Tour de France 2014 - Yorkshire 173
We decided to walk over the moors to Holme Moss to watch Sundays TdF. From Wessenden Head across the Pennine Way to Black Hill and then SW to Holme Moss. So did a lot of other people, the parking restrictions were ignored and 100’s parked there. We got dropped off with backpacks and a day’s rations plenty of choice of clothing, I wore everything from Vest and sunscreen to full waterproofs. The sun went in, the wind picked up a bit and everyone donned everything they had, it was colder than it looked on TV on the summit. We arrived at 11.00 and it was pleasantly relaxed, fairly easy to find a spot for the day. We had a wander and chatted with people from all over the country, many new to the Yorkshire scenery. Photographing these things is fraught with problems, I know from experience. The vehicles are easy. The cyclists far harder, the camera can only really focus on one thing and youa are so close and your view is blocked by the person next to you until a split second before you get a clear view, by which time the cyclists are nearly touching you and the depth of sharp focus is minimal. The over view shot from a distance is far easier to get. The guys on the Motos are travelling at the same speed and fire a burst of fill flash into the shadowed face – Perfect! To use flash effectively you would need a low angle and a very fast recycle time as you only get one chance, the pro gets a chance again and again. The photos are what they are, they aren’t meant to be works of art, just a record of a fantastic day.
The atmosphere was brilliant with a lot of friendly banter between the crowd and the stewards and police. Ai had a choice of being able to see down the hill or a half decent view of 100 yards of the crest of the hill, just above the entrance to the wireless station, I chose the latter and didn’t move. There was a bit of a cock up, the crowd surged into the road assuming it was all over – there was another group, then a lone Lampre rider, after this thousands of cyclists picked their bikes up and surged away down both sides of the Moss. I was a bit surprised as the van marking the end of the race and the last rider hadn’t come through yet, I’ve seen this happen in France. All of a sudden there was panic as coppers started running up the road shouting at people to move over, there was another lone Lampre rider surrounded by outriders and followed by the end of race van – then it was over!
The number of people who headed straight onto the moor in all directions was staggering, with most heading for Black Hill. This stretch of moor is pretty much pathless and people were everywhere. The sky had turned black and it was raining over Derbyshire, within minutes we were getting wet. It was a case of camera away first them waterproofs on, it rained around twenty minutes and made the flagged Pennine Way path treacherous. The race missed the rain fortunately and the sun came out again. The evening was glorious and we were out, showered and in our glad rags in the wine bar by 5.40.
To see more information about the 130 year history of J B Schofield and Sons, including their transport and 33 years gritting in the Pennines look here www.jbschofieldandsons.co.uk/
Tour de France 2014 - Yorkshire 173
We decided to walk over the moors to Holme Moss to watch Sundays TdF. From Wessenden Head across the Pennine Way to Black Hill and then SW to Holme Moss. So did a lot of other people, the parking restrictions were ignored and 100’s parked there. We got dropped off with backpacks and a day’s rations plenty of choice of clothing, I wore everything from Vest and sunscreen to full waterproofs. The sun went in, the wind picked up a bit and everyone donned everything they had, it was colder than it looked on TV on the summit. We arrived at 11.00 and it was pleasantly relaxed, fairly easy to find a spot for the day. We had a wander and chatted with people from all over the country, many new to the Yorkshire scenery. Photographing these things is fraught with problems, I know from experience. The vehicles are easy. The cyclists far harder, the camera can only really focus on one thing and youa are so close and your view is blocked by the person next to you until a split second before you get a clear view, by which time the cyclists are nearly touching you and the depth of sharp focus is minimal. The over view shot from a distance is far easier to get. The guys on the Motos are travelling at the same speed and fire a burst of fill flash into the shadowed face – Perfect! To use flash effectively you would need a low angle and a very fast recycle time as you only get one chance, the pro gets a chance again and again. The photos are what they are, they aren’t meant to be works of art, just a record of a fantastic day.
The atmosphere was brilliant with a lot of friendly banter between the crowd and the stewards and police. Ai had a choice of being able to see down the hill or a half decent view of 100 yards of the crest of the hill, just above the entrance to the wireless station, I chose the latter and didn’t move. There was a bit of a cock up, the crowd surged into the road assuming it was all over – there was another group, then a lone Lampre rider, after this thousands of cyclists picked their bikes up and surged away down both sides of the Moss. I was a bit surprised as the van marking the end of the race and the last rider hadn’t come through yet, I’ve seen this happen in France. All of a sudden there was panic as coppers started running up the road shouting at people to move over, there was another lone Lampre rider surrounded by outriders and followed by the end of race van – then it was over!
The number of people who headed straight onto the moor in all directions was staggering, with most heading for Black Hill. This stretch of moor is pretty much pathless and people were everywhere. The sky had turned black and it was raining over Derbyshire, within minutes we were getting wet. It was a case of camera away first them waterproofs on, it rained around twenty minutes and made the flagged Pennine Way path treacherous. The race missed the rain fortunately and the sun came out again. The evening was glorious and we were out, showered and in our glad rags in the wine bar by 5.40.
To see more information about the 130 year history of J B Schofield and Sons, including their transport and 33 years gritting in the Pennines look here www.jbschofieldandsons.co.uk/