Beardy McBeard is a Hobart-based photographer who has travelled the world shooting all the big races. You can follow him on Instagram at @beardmcbeardy

Where in Hobart do you live? Moonah

What’s the best thing about Hobart? The Mountain (kunanyi) having such pristine bushland in the heart of a city is so unique and it’s great for cycling. I love coming home and seeing the mountain as I cross the bridge.

And the worst? I haven’t found anything yet! Hobart is a truly amazing city.

Tell us a little about your work? I’m a cycling photographer who documents road cycling races both in Australia and Europe, as well as photographing for cycling brands. I post my work on my Instagram @beardmcbeardy.

What’s your dream project to work on? I love destination travel work, discovering new places, riding and taking photos. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Japan, Hong Kong, Scotland, the Canary Islands, New Zealand and throughout Europe.

How did you get into cycling photography? Photography came about a long time before my cycling passion. I picked up my first camera at the age of 13 loaded with black-and-white film. I grew up in Newcastle, NSW and spent most of my free time surfing the local breaks. The bicycle was more of a transport means at this stage – using it to get around and for surf checks. The passion for cycling continued to grow and eventually led my wife and me to embark on a cycling tour of Europe for five months! We traveled from Sweden to Spain on our loaded touring bikes, camping out along the way. On returning to Australia I was officially hooked – buying a road bike and getting up early to go cycling every morning before the sun had risen. I discovered a new side to the city and started documenting my rides on Instagram. I was also diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. The treatment was six months of chemotherapy but I came out the other side with a renewed drive to pursue cycling photography full-time, quitting my job at the studio and setting off for three months on the road photographing the Giro d’Italia and Le Tour de France.

What’s it like covering the Tour de France? I’ve been to the Le Tour de France five times. Covering the race is one crazy ride and a lot of hard work. Before you can even start you need to research the race-route, book flights, organise a car and reserve over 21 different hotels. Each day I follow the race – usually by car – stop, set up my shot, then get back in front of the race again, but navigating around the peloton on the backroads. Arriving at the finish-line – hopefully before the race. Then you need to sort though the thousands of images and prepare a selection for clients to download. Before finding somewhere to eat and the hotel before repeating the process 21 times! I’ve documented my trial and tribulations on my website BeardysCaravan.com

What do you love doing outside work? Dad duties for my six-month-old old daughter, Olive, have been filling my days. Also since moving to Hobart I’ve started gardening. It’s just amazing what you can grow in your own garden.

Where’s your favourite Hobart eatery? Bar Wa Izakaya – especially the ramen – yum!

Drink of choice and where do you head for it? A pint of Hobart Brewing Company’s Harbour Master on a warm summer evening (or a cold one in front of the fire pit).

Guilty pleasure? See above – a good beer or Tassie pinot noir!

I’d like to travel to… Iceland. The landscape looks unreal. I’d love to capture cycling amongst the great, open expanses.

If I didn’t live in Hobart I’d live… Probably back in Bondi, Sydney where I lived before I moved to Hobart two years ago. I have heaps of friends back in Sydney as well, and family.

When there’s nothing to do, I… I’m constantly amused by my six-month-old daughter Olive. There is never a dull moment as a new dad!

Favourite Hobart secret? The lifestyle for sure. But the secret’s out and mainlanders like me are coming over in droves.

Where to next? I’ve just been in Adelaide for a bike race starring fellow Taswegian Richie Porte.

Quote to live by? “When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.” H.G. Wells