Today I'm feeling rather pleased with myself as for the first time ever I have managed to complete 2 challenges on Strava. This might be nothing to most of you, but when work commitments rule your life it's hard to commit to any sort of exercise religiously. I'm not a massive competitor on Strava by any stretch of the imagination. But this has perked me up no end!!
Rather pleased with myself
- Thread starter rickh01
- Start date
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weareHKR
Senior Member
- Location
- North East Coast - UK
Well done, that's what it's all about... 
Thanks mate, for the past few years all I have done is upload my rides to Strava. Failed on the challenges I've joined , so hopefully I might manage some moreWell done, that's what it's all about...
weareHKR
Senior Member
- Location
- North East Coast - UK
Yeah, it's good to have a challenge, but as you say it's not always possible with other commitments in life.
succeed or fail.... as long as you enjoy it & achieve something, that's all that matters!
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Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I recall when I took a KoM. Id been working on it, practicing, analysing, and preparing before finally attacking it. Good news is that I did it, and the first 11 riders behind me were all racers or trainers. I was very pleased.
Once id busted the segment I backed off and nearly fainted, such was the level of exertion that this 18.5 stone ex lifter and bodybuilder had needed to do it. That scared me so much that having proven the point to myself, I then deleted my Strava account so I wouldn't be tempted to do something that might really end up causing me harm.
I record the rides on Garmin, and gladly accept sensible mileage awards, but never again will I try and get competitive.
Once id busted the segment I backed off and nearly fainted, such was the level of exertion that this 18.5 stone ex lifter and bodybuilder had needed to do it. That scared me so much that having proven the point to myself, I then deleted my Strava account so I wouldn't be tempted to do something that might really end up causing me harm.
I record the rides on Garmin, and gladly accept sensible mileage awards, but never again will I try and get competitive.
Mo1959
Legendary Member
- Location
- Perthshire,Scotland
Totally agree. It’s a bit of fun to start with but can get a bit obsessive. I remember entering the distance and climbing challenges most months and it ended up feeling I was just riding for the sake of the challenge and not for enjoyment so I don’t bother with them now.
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
I'm not on Strava and don't even have a cycling computer other than an old Cateye, but I do time my rides. I have just taken a few weeks off riding to reboot, because I was getting too competitive with myself and was treating the rides as exercise far more than enjoyment.
Even the Cateye will have to go when I start again.
I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
I never enter any of the challenges but my feed is crammed with the challenges taken on by my Strava friends and associates. Don't see the point personally, but I do have a generous handful of KOMs which I get unintentionally/accidentally, or get so close to by accident that it would almost be rude not to go back on another ride and clean up after making a moderate effort.
roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
One of the wonderful things about cycling is it can be anything from an incidental utility to an enjoyable hobby to a profession to a consuming obsession, all points in between and sometimes all simultaneously.
All power to all powering themselves on two wheels regardless of motivation!
All power to all powering themselves on two wheels regardless of motivation!
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Freiburg im Breisgau
Good for you.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Good stuff.
I've not done Strava challenges as I don't use Strava much, but I've done various CC challenges (imperial/metric monthly century challenges and now the climbing challenge) for a number of years.
There's a balance to be struck. They are great for keeping you honest and getting you out of lethargy and on to the road. But as others have noted they can also become a bit of a chore. That's when you need to think about changing things around a bit.
I've not done Strava challenges as I don't use Strava much, but I've done various CC challenges (imperial/metric monthly century challenges and now the climbing challenge) for a number of years.
There's a balance to be struck. They are great for keeping you honest and getting you out of lethargy and on to the road. But as others have noted they can also become a bit of a chore. That's when you need to think about changing things around a bit.
I started cycling seriously last May during Lockdown 1. I use Strava to record distance, but last year thought I’d try the 600km in July challenge. I’d done it by mid July and so decided myself to go for 1,000km. It was fine until SWMBO decided that we’d do things as a family on 30th July and we went away for the day, leaving me about 20km short of the target. The last 20km was a bit of A chore on the last day and I didn’t enjoy it, but had to do it.
I‘ve loved my rides since then, just remember that particular one as I’d have preferred to not be out on that day.
