SFVBC had a ride going to Balcolm, so I met up with my friend Talib and Mark, and started from Santa Susana Community Center. This was a huge group (as many of you SFVBC riders know well). Saw Big John there, but that's the only one I knew from this huge group (other than my friends Talib and Mark).

We took our time getting to the top of Balcolm. I think I got to the top at 12:30 PM, still with plenty of time to spare to chit chat with my fellow cyclists. While there, I saw Thomson up there, Ron Hanson (of ADO Gang), Il Bruto and the rest of the Adobo Velo gang. You couldn't miss Adobo Velo, as once you reached the summit, you were greeted with about 10 screaming cowbells ringing you up over the top. They got there as early as 6:30 am :eek: ... But it was a lot of fun. It was really crowded up at the top.

In retrospect, I probably should have staked a spot lower down the hill, but my friend Talib wanted to see everyone at the summit. Plus, he didn't want to go climbing that hill again once it was time to leave. The only problem was that the KOM timer was right behind us, so that limited what we can do up there. Oh well.

As a result of this, I wasn't able to get as many good shots. Instead, I took a bunch of shots showing the crowd.

Climbing Balcolm
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230001.jpg

Crowds lining up along Balcolm
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230003.jpg

Overlooking Balcolm from the summit
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230010.jpg

Il Bruto ... is this the salvation army or the tour of ca ???? :p
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230012.jpg

Even the pope enjoys the tour
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230013.jpg

The Angel appears, posing with the Pope
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230014.jpg

Mavic Support
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230015.jpg

Team Astana. I was not able to get my camera ready in time to catch the front of the pack ...
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230026.jpg

Danny Pate
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230030.jpg

Paolo Bettini taking an easy stroll up Balcolm
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230031.jpg

Il Bruto ... is this the salvation army or the tour of ca ???? :p
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Tour%20of%20Ca%20Stage%206/P2230012.jpg



Thanks, Ron!! :beer:

I especially like this pic of Francis and Alan. :)

About 80 yards down from the crest of Balcom, just above the curve, provided a fairly good vantage point. Here are a few additional photos.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/imspec/2008%20Amgen%20Tour/IMG_0383s.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/imspec/2008%20Amgen%20Tour/IMG_0392s.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/imspec/2008%20Amgen%20Tour/IMG_0394s.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/imspec/2008%20Amgen%20Tour/IMG_0405s.jpg

That was pretty fun. I was a little bit down from the 1km to the KOM to go sign. I'll have more later as I have photo editing to do. I actually was able to walk back to my car, drive to Santa Clarita, and watch the finish! That's to Jim and Adam on the tip about parking on Bradley Road.

I knew I should have hung out at the steepest section of the hill. That's the point where I got off the bike and walked it. Good thing no one in here saw me do that :p Then, as I was walking the bike, I thought to myself "this would be a good spot to hang out". I should have listened to my first thought.

Drove to Grimes Canyon and parked (no cycling for me :( ) to take photos.
I put my TTL camera on 6 shoots per sec and 1/1000 sec shutter speed; took like 150 shoots when the races going down at 40mile per hour 1 feet from my face!.

Levi Leipheimer
http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/058.jpg

George Hincapie
http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/059.jpg

Mark Cavendish
http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/061.jpg

Paolo Bettini
http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/067.jpg

Tom Boonen
http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/092.jpg

and from another angle;
(anyone want it in high res for a descktop background?)

http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/108.jpg

http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/105.jpg

Last two shots are great!!!!!!!!! I'd love to have them in high res, shooting you a PM. :)

Got few that want the high res, and I have more than these two, so here is links to the high res:

Verti.: 103.JPG (http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/HR/103.JPG), 104.JPG (http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/HR/104.JPG), 105.JPG (http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/HR/105.JPG)

Horz.: 107.JPG (http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/HR/107.JPG), 108.JPG (http://shai.impcash.com/08/2/TOC/HR/108.JPG)

Each file is about 2.6Meg (image size 2544x1696 )

Great pictures everyone. I felt as though I was actually on Balcomm watching the action. Truly talented shutterbugs on BF.:beer:

we joined the SFV ride out to Balcom as well. Kinda fun(?) climbing Balcom with the fans cheering you on. Great shots Shprung!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/2288137514_6c1cfa5c28.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2312/2288143894_eed176c0f9.jpg


more photos on my Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56893061@N00/sets/72157603975686361/) site

Jeff

Cool shots everyone!

Here are my pics from the second KOM at Casitas Pass

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2121.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2123.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2124.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2127.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2130.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2132.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2135.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2136.jpg

http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/images/2142.jpg

nice work!

Amazing shots.

Amazing shots.

+1 You guys done real good with the photography! Those shots of the men up close, Steve, are great. Amazing athletes in motion.

more photos on my Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56893061@N00/sets/72157603975686361/) site
Jeff

Nice shots, 'would. That was quite a big turnout for that ride. I'll have to go back and look at the Versus coverage to see if I can spot y'all.

OOOHHH, that coors light looked good! I knew I should've had one up there! Of course, I'd probably still be sleeping by that barbed wire fence...how was the ride back to CSUN?

http://www.flickr.com/gp/9895405@N06/57kbH6

I will embed some for the lazy in a little bit.

http://www.flickr.com/gp/9895405@N06/57kbH6

I will embed some for the lazy in a little bit.

I didn't see the grim reaper out there yesterday. Glad you got a shot of that. Oh, and thanks for including some eye candy in there too :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/2288202373_b8cb0f5869_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288202373/)
A real pro. Thomson.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2288202305_bc01588a68_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288202305/)
Ron

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2288201869_c1c9164ab9_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288201869/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2288993938_beab7fe8f6_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288993938/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2288198913_625aeecb7d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288198913/)
:D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2288198913_625aeecb7d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288198913/)
:DWho is that? And did you get her number?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2288201945_a5f0773c4b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288201945/)
Reapers with the Pope

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2390/2288992356_86a2d8b9ba_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288992356/)
Here they come!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/2288201437_c479cd1c3b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288201437/)
Elk Antler guy has gone to more discrete headwear, but now has a big flag

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2288201197_5cb8625bb5_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288201197/)
Are you going to make a move?
Are you?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/2288991076_ebf9a3e3d1_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288991076/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2059/2288990934_c57ffc1a3e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288990934/)

Who is that? And did you get her number?

Rock Racing podium girl. No. :(

But I got more pictures!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/2288199939_0dcaafa3a4_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288199939/)
Cozza. Unfortunately, the 'stache couldn't power Slipstream to victory

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2288199821_0c9c16131d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288199821/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2049/2288199739_3ef4e8f3d6_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288199739/)
Freddie Rodriguez

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2288990552_1726b2f3df_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288990552/)
#038, Bradley Wiggins

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2288990008_5cdbe50285_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288990008/)
The field at the finish

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2065/2288989676_d67f4c5819_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288989676/)
Gesink

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2397/2288198343_8a798b7cce_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288198343/)
World (Posing) Champion

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2385/2288989870_b260d7b0ac_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288989870/)
Let's hear it for the local boy!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/2288420287_c900c04d93_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288420287/)
In my head, she pines after Haedo

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2152/2288198449_507922709e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288198449/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/2288198841_2f84d7f29e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288198841/)
More podium girls.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2115/2288989792_fe4b4cb254_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermdog/2288989792/)
One more day Mavic guy