Putting the parking garage to good use. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Brought to you by Whole Foods. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Waiting for the course to open. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Small bikes with big attitude. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Pre-race warmup. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Overwatch. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Volunteer race official, with straw hat. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Cone removal as the pro men walk to the start line. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

All lined up. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Race referee ready to rock on his motorcycle. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Corner #1. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Work work work work work. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Slight bump after corner #1. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

The pro men's race was neutralized half way through due to a gnarly crash, so here racers are lining up (again) and trying to stay as fresh and hydrated as possible. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Sweat. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Going over the game plan again while waiting for the race to restart. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Exiting corner #4. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

The Cylance-Incycle Pro Cycling Team p/b Cannondale leadout train Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

2 laps to go. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Sprint for first. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Post-race jube. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Words. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Pro women's podium. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Dog in team attire. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Unconventional podium arrival. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

Winner Justin Williams wears the winner's belt. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

More belt after the champagne shower. Photo: Stephen Lam/element.ly

I love twilight racing.

It’s a simple reason, really. Without the typical (read: boring) light of the day, photographing bike races at sunset/twilight is like having a giant mobile black backdrop without needing a crew to setup, direct, feed, and bitch about it. Also gone are the background clutter of offices, signs, crap.

In place of all the unpleasantries listed, however, is the added drama of a peloton driving in and out of the blue and yellow fluorescent shadows, surrounded by spectators and in some places, piles of hay bales. It’s a beautiful thing.

So when the San Rafael Sunset Criterium popped up on the radar, and the calendar was clear, why not.

First thing on the to do list, however, was to brave the unexpected traffic.

Thanks to the traffic, I missed the pro women’s race. Who would have known a 20-mile drive from San Francisco to San Rafael would take 2 hours? But okay, there’s still one race left and after a quick location scout, let’s grab the gear and get to work.

Back at the parking lot, three minutes into setting up and teaching my (new) assistant how to run the flash, the glass flash cover shattered on the parking garage floor randomly like a car window had a run in with a spark plug. (I found out later in the evening that that piece of glass dome, like a titanium bolt from the European Union, comes with a decent price tag, ouch).

Alright. Plan B. Ditch the primary light, go with the smaller backup, and off I went to find my snappies without being confined to working in designated spots and endless Secret Service pat downs associated with every presidential candidate visit. Oh what a breath of fresh air.

Best wishes and a speedy recovery to the Team Cycle Sport – Specialized p/b Muscle Milk rider that went down hard halfway into the pro men’s race.