The combination of magnificent scenery, tactical intrigue, and human against human physical effort is powerful. But I had never seen a peloton. I needed to sample a spectator's experience of a road race before pursuing the notion.
The opportunity arose on Wednesday, during the Herald Sun Tour 2008 in Victoria.
The website showed the course of Stage 3 from Warragul through the Yarra Ranges to Marysville.
Google Maps helped determine that Reefton was probably the best spot to get a decent photo of the race passing by, without being amongst a crowd.
Two hours driving got me to a picnic spot on a bend at Reefton @ 11am. It was absolutely silent among the towering trees where the trickling Yarra is deciding to become a river.
The first sign of any activity was a van pulling up for two guys to put up directional signs, marking the start of the King of the Mountain section of the course. They said to expect the riders @ 1pm.
The next hours saw a regular stream of the advance guard of police escorts, motorcycle scouts and support vehicles making their way to Marysville.
A vehicle with a PA passes announcing the 2 man breakaway is 2 minutes ahead of the main group.
The leaders arrive:
They are gone in a flash!
They arrive
They pass
They're gone!
At the time, my impression is of a single mass of white blurring past in seconds.
I can only hope the images taken worked.
It's not until after the 3 hour drive home and downloading from the camera that the paradox of the peloton is revealed.
In total 7 hours of my life were devoted to the quest - 5 hours driving and 2 hours in the serenity of Reefton. When the moment the peloton arrived all anyone could see was a stampeding mass of bikes, colour and energy for a matter of seconds.
It's only hours later that I discover that I forever have an image of an Australian sporting hero, Stuart O'Grady, wearing the leader's yellow jersey in the Herald Sun Tour 2008.
They're gone!
All that's left to do is take shots of support vehicles.
At the time, my impression is of a single mass of white blurring past in seconds.
I can only hope the images taken worked.
It's not until after the 3 hour drive home and downloading from the camera that the paradox of the peloton is revealed.
In total 7 hours of my life were devoted to the quest - 5 hours driving and 2 hours in the serenity of Reefton. When the moment the peloton arrived all anyone could see was a stampeding mass of bikes, colour and energy for a matter of seconds.
It's only hours later that I discover that I forever have an image of an Australian sporting hero, Stuart O'Grady, wearing the leader's yellow jersey in the Herald Sun Tour 2008.
Yet another lucky accident - but one that wouldn't have happened without planning, time and investment in equipment.
Analysis of the photographic exercise:
1. Scene selection - the particular site selected was good to get the bend and the effect of the approaching mass. And, to get the shadows if the sun came out.
2. Lens - the telephoto enabled the close up that shows the cyclists concentration, energy and effort, while getting the peloton mass as it approached the bend.
3. Camera settings - left entirely on auto - apart from the shot of the police motorsyclist.
Satisfaction level - delighted, because the time and planning made a lucky accident able to happen.
Will I go to France to follow Le Tour?
No way!
The only way to follow it is on TV at 1am. Trying to get just one vantage point on the route would be pointless without being able to control any of the elements.
Oh, and the paradox of the Peloton?
Having a peloton pass you is an amazing, must-do experience.
But you cannot capture the experience in a photo.
Nor can you see the detail of a peloton as it passes.
A photo of a peleton shows but a millisecond.
And the detail is only visible in the photos!
Oh, and the paradox of the Peloton?
Having a peloton pass you is an amazing, must-do experience.
But you cannot capture the experience in a photo.
Nor can you see the detail of a peloton as it passes.
A photo of a peleton shows but a millisecond.
And the detail is only visible in the photos!
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