Colorado State Cyclocross Championships

The Champs have earned their spot on the podium

This past weekend, races filled two full days in Castle Rock, Colorado, as racers fought hard for a podium spot. Except for those at the back, who raced hard enough to compete but took time for a hand-up of beer or sausages and pancakes. We had below freezing temps (-14 F, -25 C) just over a week ago in Colorado, but this weekend brought sunlight and just the right amount of mud and snow to make the good course challenging and fun.

Full Results from the Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado website: Results Castle Cross Colorado State Championships 2013
Results - Day 1 
Results - Day 2 

Pedal Dancer Photos from Castle Cross Colorado State Championships 2013:
Photos - Day 1
Photos - Day 2

For the past four years I have been showing up at cyclocross races in Colorado. I had a few friends who raced, I also had the desire to learn more about photography. Over the years my friendships have grown and my curiosity behind the lens continues to grow with each race. The cyclocross season runs from September to December and the number of racers continue to grow year after year with an amazing level of competition.

This past weekend marked the first time that some of the local sports photographers grouped together in a new joint effort on a website where racers could go and view the shots taken at the races. "I always see the photographers out on course, but I never know where to see the photos," this is the comment we heard a lot when we announced our new site RacerShots.com to the racers. We then heard many thank yous.

We thank the racers themselves, the organizers, mechanics, volunteers, announcers, and family and fans who show up to the races. Through our varied styles and shots, it becomes very evident that the cyclocross community in Colorado is one cool sport to be a part of.

Thanks to John Flora who had the idea of organizing the photographers into this new collaborative effort. RacerShots.com is a portal, with the purpose of getting our photographs in front of the racers and increasing our individual exposure. I have to admit it gave me a great sense of relief knowing I didn't have to stress about getting all the angles and all the highlights of every category. I had confidence, as I scanned the course seeing the photographers scattered about the various corners, I knew they were getting their signature shots.

Please view my photos via the new RacerShots.com website listed under - Pedal Dancer (of course), and then view the shots from my fellow photographers who devote their time to capturing the exciting sport of cyclocross. More photos (and photographers) will be added in the future (check back when GreenCurry posts his fabulous shots from the weekend), so be sure to stop by again.

And congrats to all the new Champs, and to those who raced their best. 

Photos by Karen at PedalDancer®    click any image to enlarge

Single Speed racers

The dominant Georgia Gould

SM Open category men take on the run-up

um, is that a unicorn?

A tough push in a tough race

styling

junior podium

beer handups

Michael Robson in the lead

mud and snow and dirty bikes

Santa! Or the Grinch, or both.

The CX race season isn't over yet: 2013-14 Colorado Cyclocross Calendar 

Anyone planning to travel to Colorado this year for USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships will be lining up against these men in various categories in January.

call up line up in the SM Open category

Basso likes Colorado

Something magical happens when you name a bike Basso

It wants to climb in the mountains! In the past two weeks, my new bike (named Basso) and me have had a great time riding in the mountains of Colorado. It has been hot in Denver, so the mountains have been a welcome reprieve from the heat. It is also prime-time riding season with local events like Ride the Rockies last week and Bicycle Tour of Colorado happening this week. Two weeks from now will be the Triple Bypass ride, and before we know it the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will return for it's second year.

If we're lucky we might get Chris Horner, Andy or Frank Schleck, a few others missing from the Tour de France this year, plus the newly crowned Olympians to come to Colorado.

For those who have asked, the forest fires still rage in northern Colorado west of Fort Collins. The fire, started by lightening, has now burned over 200 square kilometers, or 55,000 acres, and destroyed 181 homes of 700 dwellings in the fire zone. Over 1,600 firefighters have been battling the blazes.

I live safely south of the fires and have been fortunate to enjoy the mountain scenery from Denver south to Crested Butte and back. Here are some pictures to share from my recent adventures in

Colorado: all Photos by PedalDancer.com/Karen

Scenes from Ride the Rockies

Drew and Sue, our road trip to Gunnison, Co, included a quick stop in Fairlplay

Fairplay is in South Park - inspiration for the TV show (these 4 were also on their way to Ride the Rockies)

Random mass camping signaled we had found the start city of Ride the Rockies

Plus the sight of the expo and long registration pick-up lines

I hope everyone ended up on the correct bike the next morning

Our morning started at Camp 4 Coffee, a tradition in Crested Butte

This is Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water in Colorado - beautiful

This was a fixie rider - yes, not single speed, fixed gear, all 442 miles.

Scenes from Summit County

Frisco Marina on Lake Dillon

From above a mountain goat was peering down at the cyclists   Photo by Ursula

mountain goat   Photo by Ursula

The bike path from Frisco to Copper Mountain

When did BMW get involved in cycling?

A light rain was falling as I climbed to Vail Pass

Creek

Approaching Vail Pass at 10,662 feet (3,250 m)

I returned to Frisco in time for the annual BBQ cookoff

Main Street Frisco was filled with serious barbeques

They award trophies, pig trophies

This isn't snow, these are beignets

What's for lunch

American BBQ

And fresh roasted corn on the cob

Scene from riding to dinner with a friend (sorry Basso I went for my beach cruiser bike)

My "other" bike

Scenes from Clear Creek County

river rafting

An old Colorado mine

Map of 2012 Bicycle Tour of Colorado, June 17-23, 2012. This year they are going to Wyoming. The fires west of Fort Collins may affect the last day of this week long event as well (the last day of Ride the Rockies was rerouted).

2012 Bicycle Tour of Colorado route map

And congrats to my good friend Sue Lloyd for her latest win at the Colorado State Time Trial Championships (she is also National Bronze Medalist).

Sue - last week she rode all of Ride the Rockies, yesterday she became a champion.

This is Sue with her husband, Drew's Dad, and my good friend - Scott Christopher. Scott works for the State advocacy organization Bicycle Colorado. He also played a strong role at Ride the Rockies in teaching rider and road safety to riders and the Colorado Highway Patrol officers on the route. A bit of fun trivia - Scott was one of the sprinting cyclists in the old Kevin Costner movie American Flyers, something his sons (who both race) are very proud of. "Let 'em go Tommy they're nobodies."

Sue Lloyd and Scott Christopher