Smashed

At the end of a long mtb race your body has this warm achey feeling all over that's kind of satisfying, well, all bar your hands. After hours and hours of gripping the bars, through turns, over logs, down rutted descents, through mud and up climbs, odds on they'll be SMASHED.



If you haven't experienced it, just look at those calluses and how raised and red they are, how raw the padding on the edge of the palm is. The fingers are bent like that because you can't straighten them. There is no strength to do things like open car doors or operate eating utensils, they're useless bony meat at the end of tired arms.

Still all that aside, I love the grubby legs in the photo the most. It reminds me of that warm achey feeling, because to me, that is the feeling of accomplishment and I'd gladly do it all again just to feel it.