All sorts of upgrades going on @ OTB Photo. The latest addition is a Nikon D2X (upgrade from a D70), just in time for Tour of Cali. OTB Photo: We specialize in bringing you yesterdays technology, today.

Never made it to the cross races, we both caught a bit of a cold...clearly we are soft from too many 60 degree winter days in California. Rater than stand in permafrost for hours while I snap pics, we headed to ride in the comfort of a brand spanken new climate controlled 250m indoor track in Apeldoorn. When we first rolled up I was convinced we had the wrong place, it looked to be the size of a football stadium (note Shelley for scale). The place was amazing, complete with a full service bar and restaurant. The construction was so new I could still smell the sawdust. Word around the track is 2011 Worlds will be there. Everybody needs a track like Apeldoorn.

Final thoughts on the Netherlands...on a shitty 20 degree day, there will be more people riding bikes to work than on “bike to work day” in the states. Apparently I need to dig a little deeper into my suitcase of excuses, time to start riding to work.

More of the same on day 6, Shelley just misses out on another victory in the miss and an out, I think she saw me celebrating in turn 4 when I snapped this pic and eased up just enough to get beat on the line by Koedooder. Bummer. Madison was much of the same, Koedooder and Wild took a lap at will, shattering the pack in the process. Another missed throw cost a lap, the rest is history.

I got some pics of the sprinters today, including the lean and mean Theo Bos (below), but went up to the stand to watch the men race. Some of you may recognize this guy as well.

This weekend we are going to try to catch Vos racing the Dutch cross championships, see if she can beat everyones favorite (well at least mine) Daphny van den Brand. Then I am back home, and Shelley is off to Beijing for the next World Cup.

Much better day from a photo perspective, but worse day from a results perspective. Shelley got a bit too comfortable playing the devil and got herself boxed in w/ only 6 remaining, nothing is more frustrating than going before your time in a miss an out...I know the feeling all too well. The madison was ok, but another missed exchange cost another lap. Good news is all this suffering will pay dividends @ the next World Cup in Beijing (Jan 16/17/18).

Today was better across the board, better pics (here) and glory for Shelley. She won her elimination (miss and out) and got to ride the lap of glory! She sat back and played the devil most the race, coming around the last girl to take the victory w/ ease.

The madison was much better as well, only one poorly timed missed exchange cost them a lap, finishing the day 1 lap down (we forgot to check the overall results, but I don’t think they moved much). The speed of the madison was very impressive, it looked much faster and more aggressive than any World Cup race I have ever seen.

The mens derny race was insane, each rider gets a moto, and somehow there is always a come from behind victory. The best part is the driver celebrating...I think that might be my best angle for glory. I have the moto, now I just need to get old and fat...and euro.

My only complaint about the venue is the size of beers. Most everything in Europe is scaled down compared to what we have, small coffee’s, meals, cars...but it was not till I bought a .25L beer that I realized exactly how gluttonous we Americans truly are. Come to think of it, I have not found a single European complaining about a “thyroid problem”.

I failed as a photographer today. I am struggling w/ the focus on w/ the new lenses, they are great for portraits, but just don’t focus fast enough. I think I will go back to my old lens on the track.

Women started racing today, each day they are doing a miss and out and a madison. Each partner rides a miss an out, then the teams come together for the madison. This will be the format all week. The woman’s field is stacked...with riders who have ridden very few madisons. Shelley started the day off hot, taking 2nd in her elimination (miss an out every 2 laps), she was coming around gilrs like she comes around Holloway. Unfortunately she experienced some growing pains in the first madison, her and Sissy never got a chance to practice any throws, and went into the race cold. Thats like stepping up to bat without taking a practice swing. The race was about as sketchy as a madison can be, eventually shattering at the onslaught by former Jr. World Champ and world cup (scratch) gold medalist Vera Koedooder and her teammate Kristen Wild, winner of Het Volk. Only two teams could limit the damage to one lap, the British duo of Alex Greenfield Katie Colclough and uber world/olympic/cross/road/track champ Marianne Vos and teammate Henning. Shelley and Sissy ended up missing a bunch of throws early, and had to chase all day, eventually going down 3 laps, and finishing in 8th place (of 13 teams). One missed throw on a 200m track can cost a lap. They felt better together by the end, and should be right in the mix the rest of the week.

The men raced too.

Day 2 of the 6, all sorts of drama in the last days. The girls are doing 4 days, so no racing till Sunday. Shelley’s teammate (Theresa Cliff Ryan) ended up missing a connection and got stranded in Chicago overnight. Looks like she wont make it here in time for the race, so we have been scrambling to find a new partner. Shelley will be riding w/ Sissy van Alebeek, former national Dutch Road Race champ.

I got a few pics from today, mostly from warming up and the U25 race. I will be in the infield the next couple days, but need to wear a suit to get on the track and take pictures...l actually do own a suit.

Shelley got in New Year’s day...w/o her bag. It finally all came together and on Friday we got some track time at the Amsterdam velodrome. It’s a 200m old school indoor wooden track. The venue is actually quite small, but oozes with history...of which I regrettably know none. This was my first time on a 200m, laps go by real quick! A bunch of the other girls who are racing Rotterdam were there, including former Dutch National champ Sissy van Alebeek. There was a huge turnout, guess a morning @ the track is quite a viable substitute for a 27 degree road ride. The pace was brisk at times, constantly reminding me of my sub par form. The slow riders ride in the pole, it make is easy to get on and off in traffic...and riding a the blue makes the lap longer.

This was my first time shooting the 50mm @ an indoor track. I tried shooting w/ no flash...it’s doable, but difficult. I think a flash will still be key, and started using it when they got going fast. The rest of my pics are here.

Shelleys paper tickets never arrived, so she missed her flight to Amsterdam in time for New Year Eve. It was pretty lame, just me and my new lens left to wonder. I had no idea where to go, just hopped on a cruiser and rode for hours. The place was insane, 6 hours of unsanctioned firework displays. Kids had bottle rockets that were as big as baseball bats. It was basically a 3 square mile war zone. The guy I rented the bike from said don’t leave it locked up alone, kids like to blow shit up and I waived the insurance. By the end of the night the street was littered inches deep w/ fireworks.

I liked this photo, it looks like a scene from a video game. The rest are posted here.