Rochester Omnium- Criterium
Aug 10, 2008 in Cycling
Yes, we met!
Bruce and I have known of each other for quite a while – fellow Rochesterian bloggers, cyclists, bicycle forum participants, and photo takers – but never met in person. I missed last year’s BikeJournal Reunion here in the Finger Lakes area and just last week again in Colorado. But now, near the Full Moon Vista stand (where else?) we met.
It was a Saturday filled with cycling stuff. I replaced the 53 chainring on Charles, the BikeFriday, and put on the blue handlebar tape, I just caught the end of the Olympic road race and then it was off to the Omnium Criterium.
With the camera cards freshly formatted I took photos at the Women’s Pro/1/2/3/4 race (rough deal when you’re a Cat 3 or 4), the Masters race, Men’s Cat 3/4 and finally mostly blurry and dark pictures during the Men’s Pro race. There was severe rain during the Cat 3/4 race and later during the Pro race but for the rest the weather held together very well. Had a few brief chats with fellow photographers that oddly all followed a similar patterns:
after a few exchanges:
“Where are you from?”
“Holland.”
“Are you with a Dutch team here?”
“No, I live here.”
“Oh, how interesting.”
and the next conversation:
“Where are you from?”
“The Netherlands.”
“Are you shooting for a Dutch magazine?”
“No, I live here.”
“Oh, how intriguing.”
Anyways, I saw Betsy and Paul both race and put in great efforts. I asked Paul afterward how it went. “It was tough,” he replied. Yes, it definitely looked that way.
The Pro race was preceded by a Scottish marching band. Bruce and I couldn’t figure out what the relation was with Rochester or with cycling. Then Mayor Duffy gave a short speech and fired the race into action. Which I guess went better than last year when he ended up shouting “Bang!” after the starting pistol failed.
The imagery is presented for your viewing pleasure in the gallery.