Strava challenges ??? For the average joe (uk)

Mikey23

Still got the gran fondo... Got to 91% then gave up... So got to try again!

chris_bass

Pross wrote:

Surely the whole point of a challenge is that it stretches you beyond what an 'average Joe' can do?

completely agree with this.

if you would complete the challenge without much extra effort or just as part of your normal cycling anyway then whats the point? if it pushes you to try and you ultimately fall short but still cycled further than you would have, climbed higher, got there faster etc then what is wrong with that?

BrandonA

sbbefc wrote:

Cat With No Tail wrote:

The worst Strava users by far at the moment are these walters who are uploading VR trainer rides! Because they track to actual GPS data, when they go into Strava they show as a "real" ride. The people have the option to mark them as trainer rides but choose not to as then the distance and elevation doesn't appear on their stats (nor should it, it was done on a bIoody static trainer).

There are a number of routes over here which seem to be very popular with these people and they absolutely DESTROY the leaderboards, particularly on the descents.

Worst thing is, even if you flag the ride, strava just reinstate it. It's really starting to suck the fun out of strava tbh.

Anyway, enough whining. I still managed 430k and 6,700m last week which is a PB for me. Which reminds me, who is Eric Grill? You sir denied me a top spot on the BR strava group for elevation last week, and for that I'm afraid you must die.

Out of interest, how does descending work on a static trainer?

The trainer controls resistance based on the gradient within the virtual route you are following. Therefore it is harder to pedal when going up hill but very easy when going down.

I actually find it harder to cycle a route virtually than properly. This is because the site doesn't take in aerodynamics of the bike/rider. Also they do not handle momentum very well, therefore to get a fast time downhill you have to pedal hard the whole way and can not coast as your speed drops too rapidly - this therefore means you have less energy at the bottom of the hill.

Also when cycling indoors you can't very easily/safely stand up and throw down the power. This results in slower speeds, especially on your overall ride averages.

Omar Little

The last climbing challenge - 2310 metres in 5 days shouldnt be too difficult. You dont need access to the mountains and long hours to get that amount of climbing even in the UK. The Rapha Rising one is doable too but requires a bit more planning and time - but that is part of the fun, once complete you feel you have achieved something. Even if it is just a little woven patch!

cat_with_no_tail

BrandonA wrote:

sbbefc wrote:

Cat With No Tail wrote:

blahhh.

Out of interest, how does descending work on a static trainer?

The trainer controls resistance based on the gradient within the virtual route you are following. Therefore it is harder to pedal when going up hill but very easy when going down.

I actually find it harder to cycle a route virtually than properly. This is because the site doesn't take in aerodynamics of the bike/rider. Also they do not handle momentum very well, therefore to get a fast time downhill you have to pedal hard the whole way and can not coast as your speed drops too rapidly - this therefore means you have less energy at the bottom of the hill.

Also when cycling indoors you can't very easily/safely stand up and throw down the power. This results in slower speeds, especially on your overall ride averages.

Unless it's a dead straight descent, I'm sorry, but that's just bobbins! Even then I remain unconvinced.

To get a good time on a descent you should be pedalling as hard as possible anyway. The difference between a turbo and the real world is that in the real world you have to worry about cattle grids, sheep, corners, gravel, pot-holes etc. So you can only pedal where it is safe to do so. Any idiot can spin out a 53-11 on a turbo with resistance set at it's lowest. Doesn't mean they'd be any good at descending though.

Descending at speed is as much about carrying speed through the corners as it is anything else. If you're on a static trainer in your garage it's very easy to carry speed through the corners, as there aren't any.

Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about.....

http://app.strava.com/segments/4801757

The highest placed non-VR rider on this segment is 31st. A full 30 seconds slower than the "KOM".

Omar Little

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Unless it's a dead straight descent, I'm sorry, but that's just bobbins! Even then I remain unconvinced.

To get a good time on a descent you should be pedalling as hard as possible anyway. The difference between a turbo and the real world is that in the real world you have to worry about cattle grids, sheep, corners, gravel, pot-holes etc. So you can only pedal where it is safe to do so. Any idiot can spin out a 53-11 on a turbo with resistance set at it's lowest. Doesn't mean they'd be any good at descending though.

Descending at speed is as much about carrying speed through the corners as it is anything else. If you're on a static trainer in your garage it's very easy to carry speed through the corners, as there aren't any.

Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about.....

http://app.strava.com/segments/4801757

The highest placed non-VR rider on this segment is 31st. A full 30 seconds slower than the "KOM".

Until this thread i didnt know about VR rides being logged as if they were 'real'...if they dont sort this issue its going to get way out of hand (looks like it already has on some segments) and will ruin the website.

cat_with_no_tail

It's been on their support pages. As of December they were looking into a way to resolve it. But seem to have stopped updating on progress now.

I know I flagged a good number of the rides in that segment above, and strava have reinstated all of them, so they obviously don't see it as an issue.

https://strava.zendesk.com/entries/2378 ... l-trainer-

and

https://strava.zendesk.com/entries/2326 ... r-sessions

As you can see. There are a good number of people who don't want to be seen as "cheating", but still want their elevation and distance and map (no idea why, but whatever).

iron-clover

Wow- uploading virtial rides to get the extra altitude and demolish the local leaderboards.
At least I can ride happy in the fresh air and push myself on the climbs knowing I've actually been there and conquered it, rather than slog away like a robot in a garage somewhere.
When you put it like that- I kinda feel sorry for them.

marcusjb

That's mental.

Virtual reality trainers have their place - but they don't compare to the real world even slightly.

The downhill segment cat with no tail highlights - I guess it is easy to just stick the bike in a big gear on a VR trainer and hoon down the hill with little worries for your safety (i.e. anyone can descend a hill at 70kph+ whilst in their garage whereas it takes experience and skill to do it in real life).

Mental.

I like Strava - it's a convenient way to log my mileage etc. The challenges are good fun - they don't really encourage me to ride further than I might normally, but they are fun.

But stuff like this is a bit weird.

Downward

Turbo trainers on Strava ? What a load of BS
That section KOM
Russ Middleton Jan 20, 2014 43.2mi/h 125bpm 124W Powermeter - 1:35


125bpm - I do more than that on a flat never mind peddalling downhill at 43mph. It's just crap.

vs

Downward wrote:

Turbo trainers on Strava ? What a load of BS
That section KOM
Russ Middleton Jan 20, 2014 43.2mi/h 125bpm 124W Powermeter - 1:35


125bpm - I do more than that on a flat never mind peddalling downhill at 43mph. It's just crap.

Haha, nice KOM that, he even says it's a turbo ride in the ride title :roll:

Anonymous

I was reading in Ride magazine about people taking weeks off work to complete challenges/top leader boards.

bushpixy

You only have to filter by UK and look at the top 6? and they all rode outside the UK...

Personally this was the 1st challenge that was within my reach. Typically I'm not a climber and will generally avoid hills if I can, but this time I went for it. I don't get home until 6.30pm so generally my rides started at 7pm. I finished the challenge in 3 rides over 3 consecutive days in the dark at the end of 2 rides! I then took the weekend off to spend with the family

The Grand Fondo challenges are my next to complete hopefully. Was planning a ride to work day next week, but looks like rain and I don't fancy 80 miles in the rain. These will most likely be completed over a sunny sunday I think.

Here are my rides:
http://app.strava.com/athletes/1266055# ... r_offset=0

How Far is too Far

I do most of the challenges and work full time, it just takes a bit of dedication and motivation. I enjoy them as it gives me a target to aim for.

I agree all indoor stuff should not be allowed as part of a challenge as it does not comparer to riding in the wind and rain etc.
Rich...

vs

sjmclean wrote:

I was reading in Ride magazine about people taking weeks off work to complete challenges/top leader boards.

People take weeks off work to sit on beaches, why is odd to want to ride your bike on your hols?

awavey

vs wrote:

sjmclean wrote:

I was reading in Ride magazine about people taking weeks off work to complete challenges/top leader boards.

People take weeks off work to sit on beaches, why is odd to want to ride your bike on your hols?

I think the implication is people arent merely just riding their bikes on their hols, but actually taking time off work just to stay ontop of Strava leaderboards, which seems rather obsessive in the grand scheme of things.

Id always thought people who chased strava times in that way were a bit mythical, till I encountered a couple of numpties a few weeks back who were taking such ridiculous risks on a descent, they could only have been chasing a time,