So.. this strava thing...

[G3CWI]

Just for amusement I decided to see how easy it is to make a huge improvement in my Strava ranking. I selected a route that I know very well and researched a few segments. I took my new super-bike and cycled out very slowly indeed and sprinted each segment (I'm talking overweight 55 year-old here). The segments were spaced out so that I had a few kilometres of recovery in between each one.The results were interesting (amazing actually). I shot up the tables, in most cases rising hundreds of places. On some segments I have beaten nearly all the local club riders. On one, I am the fastest in the local club group, beating proper racers.

Unfair? Cheating? Well I rode them all so I wont be deleting any. But I did maximise my chances. It does show how Strava can be "manipulated".

 

[Learnincurve]

I think you are doing yourself a disservice here, this is how a hell of a lot of people at the top of strava do it. They may not even go for records for all the segments on the route, just cycle out nice and slow and then spend a few hours trying to better scores on one or two.

So congratulations, it may not be your fastest average time but congratulations, you were faster than some 19 year old whipper snapper who did the exact same thing as you.

 

[Simontm]

I think you are doing yourself a disservice here, this is how a hell of a lot of people at the top of strava do it. They may not even go for records for all the segments on the route, just cycle out nice and slow and then spend a few hours trying to better scores on one or two.

Was gonna say I saw what I presume we're Strava segmenters on the way back from work. As I tried to keep up a reasonable speed with the head wind, two blokes at two different sections had stopped and were checking their phones.

 

[Simontm]

Course could be entirely innocent

 

[MikeW-71]

I will be the first to admit that the majority of my best segment times are wind-assisted. I have done the "ride out steady then smash a couple of segments" thing (one of those is 2.5 miles long, so it does me some good) too.

Often though a PB pops up unexpectedly. On a local steep climb of about a mile, I had my brother riding in front of me. He sets off quick and is handy on climbs, but he served as a useful carrot to keep me pushing on. I was actually closing on him near the top and carved 10 seconds off my previous best

 

[Zcapp96]

Just for amusement I decided to see how easy it is to make a huge improvement in my Strava ranking. I selected a route that I know very well and researched a few segments. I took my new super-bike and cycled out very slowly indeed and sprinted each segment (I'm talking overweight 55 year-old here). The segments were spaced out so that I had a few kilometres of recovery in between each one.The results were interesting (amazing actually). I shot up the tables, in most cases rising hundreds of places. On some segments I have beaten nearly all the local club riders. On one, I am the fastest in the local club group, beating proper racers.

Unfair? Cheating? Well I rode them all so I wont be deleting any. But I did maximise my chances. It does show how Strava can be "manipulated".

]
This is just interval training so should be encouraged!

 

[downfader]

Bit of a change. Had the past 2 weeks off work and havent been much bothered with riding, had lots of other family stuff etc. Did have a couple of times where I could go out for a walk though and thought I'd use strava to log a couple...

http://www.strava.com/activities/188794249
http://www.strava.com/activities/188251132

The second link is actually the first attempt at logging a walk. I forgot to turn the app back on when I exited the shop, with the first I just left it on as I bumbled through trying to find the goods (they've rearranged the blimmin place too). I did laugh because 20 minutes to walk to the shop, so many people I know faff around with the car to drive in and get the same stuff I've simply stuffed into the rucksack.

A tiny bit of exercise and no petrol costs.

 

[MisterStan]

There is an option for walking (running) instead of cycling....

 

[Cuchilo]

The problem with my area is that whenever one if us gets a KOM or top 10, the others that were following then go on that route next ride out and sneak it off each other. Good fun, but annoying at times.

Just smash the top time and let the losers try and catch you .


Says the man that has been trying to smash the uxbridge road for over a year I'm getting close though

 

[Drago]

Some of these segments are a wee bit dodgy. One local to me is a short but steep downhill with a 45 degree right hander at the bottom, and right on the apex a gravel farm track opens into the road leaving the corner strewn with dusty debris. It's dodgier than Nick Cleggs dress sense, an to taken it at any speed is an arse twitching experience. If No idea how the top rankers got round it at the speeds they reckon, as its dicey enough on 4 wheels. I'm thinking of reporting it to Strava as being unduly dangerous.

 

[bpsmith]

Just smash the top time and let the losers try and catch you .


Says the man that has been trying to smash the uxbridge road for over a year I'm getting close though

Sadly, I am not at that level just yet. It's my first year of cycling. Started properly in April, but getting better all the time. Still holding my own in our work group though.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

only use it for running (slowly)

 

[SimonJKH]

Some of these segments are a wee bit dodgy. One local to me is a short but steep downhill with a 45 degree right hander at the bottom, and right on the apex a gravel farm track opens into the road leaving the corner strewn with dusty debris. It's dodgier than Nick Cleggs dress sense, an to taken it at any speed is an arse twitching experience. If No idea how the top rankers got round it at the speeds they reckon, as its dicey enough on 4 wheels. I'm thinking of reporting it to Strava as being unduly dangerous.

It would be fairly simple for them to not allow downhill segments to be created. I'd be in favour of that.

 

[Learnincurve]

Or, alternatively they could implement a system whereby people could flag segments that they think are dangerous and then when they come up as hazards people could make adult decisions for themselves. Such as avoiding that bit/taking it slowly or just hit the I am over 18 and don't hold strava responsible for my own actions box.

People who go pelting along hell for leather and knickers to everyone else have always done this and will always do this, as all Strava has done is to make it easier to share your times. Back in the days of yore in the darkness before the internet came into being you would just use a stopwatch and "no cheating!"

 

[bpsmith]

Makes me laugh that fast downhills linked on Strava are frowned upon...whilst there's always a new "What's Your Fastest Speed Achieved" thread running with many posts. No mention of Strava, it's suddenly acceptable.