Perhaps someone can tell me why the Image > Browse > Insert Image routine is not working for me. The intended image in my above post is 600x400 and less than 100kB.

I had my first railway photo published in 2005 but it took until November 2014 to get my first 'cover shot' (below). It was the last photo taken on a cycling holiday in Devon & Cornwall, before I caught the train home from Penzance.

The photo was relevant to one of the feature articles in the magazine, so though not great artistically, it was a case of right-place, right-time.

I hope to be in Sheffield on or near to the 33% climb, 5km from the finish - the curiously named 'Cote de Jenkin Road' (translation: Jenkin Road).

My cousins lived just off there and it is no more than 1.5 miles from home. I have taken many a shot from near the summit including of the Tinsley Towers just before they came down and can't resist the surreal pull of an international event passing somewhere so close to my (parents') home.

The whole point of going to the hill is it will slow them all down and give me the chance to catch the climbing agonies etched on their faces - no flashing by in a couple of minutes!

Isn't 'swally' a Scottish term for a swig of an alcoholic drink.

Only good in moderation!

While we wait for the Mods to appear, let me say it's been nice knowing you!

As far as I can see, no-one has expressed a preference for any one party. What's wrong with that?

Eleven?

Just to add a note about technique, I tried to shoot these at the widest possible aperture for minimum DoF except the panning shot where I stopped down to make the shutter speed slower (but too much so, possibly).

I would recommend David's tip about panning shots here:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/city-centre-pro-racing-49646#comm526220

Thank you Steve and David for your comments.

I shot throughout with my Samsung 50-200, which I have observed before, really 'sings' when the sun comes out.

It is quicker focussing than my 55-300 but there were plenty of out-of-focus rejects. The cornering shot was using pre-focussing (AF button & shutter focus disabled). It seemed to focus better on the tighter cropped shots. I was using 5 AF points, auto focus-point selection and AF-C.

Curiously, while reviewing 300-odd shots taken during the race, the same riders has a tendency to be out-of-focus. Darker shirts were more problematic and also plainer shirts - I suppose the camera needs something to make the AF work.

Your comments about panning shutter speed explain why my results were so poor - I was using f/8 or /11 at 1/45 or 1/60. I wasn't really sure how fast I could go and still blur the background. Trouble was I blurred the rider too.

I shot in the same way with high wastage.

Also agree with you about 'match fitness'. I should have written down my M.O. so that I will know what to do next time.