Silly STRAVA Racing

[MrJamie]

I don't think it would be that hard to have a script parse a gpx/tcx file and increase the speed/hr/cadence by a set factor(s), but I don't think its very likely many people with the knowhow would be that sad.

Will it contain all the right information to track the segments and the like?

It'll work pretty well, but it takes a data point less often than Strava iirc, like every 2-3sec rather than every 1, so it can potentially add a few seconds to a segment time.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Open the tcx, or even raw data file, and amend the integer variables. I'd assume they only use a byte for heart rate, be interesting to see what they can cope with on cadence though. To be honest two bytes may be better, but the higher byte would almost never be used. You can also modify the co-ordinates, modifying the time is easier to notice that the file has been amended as the devices tend to use a fixed time interval.

I am not sure that would be as easy as you have suggested, at least not for everyone. It is though much easier to take your gps in your car and cheat your way to KOM's galore. At least with cadence and HR it's harder to cheat.
People will always look for cheats and shortcuts. There are many many ideas out there regarding ways to cheat on Strava.

 

[Seryth]

STRAVA looks very neat. Is it possible to use it without any GPS device? I don't have a smart-phone...is there a way I can manually create segments and plot my various times/average speeds/etc?

 

[Nebulous]

I've got cadence on my garmin 500, but not heartrate. I've got an old polar watch based HRM and intended waiting until it gave up before buying the garmin strap. Over a year later and I'm still waiting! I've also read a lot of reviews where people have problems with the garmin strap, which has kind of put me off as well.

 

[sabian92]

I don't think it would be that hard to have a script parse a gpx/tcx file and increase the speed/hr/cadence by a set factor(s), but I don't think its very likely many people with the knowhow would be that sad.
It'll work pretty well, but it takes a data point less often than Strava iirc, like every 2-3sec rather than every 1, so it can potentially add a few seconds to a segment time.

Ah ok, cool. I found a GPS tracker for my phone (something called GPSLogger II) and it let me set the data point to 1 second but I couldn't get it to export in the right format, only a *.GPL file which Strava doesn't like, apparently.

Endomondo will be fine though, I bloody paid for it so I'm going to get my use out of it now and use it solely to beat myself (Nobody else uses it from Runcorn, from what I can see).

 

[zizou]

STRAVA looks very neat. Is it possible to use it without any GPS device? I don't have a smart-phone...is there a way I can manually create segments and plot my various times/average speeds/etc?

No it needs GPS to record the ride and you can only create segments that you already have a gps log of.

You could always sign up to the website anyway (you dont need a smart phone or gps device to do this) and have a look at what segments are local to you then manually time yourself along these.

 

[Seryth]

No it needs GPS to record the ride and you can only create segments that you already have a gps log of.

You could always sign up to the website anyway (you dont need a smart phone or gps device to do this) and have a look at what segments are local to you then manually time yourself along these.

Damn. Okay, thanks. I wonder if there is a program that I could manually use to create the GPS file (.glx if I understand) as a way of creating the ride route/time/etc.

Also, nice name - I used to call myself zizou4111/zizou2 on various sites when I was younger

 

[SportMonkey]

I am not sure that would be as easy as you have suggested, at least not for everyone. It is though much easier to take your gps in your car and cheat your way to KOM's galore. At least with cadence and HR it's harder to cheat.
People will always look for cheats and shortcuts. There are many many ideas out there regarding ways to cheat on Strava.

That is why unscrupulous people put this code online. It's simple for me, but then I work in binary a lot of the time.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

That is why unscrupulous people put this code online. It's simple for me, but then I work in binary a lot of the time.

Well just don't go teaching anyone.
I prefer my KOM's to be gotten the hard way. Blood sweat and, almost always, tears.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

I've got cadence on my garmin 500, but not heartrate. I've got an old polar watch based HRM and intended waiting until it gave up before buying the garmin strap. Over a year later and I'm still waiting! I've also read a lot of reviews where people have problems with the garmin strap, which has kind of put me off as well.

I got the premium strap and totally forget i am wearing it. IMO it's a great piece of kit. It's great to know how hard your heart is working as it lets you know how much more you can give before blowing up. It can serve you well if you figure out heart rate zones and configure performance times on the same climb for example. It's not nearly as detailed as a power meter but it's a good guide. Not that expensive either. Not about £30 or so.

 

[gaz]

I am not sure that would be as easy as you have suggested, at least not for everyone. It is though much easier to take your gps in your car and cheat your way to KOM's galore. At least with cadence and HR it's harder to cheat.
People will always look for cheats and shortcuts. There are many many ideas out there regarding ways to cheat on Strava.

It's really not hard. You just open the tcx file in notepad and edit the numbers you need to.

 

[Andrew_P]

@ Gaz

Phew I would have been gutted had you beat any of my flukey tailwind Southbound times about one in fifty chance of a tailwind into work, I went up the A23 Sunday like riding in headwind treacle.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

It's really not hard. You just open the tcx file in notepad and edit the numbers you need to.

Would you not need to have the cadence sensor detected? HR monitor is easy enough to have on at anytime (like driving a car) but the Cadence wouldn't be so easy would it?

 

[Andrew_P]

Would you not need to have the cadence sensor detected? HR monitor is easy enough to have on at anytime (like driving a car) but the Cadence wouldn't be so easy would it?

I would assume post ride editing a file..

 

[Nebulous]

I got the premium strap and totally forget i am wearing it. IMO it's a great piece of kit. It's great to know how hard your heart is working as it lets you know how much more you can give before blowing up. It can serve you well if you figure out heart rate zones and configure performance times on the same climb for example. It's not nearly as detailed as a power meter but it's a good guide. Not that expensive either. Not about £30 or so.

I get most of that from my polar watch. It gives current reading all the time, then at the end of the ride gives average and maximum. You can also set one zone to flash or beep when above or below it. The main thing missing is lining it up on the garmin connect website and comparing the graphs.