Thought I’d share a few of those ‘signature’ bike-panning photos I tend to take when visiting various cities around the place. Not that we’ve been doing that much of late, but then these obsessive records of ordinary bike folk do go back a couple of decades.

These examples are all from Australia through the years. Do click through to my Flickr account for more!

First up, Melbourne: a commuter on a Friday evening, zipping past the colourful tiled backdrop under a bridge near the Yarra. I thought he was on his phone (a bit of a no-no) but it looks as if he may be adjusting an earpiece (also not ideal in traffic, I would suggest). His bike, shoes and computer all suggest ‘serious cyclist’ so let’s hope he has the skills to do what he’s doing in traffic.

Next, Canberra: this little chap had some outside time during the first Covid lockdown in 2020. I love his yellow wellies and blue shorts, but mostly, I think his joyful expression makes the pic.

And just to show that cycling need not be a total sausage-fest, here’s someone totally owning the road and styling it in no uncertain terms on her way to work in Melbourne. I’m willing to bet she’s carrying smart shoes in that front basket — the rear clearly holds her handbag.

Here’s one from Sydney: interesting mix of details. The bike is a titanium Lynskey — serious, costly choice of mount. Then there’s his garb: casual shorts and singlet, but top-tier Sidi clip-in shoes — another choice of the discerning wheelman. But note the running shoes he’s toting, not to mention the stuffed backpack. I speculate that he is a multisport kind of guy — let’s think triathlon or (given the lack of a swimming cozzie drying on the handlebars), maybe duathlon.

This one’s from the fair city of Adelaide: not a perfect, crisp pan, but I liked the dude’s cap / helmet combo, which I think combines practicality with a certain knowledge of how the old pros used to do it in the peleton.

Now, back to Melbourne we go for this insouciant fella. Max respect for the ‘look ma no hands’ approach to commuting. Kudos my ginger bro!

OK, this Sydney shot isn’t a panning masterpiece, but it’s Bondi, after all, where you aspire to an aura of chill. Floral swimmers, flip-flops (bit scary, but, you know . . . chill), headphones / shades, and those funkay tats. Bike is on point: a laid-back cruiser with (I reckon) a rear coaster brake and whitewall tyres.

And of course, this guy is going from right to left across the frame, unlike his brethren above: purists will bemoan that this is an ‘NDS’ shot (non-drive-side), but hey, the whole point of these shots is diversity. They’re supposed to give a sense of the infinite variations on the bike-and-rider theme cycling manifests. If that means the odd right-to-left, non-NDS shot, so be it. We’re not here to harsh your buzz.