather be out living it. I remain a blogger. 

Photo Equipment:

I use Sony and Pentax products (although I am a believer in Canon as well). The end product is not all about the size of the camera, it is about buying the right camera for your purpose. My purpose is travel and action sport. I need portability, zoomability, ease of use, beauty in results, moderate cost. My Sony and Pentax cameras offer high resolution and beautiful images.

My choice of small camera for travel and cycling jersey pocket: Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera (there are various models in the series depending on your price point and desired features.) or Sony Nex series of product.  My camera has a good zoom and wi-fi connectivity. Don't dismiss these small cameras, they take fabulous travel pictures and are so convenient to carry, you wont go without, fearing the excess weight. Interchangeable Lens Cameras (ILC) are also an excellent option for achieving crystal clear images in a small package.

My choice of large DSLR camera for races and travel: Pentax K5. I have been a Pentax user for years because I love the soft pretty quality for travel and landscape. If you want good quality, less cost and a larger selection of lenses, I might go for a Canon camera set-up. My friends who use Canons achieve great results. Nikons - you better be pro to get beauty. I use a variety of lenses and filters on my Pentax for travel and sport, the lenses are: Pentax SMC-DA 50-135mm f/2.8 ED SDM LENS, Pentax 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 DA ED AL (IF) ZM LN, Pentax SMCP-FA 43MM F/1.9 LIMITED SERIES AUTO (my favorite), Pentax Wide Angle 35mm f/2.0 SMCP-FA AL Autofocus Lens. I steer away from finish line photos, I would need this and $3400.

iphone: hey you can't deny the ease of an iphone for in the moment shots. But the way I snap photos, it barks at me far too often for "not enough storage". Still my brother only travels with his T-mobile camera phone, and sends home amazing photos from afar. For me, the iphone remains the easiest way to get photos up on Twitter fast, resulting in fun behind the scenes photos at races or photos from the road.

I prefer the PNY Technologies 32GB Elite Performance SDHC Class 10 Memory Card. Always format a memory card on your camera, and always have two or more camera batteries (charged!).

Pedal Dancer Photography

This is my new photography website - in the works - pedaldancerphotography.com

I don't have a lot of photos added yet, but you can see some of the initial images in my Best Of gallery here http://www.pedaldancerphotography.com/homepagegallery.


Here is a recent photo where I utilized all of the above hardware, software and equipment together with my Pentax K5. Capturing the call up at a pro bike race with my Pentax and Lightroom:

please click on any image to enlarge

When I want to capture totally natural color, zoom in action in sports and get the photos out fast, I want a fast zoom lens with little (to no) editing necessary after snapping the shot. This photo was taken from a distance with my Pentax K5 and the SMC-DA 50-135mm f/2.8 lens.

When I use the fixed 43mm lens I never have to do any cropping or adjusting. This lens takes fast up-close photos. It captures the feeling of how a fan watches a race. I like the Pentax SMCP-FA 43MM F/1.9 LIMITED SERIES AUTO lens for stage starts, sign-ins and cyclocross races.

When I am traveling as a tourist and want freedom to compose the frame how I best see it, I use my standard lens with flexibility - Pentax 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 DA ED AL (IF) ZM LN.

Here is a shot with the small Sony point and shoot. See how it compares to the larger Pentax K5 photo above. There is no reason not to bring a good (but small) camera with you on your next bike ride.

Cycling in France, and stopping to capture the scenery I rode through with my Sony camera. I can stand on the road and see what I am capturing with an adjustable zoom far better than a camera phone for exactness.

Would you believe this amount of detail was captured using the Sony Cyber-Shot point in shoot. There is no real need to carry a big camera bag around Florence, Italy.

iphone cameras can create interesting effects and still provide good memories of your travels.

Manhattan by night in a boat with a camera phone. The memories are just as bright, even without high resolution.

My personal post race thoughts on the USA Pro Challenge

Chasing this race for a week encourages me to form opinions

As you know my motto is "heavy on information and joy of the sport, light on opinion." but there is something about this USA Pro Challenge race that makes me want to speak up. For a moment, just imagine we are sitting at a table and the waitress just walked up and asked if anyone wanted another beer, and we all said a resounding Good God YES Please. As those beers are served, let's settle in to sipping our beers and really talking about a bike race ....

I can go to the Tour of California, the Tour de France, one day classics and I never leave having opinions, but when it comes to this race, I find myself running back into the company of the fans to regain my sanity so I can hear talk of who is winning or how awesome Jens is, because really - it's all about the race, isn't it? Then why is the race organization so gosh darn nutso? Believe me when I say to you - Life, is all about people.

Let's start with the good (and slip in the bad)

I love meeting fans from other states.

Maybe it is the places where I put myself during a race, but I meet a lot of people from out of state. I am so impressed by these folks who take their vacation time, spend their money and travel to Colorado to see a bike race. Sure this year was special with The Jensie having his last race, but the number of travelers from out of state is fantastic. I strongly believe they change and make the mood of this stage race very special. It is exactly for them that I write my fan guides, well in advance, to help them plan to visit Colorado and have a good time.

As one fan told me as we stood on the road in Garden of the Gods, "planning is half the fun." She made me smile because that is the soul of a true traveler. (I had drinks with a number of fans in the course of the week - thank you! A special thank you to the fan on Vail Pass who added that tasty floating cheese puff to my beer. )

I love seeing families at this race like the Phinneys and the Stetinas and complete strangers.

My family used to have a tradition of meeting at the Solvang time trial in California, staying in a hotel over night, lingering over dinner in Los Olivas the night before and then strolling around the time trial the next day. I love seeing multiple generations at any race, or parents and kids. I like that I often meet Moms and Dads of the racers, I like that parents favorite or retweet my photos of their kids. It feels good.

I just wish Eric Zabel had come to America to watch his son Rick Zabel race (BMC). Rick's team won best overall team this year. Connie Carpenter-Phinney is real and would make a nice addition to our table of beer drinkers, Dale Stetina could teach us all a thing or two about race tactics.

I really hate it when media channels are abused.

Now for a rant. It bugs the crap out of me to meet someone (as I did in Boulder on Sunday) who shows up with cameras strung over shoulder and a blue photo vest and says he is there "for his portfolio." When I ask "Who are you shooting for, " I want to hear for whom and how you intend to promote this race. If you are not getting the word out there to help fans, sponsors or teams, then you are disrespecting this race. The fan behind the barrier who regularly takes photos and knows all the riders and traveled from Texas, has just as much right to be parading around as a photographer as you do. It is just wrong.

I fully respect the pecking order of legit photographers and media personnel.

I can honestly say that it takes tons of time, energy and experience to report well on a race. The men and women who do it well, need the space and respect to get their job done. There are key personnel in this race, and I do my best to respect them, in the theme of Ivan Basso I have tried to "Start ... from the low level, and go up." I recognize the levels in the media, after four years at this, I have learned a lot but I have much more to learn. I really like photographers Oran Kelly and his full-of-life girlfriend Jo, Darrell Parks, Dean Warren, Kim Hull and her husband Greg Hull, they would be a cool addition at our table of beer drinkers, and they can talk bike racing!

No I do not think Boulder is a good place to bring a pro road race.

I didn't write a Fan Guide to the stage start in Boulder for a specific reason - the fine citizens of Boulder would not listen to my ideas anyway, they live with pro riders within their borders and think nothing of them. Boulder is a very closed world and they like it that way. I used to work and live in Boulder for brief periods over my twenty-four years in Colorado. Someone, as myself, who has lived internationally and grown up in Los Angeles County is going to feel like a fish out of water in Boulder.

Have you heard the phrase, "I couldn't get out of that town fast enough," yep, well that was me Sunday. I swear I witnessed private cars being driven out onto the course in between race laps, I saw people riding their bikes on course and walking across the course -- all while the race was on! If a course marshal attempted to control the disregard for safety, a local would say with ridicule, "Gee she takes her job seriously" and walk across the course in between team cars right in front of her. God help us if the USA Pro Challenge returns to Boulder.

Cyclocross - whole different story, excellent host city.

I like the Schadens a lot!

If you ever see Rick or Richard Schaden go up and say hello. They own this race (which is privately funded) and are both approachable and super easy to talk with. I said my personal, "Thank you for this race" to both of them, and each continued the conversation, chatting about real topics of interest. I would love to stand with either of these men along the barricade and talk bike racing. I'd like Richard and Rick to be at our beer table having a beer with us right now.

Richard (L) and Rick (R) Schaden on the final podium with Tejay van Garderen (and his daughter) in Denver 2014.  ©Photo by Ryan Wallace, RevLine, for Pedal Dancer®

I wish race organizers (contractors) would not change maps and times last minute

Please get out real information for fans earlier. I understand television coverage trumps race start plans, but tardy information is confusing to fans without clear communication channels.

The reason I started creating Fan Guides to the USA Pro Challenge in year one (2011) is because I saw a lack from race organizers. I thought it would improve, it hasn't much. KOM is the marketing company responsible for race guides, which seem to appear a week before the race. I got my race guide on the last day (and I was there all week!). Maps and race times are often incorrect. But KOM is paid to do what they do and are part of the close-knit monopoly of KOM, Medalist Sports and Rogers & Cowan. I am competition and not an insider so there is no way that my services will ever be promoted through this race. 

I understand that Fans from out of state need to plan vacation days off from work, they need to secure transportation or flights, they want to know how much they will be able to get done in each town and  how to travel to and from the stage on race day. Also what else is nearby that they could see while on vacation and maybe meet some fellow fans. It is difficult for me to figure all this out and I live in the state of Colorado! I take my Fan Guides seriously, I want to offer accurate information. ~I need another beer!

With all that said, I give high praise to Medalist Sports. I liked the route this year, the riders liked the shorter stages. I think the Commissaires should not have stopped Stage 3, but think Medalist Sports do a fine job of keeping the race flowing with relative safety. A tip for fans in the future -- go directly to the host city websites for help in planning, these towns want you to visit as tourists.

I hate that the press has to cram in front of fans

My worst nightmare is when I have to step in front of fans to find the gate into the media tent or to get inside the barriers. Why they can't design a path for media better so that fans are not interrupted, I do not know. Fans crowd into every nook and cranny and I despise having to step in front of them even momentarily. The priority is all wrong, I try my darnedest not to block the view of fans who have waited for an hour or more in a prime spot. I am so sorry to anyone that I bumped or crawled past. I will gladly buy a beer for all twelve of those fans who wondered "what the hell is she doing." - you have no idea how many tiers there are in the media hierarchy of access, sometimes I am left to crawl.

The miss-information spread for marketing purposes is so unnecessary.

We're just not that dumb. CEO Shawn Hunter is number one a salesman and promoter, never forget that. He likes to say that the USA Pro Challenge is second only to the Tour de France, that Colorado has more fans than any other race. That sounds nice, but there is this country called Belgium, that sort of has us beat! Even a cyclo-cross race in Belgium can attract staggering numbers of fans. And then there is Tour of California, Tour of Utah, the tours in Canada, and a little country called Italy. Plus we all saw what Ireland and England could produce in terms of numbers of fans.

When I can walk anywhere along the race route and instantly get to the barrier or key spot during any moment of the race - the crowds simply are not that big. Shawn Hunter we are definitely ordering another round (or three) of beers for you.

I think the exclusivity of new sponsor Lexus was ridiculous.

I like their cars, my Mom drives a Lexus, but I am certain this good company did not intend to tarnish their reputation by being almost cruel to other vendors. Key race staff would not allow other vendors to park their supply vans and cars in the expo area if they were not Lexus. This meant back breaking inconvenience to other paying sponsors. And yet Lexus the company, paid for bike valet free to all fans who rode their bikes into the event - that is good community service. So I am behind Lexus and put the blame on USA Pro Challenge marketing for taking their "partner" sponsorship to the extreme.

Lexus because we were able to jam four photographers with all our camera gear plus a driver into one of your (very nice) Media cars, and you care about cyclists - Lexus, I will buy you a beer!

At the race with Lexus. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

I am not a believer that doping has vanished but I do not condone meanness.

It is absolutely true that there was a long period of time when media could not ask the tough questions or they would experience being ostracized, unable to do their job. Members of the media were forced to both promote and support individuals who flat out lied to their face. Times have changed and freedom of speech is cautiously returning, but as with all things in life, some people approach change intelligently, some emotionally, some with grace, and some with hatred. There was a specific rider on this tour, that I snapped one photo of, and that was by mistake. I never mentioned him and that is not because I want to silence him, I like that he can speak freely, I just don't respect his style or approach. I didn't like Lance because he was mean, I don't like anti-dopers who are mean. No beer for you rider #133

I really missed Frankie Andreau and Joe Lindsay at the race this year.

I asked Nicole Okoneski of Rogers & Cowan (the races representing PR firm), "Where is Bicycling.com this year, why aren't Frankie and Joe here?" "They are covering it from afar," I was briskly told. Oh. That's probably not good, since their from afar consisted of 9 pieces about the race for the entire year (I did 27, VeloNews did 44, CyclingNews completed over 30 pieces).

Do you remember last year when I contacted Steve Hill at Steephill.TV to ask him about traffic to his site post race? I was (privately) questioning whether the USA Pro Challenge was worth my time. Our stats (percentages, not numbers) were similar in that I got maybe 20% the traffic I received for the Tour of California which is lighter then the grand daddy of them all - Le Tour de France. This year my traffic for August was 80% of July's traffic, that is a good improvement for this race (although July was lighter for me because I was not in France and spent time writing about the Pro Challenge).

In past years Joe and Frankie have conducted Tour Talk video race reports similar to the Tour Talk videos with Frankie and James Startt in France. They are good fun to watch and keep the interest going into the next day's stage, but they didn't do it this year. Read Joe Lindsay opinion piece on his Boulder Report blog for Bicycling.com: A Change Is Gonna Come? Tune in for episode 453 of botched neutralizations in pro racing! by Joe Lindsay. I like Joe, I think of Joe as the smart one at our table of beer drinkers. I'd like Neal Rogers (VeloNews) and his lovely wife Whitney to join us for a beer as well. They would have some stories to tell.

I like not being tethered to one sponsor. But income would be good.

I like that I can promote openly what I think best for fans, it allows me to be absolutely honest. Yet I know I would be very good at promoting for a race sponsor or team, I can easily see lots of possibilities. I spend many hours doing what I do and anguish over the details realizing I am influencing someone's vacation. I take it seriously while having fun, so it can be fun for you. When someone asks me if I am a volunteer, I always answer, yes I am a volunteer even though I don't wear one of those yellow or blue tshirts.

Quality of information is really important to me as well as creating a sense of cycling community for visiting fans.

My favorite quote from the race:

"Mom, can we come back again next year?" overheard from a small boy in Denver Civic Center Park yesterday. Sorry, he was too young to drink beer with us.

One of my favorite tweets Jens flying home from DIA

Yeah baby- taking my Breckenridge viking helmet back home! Denver airport! pic.twitter.com/9kbDW4QE8Z
— Jens Voigt (@thejensie) August 25, 2014

And mine, of course - the photo I captured of Alex Howes after the finish line, lit up Twitter last Sunday night.

Nice save @alex_howes and congratulations on your stage win! @Ride_Argyle #prochallenge pic.twitter.com/CLYf5T1CWG
— Pedal Dancer (@karenrake) August 25, 201

Seven things to expect at the USA Pro Challenge

1. Weather
2. TV coverage interference
3. Phil Liggett mispronouncing town names
4. Controversial commissaire decisions
5. Pro Riders loving their accommodations
6. Very smart cycling fans
7. Super nice support staff (marshals, moto drivers, official volunteers, media car drivers Terry & Steve, the Mavic support crew, Jamie the Mobile PA, and Marcel van Garderen!) We need a much bigger table!

What is next for moi?

I haven't a clue. I think I might remove the batteries from my computers mouse and follow Jens on his plan to lead Trek Travel Tours in Solvang, California. I think we'd make a good combo, even if we are as different as chalk and cheese, we both love travel and cycling fans. And we both appreciate the difference in others. I was blown away with Jensie's openness and graciousness with the fans - he is genuine. He is the real deal and I will miss him greatly (until we lead our next tour together that is). Yes, Jens definitely needs to join us for a beer!

Thank you to everyone who made my week happy. I actually had fun this year, lots of it, last year I did not, but that is in the past. I have good memories from this past week and only met four people that rubbed me the wrong way, I'd call that a success. If you have the power to make someone happy, do it. The world needs more of that. ~Banksy

My dog is well

Thank you for sending my labradoodle Jack Denny well wishes. Jack is recovering well from his cancer surgery. He was with me for four days in Aspen before we returned home. In the end I got to attend much of the race due to help form two different home dog walking/care services. Jack is healing and doing well. Thank you!

If you didn't see it - check it out:

Manual for Speed: What's up with the yellow (the fabulous Mavic crew!)
Cyclocosm, The Week in Bike #32 – 22 August 2014 (video)
Cameron Wurf blog (Cannondale)
I Am Ted King blog Morning Announcements
Finding the balance: Michael Rogers on teamwork, happiness, and what comes next. By Neal Rogers, VeloNews

And watch the Vuelta a España - it's on now. SteehillTV all the links and coverage.

I had fun at the Trek Factory Fan Club Meeting in Aspen where fans got to chat with the entire team and get Jensie's autograph (and selfie). ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

My top-3 biggest regrets:

I missed meeting Cosmo from Cyclocosm, I really like his stuff, I think he changed his hair and I wasn't expecting the beard. Remember in 2012 when I missed Mario Cipollini in the VIP tent in Denver? Ya, this was kind of the same.

I didn't buy any Jens apparel. But I did get a really cool mug and Trek musette bag at the Trek Fan Club Meeting in Aspen.

I'd also like a do over on the spectacular crash to the ground I took while running along the barriers in the rain on Vail Pass. Apparently the Orange Guy fencing did not take down Alex Howes but it sure as heck took down me, and broke my lens extension thingy (that's a technical term for lens hood), and gave me an unusual dent in my left elbow. It's probably a tumor.

Okay, thanks for a fun week. See you in November, in Solvang, with Jens.

On to our next journey?  ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

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