Anatomy of a Photo: Agony

Paul Sherwen after the 1983 Paris-Roubaix; Photo Graham Watson

Sitting at the top of Haleakala, I thought of this photo with the staunch realization that there are no words to describe the agony of exhaustion, except Graham Watson’s caption in Visions of Cycling:

Paul Sherwen’s mother cried when she saw this picture of her son, taken after the finish of the 1983 Paris-Roubaix

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Nate says:

Jan 31 2011 at 12:47 pm

We can all imagine what mama strack would say about the image of her son atop the volcano but can we get a comment from papa strack?
heath says:

Jan 31 2011 at 12:52 pm

ugh. i mean, ugh.
Oli Brooke-White says:

Jan 31 2011 at 12:56 pm

You've got the spelling right in the story, but not in the photo caption - it's Sherwen. Great pic...
michael says:

Jan 31 2011 at 1:30 pm

I often cringe when I see cyclists in the fancy tight clothing and tap shoes writhing around on the ground after a crash, the often look so wimpy. I mean come on, HTFU really. The real reason I cringe though is because I know that's what the general public is thinking. If they only had the slightest clue how hard this is sometimes.
Marko says:

Jan 31 2011 at 1:36 pm

@michael
Who was it that said crashing is like jumping out of your car window in your underwear going 50kph?
mightyninja says:

Jan 31 2011 at 2:29 pm

michael :
I often cringe when I see cyclists in the fancy tight clothing and tap shoes writhing around on the ground after a crash, the often look so wimpy. I mean come on, HTFU really. The real reason I cringe though is because I know that's what the general public is thinking. If they only had the slightest clue how hard this is sometimes.

totally agree with the sentiment @michael
I think most of us can relate to a similar feeling displayed in the photo at sometime or other
Marko says:

Jan 31 2011 at 2:35 pm

Ahhhh, the Flanders Facial.
G'phant says:

Jan 31 2011 at 2:58 pm

@Marko
Frank, do NOT google "Flanders Facial".
Pedale.Forchetta says:

Jan 31 2011 at 3:31 pm

@G'phant
Ahahah!
Gianni says:

Jan 31 2011 at 4:43 pm

@Marko
That was J. Vaughters trying to explain what crashing on a bike was like. And that seems an apt description.

Mr and Mrs Dutch Monkey have flown East, whew, a lot of fun in 10 days. His tan lines have been reinstated.