So.. this strava thing...

[Louch]

I use it to train against myself, like to see 1,2 or 3 medals to let me know I'm getting better or staying close to my best. If you want more details on your efforts, use your strava data on veloviewer.com @Flick of the Elbow . It's free and gives lots of stats that even strava premium doesn't

 

[cd365]

+1 for veloviewer

 

[the_mikey]

He's one of the most boring sounding commentators but FULL of knowledge about bikes, sport, technology...

Graham Jones

 

[jefmcg]

I think I hate veloviewer. Haven't got my head around it really, but just ran it for the first time in a few weeks. "Improved placings: 4. Worse placings: 449"!!!

 

[cyberknight]

If they are faster than you they must be cheating, its the law !

 

[Louch]

When I started, I looked at a lot of segments and thought they just be cheating. Then I got close, then I seen those times beaten in person. Few I have beaten myself , gravity is a Gracious gift for a chubby descender

 

[G3CWI]

Things to bear in mind when viewing Strava leaderboards:

• Strava takes no account of the weather. A tailwind will move you up the rankings.
• Strava takes no account of whether you are riding alone or in a group - riding in a group can raise your speed by surprisingly large amounts
• Strava can't account for traffic etc.
• The Stava community is atypical when compared to the general population. I would be amazed if the Strava community was not, on average, far fitter than the general population
• Races take place on some public roads drawing in talented cyclists from wide areas. You may be comparing yourself to some of the best from across the country.
• Time trials take place on public roads. Top competitors have the gear, training and skills to go a lot faster than the rest of us.
• Some people will focus on a specific segment or segments and actually train and compete for those specific goals.
• Unless you sign up for a premium membership you are comparing yourself to (possibly) younger and fitter riders.

...so don't feel too bad when you are well down the rankings.

Incidentally, I rather doubt that cheating is widespread - although it will certainly occur.

 

[fatjel]

Have recently got a garmin in an attempt to get lost less often on audaxes the strava thing is a bit of a bonus
Has confirmed what I've long suspected.. I'm very slow but go further than most

 

[downfader]

Oh I'm not worried about rankings. I can certainly see people training for segments.

 

[Donger]

I log nearly all my rides just to keep a record of what I am doing so I can look back at it if I wish . I say nearly all as sometimes I take a bit of time out just to ride without having to take a phone or wait for the garmin to find a signal .
I only really follow people I know and ride with . Its good fun trying to beat each other on mileage but its all just a bit of silliness

Cuchilo, that seems quite a sensible answer that I can almost relate to. It must just be me, then, but I just don't get it at all. I log all of my rides on my PC after doing them to monitor my progress. This is all the motivation I need.

When I go out with the local club we do some great rides and I can just about keep up, but nobody ever slows down to look at a great view, and they rarely stop to socialise. It's all heads down brisk pace all the way. Then when you least expect it, a full-on sprint suddenly starts up ahead of you and they disappear over the horizon - apparently because someone has decreed some nondescript section of dull housing estate to be a "Strava Sprint Segment" where you can measure yourself against people you have never met. Only musing here, but if you are that keen on racing against strangers, why not join a club that actually does that for real? .... and does it safely instead of turning residential streets into outdoor velodromes?

Personally, I enjoy just getting out on the bike to explore the countryside with my camera and doing training rides purely with the intention of getting myself fit enough to know that I can go anywhere and up any hill that I come across. It's also nice to get out on the road with one or two mates and stop off at pubs or cafes for a joke and a natter. Not that what I'm really looking for is for someone else to play Compo and Clegg to my Foggy Dewhurst. I have cycled in the Ardennes, the Alps and the Pyrennees and don't feel the need to prove myself., but with the recent popularity of the TDF, everyone suddenly has to have a racing bike and has to rush around showing each other how fast they are. Is it normal not to want to race, or is that considered weird these days?

 

[bpsmith]

The argument that faster people are likely to be younger doesn't really hold water, in my area at least. On those segments where I am in the top 30, the higher percentage of riders are actually in late thirties or early forties, so slightly older than me. Whereas people assume that they are likely to be late teens or early twenties.

I agree that there are plenty of really fit and experienced cyclists on Strava, but there are also a lot of guys and girls like us too. Personally, I think there is now a good balance on there, leaving scope for us mortals and also scope for the semi-pros too.

 

[bpsmith]

@Donger it is normal that you don't want to race or use Strava. You shouldn't be chastised for that view. It is also normal to want to compete, albeit against yourself or random others. Nobody should be chastised for that view either. Cycling is what you want it to be in my book.

A good mix of both is ideally what I do. I spend some of my rides casually spinning and enjoying my surroundings and part of them having a good blast. I do tend to try for specific segments though, but I ride solo so it's hardly antisocial. In a group, that could be weird, I agree.

I have also started leaving my Garmin off and just logging rides via my iPhone in back pocket. This gives me the chance to ride without specifically trying to keep pace, which often ends up in me being even faster at times, which is strange.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I think it's just a really useful app and i only use it for comparing my own personal times.
In my neck of the woods i do usually see a certain mr dowsett kom on the segments.

 

[G3CWI]

The argument that faster people are likely to be younger doesn't really hold water,

I'm 94. I do find younger folk are often faster.

 

[Dark46]

I love Strava and I'm using the free version . I like tracking my progress and can see how I'm doing to other peeps in my area .
Don't be disheartened if your down in the numbers as there is always someone better than you.
I always go by my times and as long as I'm improving I'm happy. If you ride with others in a group it automatically puts you together.
It's also good for following people too. I also like how you can use it on your mobile or via a Garmin device.