anthony galvin
CYCLING
Sunday morning. It’s overcast, but dry. Along the top road at Goathurst Common not far from Sevenoaks, there’s a a gentle hum of rollers and turbos whirring as the riders warm up. A long queue of spectators stretches back from the tea hut and the smell of bacon fat mixes with sweat and embrocation. There’s a good crowd lining the upper slopes of Yorks Hill, 707 yards of gradient, for the 114th Catford Hill Climb. The oldest continuing cycle race in the world brings out all types of riders and plenty of supporters to urge, cheer and cajole them up the viscous climb. There’s an average gradient of 12.5% but with a couple of nasty sections of 25%.
More pictures on flickr.
Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:51:00 permalink
Pictures from stage 18, the time trial at Annecy.
Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:26:00 permalink
Pictures from stage 17 at the top of the Col de la Colombiere.
Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:25:00 permalink
Pictures from stage 16 at Pre Saint Didier.
Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:24:00 permalink
Pictures from stage 15 as Le Tour climbs up to Verbier.
Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:12:00 permalink
Cold. Windy. Mountains. Cycling in Snowdonia on Boxing Day. More pictures on flickr.
Sun, 28 Dec 2008 13:47:00 permalink
Road to Roubaix - A Short Review
The Bicycle Film Festival rolled into London last week, and with it Road to Roubaix, a documentary about the Paris-Roubaix cycle race. From a film making perspective this is fertile ground, most notably the subject of arguably the greatest cycling film “A Sunday in Hell” directed by Jorgen Leth.
Where Leth focused on the battle between Eddie Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck, directors David Deal and Dave Cooper take the battle between terrain and rider as their inspiration. The film is beautifully photographed, lingering shots of the treacherous cobbles are interspersed with rider interviews, some excellent photography and television footage of the 2007 race.
The access to some of the big names on the current cycling circuit is impressive, even Lance Armstrong pops up - however, some of the editting decisions seem awkward, and the battle to entwine the progress of the 2007 race into the story is sometimes a little heavy handed. It feels a little stretched at 86 minutes and might have been better nearer the hour mark.
Overall though it’s a cracking insight into the ‘Queen of the Classics’ and pro-cycling. If it wheels itself your way as part of the BFF world tour, then it’s definitely worth watching.
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:49:00 permalink
New wheels (on location in County Kerry)
Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:39:00 permalink
Saturday night after dark, Smithfield Market. Leading UK and continental based cyclist battle it out in the dark in an event organised by Rapha. Difficult conditions to shoot in but once the beer had kicked in the D200 got to work. More pictures on Flickr.
Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:13:00 permalink