TGT1

Is Strava Negatively Impacting Your Cycling Club?[

One Marxian dictum (Groucho, that is) I do subscribe to, "I wouldn't join a club that would have me as a member" and I don't use Strava. Cyclemeter has a berating coaches voice I can turn on if I want to really torture myself with intervals etc.

What I have noticed is the negative impact of the Stravhole, (or maybe a little more politely the "Stravidiot") I'm blessed to live near and work within pistol shot distance of one of the premier bike trails in So Cal, the SGRT. 40+ mile of near flat with only an handful of blind corners, (but numerous underpasses)

A Stravhole won't be satisfied with tens of miles of good sight lines and the potential for speed only limited to his cardiac ability, but must dangerously carry his speed thru the blind corners in order to gain a few tens of seconds, and get severely agitated if called to account. ( one caused my wife to crash, break an arm and she's never been back on the bike since).

As far as this definition of what's fun, I've retired to this bicycle thing after years of rock climbing and mountaineering. My long time partners predictable statement when things started getting ugly was

"are we having fun yet?"

We were!

memebag

I enjoy huffing and puffing up climbs on my bike. Don't project your own feelings into others.

coominya

And you think that's not exercise?

memebag

Correct. I hate exercise. Love riding bikes, hate exercise. I thought I said that before.

steve0257

Remember, exercise is something you don't want to do, but do anyway because it is good for you. Therefor, if you enjoy doing it, it is not exercise.

cellery

+1

You can let social media use you or you can use it.

Camilo

I'm sure you're wrong about that.

I think the same narrow minded argument is often made by Alpine skiers vs. Cross country. I skied Alpine from age 7 or 8 until way into adult hood. "Ski Bum", chasing the powder, first tracks, etc. The first time I went XC I absolutely loved it. Although it took a few years, I gave up Alpine technique for groomed trail and back country XC. "Huffing and Puffing" is part of the enjoyment, b ut more importantly, having done a bunch of motorized stuff in my life, not relying on a motor (ski lift or motorcycle.... or outboard motor compared to paddling) is so much more relaxing, and physically, yes, enjoyable. I couldn't stand the thought of going to a quiet place with a motor. I can't stand the thought of riding a motorcycle very much (and have done so in the past).

Plus, if you don't regularly get to go 40+ MPH down a smooth twisty road on a bike, you don't know what fun is. 8-)

But the bottom line is, don't embarrass yourself by projecting your own sense of fun onto others. You'll be wrong every time.

coominya

is that what I did? Project my own sense of fun? And here I was thinking I was just expressing an opinion. You are a sensitive little snowflake, best never ride a motorcycle then. Which you obviously haven't since you would know what I said was quite true about the differences between them.

Oh and please don't project your experiences about skiing onto us, this is not a skiing forum and we we have no interest in the Glory Days experiences you had before you lost your nerve.

coominya

Well you are the only person I have ever met that could not figure out, after years of effort, that cycling a bike hour after hour actually is exercise. Perhaps that's a deficiency in your education? Or perhaps you have just created a little dream world all for yourself

HTupolev

A 25% average grade over several kilometers?

memebag

And you're here to shatter my dreams? Thanks, pal.

coominya

Probably. Do you want the gps coordinates? Henry robert drive mount tambourine in SE Queensland.


Life Cycle: Chris L takes on Henri Robert

The name "Henri Robert Drive" tends to send a chill up the spine of the majority of Gold Coast cyclists. I've heard a lot of "war stories" from people who have attempted to climb that particular approach to Mt Tamborine, but none who have succeeded. I'm sure there are others who have conquered it successfully, but for some reason I've only heard about those who failed...

Camilo

It seems I hurt your feelings, and I'm sorry for that.

MikeOK

I use motifit ride as my bike computer, but it will export to strava so I downloaded that too. I live so far back in the boonies and very rarely see another biker, but I was surprised when I did a search for my hometown that showed up about 50 people. I don't know where they ride but it's not around here. Also, I looked at my area for segments and was surprised to see about a dozen, and many were on one of my routes. Strava looks interesting but the part I would like to have requires the pay version and it's not worth $60 to me, so I deleted it. If I lived where there were more active riders I would spring for it. It would be fun to track my fitness competing with other riders on segments I picked. And no need to commit a certain date and time to ride with others. Just pick a couple segments and go. It could replace an interval day.

HTupolev

If you're talking about a road that rises off of a Highway 90 and connects it to a Guanaba Road, everything I can find has it at an average grade of around 6-7%, starting with a nasty two miles averaging around 12%. Also, according to Wikipedia, Tamborine Mountain itself only has an elevation of a little over 500m.

coominya

Yeah, well I never measured it but I dare you to ride it.

MikeOK

I hereby declare you the winner of this argument!

HTupolev

If I ever go to Australia, I'll try to remember to bring my 24T chainring.