Best of 2011 - The Bike

From the dirt to the pavement, from the South Pacific to the North Sea, from the California coast to the mountains of Idaho to the desert of Arizona, triathletes rode hard in pursuit of their limits in 2011.

All photographs © Timothy Carlson.

Tim O’Donnell works out his Argon 18 before his Kona debut.

Eneko Llanos owed his wins at Ironman Texas (here) and Ironman Arizona, to a surprising degree, on a strong bike.

Riding on the beautiful; coastline at Pacific Grove.

Alexis Smith rides Treasure Island with the Bay Bridge in the background.

The middle of Scott Tinley’s Adventures off-road long course at Lake Lopez offers a divine view.

While many behind him were grimacing on the wet roads, Alistair Brownlee had a winning grin.

Challenge Copenhagen does have some hills!

Bjorn Andersson rides past a statue of Antarctic explorer Roald Amundsen as he leads the field at Copenhagen.

Physically Challenged competitor charges downhill at Pacific Grove.

Flying on the steep downhill at the San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz.

Starting her day well back thanks to injuries suffered in a pre race bike crash, Chrissie Wellington rides up Palani at the head of her media entourage on her way to a 4th Ironman Hawaii victory.

Fighting fierce winds, Amber Monforte crests the peak of the Kohala mountains s on her way to a second straight Ultraman victory.

Riding past a giant sculpture of a dancing woman at Treasure Island.

TJ Tollakson and Tim O’Donnell ride the Tucson area’s Mt Lemmon during a February workout.

A roadside zebra is indifferent to Ultraman competitor Michael Coughlin riding by on Day One.

The elite men’s lead pack swoops around a corner at Pacific Grove.

Jan Frodeno, the 2008 Olympic men’s triathlon champion, samples some XTERRA action at Maui.

Will Kelsay slices through the woods at XTERRA USA Nationals in Boise.

The elite men’s chased pack arrives at T2 in a driving rainstorm at the London round of the ITU World Championship Series.

Scott Gower rides through the tropical beauty of the Red Road section at Ultraman on Day 2.