A.E.LANDES PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG.

A classic in the Maryland mountain bike scene, the Greenbrier MTB Challenge brought all kinds of kooky-bike-riding-critters out to enjoy the 6 mile-ish course. Lots of silly climbing, a nice sketchy downhill, some rooty/rocky/muddy sections, and a lake view made the course pretty memorable. Now, being that it was a SUPER bright day and the leaves are in full bloom, I had to rely on flash a bit more than usual to get the look that I was after. But heck… I even got a lap in, and yes, it was a gut-buster.

Here is a link to the main collection: 2012 Greenbrier MTB Challenge.

(Don’t see yourself in the gallery? Send me an email, and I will search the archives: info@aelandesphotography.com)

Ahh, time again for the Plum Grove Cyclery’s BAKER’S DOZEN Endurance MTB Race! Yes, if you haven’t figured it out already, the term “baker’s dozen” refers to the 13 hours of solo or team racing around a dusty/rooty/rocky track in Leesburg, VA. It also refers to a baker’s dozen amount of doughnuts, which have kept me from getting on the bike and doing a few laps in this one (though actually racing this one is in my birthday plans for next year). Needless to say, there were plenty of photo opps this year of the racers, but there was also inexplicably lots of middle-fingers-at-the-photographer, cattle skulls littering the field, and dudes on downhill bikes… Well, maybe just one dude, but he was pretty rad.

Here is the link to the big ol’ collection, and if you don’t see yourself, send me an email! Here is the 2012 Baker’s Dozen Gallery and Print Collection.

For those of you in the Central PA area, I am showing prints of my mountain bike race photography at “The Bicycle Art Show” with recycled-bike-sculptor-specialist (and my-good-intentioned-doppelganger) Evan Gross at the Art Space in Huntingdon, PA (212 Fourth St, Huntingdon, PA). We are having an opening this Friday, April 13 from 6PM to 9PM, and only the coolest of the cool will be there. Rumors of a Wheelie Competition and/or Parking Lot Bunny-Hop Off are in the works, and in addition to lots of party people showing up, it’s my birthday!

Framed work is for sale, but for those of you in California or say, Kenya or Germany, or you would like to order prints from the show, here is the gallery to virtually walk through: A.E.Landes Photography Bicycle Art Show.

Also, check out the press coverage! Chambersburg Public Opinion: Bicycling Art Exhibit.

Zach ‘Mountain Beard Man’ Adams sure came up with a race that rivaled last year’s enduro race in PA! If you were there this past Sunday on your bike, you are probably still spitting out bits of grit in your teeth and finding patches of mud on parts of your body that you still missed in the shower. For being a complete four-hour sufferfest, there was so much positive energy out on the trail – I took one picture of this dude out there and he said to me, “Yo, you have mud on your face!… Wait, do I have mud on my face?!” (You know who you are). Some of those ladies and gents just killed it out there on the muddy climbs and bottom-bracket destroying slop. I hope the photos do your pain and enjoyment justice.

Here is the complete collection of photos for you to order prints or downloads, and as always, if you don’t see yourself, send me an email (info@aelandesphotography.com) and I will check the reserves for you: 2012 Tuscarora MTB Enduro Race.

That’s right… The ’101. Dirt, rocks, fire roads, heat, summer, over-extending yourself into a hot mess, and creek-soaking at the after-party. This year, I did not have a wedding scheduled in the afternoon, so I was able to dedicate the whole day to covering the race (and by whole day, I mean from 5 AM to 8 PM). With all day to work, getting the start, the Three Bridges, the Sassy Pig, and the Second Tunnel was no problem (just look out for the chicks-in-bikinis-and-beer-chugging-bros a mile from the finish). Now, staying around long enough at these locations for everyone to come by was tough, but hopefully everyone will be seen. It would be great to get out from behind the camera one of these years… Check out the photo collections below!

Here is the highlight gallery from the 2011 Wilderness 101.

And the full collection, with prints and downloads available here: 2011 Wilderness 101 Complete Collection.

Crushed! Mud and wind and cold and a stream-crossing-that-felt-like-a-river and mud and cold. Did I mention there was mud? After the course changed from rocky Michaux to a ‘much smoother’ YMCA Camp north of Carlisle, everyone thought they were getting off easy. However, the freezing temperatures mixed with Zach Adam’s insatiable appetite for drive-train destruction led to moments of glory, and all the riders demanded my humble respect during this four hour lap race. Of course, these circumstances led to many great photo opportunities, indeed.

Here is a link to the Michaux Mash 2011 Print and Download Collection.

NITERYDER. It’s another great event put on by the great folks over at Plum Grove Cyclery. This time, it’s racing by moonlight and headlights, and I am trying not to jump out of the dark like Sasquatch. It took much longer to get every shot set up and balanced, but this race was much more about experimenting with the strobes and trying to produce some visually spicy work. Without blinding the racers. Some things worked, and others did not. All that aside, it’s always great running into familiar faces out at the events – bros from the bike shop and a Trans-Sylvanianite made late night appearances.

Check out the highlights from Plum Grove Cyclery: NiteRyder 2011 here.

Or the Complete Collection for Prints and Downloads is found here.

Yeah, this photo about sums it up. Snow, snow, snow. Crusty snow, then powdery snow. It turned this mountain bike race into a free-form running stampede of mud-cleats and knobby-tires. And regardless of the weather and conditions, it was still a lot of fun. Not quite as epic as the snowstorm that came in mid-race last year, but I love the giant fields of snow with those lone cyclists treading through it. I had fun and judging by the smiles, the riders had some silly good times, too. Also, I think Number 11 might need to get some new friends.

Here is a link to the Gallery from Plum Grove Cyclery’s – Snotcycle 2011.

And the Complete Snotcycle 2011 Gallery for Prints and Orders. Again, if you don’t see yourself, email me (info@aelandesphotography.com) and I will see what I can find!

IRON CROSS VIII. What I found to be most disturbing about this race is the amount of people that *smiled for the camera… I mean, you spend a grueling 62 miles on a cyclocross bike (most ‘cross races last 30-45 minutes, right?) over all kinds of terrain and about 7,000 feet of elevation gain? Mike and Zach, the Evil Promoters, must have it out for everyone – the Wigwam Rock Wall and a nasty bit of ending single-track should be a red flag to their, um, ideas of ‘fun’. Glad to see everyone survived, even though my boy Mike Festa flatted twice (I think that second wasn’t quite so accidental). And a shout to Team Freezethaw for sharing some of that Troeg’s booty winnings with me.

Here is a quick highlight Gallery from IRON CROSS VIII – 2010.

And if you have the time, here is IRON CROSS VIII’s Complete Collection and Product Order Site.

Ahh, another year, another ’101. At least this year they had drier conditions to race in, as I am sure not many racers missed the fog and soggy rocks. Like clockwork, the leaders came bombing in a little before 9 AM, and the steady stream of riders crossing Three Bridges and the Stupid Rock Garden lasted past 10. Shooting conditions were ideal, as I was able to use the bright spots in the trees to create the speed streaks. And it was great seeing the familiar faces out there riding.

Here is a quick gallery from the 2010 Wilderness 101 Mountain Bike Race.

And if you have a lot of time, here is the Complete Gallery and Print Order Site for the ’101.

As always, if you don’t see yourself here, just send me an email and I will see if I can find you. Thanks!