#mycyclingweekend - photo doping

We've read enough books, seen enough interviews, and watched the entire Tour de France peloton slog themselves up enough mountain passes to understand that cycling can be tough. Really tough.

While that realisation may be accurate, it absolutely does not mean that we think doping of any kind is excusable; cheating of any kind in any competition is deplorable, but objectively, it must make these pro's lives easier.

We reckon, given the photos that you guys sent in this weekend, that one or two of you could have done with a helping hand of the chemical or mechanical variety this weekend.

Take Alistair Seaton, who sent us the photo below on Twitter over the weekend, for example. How much help would a sneaky little propeller attached to your chain stay have been, Alistair?

Spent a good 5 minutes deciding whether to cycle through this. In the end I did. Wet feet resulted #mycyclingweekend pic.twitter.com/7ocT1JvQPG

— Alistair Seaton (@SeatonAlistair) January 30, 2016

Alternatively, is there such thing as aero-doping yet? Sure, cycling's not quite up to Formula 1 levels of aerodynamic advantage grabbing yet, but we reckon our man Jez Ash could have done with some sort of streamlining over in the Netherlands this weekend.

#mycyclingweekend in windswept Copenhagen. 50km on Dutch bikes feels like a lot more. pic.twitter.com/1EHGtmrV80

— Jez Ash (@supremerouleur) January 31, 2016

Lee Phillips, a Timsbury Cycle Group participant this weekend, could have done with a helping hand, we imagine, as he looked to keep up with the rest of the road bike-riding bunch aboard his 29'er. How sore were you this morning Lee?

@leephillips1975 off of Bike-it came along on his first ever TCG ride....on his 29'er! BADASS!!! #mycyclingweekend pic.twitter.com/wuejPQIr9T

— Timsbury Cycle Group (@TimsburyCG) January 31, 2016

There were plenty more of you battling elements over the weekend. Through mud, rain, snow, and cold, and whether you wish you'd had a helping hand at the time or if you were welcoming of the pain you were enduring, you took some great photos.

 

@joshuabillypage wasn't kidding when he said I look like I've been riding Paris-Roubaix #mycyclingweekend

A photo posted by Justin Berman (@justin.berman) on Jan 31, 2016 at 6:52am PST

 

die "Hageland wet look" is zó haute couture deze winter #hageland #ridemorebikes #ridemore #mycyclingweekend #outsideisfree #velotoze #ridemorehills #fromwhereiride #wintermilessummersmiles

A photo posted by Steven Hendrikx (@stehqq) on Jan 31, 2016 at 5:41am PST

 

Sunday Bike Day ... unfortunately we'll probably end up looking a bit like the dudes in the picture, so we better #BTFU #hageland #ridemorebikes #ridemore #mycyclingweekend #outsideisfree #fromwhereiride #BelgianTFU

A photo posted by Steven Hendrikx (@stehqq) on Jan 30, 2016 at 11:57pm PST

 

The Great Thaw...#missippiriver #cycling #pumped #minnesotaweather #cxbike #mycyclingweekend

A photo posted by @jr_sanch3z210 on Jan 30, 2016 at 1:30pm PST

 

Rainy winter ride #mycyclingweekend #lookmumnohands #kask #kaskhelmets #saliceocchiali #holland#strava

A photo posted by aalbert3 (@aalbert3) on Jan 31, 2016 at 2:59am PST

Some of you gave yourself a little boost in the form of some perfectly legal grub.There are no rules against carb loading, and boy does it give you a boost!

Crosstastic pizza nutri chips! #westernleaguecyclocross #mycyclingweekend pic.twitter.com/F9ot64PUky

— Matthew Butters (@butters_matthew) January 31, 2016

 

Lunching on poached eggs and avo #favourite #postride #goodfats #protein #recoverymeal #eggs #avocado #toast #eatwell #eatclean #fuelyourbody #fitfamuk #fitness #nutrition #spoutcoffeeshop #leek #markettown #staffordshire #lunchdate #weekend #saturdaytreat #getinmybelly #delicious #cyclist #cycling #mycyclingweekend

A photo posted by Rachael Brown (@brownrachael) on Jan 30, 2016 at 9:18am PST

One or two of you may well have let the conditions get to your heads. Step forward Matthew Whittington. We thoroughly enjoyed your Box Hill photoshoot.

Solitary idiot at top of Box Hill this morning #mycyclingweekend #boxhill #rule9 pic.twitter.com/C1twk2txGy

— Matthew Whittington (@Gooberfish42) January 31, 2016

There were plenty more stunning photos that we received of you lot riding in some really picturesque places. Here are just a few:

It's great to be back out on my bike! #mycyclingweekend #winterriding #campsiefells #feelingontopoftheworld @roadcc pic.twitter.com/4QRga6NQj6

— Stephen Macintyre (@allezsteve) January 31, 2016

#mycyclingweekend pic.twitter.com/CedP6CfrbU

— jonathan brown (@jonathanjbrown) January 31, 2016

I didn't even know this was there.. Amazing ride yesterday #mycyclingweekend @roadcc pic.twitter.com/Hzat0vGJXh

— Shoestring Cycling (@ShoestringCycle) January 31, 2016

 

Looking into Lichtenstein #cycling #cyclingphotos #outsideisfree #lichtenstein #switzerland #schweiz #vsco #vscocam #vscodaily #vscoaward #mycyclingweekend

A photo posted by Andy Westbrook (@boshky_w) on Jan 29, 2016 at 10:52am PST

 

"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world..."

A photo posted by pilar ferrero (@pilucha_54) on Jan 31, 2016 at 2:19am PST

 

#snow #cycling #mycyclingweekend #weekendcycling #training #climb #uphill #landscape #scotland #windy

A photo posted by Zihao Ye (@zihao_chn) on Jan 30, 2016 at 5:34am PST

Remember, it's not too late to get involved in this #mycyclingweekend. Just send your photos in to us via the social media outlet of your choice by including the #mycyclingweekend hashtag in the caption.

Happy riding folks!