Milzy
Guru
My mate Steve used to race a lot of Enduro & Down hill events. After having shoulder surgery he says he’s turning his back on it all. He will concentrate on coaching children’s football. He says it’s just not the same anymore. Key points as to why I totally agree with him in a sense as follows.
Strava has ruined cycling. It used to be about riding with your mates & taking in the views then maybe stop for a pint afterwards. Now it’s become so serious it’s more like a shake afterwards. Trying to be in front of your mates on segments is just like a sickness. He’s right the fun has gone out of it.
His cousin is a really good roadie but he hardly ever rides outside anymore. He just hammers away on brutal intervals on Zwift. Slight spec of rain or a little breeze & he’s not interested been outside. I can relate to this to some extent.
Then there’s the snobbery in both Road & MTB. The constant spending on kit with the extra spending on kit you don’t need.
All you need is any bicycle that fits correctly. It can have 8 speed Claris fitted. It doesn’t matter. You’re the engine. If you’re comfortable & relatively fit you can easily drop all these rich guys on their venges & F10’s. If you want to stick a number on your back then fine buy the good stuff.
I can see why some folk choose to use Strava just to log & not follow anyone / be followed. It’s time to have more fun & less competition.
He didn’t even mention the pot holes & bad standard of other road users either. I’d like to talk him back into it but I kind of think I don’t blame you after what he’s had to say.
Strava has ruined cycling. It used to be about riding with your mates & taking in the views then maybe stop for a pint afterwards. Now it’s become so serious it’s more like a shake afterwards. Trying to be in front of your mates on segments is just like a sickness. He’s right the fun has gone out of it.
His cousin is a really good roadie but he hardly ever rides outside anymore. He just hammers away on brutal intervals on Zwift. Slight spec of rain or a little breeze & he’s not interested been outside. I can relate to this to some extent.
Then there’s the snobbery in both Road & MTB. The constant spending on kit with the extra spending on kit you don’t need.
All you need is any bicycle that fits correctly. It can have 8 speed Claris fitted. It doesn’t matter. You’re the engine. If you’re comfortable & relatively fit you can easily drop all these rich guys on their venges & F10’s. If you want to stick a number on your back then fine buy the good stuff.
I can see why some folk choose to use Strava just to log & not follow anyone / be followed. It’s time to have more fun & less competition.
He didn’t even mention the pot holes & bad standard of other road users either. I’d like to talk him back into it but I kind of think I don’t blame you after what he’s had to say.