Strava question.

[esoxlucius]

I downloaded Strava the other day. I just get the free stuff at the minute, I doubt i'll take full advantage of the full package because i'm a tight arse, lol.

But anyway, I went on a ride earlier and on the little map it said I was the third best in the world at climbing this particular little hill near where I live. Praise indeed, lol.

I delved into the detail of this small climb and it's about 0.5 km long and pretty steep. I wasn't really trying as I wasn't aware at the time that strava was timing me! Anyway I did it in just shy of 2 mins and it said I was doing about 13kph.

The thing is, I checked the time of the guy who was fastest, from 2015 I think it was, and he did it in something like 45 seconds and it said he was doing 34 kph!!

Now I don't know much about Strava but it dawned on me that it is wide open to, let's say, unscrupulous efforts!

What's to stop some dude doing segments which are popular with runners or cyclists, riding on a motorbike or in a car? If this has dawned on me, a complete newby to Strava, then I'm sure it's registered with loads of other Strava users too?

 

[the_mikey]

Nothing stops anyone doing anything, the trick is to ignore what other people are doing and enjoy your ride.

 

[Webbo2]

I downloaded Strava the other day. I just get the free stuff at the minute, I doubt i'll take full advantage of the full package because i'm a tight arse, lol.

But anyway, I went on a ride earlier and on the little map it said I was the third best in the world at climbing this particular little hill near where I live. Praise indeed, lol.

I delved into the detail of this small climb and it's about 0.5 km long and pretty steep. I wasn't really trying as I wasn't aware at the time that strava was timing me! Anyway I did it in just shy of 2 mins and it said I was doing about 13kph.

The thing is, I checked the time of the guy who was fastest, from 2015 I think it was, and he did it in something like 45 seconds and it said he was doing 34 kph!!

Now I don't know much about Strava but it dawned on me that it is wide open to, let's say, unscrupulous efforts!

What's to stop some dude doing segments which are popular with runners or cyclists, riding on a motorbike or in a car? If this has dawned on me, a complete newby to Strava, then I'm sure it's registered with loads of other Strava users too?

34 kph for 500 metres even up hill is well within the capabilities a lot decent amateur riders.

 

[esoxlucius]

34 kph for 500 metres even up hill is well within the capabilities a lot decent amateur riders.

Indeed. If I pushed really hard I reckon I could get pretty close to that myself, I think! Or then again, maybe not. Maybe I'll try!

It was more like an observation really. I was thinking that maybe there would be some kind of measures in place by strava to stop dodgy efforts but I can't see any way of policing such activity.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

It could possibly be dodgy. But Strava AI is getting better at detecting dodgy efforts labelled as normal bike rides.

Some riders who aren't pro riders can do nuts efforts.

And the more often you do segments, the more you will find your quickest times are on days with a strong tailwind, not necessarily your best power effort.

There's a ~250 metre ramp around the corner from me, averages 9% and briefly hits ~13%. A converted mountain bike rider with a strong sprint and 1min power smashed it in 52secs back in '19, big effort with a perfect tailwind. He was ~75Kg back then, in his late 30s, now under 70Kg.

 

[OldShep]

It was more like an observation really. I was thinking that maybe there would be some kind of measures in place by strava to stop dodgy efforts but I can't see any way of policing such activity.

You won’t on the phone app. Go to the web page and you’ll find 'flag' a ride if you think it’s suspicious.

 

[Alex321]

Indeed. If I pushed really hard I reckon I could get pretty close to that myself, I think! Or then again, maybe not. Maybe I'll try!

It was more like an observation really. I was thinking that maybe there would be some kind of measures in place by strava to stop dodgy efforts but I can't see any way of policing such activity.

There are. Suspicious rides are flagged, and often deleted. But it is nowhere near foolproof. You can also report something you think is dodgy, and they ill look at it.

But with something like that one, it could have been a very fit rider who saw that the KOM was achievable, and just went for it on that hill, with a very short and easy ride otherwise.

Don't know what you mean by "pretty steep" - what are the average and maximum gradients? Some hills that I thought were "pretty steep" 3-4 years ago, I can more or less cruise up now.

 

[esoxlucius]

Don't know what you mean by "pretty steep" - what are the average and maximum gradients?

I wouldn't even know how to get that info. The gradient isn't specified on the info I have from Strava, but I put that down to having the basic free version. Maybe the gradient would be shown if I paid the subscription!

It was a long shot but I typed in "how steep is Gladstone street in Bacup". No actual gradient came up but it said that street is one of the steepest residential streets in the UK. I don't know how much truth's in that.

Whatever, that guy who clocked 34kph up there certainly had his Weetabix for breakfast. It was a good effort that's for sure.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Regarding Strava, is to work on the basis that anyone who is faster than you has cheated and just ignore their results.

 

[oxoman]

Just treat strava as a personal tracker to show how good or bad you are. Hopefully you'll improve with time.

 

[cougie uk]

34 kph for 500 metres even up hill is well within the capabilities a lot decent amateur riders.

That would depend on the gradient ?

 

[Alex321]

I wouldn't even know how to get that info. The gradient isn't specified on the info I have from Strava, but I put that down to having the basic free version. Maybe the gradient would be shown if I paid the subscription!

It was a long shot but I typed in "how steep is Gladstone street in Bacup". No actual gradient came up but it said that street is one of the steepest residential streets in the UK. I don't know how much truth's in that.

Whatever, that guy who clocked 34kph up there certainly had his Weetabix for breakfast. It was a good effort that's for sure.

I can't see a Strava segment on that road?

Do you have the segment ID?

Or the activity ID where you rode it (if you don't mind)?

I subscribe, so will definitely be able to see the gradient, though I thought the average was available to all.

If I try to create a route up it, then it show 0.25 miles with an elevation gain of 122 ft, so about 10%, and scrolling up it never gets about12.5%, or below 7.5%.

I'd say that speed is just about do-able for a very good, young and fit cyclist.

 

[esoxlucius]

Do you have the segment ID?

I've played around with it a bit more and found the gradient, but it's a little surprising. It seems a lot steeper than what it quotes. I took a screenshot, see below.

 

[Alex321]

An average of 8.7% is nothing to be sneezed at, even over less than half a kilometre

 

[esoxlucius]

An average of 8.7% is nothing to be sneezed at, even over less than half a kilometre

That street is about a kilometer from where I live. It's quite rare actually that I choose to make that the last leg of my journey back home, especially after a long ride. I'd done just shy of 50km earlier so I wasn't exactly fresh.

I will give it another go though now just out of curiosity. I know I can definitely improve on my time. I'll post a screenshot of my performance. Who knows, I might get fastest guy in the world, instead of 3rd fastest, lol.