Barton Park Photo Slideshow
Monday, November 3, 2008 at 10:33AM | in photos of the week How do you know when it's really muddy? Answer: when a pride of cross riders use a big muddy puddle to clean the mud off. Standing there, watching single speeders and B riders wash themselves in a parking lot lagoon was a strangely transporting experience. Referencing a scene from a National Geographic TV special, one woman started to narrate. Careful not to disturb the wildlife she spoke in a hushed voice, "On the plains of the Serengeti, the beasts locate water - the blood of the land. And, although just moments before they competed for food and rank in the pride, here, they are equals."
It was hilarious.
This week, cyclocross got real in the gravel quarry called Barton Park. There was a lot of talk about tire pressure and lubes and off-camber turns. It was easy to see which faces belonged to those who had just raced: just look for mud measles. The slick downhills put some riders on their asses, and a few body parts will need some time to recover. The slick uphills had even hot shots looking like cartoon characters, their wheels spinning as they stayed in one place. At the bottom of a steep and slippery slope, a crowd of people watched as riders struggled to the top. “Ride it! Everyone else is riding it!” they yelled, knowing that no one would ride this hill this day. But when cyclocrossers feel mud, they get happy and hopeful.
Reader Comments (14)
your photos are superb... a real treat.
thanks for sharing!!!
best,
etk
Inspiring stuff, both on wheels and in black an white, as always. My favorite Monday hit. But in frame 24, what's with the archer? They not teach gravity on the left coast?
[...] some fantastic photography of the weekend action, head over to PDXcross . The shots over there are [...]
It's pouring rain here in N. California, but you've made me glad that at least my commute isn't muddy.
I really like frame 31. It makes me think of images of people doing laundry in rivers in less well to do parts of the world. I don't know why I like this, but it speaks to me.
I can't stand it. It's...it's too beautiful. I can't even look at these any more.
Dude, I look forward to your pics above all others. They move me. Your visions capture things we see all day in ways we don't see at all. These visions are what true crossers aspire to every weekend. These are the visions that stick in my head when I ride.
Would love to see another set from Astoria, you must have more!
Keep rocking it.
B
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i always look forward to your slideshow, checking sunday evenings and monday mornings - waiting waiting and yeah! very inspiring work i'm grateful you share with the cx community. be well, cj
Fantastic photography! I was not there, but your superb capturing of the the moments that made up the event brings it right here. Excellent craftsmanship.
breathtaking, makes my insides percolate...
thank you for sharing with randoms.
Well done! Well, maybe, except for the one of the guy shooting the arrow straight up.
Great shots, I second brahmabull's comment's above. I often wonder where it was that you took the shots from, because they show the course from vantages that I missed. Oh, and I'm the guy in shot 17 from Barton. Awesome!
Excellent job covering this event. The action shots and portraits do a good job of mixing it up. The content really looks good in black and white! I bet these would also look nice printed. Thanks for posting and sharing with everyone! Makes me want to ride!