tntyz

Last weekend was out on a nice ride. On one of the local Strava segments, feeling better than usual, favorable wind direction so decided to go for it. I knew I had one of my better times and was excited to get home and see the result. Yep, a PR. Now to check the leaderboard. Oh yeah, Strava now requires a subscription for this. No big deal, they have a 60-day trial available so I went through the sign-up process and checked my results. And . . . not even in the top 25.

At 63 I didn't really expect to be KOM, but I didn't realize just how slow I am. The older I get, the better I was!

Carbonfiberboy 

That was all it took? Really? You can also check results for your age group. Sometimes that's worse.

caloso

Check your age group, weight group, and narrow it to that day. That sometimes helps.

DrIsotope

I set a PR on a segment yesterday-- on my SSCX, which made it feel even better. Some lustre was lost when I got passed midway up the climb by one of those Team California Juniors kids. That teen literally passed me like I was standing still. The last of the shine was gone when I saw we were putting out about the same power. That segment also happens to be on the leg of one of the Redlands Bicycle Classic road races, so my best effort is good for 594/1906. Hey, top third, right?

tntyz

My lesson learned is that I care about PRs, but not overall standings so much. I never was the fastest guy on a bike, but I'm still having plenty of fun.

Bassmanbob

A friend convinced me to download Strava about two years ago. Since then, I’ve had periods when I follow it and other when I ignore it. I seem happier when I ignore Strava.

Cyclist0108

Strava -- pay to be humiliated.

Once I left my Garmin on when I drove home with the bike on my car. One of the local fast people still had a significantly better time on that segment.

spelger

This is how i am feeling about strava now. Why would i pay to see how bad i am? taking away the leader boards might be one of the better things they have done for me.

velojym

I've been mostly paying attention to my own improvement, but did get my first KOM last week. Pretty pleased about that, but I don't think I'll see many of 'em. Doesn't bother me any, though.

Wildwood

There are people who are actively competitive.
There are people who are self-competitive.
There are people who track facts.
There are people who share stuff.

Me, I just ride.
Hopefully thousands of miles every year,
but now at almost 70 - more importantly,
to avoid long gaps in spinning and grinning.

davester

I've been using Strava for years. It is great for tracking your mileage and your progress and checking out route distances and timing. I never look at the leaderboard. It's pointless.

woodcraft

Your soul is easily crushed!

In my area, often in the top 1/3- #1 ,500 or something.

KOM? Maybe next life.

caloso

I like it. I went out and got a KOM on Monday. It was a longish out and back segment and it was in reach so I just made it part of my workout. I’ve got my eye on a couple of others.

canklecat

I'm motivated by friendly competition with local folks close to my age, so I went ahead and ponied up for the Strava subscription. Seems worthwhile. I spent a lot more than $5 a month on beer when I drank (probably more like $50 a month), so that's only one month's beer budget from last year.

My only KOM isn't worth bragging about, on a one-mile neighborhood loop that I didn't even know was a Strava segment. I was just part of my usual warmup/cooldown before and after a workout. When I hit just over 20 mph on that segment I quit riding faster than 15 mph there. Let someone else have it if they want.

I've lost most of my top tens since my 2018 injury and illness setback. I'm trying to claw my way back but it's tougher now. When I had a few top tens it was against some tough competition, but not many of them. I was always a full minute or more behind the KOM (usually held by a much stronger friend). As more cyclists began riding those rural routes the separation between the top ten got closer and I got nudged down to 12th or so.

I think I still have an 8th place on one segment. But that'll be gone soon too. There's no way a 62 y/o should have a KOM or even a top ten on any segment worth riding if there are enough younger riders on the same routes. Some strong local women riders have nudged me out of the top ten as well. That's fine, it should be that way.

Eventually that window of opportunity will close. I figure I might have until age 65 to get stronger and faster. After that no amount of work will matter. It'll be a gradual decline. I'm not even the fastest in my age group here.

Even now I'm having to sandbag some days to conserve energy for a PR on a competitive segment. I'll loaf-pedal for 5-10 minutes before the segment, then sprint until I'm gassed out, then loaf-pedal again. I average 16 mph overall, nowhere near as fast as the younger folks on the same 20-50 mile routes. But if I sandbag I can save enough for a few sprints.

Not sure I'll even care about Strava 10 years from now. I might switch back to my hybrid and just enjoy the scenery.

Meanwhile, I'll keep trying.

SurferCyclist

Yep, I'm 61 and the few KOMs I've had are gone although still have several top tens (got 2 yesterday). I only started road cycling 4 years ago so I do wonder how strong a rider I'd have been 35 years ago! I like Strava although don't subscribe, I find it useful to see my times over same segments and routes. There's a couple of guys around here who target KOMs, pretty obvious that's their sole goal. I can't compete with them so just do my own thing and if I get a PB/Trophy/KOM then all the better.

CliffordK

Hmmm... I've been down on my miles so I hadn't noticed the new updates.

So, one shows up if one is in the top 10. Otherwise, so much data is obscured

It looks like they've definitely knocked out many of the "cool features".

sean.hwy

Truer words have not been spoken!

Riveting

For chasing Strava segment KOM's, Top 10's, or just PR's, I highly recommend VeloViewer.com, $15 a year (US), just 4 cents per day.

OldsCOOL

I repulsed at the forcing subscriptions but then, 7.00 is ok and when seeing the extras that came with the premium, that made it worthwhile. Being 62 and still riding hard as possible, just making the top 20 percentile is cool.

AlgarveCycling

I was introduced to Strava in July last year by a very good friend of mine who is a cycling coach. He wanted to track my progress - I returned to cycling after a long time away from it in January, 2019.

In August I got a KOM on a local MTB race route while training and found I still had a half-decent sprint in my legs! I raced a long time ago and have since returned to racing and like to use Strava segments for HIIT training. I'm very lazy and I find the competition on local segments provides the motivation I need to keep plugging away and I'm definitely fitter/stronger as a result. Of course, winning KOM's is in no way comparable to winning races but they are fun despite the many variables.

Anyway, even at 51, I've managed to amass over 60 KOM's since August last year, mix road and off-road, and that despite the Volta ao Algarve, local Pro's and Elite riders. Naturally, it is mostly luck that the many faster riders haven't made a serious attempt at the segments I currently lead!

DiabloScott

The problem is, that I need OTHER people to pay for premium Strava so they can see how much better than them I am... maybe I should buy them gift memberships.

SurferCyclist

No you don't, just get in top ten and they'll see it.

csuperbike

Using strava is a great way to bust your noggin.

Terex

The climbing results on Strava are usually pretty accurate/fair, but if you're trying for a top time on a flatter time trial segment a lot of the times are set by people drafting others. I've set KOM's on TT segments, only to see some old guy (my age...) drop me by a couple mph. I'd go back to the total leader board for that date and find out that the person with the age group KOM was riding with a group of 20-30 year olds who had times grouped around the old guy's time. Just as my peak cycling days were ending, it struck me that I could log both the fasted time and the slowest time for my age group on a local test piece hill climb. Wish I'd thought about doing it sooner.

SurferCyclist

Yeah well not too many KOMs got into a strong headwind either! People are either drafting and/or have a strong tailwind, certainly on flattish segments.