Shutter speed for cyclists

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Name
Stephen
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Going to a local cycle race tomorrow. Taking a mixture of images, some "frozen" and others "blurred". What sort of shutter speed should I use for "freeze" shots of riders coming down a hill? I'll be on the bend and it's not too steep.
 
Are you using flash? I'd be shooting 2nd curtain flash, ss between 1/30th to 1/125 depending on how quick and panning with the rider - get as low as possible kneeling is far better than standing.
Without flash then a bit of trial and error anywhere between 1/60th to 1/250th depending on if you are panning and how quick they are going. If you want to freeze them coming straight towards you then 1/500th and above.
 
Panning produces better images but it's always a gamble as to whether it will work or not. Had some good ones the other week, but people expect that EVERY time you snap. Thanks for the advice. They do quite a number of laps of the course, so I'll try a few different approaches.
 
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