Ditching Strava
08-10-18, 07:03 AM
#101
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I ditched the on-the-bars computer for that reason ... too tempting to look down and ride to a number instead of riding a bike on a road. I still keep my phone on the bars, but the screen is off.
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.
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.
The RideWithGPS app looks good though. I like the ability to configure what is shown on the ride screen! This looks like my answer to getting current HR during a ride without having to sink money into more electronics.
08-10-18, 09:45 AM
#102
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Ha! I don't need a phone app to stroke my ego. That's what I bought my Amazon Echo for. The first skills I enabled were the 'Ego Stroker' skill and the 'Talk Dirty To Me' skill.
08-11-18, 03:20 PM
#103
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I'm not a competitor by nature, nor am I obsessive about stuff. I do like to track my progress to see where I have improved. I have the Strava app on my Android phone and I also have a basic digital wireless cycle computer (i.e. no GPS stuff). On August 5th I participated in the Blackberry bRamble event ride, a noncompetitive single-day tour based out of Eugene, OR and I rode 62.9 miles. My Android phone died at about the 61.3 mile mark, and thus so did my Strava data. My bike computer recorded the whole ride. Strava is kinda fun for keeping track of friends around the world who record their rides on Strava. I'm actually more interested in RideWithGPS but it seems a bit more complex.
08-11-18, 05:26 PM
#104
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And I use the free version of both apps ... and still don't rally know what either of them can do.
I like RwGPS because planning a route is easy, and afterwards, analyzing a ride is easy .. but for comparing to past efforts,, Strava. Thing is ... I usually don't care about how I compare. if I lost Strava, I could live just fine.
08-11-18, 06:28 PM
#105
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I recorded last night's ride on RwGPS, sent the GPX to Strava to see my segments comparisons with past rides, then went back to RwGPS to break down the segments into 1-foot, 1-second intervals.... I could lay out the speed, elevation and grade, and see where on each hill I slowed, and how many times ... and then I could remember "Oh, yeah ... that was the first time I wanted to quite and said, 'No, go again," and that is the second time I said 'Go again;' and my heart said 'Go to H3ll\'." Interesting to see where I slowed .... and how much---which a simple segment average wouldn't tell me.
And I use the free version of both apps ... and still don't rally know what either of them can do.
I like RwGPS because planning a route is easy, and afterwards, analyzing a ride is easy .. but for comparing to past efforts,, Strava. Thing is ... I usually don't care about how I compare. if I lost Strava, I could live just fine.
And I use the free version of both apps ... and still don't rally know what either of them can do.
I like RwGPS because planning a route is easy, and afterwards, analyzing a ride is easy .. but for comparing to past efforts,, Strava. Thing is ... I usually don't care about how I compare. if I lost Strava, I could live just fine.
08-12-18, 11:32 AM
#106
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08-12-18, 11:38 AM
#107
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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.
08-12-18, 01:53 PM
#108
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Are you serious? You know, not being a Cat 1 racer does not equal "complete inexperience." 
Perhaps you take your own considerable training and experience too much for granted.
Most people have a pretty good sense of the level of effort they're putting out as they pedal, but I'd submit that unless they've ridden with a computer or made a point of counting pedals strokes, (or are musicians) most riders wouldn't have the slightest clue what there cadence is, ever. People ride for years without paying any attention to cadence. Combine that with the fact that conditions can vary very gradually, especially on essentially/seemingly flat roads, it takes quite a while (relatively speaking) before many riders even realize they've slowed down or speeded up.
Perhaps you take your own considerable training and experience too much for granted.Most people have a pretty good sense of the level of effort they're putting out as they pedal, but I'd submit that unless they've ridden with a computer or made a point of counting pedals strokes, (or are musicians) most riders wouldn't have the slightest clue what there cadence is, ever. People ride for years without paying any attention to cadence. Combine that with the fact that conditions can vary very gradually, especially on essentially/seemingly flat roads, it takes quite a while (relatively speaking) before many riders even realize they've slowed down or speeded up.
I have only been riding for 3 years and only average around 100 miles per week and at any given time on my ride I know my cadence within less than 5% error.
I can’t believe that almost all other serious riders aren’t even more accurate without the use of electronics.
08-12-18, 02:29 PM
#109
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Not trying to get the fight more ugly ... but the hardest thing about pace lines is that when the guy ahead pulls off, the next leader has to increase effort to hold the pace ... and too little, slows the line while too much stretches it. I might know my cadence (I don't, but for the sake of silly argument ... ) but i am not going to figure speed, air resistance, gearing, and figure how much harder or faster I need to pedal to maintain the precise speed ... by the time i realize couldn't do the math my pull would have long been over.
That said, I have never used a speedometer in a pace line ... and no one has ever accused me of disrespecting the other riders.
I think this is one of those tiny, half-serious statements stated a little too loudly, which grated on someone and then grew into a "My crank arms are longer than yours" debate not in any way about the stated subject ... you know, competitive people and all .
That said, I have never used a speedometer in a pace line ... and no one has ever accused me of disrespecting the other riders.
I think this is one of those tiny, half-serious statements stated a little too loudly, which grated on someone and then grew into a "My crank arms are longer than yours" debate not in any way about the stated subject ... you know, competitive people and all .
08-12-18, 04:52 PM
#110
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Nonsense.
I have only been riding for 3 years and only average around 100 miles per week and at any given time on my ride I know my cadence within less than 5% error.
I can’t believe that almost all other serious riders aren’t even more accurate without the use of electronics.
Cycling computers provide feedback - whether it's a reality check when you take your turn at the front of a pace line, or just a check of your accuracy at guessing your cadence.
You don't have to be serious at all, or pay any attention to cadence figures to rack up 5-7,000 miles a year. Time flies when you're having fun.
08-12-18, 05:02 PM
#111
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Not trying to get the fight more ugly ... but the hardest thing about pace lines is that when the guy ahead pulls off, the next leader has to increase effort to hold the pace ... and too little, slows the line while too much stretches it. I might know my cadence (I don't, but for the sake of silly argument ... ) but i am not going to figure speed, air resistance, gearing, and figure how much harder or faster I need to pedal to maintain the precise speed ... by the time i realize couldn't do the math my pull would have long been over.
That said, I have never used a speedometer in a pace line ... and no one has ever accused me of disrespecting the other riders.
I think this is one of those tiny, half-serious statements stated a little too loudly, which grated on someone and then grew into a "My crank arms are longer than yours" debate not in any way about the stated subject ... you know, competitive people and all .
That said, I have never used a speedometer in a pace line ... and no one has ever accused me of disrespecting the other riders.
I think this is one of those tiny, half-serious statements stated a little too loudly, which grated on someone and then grew into a "My crank arms are longer than yours" debate not in any way about the stated subject ... you know, competitive people and all .
08-12-18, 05:39 PM
#112
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Win/win.
08-12-18, 05:41 PM
#113
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I think you're right. But I'm wondering what you meant.... wait, wut? Are you saying that knowing your cadence (and more importantly, having a good sense of whether it is changing) keeps your pace lines in order, but it just so happens that you don't need a speedometer? I know there are a fair number of guys like that (and some of them can be pretty irritable) but some folks just ain't got rhythm, and they need all the help they can get.
08-12-18, 05:53 PM
#114
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I said that i have never been in a pace line where Anybody had a computer or maybe two out of 12 or 15 ... and No one said I was Disrespecting the other pace line members by not having a computer.
That specific idea, that a person Not using a computer or speedometer, was Disrespecting his fellow pace line riders ... was raised above. I don't care enough to see who said it but it is as ridiculous as the notion that you cannot ride a good pace line without a speedometer ... or the notion that it is not easier to ride a pace line with a speedometer.
I won't pretend to have a huge amount of experience ... but in my limited experience, riding a steady pace line takes a good deal of practice. One cannot simply maintain a cadence ... when that wind hits, the lead rider has to increase power to match it. and knowing how much to increase so as to not slow the line or stretch it is not natural or easy. A speedometer could make it easier to get the feel at the beginning.
As many have noted, bicycle pace lines predate bicycle speedometers by a good bit ... so speedometers or computers are Not necessary, and not using one is Not disrespectful. I do think using a speedometer could aid a rider to learn how much harder he needed to push to hold a pace, and would also make it easier for a cyclist to know when to pull off.
Hyperbole and absolutism are two great attributes of silly internet arguments. Because I am a spoilsport, and only enjoy life when I am ruining others' fun, I wanted to point out some factually unsupportable notions I saw here----Not using a speedometer is Not disrespectful to fellow pace liners; a speedometer is Not essential to riding a good pace line; and the second rider in line Cannot simply maintain the same cadence and power when he moves to the head of the line.
Maybe there are people who will claim they know their cadence to an eighth of a rev and know their power output to a fraction of a watt at all times ("I dialed up 400 watts .... ") and maybe there are dogs which talk. But I do know that people can learn to ride a pace line with Zero electronic aids---and I imagine that having electronic aids ... well it would be easier because one had aid, right?
That is what i was saying.
08-12-18, 07:08 PM
#116
Peloton Shelter Dog
OK, I'll bite.
WTF is 'sträva'?
WTF is 'sträva'?
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08-13-18, 09:24 AM
#117
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That specific idea, that a person Not using a computer or speedometer, was Disrespecting his fellow pace line riders ... was raised above. I don't care enough to see who said it but it is as ridiculous as the notion that you cannot ride a good pace line without a speedometer.
08-13-18, 12:53 PM
#118
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I run the basic Strava app on my phone during rides. it's in my pocket, so I don't see any real-time info, but I like to see if I managed a decent average speed after the ride, and I can track total mileage for maintenance purposes.
08-14-18, 01:23 PM
#120
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If it ain't on Strava, it didn't happen.
If you didn't announce you were quitting Strava like some drama filled 13 year old middle school girl who's just "OMG! fed up with Becky(Strava)" then did it really happen?
If you didn't announce you were quitting Strava like some drama filled 13 year old middle school girl who's just "OMG! fed up with Becky(Strava)" then did it really happen?
08-17-18, 03:00 PM
#121
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Could everyone please post a list of things they aren't interested in, don't understand, or don't use?
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Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
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08-17-18, 03:24 PM
#122
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08-17-18, 04:25 PM
#123
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You know, several years ago, I used to add whole milk to my coffee, and would pour it over my cereal every morning. Then my tastes changed and I started drinking soymilk and quit eating cereal. Anyone else opt out from whole milk?
FWIW, There are TV shows I quit watching, music I quit listening to, and clothes I stopped wearing, too. What does it matter whether anyone else quit doing these things? I didn't like them, so I quit. Isn't Strava the same?
FWIW, There are TV shows I quit watching, music I quit listening to, and clothes I stopped wearing, too. What does it matter whether anyone else quit doing these things? I didn't like them, so I quit. Isn't Strava the same?
08-18-18, 05:45 AM
#124
Senior Member
08-18-18, 07:05 AM
#125
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AppleTV
Embrocation
Mineral Spirits
BitCoin
Uber
SS/Fixie
Road shoes
Pickle Juice