What Makes a Great Bike Race? 5 Ingredients That Matter

It is exhilarating to shoot photos at bike races. It doesn't matter if it's gravel, MTB, or road; I am genuinely giddy when I'm out on the road or trail with a camera in hand, waiting for the first racers to come into view.

Anticipation sharpens alertness. Before the lead racer gets to me, I'm constantly surveying the setting for interesting camera angles and perspectives. Then once the first rider zips by, it's run-and-gun photo shooting for the rest of the race.

It's in the moments in between that I have time to think and reflect about not just the race, but the whole spectacle of race weekend festivities.