$(document).ready(function(){
var stack = [];
// preload images into an array; 
for (var i = 3; i < 25; i++) {
	var img = new Image(629,350);
	 img.src = 'img/image_cycle/' + i + '.jpg';
	
	$(img).bind('load', function() {
		stack.push(this);
	});
}  

// start slideshow 
$('#main_image').cycle({
	timeout:  2000, 
	before:   onBefore,
	fx:	'fade',
	speed:	5500
}); 

// add images to slideshow 
function onBefore(curr, next, opts) { 
	if (opts.addSlide) 
		while(stack.length) 
			opts.addSlide(stack.pop());  
};

}); // document.ready