2014 MFP LaVuelta Challenge - Graham Watson Thread

TheBigYin
TheBigYin Posts: 5,686 Member
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After the success of the Graham Watson Thread for the Giro and LeTour, I guess it would be a shame not to do the same again for La Vuelta.

For those of you who don't recognise the name, Graham is pretty much the top dog when it comes to racing cycling photography - if you have spent any time whatsoever looking at bike race Images, chances are you've seen an awful lot of his work. Have a look here - http://www.grahamwatson.com/ - at some of the galleries, and you'll realise just how all pervasive his stuff is.

So, as you may guess, in parallel with the "Ride Logging" thread, we're going to have a "Photo Logging" thread, and at the end of the thread, I'll organise an independent judge to view the thread and declare a 1-2-3 of the Images submitted.

Please don't feel like you've got to submit something from every ride, just do something if it takes your eye, and it's generally "on topic" - the judge will be briefed to be looking for things that fit the theme of the Vuelta Espana - so I'm expecting a fair amount of Red Jerseys, Black Bulls, plates of Tapas etc. as well as stunning views (with a bike propped up in frame somewhere)

If you wish to add a bit of a "ride report" with the photo, then all the better - I really think that the whole reporting thing added quite a bit to the experience of the Classics Challenge - both from my part, and for most of the people participating... I know I'd be thinking "I wonder where everyone's been and what stories they will have to tell" when I was riding the back half of my rides this year.

Thread is open for Submissions captured on any day 23rd August through to the 14th September and will close a few days afterwards - but don't forget the "rest day" shots shouldn't really be ride related - that's the time for the Tapas and a Glass of Chilled Fino then...
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Replies

  • KitTheRoadie
    KitTheRoadie Posts: 641 Member
    This was from yesterday's ride. I generally have to get out early when I ride at the weekend, that way the family are all still in bed. Well that's the theory anyway! :wink:

    This sort of thing makes it all worth it....

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  • Spatialized
    Spatialized Posts: 623 Member
    Decided to go explore the local fire roads. On a spectacular blue sky day, everything just seemed to "POP". Odd thing is that there is already a bit of a nip to the wind, not saying it's Fall weather yet, but it's not quite summer anymore.

    url=https://flic.kr/p/oCayHA]14849108820_63878fa273_z.jpg[/url]Bluebird skies and dirt road dreams. by Spatialized, on Flickr

    Old ranger station.
    15035373932_c859a8564f_z.jpgThere's a red house over yonder... by Spatialized, on Flickr

    My favorite kind of road.
    14824726127_77c9586f73.jpgYes, this is a road. #stravaphoto #rideeverything by Spatialized, on Flickr
  • sufferlandrian
    sufferlandrian Posts: 8,244 Member
    dxb5uc.jpg

    Sommers Boat Launch. Would have been a nice day to just hang out but I had 40 miles to go.
  • sufferlandrian
    sufferlandrian Posts: 8,244 Member
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    I've always admired this how out on Farm to Market road. I could never live that far out of town and still work emergency work but I still think it's gorgeous.
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
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    The sun was setting on the Muskingum River Monday evening... The sun set completely about 10 minutes before I got back to my car...
  • sufferlandrian
    sufferlandrian Posts: 8,244 Member
    2mwii5l.jpg

    The sun was setting on the Muskingum River Monday evening... The sun set completely about 10 minutes before I got back to my car...

    Wow. Nice photo. :smile:
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
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    View from the top... Overlooking the Mighty Ohio River and Blennerhassett Island... I wanted to wait until sunset, but it really isn't a safe ride home in the dark...
  • sufferlandrian
    sufferlandrian Posts: 8,244 Member
    2jg1de9.jpg

    Stillwater Church on Church Road outside Kalispell. Nice place to stop and take on water or lunch and then push on. Very nice folk.
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,686 Member
    Well - I got lucky today - there was an organised "skyride" going on around the Selby area, where I normally do my Sunday rides, but fortunately it seemed that while it was following much the same route as I do - it was doing it in the opposite direction.

    So, apart from the odd homicidal driver, who'd been stuck behind clumps of 40-50 cyclists on tiny winding roads for 10 minutes, then saw a gap and booted it on the wrong side of the road - only to find there was another cyclist coming towards him, it was a decent enough ride.

    I even got a couple of snaps of some of the riders when I stopped for a drink...

    I've seen happier people on a Bike...
    15093380702_520a3e5d9c.jpgP1010420.jpg by The Big Yin, on Flickr

    Don't look now, I think he's spotted me...
    14907185267_3af930e614.jpgP1010422.jpg by The Big Yin, on Flickr

    So did his mate...
    14907173828_1a27f26946.jpgP1010423.jpg by The Big Yin, on Flickr

    anyway, eventually I managed to get off the shared route, and finished the hilly bits at the end of the ride...

    14906581778_1ba17fcc4a.jpgP1010435.jpg by The Big Yin, on Flickr

    344 Watts on a 6.6% Hill, one Handed, and still not fast enough to get any motion blur on the road :grumble: Make no wonder my pulse rate was a little elevated!
  • veloman21
    veloman21 Posts: 418 Member
    Sometimes it's good to get to the top of a climb in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoy the view :smile:

    14918547579_f403744e3f.jpg
  • sufferlandrian
    sufferlandrian Posts: 8,244 Member
    Sometimes it's good to get to the top of a climb in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoy the view :smile:

    14918547579_f403744e3f.jpg

    Wow. Nice view. :smile:
  • cloggsy71
    cloggsy71 Posts: 2,208 Member
    Don't look now, I think he's spotted me...
    oHidPD]14907185267_3af930e614.jpg

    My first thought was 'his saddle looks too low...' :laugh:
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,686 Member
    Don't look now, I think he's spotted me...
    ...

    My first thought was 'his saddle looks too low...' :laugh:


    It does look a bit low, doesn't it.
  • veloman21
    veloman21 Posts: 418 Member
    On my ride through quaint Moravian Falls, NC.

    ]14935365678_7ab7716523.jpg
  • FatDadSlim
    FatDadSlim Posts: 497 Member
    Took advantage of the beautiful weather this morning and chose the more hilly but far more scenic route into work this morning, t'was a bit foggy in the lower parts of the road though;
    IMG_0908_zpscb5221d2.jpg

    This was the difference a few meters higher!
    IMG_0912_zps918234b5.jpg
  • TheBigYin
    TheBigYin Posts: 5,686 Member
    Took advantage of the beautiful weather this morning and chose the more hilly but far more scenic route into work this morning, t'was a bit foggy in the lower parts of the road though;
    IMG_0908_zpscb5221d2.jpg

    This was the difference a few meters higher!
    IMG_0912_zps918234b5.jpg

    Wow, Just... WOW.

    ^^^ That's what we do it for, isn't it!
  • FatDadSlim
    FatDadSlim Posts: 497 Member
    Wow, Just... WOW.

    ^^^ That's what we do it for, isn't it!

    It's very Rare that it's as pleasant as it was this morning!
  • sufferlandrian
    sufferlandrian Posts: 8,244 Member
    There are some amazing photos on here. Beautiful!
  • veloman21
    veloman21 Posts: 418 Member
    Took advantage of the beautiful weather this morning and chose the more hilly but far more scenic route into work this morning, t'was a bit foggy in the lower parts of the road though;
    IMG_0908_zpscb5221d2.jpg

    This was the difference a few meters higher!
    IMG_0912_zps918234b5.jpg

    Wow, Just... WOW.

    ^^^ That's what we do it for, isn't it!

    That's gorgeous! I love riding in the mountains near my home in the early morning. Watching the sunrise or getting up above the fog layer just feels inspiring!!
  • KitTheRoadie
    KitTheRoadie Posts: 641 Member
    Wednesday Mornings ride. No Instagram filter needed! :wink:

    15150164492_4fbfb115ab.jpg

    At the top of a popular local climb called "The S Bends or Monument Hill". It's only really 20% at the top, through the S bends but still a killer! :wink: Oh and I'm having to borrow my brother's Thorn Audax while I await some new chainrings.... Lovely steel (858 I think...) framed bike, light, responsive and nothing like I imagined! :noway:

    14963853729_03fe12d642.jpg
  • sufferlandrian
    sufferlandrian Posts: 8,244 Member
    Wednesday Mornings ride. No Instagram filter needed! :wink:

    15150164492_4fbfb115ab.jpg

    At the top of a popular local climb called "The S Bends or Monument Hill". It's only really 20% at the top, through the S bends but still a killer! :wink: Oh and I'm having to borrow my brother's Thorn Audax while I await some new chainrings.... Lovely steel (858 I think...) framed bike, light, responsive and nothing like I imagined! :noway:

    14963853729_03fe12d642.jpg

    Wow! Nice photos. That's one heck of a hill at 20%. :frown:
  • Kupe
    Kupe Posts: 758 Member
    6505677b-7645-425b-a7dc-715a96dbd783_zps1153b57e.jpg

    Spring day, panorama over the bay towards the city
  • phytogurl
    phytogurl Posts: 671 Member
    So many great looking water pictures and green lush areas....very beautiful places to ride.:drinker:

    J. Meadow escaped the wildland fire we had in our area last year
    johnsonmeadow_zps2fd2b713.jpg

    Cattle co. that has been in the valley for decades
    825cd46d-ff85-4ec7-9831-73bf89343236_zpsed0ad336.jpg

    My view from today's ride
    ViewfromThomasMtn_zpse8313139.jpg
  • phytogurl
    phytogurl Posts: 671 Member
    ^^The second photo was supposed to be the entire gate and bike, but I couldn't get it to post correctly:(
  • FatDadSlim
    FatDadSlim Posts: 497 Member
    Flat calm, nice ride but still too bloody cold!
    IMG_09191_zpsccc1741e.jpg
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
    Ideal early fall ride...
    2qla0zt.jpg

    It got dark fast, but it looked really cool...
    2lcy8w9.jpg

    This is my Doctor Who... Light at the end of the tunnel shot... I was racing the storm in.
    1zv63b5.jpg
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
    Flat calm, nice ride but still too bloody cold!
    IMG_09191_zpsccc1741e.jpg

    Beautiful!
  • Jakess1971
    Jakess1971 Posts: 1,208 Member
    Back to a bit of night riding:

    10598467_716746518420025_1798115633_n.jpg

    10684245_283011528555030_1305905689_n.jpg
  • cloggsy71
    cloggsy71 Posts: 2,208 Member
    Back to a bit of night riding:

    10598467_716746518420025_1798115633_n.jpg

    10684245_283011528555030_1305905689_n.jpg

    Brrrrr! Winter is definitely coming!
  • veloman21
    veloman21 Posts: 418 Member
    A beautiful mountaintop meadow on my ride today.

    15024487777_3f9d8285ab_z.jpg