Ditching Strava
#76
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Wow. Keeping a pace is not rocket science, it doesn't require counting anything, and it doesn't take much experience pedaling a bike. I seriously question how many pacelines people have been in if they genuinely can't figure out how to maintain pace without a computer.
That's pretty mindboggling.
If you struggle with keeping pace to such an extent, then you should pull through and off. Simple as that. Pretty hard to mess that up.
That's pretty mindboggling.
If you struggle with keeping pace to such an extent, then you should pull through and off. Simple as that. Pretty hard to mess that up.
Yes, I think their value comes in the learning. And once you've learned, it's like riding a bike.
#77
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I wouldn't admit to being mind-boggled by things that actually happen all the time. You know, people do mess up at the front of pace lines because they haven't learned to judge and manage their cadence (among other things). No, it's not rocket science, but it's not automatic, either. It would be silly for new and developing riders to not use cycling computers just because experienced riders don't need them.
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I wouldn't admit to being mind-boggled by things that actually happen all the time. You know, people do mess up at the front of pace lines because they haven't learned to judge and manage their cadence (among other things). No, it's not rocket science, but it's not automatic, either. It would be silly for new and developing riders to not use cycling computers just because experienced riders don't need them. They're great training aids, and I think the point that was originally being made is that it's really bad form for untrained riders to dismiss them and not make an attempt to learn.
Sorry, no way. You may think you are pulling to a specific speed but you aren't....lol.
Pulling without a speedometer on your bike is disrespecting your riding friends if you take pulls at the front.
Pulling without a speedometer on your bike is disrespecting your riding friends if you take pulls at the front.
I'm not sure how depending on a bike computer or having instant access to speed is a great training aid in regards to group riding, but as I said before, there's a gross dependency on technology at the expense of a little self-awareness and common sense.
ETA: noodle soup covered it.
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Meanwhile, when one starts to develop pace line proficiency, one only knows that being in front means having to do more work. But how much more work? When ones turn at the front comes, how does one know if one is working too much harder or not harder enough? It's just helpful - not "gross dependency on technology" - to use a computer to get the answer. Otherwise, chances are someone is going to be yelling to take it easy or stop slacking!
#80
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Maybe you fellers need to take it to the 33. Just sayin.
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Momento mori, amor fati.
Momento mori, amor fati.
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#84
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You mentioned self-awareness. Actually, I'd agree with you more if you said people were relying on technology at the expense of awareness of what's happening around them. When it comes to pace lines, one of the biggest tricks is learning to be sensitive at the front to what is and will be happening behind, where one can't see, as grade, wind, and road conditions change, don't you think? I'd definitely agree: cycling computers are little or no help in that regard.
Meanwhile, when one starts to develop pace line proficiency, one only knows that being in front means having to do more work. But how much more work? When ones turn at the front comes, how does one know if one is working too much harder or not harder enough? It's just helpful - not "gross dependency on technology" - to use a computer to get the answer. Otherwise, chances are someone is going to be yelling to take it easy or stop slacking!
Meanwhile, when one starts to develop pace line proficiency, one only knows that being in front means having to do more work. But how much more work? When ones turn at the front comes, how does one know if one is working too much harder or not harder enough? It's just helpful - not "gross dependency on technology" - to use a computer to get the answer. Otherwise, chances are someone is going to be yelling to take it easy or stop slacking!
Pull through and off, or pull for 15-20 seconds and off. No reason to pull any longer than that in a decent size group.
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Most often, it's a case of the segment getting flagged for being unsafe. If that's the case, the segment is hidden, not deleted, but you can still unhide and view the segment (on the desktop site, at least). Duplicate segments are sometimes deleted outright.
#89
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Ice cream and cheese? Are you serious? I find myself becoming curious!
In relation to this thread - I'm 62 and have no need for Strava. I see no reason to compare myself to "kids" less than 1/2 my age. It only makes me long for years of past glory. I' very content to use my Garmin and Garmin Connect to chart my rides in comparison only to my own improvement and even then mostly to chart mileage and map past rides. Usually, due to scheduling, I ride solo and for health and enjoyment reasons. My escape from reality is getting lost in the rhythm of my cadence and gasping breath! It brings about a restoration to sanity.
In relation to this thread - I'm 62 and have no need for Strava. I see no reason to compare myself to "kids" less than 1/2 my age. It only makes me long for years of past glory. I' very content to use my Garmin and Garmin Connect to chart my rides in comparison only to my own improvement and even then mostly to chart mileage and map past rides. Usually, due to scheduling, I ride solo and for health and enjoyment reasons. My escape from reality is getting lost in the rhythm of my cadence and gasping breath! It brings about a restoration to sanity.
Last edited by OldFartCyclist; 08-07-18 at 11:08 AM. Reason: added clarification relating to thread
#90
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You can use Strava to compare yourself only to others in your age/weight range. Garmin Connect will compare you to like-individuals, too, but with different metrics than Strava segments.
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I use it to track my own rides/improvements and to share photos. I used to look at my friend's rides daily and would plan rides around particular segments I wanted to make an effort on, but now I just upload my ride and am done with Strava for the day. It didn't detract from my riding, I just kinda got "over" it and now (sorry for those of you who follow me) I never really bother going through other people's workouts and giving kudos.
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I spent too long last night reading DCrainmaker's take on Strava's new deal, & the many comments.
Man, folks are not happy with Strava! Hundreds of complaints about not fixing problems, not innovating, messing up the feed, etc. etc..
Seems like looking a gift horse in the mouth since I use the free version...
Man, folks are not happy with Strava! Hundreds of complaints about not fixing problems, not innovating, messing up the feed, etc. etc..
Seems like looking a gift horse in the mouth since I use the free version...
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I use the free version of Strava. I find it useful for recording my own rides as I will often just go exploring by myself.
Honestly though the most useful part is that I got it to upload to my fitbit account.
Between Strava, my cateye speed/cadence computer and my fitbit, I get everything I will ever need. Often the cateye is all I want so I can just enjoy the ride.
Honestly though the most useful part is that I got it to upload to my fitbit account.
Between Strava, my cateye speed/cadence computer and my fitbit, I get everything I will ever need. Often the cateye is all I want so I can just enjoy the ride.
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Being obsessed is the main ingredient of being the best at anything .
Strava is the best base line training tool out hands down . pick a route or make a route , ride it for fun , exploration , get back and review the ride , see the people the times the distance .
Then Attack those segments see if you can keep up , its like a video game in real life for me , xbox and playstation are ok sometimes but this a game you can play in real life .
Learn to enjoy it , if you dont want to use it dont . its a digital time trial , its a fitness tracker , is a social platform , find a positive in it .
When i first started on my cycling thing i had no clue all the annoying things i would be exposed too. Everyone seems to want to scoff at the next person .
If you ride a steel bike you scoff at the carbon bike
if you ride carbon you are an elite
If you try to hard you are bad
If you ride hills you scoff at the flats
If you ride on roads you are in the way of cars and should ride on paths
If you ride on paths you are too fast and are in way of peds
If you dont have a full body helmet and 12 mill lum light in the day you are dangerous
if you use strava you are a wanna be nube that should just stay at home
if you try for koms you are the reincarnation of hitler
name a thing about cycling , there will be a group of people that scoff you up and down for it ..
It goes on and on .
I enjoy strava becuase i see local riders , when i go the events i reconize the names its always funny to stand right next to people and only know them later when you see their ride .
Just enjoy life , dont let life enjoy you nam saying ...
Strava is the best base line training tool out hands down . pick a route or make a route , ride it for fun , exploration , get back and review the ride , see the people the times the distance .
Then Attack those segments see if you can keep up , its like a video game in real life for me , xbox and playstation are ok sometimes but this a game you can play in real life .
Learn to enjoy it , if you dont want to use it dont . its a digital time trial , its a fitness tracker , is a social platform , find a positive in it .
When i first started on my cycling thing i had no clue all the annoying things i would be exposed too. Everyone seems to want to scoff at the next person .
If you ride a steel bike you scoff at the carbon bike
if you ride carbon you are an elite
If you try to hard you are bad
If you ride hills you scoff at the flats
If you ride on roads you are in the way of cars and should ride on paths
If you ride on paths you are too fast and are in way of peds
If you dont have a full body helmet and 12 mill lum light in the day you are dangerous
if you use strava you are a wanna be nube that should just stay at home
if you try for koms you are the reincarnation of hitler
name a thing about cycling , there will be a group of people that scoff you up and down for it ..
It goes on and on .
I enjoy strava becuase i see local riders , when i go the events i reconize the names its always funny to stand right next to people and only know them later when you see their ride .
Just enjoy life , dont let life enjoy you nam saying ...
#95
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... (P)ick a route or make a route , ride it for fun , exploration , get back and review the ride , see the people the times the distance .
Then Attack those segments see if you can keep up , its like a video game in real life for me , xbox and playstation are ok sometimes but this a game you can play in real life .
Then Attack those segments see if you can keep up , its like a video game in real life for me , xbox and playstation are ok sometimes but this a game you can play in real life .
#97
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I too got into Strava in 2016. To me it's just a tool. I track my fitness and my improvements (if there are any) and the segments give me something to shoot for. For example....I have a 6.3 mi. TT that I rode at 17.7 mph last year when I was 71. This year I hoped to do 18 mph. And, last month I actually hit 18.4 mph. To get older and still see improvement/faster speed makes me feel good and encourages me to keep riding. I don't compete with anyone but myself. Although it is interesting to see what others are doing. OTOH, I suggested that a friend try my TT just for fun. Her first question...."Is it a Strava segment?" Oh, well.
#98
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Strava is like alcohol. Many people can use it every once in a while, take it or leave, good for social activities. Other people obsess over it, talk about it all the time, think about it, make shirts about it, do things they wouldn't normally do, and essentially these people have very unhealthy attitudes and habits. Strava/Alcohol/Opioids/Gambling. All the same. Some people can use it and it's not a "thing" others can't.
Good that you recognize your own personal failings and that you cannot handle the app and use it like most people do and that you need to take a step back. According to everyone else with personal issues manifesting as "Strava" problems you will now be able to enjoy your rides way more than people that do use Strava. So you have that going for you.
Good luck!
Good that you recognize your own personal failings and that you cannot handle the app and use it like most people do and that you need to take a step back. According to everyone else with personal issues manifesting as "Strava" problems you will now be able to enjoy your rides way more than people that do use Strava. So you have that going for you.
Good luck!
#99
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Strava has brought a joy back to cycling for me. No more speedo on the handlebars always taunting me with average speed or cadence or anything like that. I just ride, enjoy the trip and then later see how I compare to the same segment from last ride or last year. it's great.
I use RideWithGPS ... and upload GPX files to Strava when i want to compare certain segments or share rides with some of the folks I sometimes do group rides with.
If I wanted KOMs ... I would create segments no one else would bother to ride. I could own the '"Behind the half-abandoned shopping mall" KOM, or maybe the "All but forgotten dead-end access road by the truck depot " KOM.
#100
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I use Strava only because my Lezyne GPS unit uploads to Strava. I have been on the Strava site 3 times this year to check my total mileage for the year. That’s the only stat I care about and have 0 interest in KOMs or competing on segments of my rides.
Much of my riding season is spent working with teens on training rides. I average 12-15mph on those rides depending on which kids I am with. I will never ‘win’ any KOMs or compete at those speeds, so Strava’s competition and social platforms are completely useless to me.
Much of my riding season is spent working with teens on training rides. I average 12-15mph on those rides depending on which kids I am with. I will never ‘win’ any KOMs or compete at those speeds, so Strava’s competition and social platforms are completely useless to me.