Strava.com - Put your money where your mouth is

Gallywomack

Cheers for the info, I'll give that route a try then, a bit of variety would be good and I suppose I should try and overcome my aversion to hills. Does my eye deceive me or is it more direct - how does it work out time wise compared to going up Brookmill?

Cool, give me a PM next time you're going down there and I'll try and join you (and I'll PM you if I'm going). It's a bit tricky at the moment as we've recently had a baby (well, the wife did) so weekend MTBing isn't exactly encouraged - but I should be able to get a pass for the odd trip. Haven't been into it long, it's really shown up how poor my general fitness is, although commuting fitness still goes a long way (even on the climbs!). I have done the black run though, although I couldn't make it up the stone ramp at the start without stalling and falling off in an embarrassing fashion :oops:

Edit: sweet jeebus, just seen your time on the Strava segment :shock: Is that the whole circuit? Well it'd be nice to say hello to you in the car park at the start, anyway...

notsoblue

Veronese68 wrote:

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

I know I deserve to be beaten for bringing this up, but anyone else a little concerned that time trialling among regular traffic is a pretty bad idea?

I know, I know; I'll go sit in the corner.

Yes, yes, definitely. That's why I'm so slow.

Indeed. Safety first.

Pufftmw

Its .1 of a mile shorter and 1 set of traffic lights less but Trundleys is normally empty/quiet so makes it more pleasant & less congested imho. I almost beat a courier on a motorbike going that way the other day - we were together at the lights and he turned right @ Brookmill & I went over the top. Came out just behind him @ Lidls...

The Strava segment is not the whole thing, it loops back to the start point where it stops but the actual course nips off down the hill to the right to the end. I was down a couple of Sundays ago - early start, got there 10ish, 1 lap, re-fuel, 1 lap & home by 14:30, so doesn't have to be a whole day It's only an hour from me in Lewisham as well, so could leave a bit earlier maybe... I can't do that bloody ramp either, clips don't help!

Hopefully go down again soon but not this weekend...

Bassjunkieuk

BigMat wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Some new sections covered on a "new" (un-ridden since I started using Strava) so now appearing on some other segments!

I'm convinced now that the ONLY way to do Camberwell N-Bound in less then the current fastest time (shared by me and 4 other people!!) is to have greens and NO traffic. I hit the start on green so gave it some beans, had to dab the brakes briefly for a nodder/bus filter but then lost some precious seconds slowing for queued traffic at the lights at far end.

GRRR!!!

I did my time from a standing start, so scope to shave off a few seconds if I had more luck with lights.

I know my second to last attempt on this was from a standing start, think I *may* have got the same time. Just seems rather suspicious (or indicative of Strava's approximate timings....) that 5 people get the exact same time to the second!

Turns out I'm not meeting the wife and kids at the sister-in-laws this evening AND I ideally want to visit the Sainsbury in Vauxhall so I'll be taking a MASSIVE diversion to get from St Pauls to her's and have a choice of hills to take in to Upper Norwood :-) I'm thinking a crack at the drag strip to VB>Sainsbury>CS7 then normal route and up the side of Streatham Common, would make a nice segment :twisted:

il_principe

Pfft, Balham/traffic/etc etc. Let's have a proper Surrey KOM - Box Hill anyone?



:P

jonginge

Careful. I might add myself to the SCR group...

Bassjunkieuk

Oh come on IP that's hardly a fair comparison ;-) Box "Hill" is a mere pimple compared to Col Du Balham :-P

il_principe

JonGinge wrote:

Careful. I might add myself to the SCR group...

2009 times don't count!

jzed

Must get down to Box Hill on my current form.

IP, maybe if you and JG add 25kilo bags of sand to you then it will be a different story. I'm a flat course specialist*

*(read as a big bar steward)

Box Hill? Looks like I have the SCR - KOM for Alpe d-huez (until JG turns up)

il_principe

JZed wrote:

Must get down to Box Hill on my current form.

IP, maybe if you and JG add 25kilo bags of sand to you then it will be a different story. I'm a flat course specialist*

*(read as a big bar steward)

But there's no such thing as a KOM for flat sections Mebbe Strava should add a "green jersey" field? And a Lanterne rouge, just to keep things interesting.

Missing a trick there Strava...

Wrath Rob

Currently 4th in SCR terms on Box. Getting under 7 mins almost killed me, getting under 6:30 is going to take some serious effort. I think I'll be out with the Wheelers on Sunday so might have a go again, depending on how I get there. If its via the 3 hills ride I'll be struggling by then...

jzed

I'll take green. Leave you mountain goats to battle it out for Box Hill.

Lanterne rouge - made for Ron.

jzed

Wrath Rob wrote:

Currently 4th in SCR terms on Box. Getting under 7 mins almost killed me, getting under 6:30 is going to take some serious effort. I think I'll be out with the Wheelers on Sunday so might have a go again, depending on how I get there. If its via the 3 hills ride I'll be struggling by then...

I'm killing you on Whitedown

willy b

All you southern chaps should hit Swain's Lane, that smashed Alpe Du Huez

Sheikhus

Granted I am a somewhat unfit, but found swains lane a bit of a toughie when I gave it a bash earlier this week. Not happy with my current dismal position of 33rd on the leaderboard though, so am gearing up for another attempt next week!

Gallywomack

Tough going on the way home, think the sprints this morning took a bit out of me. There only seem to be two segments, one all the way from Tooley St/Tower Bridge junction round into Deptford (Pufftmw is no 1 on this'n, I am *cough* 24th), and the reverse of the Bromley Rd - Lewisham one from the morning*. Both long, with lots of traffic lights and traffic - clean runs will be hard to come by, but on the plus side at least nights when I have to stay late at work will be worthwhile

*Has anyone done this one? Does it count if you go straight on through Catford rather than round the one-way? I only ask because I go round the one-way, but those who - illegally I might add - go straight on will be at an advantage if it still counts. Not that I'm competitive or owt.

Wrath Rob

JZed wrote:

Wrath Rob wrote:

Currently 4th in SCR terms on Box. Getting under 7 mins almost killed me, getting under 6:30 is going to take some serious effort. I think I'll be out with the Wheelers on Sunday so might have a go again, depending on how I get there. If its via the 3 hills ride I'll be struggling by then...

I'm killing you on Whitedown

That you are. However, I'd ridden from Portsmouth and already done Winterfold, which almost killed me. I think a 25-34 isn't enough to comfortably get over both of those. Next time I'm on them I'll stick a 28 on and have a proper go.

Still, back on the bike tomorrow so will have to try and make a bit of an effort.

Pufftmw

Gallywomack wrote:

Tough going on the way home, think the sprints this morning took a bit out of me. There only seem to be two segments, one all the way from Tooley St/Tower Bridge junction round into Deptford (Pufftmw is no 1 on this'n, I am *cough* 24th), and the reverse of the Bromley Rd - Lewisham one from the morning*. Both long, with lots of traffic lights and traffic - clean runs will be hard to come by, but on the plus side at least nights when I have to stay late at work will be worthwhile
.

There's a reverse Brookmill Road Sprint I entered yesterday, have a look for hidden segments? Seems to take a while to populate through sometimes.

Gallywomack

Pufftmw wrote:

Gallywomack wrote:

Tough going on the way home, think the sprints this morning took a bit out of me. There only seem to be two segments, one all the way from Tooley St/Tower Bridge junction round into Deptford (Pufftmw is no 1 on this'n, I am *cough* 24th), and the reverse of the Bromley Rd - Lewisham one from the morning*. Both long, with lots of traffic lights and traffic - clean runs will be hard to come by, but on the plus side at least nights when I have to stay late at work will be worthwhile
.

There's a reverse Brookmill Road Sprint I entered yesterday, have a look for hidden segments? Seems to take a while to populate through sometimes.

Yeah I saw that, as of last night my run hadn't picked it up for some reason. I created a little segment for Molesworth St going right from the Lewisham roundabout up to the library - it's quite a fun little slope where you can get good speed going (although can be slightly hairy due to parked buses and cars trying to squeeze through - all the more reason to get some power down ). So if you ever fancy an extra little challenge towards the end of your ride, take a detour right and see how quick you can power up the slope...

Day off the bike today as out for some work drinks tonight. As of last night, I'm actually going to Bedgebury with a mate on Sunday morning (missing the RWC final I just realised, ah well) - but hopefully there should be something left in the tank for another pop at Brookmill and Jamaica Rd on Monday morning

whitebait01

I created a Latchmere Hill segment last night. Get on it!

keyser__soze

Android phone purchased yesterday afternoon. First Strava ride this morning to test it out. Lots of traffic and a leisurely Friday legs ride in with the missus meant I wasn't setting any segments alight, altho K would've got a QoM on the Millbank Sprint NB had she been using it. Not convinced by the whole thing, can see it leading to dangerous riding and increasing the temptation to be more liberal with going through lights that are beginning to change to red.

Pufftmw

Gally

Will try that one day, thanks I've got my daughter this weekend & was thinking of dragging g/f & the girls down to Bedgebury but I might have just been vetoed in favour of Bluewater :shock: Have fun!

KS

Why should it lead to any more dangerous riding than normal? This morning going over Tower Bridge, had a clear run up, so booted it and saw a good speed but on the reverse there was a lorry going steady & oncoming traffic, I had to slow down. So although I "could" have taken the shot & probably made it, I refrained and hit it when the road was clear. I came in 3 secs down on KOM & a 2nd fastest time for me but there's no way I'm going to kill or injure myself just to get that KOM. There's plenty of days still to come and one day there will be one when all the conditions are right, the wind is SW, the traffic is clear and I'm in the zone and then I will smash that KOM and take it for my own.

Some barsteward will nick it back, then the whole process will start again

Point is that unless you are a headcase, you will continue to follow your internal rules regarding filtering, risk taking and red lights and treat the potential for broken segments as part of the challenge - I do.

keyser__soze

Pufftmw wrote:

KS

Why should it lead to any more dangerous riding than normal?

Not necessarily talking about you or me, but I'm sure there're other riders who know they're on a good ride/segment will take extra liberties with things like red lights/ped crossings etc. There was a recent thread in the Road section with some cyclist complaining that he'd been stopped by the police and he only jumped the red at the empty ped-x as he was on for a PB on his route. I'm sure a fair number of cyclists on here (and virtually every driver) won't slam on the anchors if a light turns to amber and they think they can get through it before it turns to red, or only just on red, even if they have sufficient space to stop. Subconscious thoughts about doing a good ride or potentially setting a PB could affect exactly when they decide to brake and stop.

phy2sll2

Gallywomack wrote:

Yeah I saw that, as of last night my run hadn't picked it up for some reason. I created a little segment for Molesworth St going right from the Lewisham roundabout up to the library - it's quite a fun little slope where you can get good speed going (although can be slightly hairy due to parked buses and cars trying to squeeze through - all the more reason to get some power down ). So if you ever fancy an extra little challenge towards the end of your ride, take a detour right and see how quick you can power up the slope...

Ha ha, how pitiful your 1:13 effort looks against my magnificent 1:08

jonny_trousers

I have to say I kind of agree with Keyser Soze. Segments with traffic lights or junctions within them are a bad idea and there may well will be people willing to take risks with them in order to achieve a higher ranking on Strava. Beyond that, there is perhaps a tendency to throw your all into that perfect sprint rather than concentrating fully on the traffic and potential hazards around you.

Not suggesting anyone taking part in this thread would do anything so silly, but I suspect there will be some out there who might do, simply to up their ranking.

keyser__soze

And before you all accuse me of being a killjoy, I do like the app and will continue using it to allow me to compare my own performances. I'm just glad it doesn't act as a HUD on the handlebars with warning of upcoming segments then a virtual training partner. Just imagine, in finest Siri voice: "Warning, Millbank Sprint Northbound commencing in 100m"... "You are 1 second ahead"... "You are six seconds ahead"... then a red light, then "You placed 44th out of 46"

I hope I don't become like the old married couple on this thread and go on about how I was 1 second faster than someone else just because I got perfect traffic lights and was jet-propelled by eating beans for breakfast

Ron wrote:

Andre, Andre, oh Andre....

Andre wrote:

Oh Ron, Ron, oh Ron...

Jens wrote:

Suffer the pain of trying to follow my power awesomeness

Ron and Andre wrote:

{sighs}Oh Jens, we love you

Gallywomack

phy2sll2 wrote:

Gallywomack wrote:

Yeah I saw that, as of last night my run hadn't picked it up for some reason. I created a little segment for Molesworth St going right from the Lewisham roundabout up to the library - it's quite a fun little slope where you can get good speed going (although can be slightly hairy due to parked buses and cars trying to squeeze through - all the more reason to get some power down ). So if you ever fancy an extra little challenge towards the end of your ride, take a detour right and see how quick you can power up the slope...

Ha ha, how pitiful your 1:13 effort looks against my magnificent 1:08

Ha ha - I didn't realise when you create a segment it automatically fills it with other peoples rides. I'd have waited until I'd charged up it at 25mph (like I er ahem normally do ) if I'd known that...

notsoblue

@Keyser_Soze

That HUD would be awesome....

There are only really three sections I'm interested in on Strava - Millbank North and South and Putney Bridge North (Totally in awe of JonGinge's KOM). They're usually quite clear and totally safe for a sprint. You could only argue that Strava increases risk by encouraging SCR when there isn't actually a physical opponent there. SCR isn't dangerous in itself imo.

Pufftmw

http://app.strava.com/rides/2041480#33745165

That looks like a bit of fun - was going to ask where the Library was as I thought Lewisham had binned most of them...

phy2sll2

Pufftmw wrote:

http://app.strava.com/rides/2041480#33745165

That looks like a bit of fun - was going to ask where the Library was as I thought Lewisham had binned most of them...

Yes, we kept the book though.

(not my joke)