I blame strava lol

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oldroadman

Veteran
Location
Ubique
I blame Strava. people get obsessed with it. They take silly risks to get a fast "segment". In a way it reminds me of the week in, week out, TT riders who will risk riding in heavy traffic on a dual carriageway (quasi-motorway) just to get a "fast" time. Completely daft and pointless.
Racing cyclists ride race (proper ones), the rest can enjoy their riding without too much pain, just the occasional burst for fun only. being obsessed with Strava times is like a broken pencil - pointless!
Right, just off to ride my local segment, little wind and I could just get a few seconds off......:banghead:
 

YahudaMoon

Über Member
Looks like its just your diet failing you here, maybe address that?
 

jonny jeez

Legendary Member
Bit of a moody one this and purely just putting it up to see if any others can relate.

So I got into cycling last year (as a hobby) and enjoy the getting out and seeing wildlife, lovely buildings, bit of scenery and just doing something other than sitting in watching TV or playing my games.

I get out regularly and have a cycling partner that also joins up with me regular too. We were going out and purely doing a steady paced ride 10-12 mph and doing 30-40 miles. I can do 15-20 mph np on the flats but hills destroy me. Even did a Stratford (65miles)day ride that was great and proper proud of myself for it.

Only now she has found Strava so her head is now where its all about speed and beating her previous time on segments on a 23mile loop we do. So we start off together and she shoots off. Stops at the mid point and waits for me then its off again and meets at the end. My speed has improved from when I first started cycling but I'm quite comfortable at doing 11-13 mph for my longer rides even though I can do 14-17mph on my commute

Now fair play to her she does regular running and uses her trainer at home, eats well etc and has now clearly improved beyond my fitness level. I am a fair bit younger than her. However I probably have near 10st in weight and my bike is a tourer with MTB gearing (Yep I'm gonna blame the bike too lol) I also eat rubbish and enjoy my gaming :smile:.

Only thing is she says she doesn't want to lose her Tuesday cycling partner. This is where my dilemma lies as I'm quite happy going out on my own at my own pace (this is how it all started). But feeling like i have to push and push is just killing the enjoyment for me. I get my kicks from my gaming not the speedy cycling.

Feel bad if I have to stop riding out with her as I think we helped each other in getting where we are.

Cheers for reading if you did , Just wondering if anyone else has been in the same or similar situation and how you went about it.
I must be missing something as I just don't get it.

Where is the problem, just tell your friend to go strava hunting in her own time. That way you both win.

If she is serious in her commitment to both objectives (keeping a buddy and bettering herself) she will find a way to make that work....its not your problem, you can ride alone
 

Pat "5mph"

A kilogrammicaly challenged woman
Moderator
Location
Glasgow
It's a shame, but it looks like your cycling days together are finished.
If she's not also your partner in a relationship, this ending does not matter much: she will find others to ride with, you will find others too.
If she's also your life partner, try to gently steer her towards faster local groups, while you carry on with your sedate rides, something to share together at the end of the day.
Many of my friends have outgrown my cycling level, while I seem to always stay the same: when this happens, I just tell them about others that are more suited to their new found fitness.
I find that continuously pushing myself over my limits spoils my cycling enjoyment and makes me awfully tired for a few days after, so I don't do it ^_^
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
I must be missing something as I just don't get it.

Where is the problem, just tell your friend to go strava hunting in her own time. That way you both win.

If she is serious in her commitment to both objectives (keeping a buddy and bettering herself) she will find a way to make that work....its not your problem, you can ride alone
Another reason i ride alone most of the time , im between club run average speeds so ones to slow and ones to fast and a billy no mates .
 

tatr

Senior Member
I like the idea of handicapping to keep her down to your pace - fixed gear bikes are cheap and look fun. Although now I think about it many of the people who ride them go faster than I do with the benefit of gears.

Or you could always fit a motor in the down tube of your bike. 14mph up the steepest of hills should be fast enough :biggrin:
 
OP
OP
S

Sim2003

Guest
Next Tuesday we are doing a evening ride with a friend i pedal out with who is a stronger rider hopefully they match up well and do their own thing.
 

13 rider

Guru
Location
leicester
I started cycling at the same time as my mate Andy but as time has gone one Ive become much faster than him .So as the faster ride I'll ride for half an hour before our meet at my pace then enjoy the ride with Andy at HIS pace then do some more miles at my pace afterwards . occasionally I chase a segment during the shared ride I just let Andy now and wait after the segment and he's fine with this and importantly we both enjoy the shared riding . It's up to the faster rider to ride at the slower riders pace
 
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Shaun

Founder
Moderator
I don't want to hijack the thread but @jefmcg - BicycleBungee.com ? - I seriously thought it was a spoof video to begin with, but nope, they're for real ... and if you've got a spare couple of hundred quid you can get one sent over here to good old blighty; including shipping NZ $328.00 = £157.82 :eek:
 
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