Cycling Lens

A Midsummer's Night Race

2016-07-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

Gravel Meets Baker City Cycling Classic

2016-07-21T07:45:00.000-07:00

Baker City 2016 Stage 1

2016-07-19T21:10:00.001-07:00

Final Sprint at Sunset (PIR)

2015-05-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

Numbers

2014-11-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

Meghan

2014-08-16T10:27:00.001-07:00

Colby Wait-Molyneux at the Eugene Celebration Prologue

2014-08-16T10:22:00.002-07:00

Banana Belt I 2014

2014-06-15T12:48:00.001-07:00

Carl Hoefer posts up for the solo win off the break

2014 Walla Walla TT Warm Up

2014-06-14T01:02:00.001-07:00

Final Corner to the Finish

2014-06-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Cherry Pie, Corvallis Oregon, 2014

2014-03-25T22:22:00.002-07:00

The men's 1/2 field led by Trevor Spahr (Cyclisme 2008, Ironclad 2009-2012, HCH-RPM 2013-2014) with Brianna Walle 2nd in line (Ironclad 2009-2012, Optum Pro Cycling 2013-2014)

Quintessential Cherry Pie course uphill photo. Those calves!

The Oregon women's peloton has grown to be a driving force in women's cycling. Jade Wilcoxson, once a team member of Southern Oregon's Flywheel Bicycle Solutions, now races for Optum pb Kelly Benefit Strategies with whom she won the 2013 Pro National Road Race Championship. Oregon racers such as Brianna Walle (Ironclad 2009-2012, Optum pb Kelly Benefit Strategies 2013-2014) and Anna Grace Christiansen (Ironclad 2005-2013) also raced their way into the pro spotlight. Pictured above: Beth Ann Orton of River City Bikes and Sydney Running of Ironclad sprint to the finish at OBRA's 2014 Cherry Pie.

2013 Bend Don't Brake

2013-05-29T17:17:00.004-07:00

Coming In HOT!

See the rest of the race at

http://catherineleighcooper.com/p292313252

2013 Vance Creek Road Race

2013-04-09T01:16:00.000-07:00

For more photos of

Vance Creek Road Race

Visit

http://catherineleighcooper.com/p1040910635

West Coast Women's Cycling 2013 Team Camp

2013-04-08T00:18:00.000-07:00

View the rest of the photos at

http://catherineleighcooper.com/p284524787

2013 Independence Valley Road Race

2013-04-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

Powerfully Seeking the

Nature Valley Grand Prix Pro Chase Qualification

Gorge Roubaix 2013

2013-03-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

Trevor Spahr (HPC-RPM Cycling Team)

in a solo breakaway at

Breakaway Promotion's 2013 Gorge Roubaix

A Bit More of the Scenic Race Route

The Dalles, Oregon

Mason Lake II

2013-03-12T20:28:00.000-07:00

Raw Video Finish

Additional photos posted soon at http://catherineleighcooper.com/f130334605

Mason Lake 1

2013-03-05T13:03:00.000-08:00

More photos of the race can be found at...

http://catherineleighcooper.com/p110646833

2013 Heiser Farms

2013-02-26T21:02:00.001-08:00

Mutual of Enumclaw Women's P/1/2

2012-05-24T00:26:00.001-07:00

~ Criterium ~

~ Road Race ~

OBRA Road Race 2012

2012-05-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

Breaking Away

Chute! Chute! Olympic View Road Race

2012-04-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

What a day.

It takes a bit of psychological amping up to come to a race to take photos. Staring at pro cycling magazine photos while envisioning being published on the cover of Road or Rouleur works for me. Walla Walla was such a high, but I wonder at the reality of the high. Racing is like entering a fantasy world for a weekend. Where does that world stand in the reality of life? How much does it really matter? One thing is for sure, I love it.

Upon arriving on the scene for the Olympic View Road Race, I feel deflated when the Pro/1/2 lead car driver is not as eager as past driver's to get me in the prime spot for photos. He superfluously demonstrates how it would be uncomfortable for me to get my head out the window from the back seat of his two-door car. His lack of appreciation for a photographer in his car and Brad Ross's inquiry two days earlier of who I shoot for and my ill-received response being "for my web site" pokes at my psyche a bit. Last weekend I was a superstar, this weekend people are treating me like just another chick with a camera.

Resilience is my silent middle name.

After this race, people needed resiliency.

Officials all have character! Listening to them and watching the race from their point of view is an alternate realm within bike racing. Although capturing a race from the back side of the peloton is not my favorite vantage point, I remain optimistic and go for the ride in the official's car. Al, the P/1/2 official starts our experience together telling me how photographers in the pro races get priority above everyone else for position in a race. Ah, yes, I am merely a beginner.

From the backseat of the official's car, I sit back to watch the race and set up for pictures when I can. My eye is on the mass of racers in front me. That's when I see one rider lose control and a domino effect of bikes crashing ripple through the peloton. First thought, stop the car. Second thought, do I know anyone in the crash. Third thought, take the picture. One day, my immediate response will be TAKE THE PICTURE. I have to trust others to do their job and just do mine. I feel a bit uncomfortable doing this; I feel compelled to get out and help. A crash is definite reality and helping is the right thing to do. But I need to toughen up and be a photographer. A picture says a thousand words and I want you to bear witness.

From what I hear, there were 7 or more crashes at this race, at least two calls to 911, many injuries, and thousands of dollars of damage to gear. Road conditions were good.

The crash photos are below. Photos of the race and a series of sprint finishes can be found at

http://catherineleighcooper.com/p272556741

1st Crash

2nd Obstacle/Crash

At the Finish Line

ToWW4

2012-04-26T00:18:00.000-07:00

Tour of Walla Walla Stage 4 Road Race

The Final 64 Miles

ToWW3

2012-04-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Tour of Walla Walla Time Trial

18:56.56

ToWW 2

2012-04-21T23:32:00.000-07:00

Tour Of Walla Walla Criterium

Don't let the arms fool you.