This was the first time I have photographed this event and after checking out the event website (as I always do before an event,) I was really looking forward to capturing this cycling event with a difference.
The event was a pure cycling event - an epic one-day adventure covering some of the most beautiful landscape in The Peak District National Park. This event provided me with an opportunity to capture the details of the riders as well as the true essence of L’Eroica.
Riders create outfits to match the period of the bikes they ride, which for a photographer is a once a year opportunity to capture a cycling event of the past but in the present day.
The weather couldn’t have been better with blue skies and the sun shinning it was set for a great event.
My first of two locations was roadside opposite Chatsworth house so that I could get a really nice backdrop with the church behind them without anything modern in the photos giving a real feel of times gone by.
It was great to see so many riders really embracing this event with old bikes (some of which I am afraid to say I remember from when I was younger). There was all manner of bikes from old 1930’s racers to BMX’s and Choppers and all different makes and models - they all looked fantastic.
My second location was on the Monsal Viaduct on the Monsal Trail just before the riders entered the tunnel. With being in such scenic locations this made the feel of the photos very realistic and you wouldn’t know when they were taken (apart from the gentleman taking a photo with his phone of me photographing him!)
