For the second half of class today, we photographed the school's Veterans Day ceremony.
Nov. 10, 2013
NASCROSS. This week's cyclocross race was held at Orange County Speedway near Durham and was a perfect course for me. I didn't feel real good this morning, been holding off a cold all week, my back is sore and my legs felt dead all week (3 races last week?). But this was a race I wanted to do since I missed it last year. The course starts on the track and after going through turns 1 & 2, you drop into the infield for some switchbacks and the barriers. After you cross over the track you go out into the parking grass and work your way through fast turns before hitting the singletrack for a bit. After you exit the woods, you work around the outside of the track on some off camber carving turns and a run up. From here you reverse back the above to enter the track and ride the banking around 3 & 4 to the start line.
The Race: Over 60 Master Cat 4 racers lined up and I started in a good spot. As we worked through the first turns, I had a "Richard" chop me hard and would have taken both of us down had I not braked hard and changed my line.... payback? He took down another rider in the woods doing the same thing... I guess he REALLY wants that medal. (I did have the thought, most of the field races with some sponsor's jersey, this guy had a Hammer jersey, it seems sponsors would not want a "Richard" to race representing them) - Anyway, I started picking off riders through the first lap and then did two things I have not done this season. 1. Big Chain Ring: I raced the whole lap in the big ring except for the off-camber curves. 2. Crashed: On the last lap, my bike just washed out from under me on the above off-camber curves, just a riding then on the ground crash.
Final: 21st in the race, 8th in age group (best of year) but still 10th in series.
PS the hornet nest. I backed into my parking spot, set up, looked up and saw it.... doh!
Nov. 8, 2013
A lovely day for a ride. I used a set of city tires on my CX bike for all the rides this week.
Nov. 4, 2013
Pisgah Covered Bridge. Since Sam had to be at school early for student government, I photographed a little of the last of fall color.
Nov. 3, 2013
Day 2. Drive back to Boone before the sun is up. It is still windy, cold, and course is more rutted.
I arrived with plenty of time to change and warm up. The field is much larger (twice the size) and we are the first race of the day (old guys, 35+,45+,55+ Cat 4) This is the race I care about and started strong again, there was a lot more pushing and such throughout the first lap, but I was riding my race, letting folks go that were faster and racing to catch anyone in front of me. I settled into my position in the middle and ran down several racers on the last lap. 26th out of the 57 finishers and 12th in my age group. (That moves me into 10th in age group for the series) I stayed around and cheered for friends, had a nice lunch and debated about racing the open Cat 4 race when another rider was begging for a helmet (he left his at home) I had a spare and since I had to wait, I might as well race ; )
81 riders lined up for the open Cat 4..... That is correct 81! My legs were smoked so I lined up on the last row and planned to use the race as practice of catching and passing riders, you know the 70 or so in front of me.... the whistle blows and we slowly start.... how fast can 81 riders go down a chute, U turn and hit a long run up? From there I was just having fun, my bike was hooked up and I was passing folks. I had no idea where I was in the field, just trying to catch the guy in front. I finished 57 of the 77 finishers. I was happy with that!
This was a fun course, flats, 2 run ups, a stage "fly over" half a lap on an old dirt race track, slick switch backs and free food on Sunday.
Nov. 2, 2013
The first of two days of racing in Boone at the old Fairgrounds. Today was the MSG series out of Tennessee and a lot of new faces. I had a great start but faded as the race went on, the race featured a smaller field but a longer race. I can't remember exact results but 14/30ish is what I recall. Unfortunately Sam wasn't feeling well, it was very windy, temps overnight were near freezing and it started raining, so we drove home in time to see Deb off to work.
Oct. 31, 2013
Halloween at home. No trick or treaters here, guess the 1/4 driveway scares them (or the lack of lights)
Oct. 28, 2013
Today I did a live demo lab. Lighting large areas with one or two strobes and remotes. I love live demos, they usually have a failure, but this one didn't. I set my camera on a tripod and used a remote and talked students through light placement and exposure.
Oct. 27, 2013
Halloween Cyclocross in Winston-Salem. Costumes in the women's Open 1,2,3 race. After riding a bus for 12 hours, and sleeping for 6 hours, I decided I should get up and race. The course was set up at the Children's Home (I missed this race last year due to injury) and was a great course, off camber turns and punchy climbs. I had a great start and was running top 20 for the first half but started fading and then fell like a rock. I finished 35th of the 61 finishers but I am pleased with the day. Another awesome lunch at Bob's Big Gas Subs & Pub.
Oct. 26, 2013 - Central Park
I have never been to Central Park, so that was the big goal. It was worth the walk, very pretty for the middle of the city.
Oct. 26, 2013
Up before the sun to take Steph to the MegaBus pickup and then I walked around awhile photographing the city as it woke up. Then I grabbed Sam and Deb and we hit the road before bus left for NC at noon. One visit was FAO Schwarz, watched the toy soldier open the store and were one of the first to play on the large piano.
Oct. 25, 2013 (part 2)
More Grand Central Station, Wall Street, Annie Leibovitz exhibit as part of a show on the Hudson River Valley. Not shown, visiting the 9/11 memorial and visiting the International Center for Photography (ICP) and the show by Lewis Hines and his documentary work.
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