Strava Challenge addiction.

Oval Bearing

Fairly new to road biking so have been using the Strava Gran fondo and climbing challenges to keep me motivated. By the end of April I realised my training/riding was geared around completing these challenges rather than being well thought out training plans. I decided from end of April onwards no more Strava challenges and get a proper plan. Then they posted the Everest challenge. Climb 8848 metres in May. Couldn't resist. lol. I may be addicted.
Anyway, back to the hills.

fenix

Entirely up to you.

Personally I'll usually follow my goals rather than something Strava says.

mrfpb

Define "Well thought out training plan"

If you have no other goal, then letting Strava challenges set your training/riding agenda is fine. If you decide to go for something else,then I'm sure you'll find a training plan to suit you.

In the meantime the Everest challenge is a great motivator.

ravey1981

I ride my bike because I like riding my bike. I've done a couple of strava challenges in the past for no particular reason.... got nothing from them in particular as completing them was merely a by-product of riding my bike.... I do have a couple of big sportives booked in with lots of climbing, that keeps me motivated to get out (as if I need it). Some people like challenges, some like to ride for the love of riding. I'm a bit of both depending which side of bed I get out of in the morning....

john1967

At least strava challenges are free as opposed to the appalling practice of paying to ride your bike.

ravey1981

:roll: Yes, because thats all sportives are. Obviously.

Oval Bearing

mrfpb wrote:

Define "Well thought out training plan"

If you have no other goal, then letting Strava challenges set your training/riding agenda is fine. If you decide to go for something else,then I'm sure you'll find a training plan to suit you.

In the meantime the Everest challenge is a great motivator.

I think that has about summed it up for me.
I am currently unsure of my goals so can't have a well thought out training plan.

I will give it some thought on the ascents

bernithebiker

I like the Strava challenges - they motivate me to ride more. I credit Strava with doubling my mileage from about 2011 to 2014.
Even if it's just a digital badge, it's nice to achieve a certain standard, especially the tougher ones.

jrich

There's much worse things to be addicted to!!!

The Giro one coming up is an absolute beast.

cgfw201

They are simple but mighty effective. Got pretty much every Gran Fondo badge for last 2/3 years and most of the climbing ones and a few MTS. Many of those 80 mile rides would have been 50 without that extra motivation, and several hill repeat sessions would have never happened.

Not for everyone, but they do work.

peat

I only tend to pay any attention to them about a week before the end of the month, see where I am in relation to my mates and decide if I want to try and 'beat' them.

Little victories....

philbar72

not really interested in the strava challenges. the mileage I do on my bike and the climbing I do means I get them done and dusted pretty quickly.

bernithebiker

philbar72 wrote:

not really interested in the strava challenges. the mileage I do on my bike and the climbing I do means I get them done and dusted pretty quickly.

Will you be dusting through 21000m between the 9 and 29th of May then?

(Giro Italia Climbing Challenge)

supermurph09

Two statements:

"new to cycling"

"keep me motivated"

Why on earth did you need motivating?

bernithebiker

I'm still keen to see how Philbar is getting on with the Giro challenge.

It's the 12th now, so if he hasn't done over 3000m of climbing in the last few days, he's well behind schedule!

svetty

Can't see me getting anywhere on the Giro challenge so will just settle for the 8800m Everest one

kawaspresso

If you want a good challenge, you can do an Everesting ride (more than 8848 D+ in one ride)

bernithebiker

Nothing from Philbar, I guess he must be out climbing those big hills around Kingston.