This Strava thing

teisetrotter

Well since moving from MapMyRide to Strava for recording rides the world has become depressing ........... I suppose the truth can be a harsh thing.

One of my favourite climbs I thought cockily I was pretty damn good at ............ 106th out of 600 tells that harsh truth and I posted a personal record for it. I was bush whacked for the rest of the ride after doing it.

So now I'll have to go out and train harder and harder to get into the top 100. I have told myself I should not give a damn ......... but I do. I suppose one day I won't as I completely gave up on reducing my golfist handicap years ago as it was making the walk in the park even more miserable.

Grill

I find the most useful feature of Strava is that I can see if I'm improving on segments (setting new PRs if you will). As long as you're improving, who cares what everyone else is doing. There's always going to be someone faster or stronger (or with a tailwind) that's can take your KOMs.

Cleat Eastwood

Don't be too downhearted - if you could match up the KoM's to weather you see most were assisted with a massive tailwind. Thats the benefit of strava, I think, not the competitive side but the fact that its made people see our lousy summers in a positive light.

markhewitt1978

I hardly ever look at the times of the fast guys, as they are usually double, more often triple the speed of me going up hills! I just tell myself they must be on super light carbon jobbies . It is however excellent for comparing my own previous times and an when I'm out pushing myself to go faster so I can get the PRs when I return home.

TheSmithers

On the basis that I don't know your ability, or how long you've been cycling, where's the harsh truth in 106th out of 600? :? Absolute rubbish! That's a good result my friend. You're nearly in the top 6th of riders, quicker than 500 others! Give yourself a pat on the back. You'll probably find that a lot of the riders at the sharp end of the table purposefully set out to attack that specific segment. They'll do a 10 minute warm up then blitz it. Others will be proper athletes or elite riders.

Strava is a funny thing. I recently deleted my account because I'd had enough of the pressure it put on me (or rather the pressure I put on myself) whenever I went out. All I cared about were the numbers and what people would think of me if my average was below 17mph etc etc. I completely forgot about why I took up cycling in the first place, which was to enjoy it. Following this, I then went out for a ride, performed really well, got back and was gutted that I wouldn't be able to see how I did on some of the segments. So for the very reasons I deleted my account, I created a new one!

Moral of the story is not to take Strava too seriously. It's a bit of fun and a motivational tool. To show I no longer take it seriously, my profile picture is not of me in lycra posing on my bike, but this: http://app.strava.com/athletes/2086404

drlodge

There are a few segments near me (Guildford) where I stand a chance of getting KOM. They tend to be fairly unpopular segments which the "pros" don't ride but as yet I still don't have any. Am 2nd on a couple, just need to knock a couple more seconds off in favourable conditions and they're mine. Its a bit of fun, nothing more.

On the more popular segments I find I'm somewhere around the top 1/3rd mark but its difficult to judge my "performance" by looking at the entire field. What I find more appealing is (a) comparing my performance against myself and (b) against others who I follow/are in my club.

For example, I found my fitness has recently jumped up a notch or three, I've been out in a positive mood and attacked some hills (Combe Bottom, Crocknorth, Staple Lane. Newlands Corner and Barhatch) and knocked about a whole minute off my previous PRs on each of them, and not felt like dying at the top of the hill. Now that is motivating!!

Stewpot407

Personal Records is where it's at. See one of those and I'm dead chuffed with myself.

gaddster

The real pisser is when you think you've nailed segments and then find out you've only set your 5th best time or whatever. Good poing about it taking away some of the pure enjoyment of just riding and I've often thought about not uploading my rides to strava but I somehow just keep going back to it...

Captain Slackbladder

Stewpot407 wrote:

Personal Records is where it's at. See one of those and I'm dead chuffed with myself.

Pertty much this.

I've logged my rides pretty much since the start of the year and have noted the improvements, its a great motivational tool. One segment in particular is my nemisis, its only a 1km slight uphill drag but i love riding it. Up to 9th now on the segment on my commuting hybrid, other cyclists must think i'm mental in TT mode as i attack it
Roadies out soon on the commute and a top 5 beckons, tailwind permitting...

pride4ever

Strava is fine until you take it seriously...then your doomed. Its an awesome tool for plotting routes but a nightmare for the competitive side of your personality lol.

Team4Luke

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

Don't be too downhearted - if you could match up the KoM's to weather you see most were assisted with a massive tailwind. Thats the benefit of strava, I think, not the competitive side but the fact that its made people see our lousy summers in a positive light.

or riding in groups.....................

antfly

I have just discovered Strava and I like it, it has made realise I am a pretty good descender and on fast bits, not too bad on the flat, pretty good on short, sharp climbs and really rather rubbish at any longer climbs. There is one guy around here who is top of nearly everything and goes up hills 2 mph faster than the other fast climbers. At risk of blowing my own trumpet I have just taken a KOM back today, by 3 seconds {it`s a 0.5 mile sprint really} it's quite motivating.

rolf_f

I may not be at the top of all but one of the tables but if I was a chick I would be number 1. That consoles me!

lotus49

Stewpot407 wrote:

Personal Records is where it's at. See one of those and I'm dead chuffed with myself.

Me too.

Most of the time I'm pleased enough to be in the top third let alone worrying about being near the top. I like to see myself improving but I know that I'm never going to be worrying the KOMs on a popular segment.

markhewitt1978

Rolf F wrote:

I may not be at the top of all but one of the tables but if I was a chick I would be number 1. That consoles me!

My friend is about mid table on Strava too, however his girlfriend - who is also faster than me up hills I have to say - gets QOM titles all over the place!

hatch87

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

I may not be at the top of all but one of the tables but if I was a chick I would be number 1. That consoles me!

My friend is about mid table on Strava too, however his girlfriend - who is also faster than me up hills I have to say - gets QOM titles all over the place!

Well that settles it then, I'm booking my appointment with the doctor first thing Monday morning, QOM's here I come

Bar Shaker

Think yourself lucky that Alex Dowsett doesn't live 3 miles away from you!!

Strava is all about PRs and 2nd/3rd fastest runs. My only competition is with myself.

supermurph09

Grill wrote:

I find the most useful feature of Strava is that I can see if I'm improving on segments (setting new PRs if you will). As long as you're improving, who cares what everyone else is doing. There's always going to be someone faster or stronger (or with a tailwind) that's can take your KOMs.

^^^ +1 whilst its great when you get in the top 10, the satisfaction will always come from beating yourself.

antfly

Wiggins rides the same routes as me but I don't think he's on Strava.

drlodge

The trick to a high placement is finding a long segment that plays to your strengths, as less people will have ridden it. I'm in the top 10 for a few, its kind of a good feeling and makes me think I might just make KOM someday.

kingofthetailwind

TheSmithers wrote:

On the basis that I don't know your ability, or how long you've been cycling, where's the harsh truth in 106th out of 600? :? Absolute rubbish! That's a good result my friend. You're nearly in the top 6th of riders, quicker than 500 others!

This. Top sixth is great.

I've moved into the top third/quarter of most of my segments in the last few weeks which I'm very happy with, after six months of cycling.

nochekmate

drlodge wrote:

The trick to a high placement is finding a long segment that plays to your strengths, as less people will have ridden it. I'm in the top 10 for a few, its kind of a good feeling and makes me think I might just make KOM someday.

What's good is when you come in from a ride, upload the data and find that you've picked up a KOM and still ridden a very good time for a COMPLETE ride instead on tootling along for a few miles and then just crashing out on a segment or two in the local area. I've got a dozen or so KOMs without specifically targetting sections.

Inutero

Like others, I'm extremely chuffed if I get a PR on my runs. I go out to enjoy myself, keep my level of fitness with an eye to improving it. I've never taken Strava seriously, because if I did, I'd be pretty miserable, looking at the leaderboards. Went out this morning and hit 8 PR's, loved the fact that my fitness is improving.

ianbar

i always look down the list and instantly ignore the top so many that are clearly way too good for me to be concerned with and usually just think about improving myself and seeing how high i can get, maybe a target like being in top half of all climbing segments or something. i recently aimed for a 8 mile tt segment, im about 26 out of 30 and seriously could only get about 4 places higher.

WindyG

I use Strava to monitor my improvements and also as a mileage log for servicing, was also very good to see the difference in a change of bike plus also riding with somelse rather than solo.
I'll never set great times on a road bike but do have a 11th place out of 50 on my MTB.

teisetrotter

Yes many thanks. I think the view is to keep it motivational for PR's. I started properly back in September last year as a road cyclist, but I was a fit 46 year old when I started.

Now I have gone through a few, there are a huge amount, I see one I am 48th out of 1501 ....... I'm amazed. I suppose my 'help' was remembering slip streaming a car for 25% of it. For those souf Londoners it is the run back to Elmers end. West Wickham to Elmers End.

Guess what my approach will be tomorrow

ktuludays

antfly wrote:

Wiggins rides the same routes as me but I don't think he's on Strava.

perhaps he is scared you'll beat him

Pituophis

I use it for every ride, and love it! But only to monitor my own performance.
I follow 3 local guys, and when they beat one of my times I do get a momentary twinge of dissapointment. Then I tell myself that one rides a minimum of 30 miles every day (against my 3 times a week) and another is 25 years younger than me! The other is my pal, so I can live with that as I'm slightly quicker on the climbs than him.
If I get a PR or two without a tail wind, I usually feel pretty satisfied. The trouble is, you get lots when you are new to the game, but they actually slowly drop away (numbers wise) as you get fitter and faster.

It is also not very accurate! :shock: If two of us go out together, our rides invariably show slightly different ride lengths, and almost always way different climbing stats!!! :roll:

As I'm not very quick, I tell myself I like to see how far I'm riding per week instead

antfly

ktuludays wrote:

antfly wrote:

Wiggins rides the same routes as me but I don't think he's on Strava.

perhaps he is scared you'll beat him

You got that right.. I could beat him on the descents anyway, especially if it's raining.

lotus49

drlodge wrote:

The trick to a high placement is finding a long segment that plays to your strengths, as less people will have ridden it. I'm in the top 10 for a few, its kind of a good feeling and makes me think I might just make KOM someday.

Or you could find some God-forsaken hell hole that no-one in their right mind would want to ride around and make your own segment. That's probably my one and only chance of managing a KOM but I won't let that bother me. As long as I can keep beating that lotus49 guy, I'll be happy .

DavidJB

Strava's a bit random. There's only one segment I know about near my house that I try and get but my mate has it by 1 second on his race bike and I'm always on my training bike! I seem to pick up random KOM's or top 5's it all depends if a segment happens to cross an interval in my session. I don't take it seriously and I defo don't let it affect my structured training (apart form the one near my house )