My new book is now in hand! Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships

My newest book of the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships was just delivered from the printers (based in the USA).  I went out to the deep West End of Richmond to pick up my share of the shipment and I am very excited to hold this labor of love in my hands for the very first time.  I feel a little odd meeting a truck in the back of a parking lot to pick up 470 books, but my publisher was there getting his share too.

This is a hard bound 158 page book of my paintings and writings on all of the races of the 2015 Road World Championships.  This book captures all of the speed, color and beauty of the races along with images of the city I now call home.  You can order your copy by going to www.artofcycling.bike, international shipping is available.  The book retails for $29.95 USD plus shipping.  The book also has a brilliant foreword by Kathryn Bertine and notes from the CEO of Richmond 2015, Wilson Flohr and Mayor Dwight Jones.

You can see all of the paintings that are in the book by going to my artist website at www.greigleach.com and go to the Richmond 2015 Gallery, some of the originals are still available for purchase.  Here is the link to the thumb nails of all of the paintings in the gallery, http://www.greigleach.com/thumbnail_list.php?mgd_id=213398#.VruvlPkrLIU

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Topping the Hill

It was a treat to watch Kathryn Bertine (St. Kitts and Nevis) top the Governor's Street hill and turn onto the finishing straight on E. Broad Street.  I have been a big fan of hers since seeing her documentary, "Half the Road" and reading her book.  She is a forceful advocate for equity in cycling.  The average professional woman earns considerably less than half the salaries of the average professional man.  To be honest the few women's races that I have been able to watch (there is even a wider inequality in TV coverage), I find their races to be more exciting and unpredictable.  Will know today if that holds true for the Elite Men's Time Trial versus the Elite Women.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  What is unusual about this race for me is that I am painting it live at the Fanfest area, sitting directly across form the podium and the hot seats where the well placed finishers await the final verdict of the clock.  You can come watch me paint there, or watch it on a live stream at www.richmond.com.  The works are available as originals or two different size prints at Fanfest, or later at www.richmond.com.

UCI Worlds Richmond 2015: Storming Down Lakeside

Kathryn Bertine joined her team BMW p/b Happy Tooth Dental as they stormed down Lakeside Avenue on the Northside of Richmond, VA.  The six women were off in search of a podium position in the Women's Team Trial race that kicked of the UCI World Road Racing Championships in Richmond, VA.  This is only the second time that the races have been held in the United States and that was almost thirty years ago.

It has been a real treat for me to watch these incredible talent racers compete on roads that I have ridden for years.  In fact, the team is just about to pass a company that I have worked for on and off for over ten years.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available as an original or two different size prints at the Convention Center.  Later they can be purchased through www.richmond.com.  This was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.