Here are 7 reasons you cycled this #mycyclingweekend

Last Friday we gave you seven fantastic reasons why we ride every #mycyclingweekend - whether it was for a social fix, the sense of exploration, or testing out our new bits of kit. We wanted to know if you rode for the same reasons.

Having flicked through the hundreds of photos that you guys sent in over the weekend, we came to the conclusion that you ride for much the same reasons that we do. Regardless of your reasoning, the overriding sense that we got was joy - you all clearly love to ride, and that alone is worth celebrating. 

So, below are the seven points that we made last week, accompanied by photos that you sent in this #mycyclingweekend - get ready for joy, beautiful bicycles, and a couple of cows.

1. Getting social

 

#mycyclingweekend #alc2016trainingseasonstartsnow What a great days cycling, great people and the forging of love bubble London

A photo posted by Alex Adams (@alexadams07) on

Sep 6, 2015 at 5:34am PDT

As we've already mentioned, going for a weekend ride is all about love. Whether it's your bike, the roads you're riding, or the people you're riding with, you have to love cycling in order to devote such a large chunk of your spare time to it.

Alex Adams, above, clearly had a great weekend on his bike with his friends, exploring and 'forging' a love for London.

2. Enjoying feeling better

How does it look after you've just completed 30 miles on your 1st club run? #cycling @roadcc #mycyclingweekend pic.twitter.com/D9VLfN96B5

— John Curtis (@Jman183) September 5, 2015

We all remember the first time we felt that feeling of real accomplishment on a bicycle. Most of us aren't blessed with photographic evidence of that moment.

John Curtis' son, above, is clearly very pleased with his achievement, and we're equally pleased for him. John, you and your son are this week's #mycyclingweekend winners, check your Twitter inbox for details on how to claim your prize!

Night riding because you have to!! #Heat #UAECycling #mycyclingweekend @roadcc pic.twitter.com/LVAQ1g9IUE

— Jaunce (@SSkillzAcademy) September 5, 2015

But feeling good about your ride isn't just about achievement, it's about finding time to appreciate what you have. Some of us struggle to find time to ride during the working week, and others, like Jaunce on Twitter, struggled to ride in the day at all.

We hope your night ride was as comfortable and as enjoyable as possible Jaunce.

3. Sharing the joy

 

My happy boy. #myson #cycling #cyclingshots #mytob #trek #trekbikes #yepp #Brinscall #lancashire #iphone6 #igers #igerslancashire#mycyclingweekend

A photo posted by stephenb_70 (@stephenb_70) on

Sep 6, 2015 at 12:42pm PDT

 

Most of us here at road.cc were raised on two wheels. If we didn't have the love of cycling passed down to us, we discovered it on our own at a very young age.

We believe that one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is the ability and the desire to ride a bike - and it looks like StephenB on Instagram is well on his way to achieving that with his son.

4. Riding somewhere new

 

Taking a break from the grind. Not a bad view! #Alps #cycling #summer #colduglandon #france #epicclimb #mycyclingweekend

A photo posted by @tejwells on

Sep 7, 2015 at 7:54am PDT

The joy of exploration. The freedom to go wherever your legs can carry you. The satisfaction and the euphoria that you feel when you reach the top of a climb, especially an epic alpine one.

These are all reasons to ride, reasons it's clear that Instagram user tejwells understands. 

5. Trying out new bike bits

#MyCyclingWeekend is getting to know this beauty from @ElephantBike ... Rebadged Pashley for great cause :o) pic.twitter.com/4MB3sVnV6C

— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) September 4, 2015

We're all about testing new bike bits here at road.cc - you needn't look further than our comprehensive reviews section for that - and often the weekends are perfect opportunities for a little bit of testing.

Our news editor, Simon MacMichael took his new Elephant Bike out for a spin on Saturday morning. While he was expecting to be concentrating on his pedal strokes and the handling of the bike, he wasn't expecting to have to navigate a herd of cows:

Oh bullocks #MyCyclingWeekend pic.twitter.com/SUvJpeEyrm

— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) September 5, 2015

Simon wasn't the only member of the road.cc news team to encounter an obstacle of the bovine variety this #mycyclingweekend. Laura Laker was butted by a 'coo' on the North Sea Cycle Route.

Fortunately both Laura and her bicycle emerged unscathed.

Hornbutted by this beaut on N Sea Cycle Route yest. Pannier survived. A change from London traffic #mycyclingweekend pic.twitter.com/ky4pv0JyP4

— Laura Laker (@Lakerlikes) September 7, 2015

6. Winning

 

The three jersey leaders enjoying the view at the top of Stage 4. No change in jersey going into the final Time Trial. Will they hold them until the end? #girodattack #stage4 #giro #magliarosa #magliaazzurra #magliarossopassione #cycling #bike #hills #GC #Sprinter #KOM #mycyclingweekend #bikerepost #bikelife #cycle #winners #instagood #cyclingphotos #cyclingrepost

A photo posted by @letourdattack on

Sep 6, 2015 at 9:12am PDT

Weekend rides aren't about winning - #mycyclingweekend isn't even just about winning a BTwin Multi Tool or a pair of socks - but it's always nice.

These fellas haven't won anything yet, but on the amateur Grand Tour Attack Cycle series, they're in with a decent shout going into the final day's time trial.

7. Boasting

 

SE Gower XC.

A video posted by Andy (@pilaur) on

Sep 6, 2015 at 9:40am PDT

If you can't boast at the top of a mountain, where can you boast? Chapeau Andy, but it looks like the view alone was worth a more than our congratulations ever could.