I am amazed at people who can look like they are smiling when they are suffering. Chris Horner comes to mind right away.
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| Pic by Sirotti via Cycling News |
The two guys around him are suffering and he looks to be smiling.
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| Pic by Will Matthews via Bicycling |
Here Chris has a Coke, chillin, while the guys on either side are suffering.
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| Pic by AFP via Cycling News |
Even falling off the TT bike he appears to be laughing. I am willing to bet he is in agony.
I was reminded of the disparity in pain faces when I was looking at the pics the LRHG took at the Town Hall CX race in Bethlehem PA.
Selene Yeager The Fit Chick has the smile of suffering. I know Selene loves to ride her bike, but I also have to guess that the smile is her pain face. She races too damn fast to not have it hurt some.
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| Exhibit A |
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| Exhibit B |
Heck even Mr. Fit Chick DQP knows how to hide his pain face well. He kicks ass on the SSCX and is leading the charge to bring SSCXWC13 to Philly.
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| I’m sure Dave loves being called Mr. Fit Chick |
Then I see the pictures of me. My pain face looks like I am in pain.
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| ARRRGHH Like a pirate |
A closer look is even worse.
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| Ouch |
Yes this section was muddy but seriously?
Even the mellower pictures I just look worried in.
Honestly I do enjoy cross racing. My face just doesn’t look like it.
Maybe it is because I get to hang out with great people after and have a nice refreshing beverage.
It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace:)
I can't wait to read about more of your cycling adventures.
I'm like you, Gary — My pain face is a PAIN face. I have one photo from a race at Iron Hill where I look like I'm simultaneously crying and screaming. All I was actually doing, apparently, was climbing a hill. I've tried to go poker face in the past and I just end up looking like I'm constipated.