Originally Posted by
60spacing
I'm probably beating a dead horse a bit here
, because a couple of other posters have mentioned it, but I don't think you can overemphasize the point of not comparing yourself to how others are doing. I think we all do it at times, and it will discourage the heck out of you. There will always be someone who is faster, a better climber, can ride farther, etc. Remember, as you get better there will be a lot of people who wish the could ride 25 miles, 50 miles,etc. like you do. Keep working hard (but smart) and you'll be amazed at what you're able to do over time.
Beating a dead horse? I think you've more missed the boat than anything! The OP already playfully noted she considers her Strava rankings to mean she's " not awful." So don't worry; she does not have a loser attitude, but rather like most people, derives healthful and helpful motivation by monitoring her effort within a wider context, which by the way, is reflected in the thread's title and indicated in the OP as its raison d'etre.