Piper Biker and the Cross Country Ride

Over the past ten years I have logged many thousands of miles in the saddle. I’ve biked all over the country at many of the most spectacular and famous locations known in the cycling world. I thought I was a very serious biker until I met Piper. Piper redefines what it means to be a “serious biker”.  Having already peddled across two continents she is currently planning an epic ride across America.  If that wasn’t enough she will carry 50 pounds of gear and pull a trailer with her best friend and constant companion Red.  In the past year I have photographed Piper on her mountain bike many times.  Obviously, I was thrilled when she asked if I would shoot some images of her and Red on the Surly Touring Bike.  Photographing cyclists has always been one of my passions.  I love the energy, grace, adventure and beauty of the sport.  These images and others will be used to further Piper’s ultimate goal of spreading awareness of Black Dog Syndrome to the world.  The bike is made by Surly Bikes and the trailer is made by Burley.  The images were made in Annapolis and Black Water Refuge, near Cambridge, Md.

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Allegrippis Trail at Raystown Lake PA

Travelled to Raystown Lake in Central PA a few days ago to mountain bike and camp.  Rumor had it that these were the best trails east of the Mississippi River.  Tsali is pretty sweet and the Frederick Watershed is bone jarring fun… but this place offers an awful lot.  The trails were excellent.  Super fast, tight and twisty.  Over 30 miles of trails that seem ridable to the experienced and newbie alike.  IMBA does a great job of building trails.  Very low environmental impact with lots of dips to prevent wash outs and control speed.  The dips can also act as launching pads to crashdom as Piper quickly found out.  Great place with camping, boating, swimming and biking.  We were there for movie night.  We gathered along with a few dozen families with young children to enjoy a movie under the stars.  You never saw so many disappointed kids when the “History of the Army Corps of Engineers” was announced as the feature presentation.  A few pics of Tom, Piper and Red.

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Mac is Back! In Silhouette

My biking buddy is back! After two kids and a million excuses John McAuliffe is riding again.  We didn’t really ride on this evening as much as we shot some photographs.  You will notice in almost every frame that John is standing next to the bike or holding the bike.  The terrain was simply not ridable. What makes John special (amongst many many things) is that he will do whatever I ask no matter how high the danger factor.  He is balancing atop a log that is stuck between two rock outcroppings about 25 feet off the ground.  The sun drops quickly (more so at sunset it seems) and I am yelling direction (turn left, look up, move forward, etc) while John happily acts the part of the perfect silhouette model.  Thanks Dude!

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IMBA Love

A few weeks back a friend and I joined like minded souls for an extended weekend of mountain biking.  The event was organized by the premier mountain bike advocacy group on the planet… IMBA.  We packed our gear and headed to a campground in Stokesville, VA. in the heart of the George Washington National Forest.  The riding was both sick and sweet.  Lung bursting climbs followed by arm numbing descents.  Technical rock gardens followed by flowing single track that went on for miles.  Props to IMBA and MORE for making it happen.  Click HERE to see more IMBA Love images. 

 

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