Fess up - put the wind speed/direction on your Strava rides!
CptKernow
Posts: 467
I've started putting the wind speed and direction on my Strava rides when it is a bit more than a light breeze. E.g. 16mph / WSW.
As we all know 99% of the KOMs on Strava are wind assists so lets just get it into the open.
Failing that I am also thinking about building something that will give the wind conditions for any day / Strava segment. I think it can be done as the US environment agency holds publicly available past data for every grid square on the globe. Now Strava have opened up their API some sort of integration may be doable... then we'll see!
As we all know 99% of the KOMs on Strava are wind assists so lets just get it into the open.
Failing that I am also thinking about building something that will give the wind conditions for any day / Strava segment. I think it can be done as the US environment agency holds publicly available past data for every grid square on the globe. Now Strava have opened up their API some sort of integration may be doable... then we'll see!
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Are people really that bothered by Strava?I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles0
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CptKernow wrote:
Failing that I am also thinking about building something that will give the wind conditions for any day / Strava segment. I think it can be done as the US environment agency holds publicly available past data for every grid square on the globe.
http://www.wunderground.com/history/0 -
SloppySchleckonds wrote:Are people really that bothered by Strava?
No, but if you are going to use it - which many do - then you might as well level the playing field.0 -
Imposter wrote:CptKernow wrote:
Failing that I am also thinking about building something that will give the wind conditions for any day / Strava segment. I think it can be done as the US environment agency holds publicly available past data for every grid square on the globe.
http://www.wunderground.com/history/
It's a start...0 -
CptKernow wrote:
No, but if you are going to use it - which many do - then you might as well level the playing field.
All strava does is show you how fast an individual went over a certain distance, on a certain day. In that sense, you will never get a level playing field, because wind speed is only one of many variables which might influence the outcome of a ride, or a segment.
Some of my local segments have national standard riders down in 10th-20th place, while local choppers who've never pinned a number on are all sitting at the top - that kind of tells you all you need to know...0 -
So which KOM were you annoyed you don't own?0
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How would you know the exact wind speed for each segment taking into account gusts/deflection from trees/buildings/etc, etc ...unless you have set up multiple weather stations in each segment?
Temperature and air pressure will also affect your times.
Surely is nothing more than a personal reference when some times are set in groups or on TT bikes?0 -
Could he not set up a weather station atop his helmet to allow him to measure accurately the conditions for each segment?
Perhaps this could be on the support car that follows him... He does have a support car right?
Everyone on strava uses a support car...One plays football, tennis or golf, one does not play at cycling0 -
Joeblack wrote:Everyone on strava drafts their support car...
FTFY...0 -
Imposter wrote:CptKernow wrote:
No, but if you are going to use it - which many do - then you might as well level the playing field.
All strava does is show you how fast an individual went over a certain distance, on a certain day. In that sense, you will never get a level playing field, because wind speed is only one of many variables which might influence the outcome of a ride, or a segment.
Some of my local segments have national standard riders down in 10th-20th place, while local choppers who've never pinned a number on are all sitting at the top - that kind of tells you all you need to know...
It does, strava really is nothing but a ego boost tool for bragging rights all good riders know that, use it for reference only or tracking your mileage etc,
If you want to know if you're handy on a bike go racing, you'll soon find your level.One plays football, tennis or golf, one does not play at cycling0 -
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haha...Strava...serious business.0
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Level playing field? What about group riding? What about the different bikes everyone uses? What about people who draft a bus to get a KOM? Just take Strava for what it is...a bit of fun! It will and can't ever be a level playing field!CptKernow wrote:if you are going to use it - which many do - then you might as well level the playing field.0 -
what about all the blatantly obvious moto rides?
Ultimately who gives a **** ? Just look at your own times & motivate yourself that way - focusing on your own history rather than other people's spurious performances will give you a much better picture of how you are doing/improvingCS7
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What's a Zwift?0 -
If you're having a dig at wind assist you should have a go at groups too.
I'm sure that the fast group drafting on a club ride would be quicker than an individual with wind assist, conserve your energy in the pack and then bang off you go fresh as a daisy having a blast at that segment.
I've got a couple of KOMs and one was beaten the other week by a couple of riders, there were 4 or 5 other riders new to the top ten and all of the riders had roughly the same time and date, I know what it took to get it so fair play to them.
I've got other segments with groups of club riders behind me and I have no doubt that one day when all the boxes are ticked someone will take them, I'm not going to cry about It though.
Strava - it's a bit of fun and there's no need to take it that seriously.0 -
A took a KOM a while back in, admittedly very windy conditions, but I enjoy blasting as fast I can with a tailwind, always have, it's the best fun on a bike.
Anyway, the French guy who's KOM it was was SERIOUSLY peeved. So much so that he called me a cheat on Strava that had no honour or morals.......Sheeeshh!!! And then blocked me so that I could not reply.
And this from a guy who openly admits to having taken KOM's behind tractors/lorrries when it's blatantly obvious (I can't be arsed to flag them), and also has some that he has not admitted to, but are also clearly vehicle assisted.
Anyway, don't read too much into the leaderboards; I have some faster times up hills than some local Cat 1 riders, but they would totally kick my arse in any race. They have bigger fish to fry!0 -
I still want to know which segment you're talking about because I have a couple of monstrous wind assists in Cornwall.0
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lawrences wrote:I still want to know which segment you're talking about because I have a couple of monstrous wind assists in Cornwall.
Me too!0 -
Joeblack wrote:
I find Horse Box lorries are best for getting KOM's, them seem to sit exactly on speed limit, provide great wind breaks and you can own all the segments in the town!.
That's how I have a couple of KOM's anywho! :roll: :roll:0 -
Camping cars driven by OAP Belgians are quite good too.0
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CptKernow wrote:SloppySchleckonds wrote:Are people really that bothered by Strava?
No, but if you are going to use it - which many do - then you might as well level the playing field.
Bloody hell where do you start with that one!Selling my Legend frame
http://owningalegend.wordpress.com/2014 ... ced-price/0 -
I only care about beating my mates for the benefit of banter, and don't have to worry about trying to top any segments which decent riders have been over.0
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Lets get something straight. KOM = King of the MOUNTAINS. Proper times should be taken on climbs only. I don't really see the point of downhill or a flat sprint.
Since proper KOM's are climbs, wind direction and speed shouldn't really come into it. Unless you are fighting against a gale I don't think it's really possible to be blown up a hill faster.0 -
CptKernow wrote:As we all know 99% of the KOMs on Strava are wind assists so lets just get it into the open.
82% of statistics are made up.0 -
Just checked my bag 'o fu€k$ so I could weigh in on this... nope, empty.English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg0
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SmoggySteve wrote:Lets get something straight. KOM = King of the MOUNTAINS. Proper times should be taken on climbs only. I don't really see the point of downhill or a flat sprint.
Since proper KOM's are climbs, wind direction and speed shouldn't really come into it. Unless you are fighting against a gale I don't think it's really possible to be blown up a hill faster.
I definitely go up hills, even steep ones, faster with a tailwind, even a slight one.0 -
SmoggySteve wrote:Lets get something straight. KOM = King of the MOUNTAINS. Proper times should be taken on climbs only. I don't really see the point of downhill or a flat sprint.
Right. It seems that every single street around here is a segment. It's total overkill.
I uploaded one ride to Strava, thought it was a bunch of bullshit, and don't care about it. What difference does it make to me if I am faster along some piece of road than some geezer I have never met, or never will? Each to their own, though.Giant TCR Advanced II - Reviewed on my homepage
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Some other junk...0 -
they have wind speed and direction in the new segments bit in Garmin Connect.
Having said that i'm far too slow to bother with them or strava for that matter!www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes0
