Ditching Strava
 

I got into Strava really late, 2016 actually, when the craze already seemed to be dying down a bit. I tried it but ultimately feel like it takes away from my joy of cycling. Especially as it seems like I become obsessed with miles and average speed instead of time and other metrics in determining how well I'm going (hill times notwithstanding--it was def. useful for that).

Anyone else tried it but have opted out? I feel like an oddball among my cycling friends but I really find it becomes an unhealthy obsession for me. Maybe I'll come back to it with an extremely locked down private account for specific rides, the odd race or century.

It sounds to me like you've lost interest in beating yourself up on every ride. However, Strava isn't torturing you, you are torturing yourself with it. Its possible to use Strava without obsessing over it. I use Strava to keep track of basic data and to upload the occasional photo or comment about my ride. I could not care less how I compare to others (or even myself on some earlier ride).

Strava is a ride tracker...anything more than that is your own choice to inflict on yourself.


I'll admit with this year all the Facebook crap they're adding...I'm done paying for it.

I'm relatively new to Strava as well. I use it more for connecting with other people, and more so with runners than cyclists. But I don't understand how you need Strava to obsess over numbers. Your GPS device, or even your bike computer spits out numbers for you.

I was in your shoes a few years ago, and quit using strava for a long time as well. Lately however I have gone back to it- I just don't care about the stats unless I'm trying to train. I just like the little maps and elevation and stuff like that.

Have you discussed on other forms of social media how you are growing dissatisfied with certain forms of social media? This is like whenever I see people "taking a break" from Facebook, online forums, whatever. You don't need an excuse. None of this is mandatory.

But the recurring theme that electronically logging rides somehow lessens the joy/purity/sanctity of cycling... groan. It is indeed possible to record the data and enjoy the ride. They're not mutually exclusive.

+1

Also, Strava keeps track of both ride time and miles; they're displayed side-by-side and you can set goals based on either (Premium membership, obv), so it's peculiar to blame Strava for your focus on one instead of the other.

A coworker told me about it last summer. I went on one ride and deleted it. It doesn't provide anything a basic GPS watch won't in terms of data. It does connect you with a bunch of people trying to best you and vice versa. It also provides justification for the worst handlebar clutter since streamers. I called it a circle jerk and moved on.

I too have found myself in the minority on this.

I haven't had any trouble riding hard, improving, planning routes, and tracking elevation without it.

+1

Garmin Connect works fine, and I never get emails from them after a high wind day.

There are other websites you can use to track your cycling if you aren't interested in the social media aspect. I highly recommend Cycling Analytics - I prefer the UI to Strava. A lot of people like Golden Cheetah as well.

MapMyRide MVP account works well for me. It's not nearly as popular as Strava, which is fine by me. Linking to Facebook is optional. If I do have issues with MMR, it's usually my cheap smart phone and not the app itself.

Haha! Yeah, it is totally a circle jerk. And yes I definitely feel like an outsider since I don't run it.

My new strategy is to attack the sh*t out of my friends when they are trying for segment KOMs so they blow up. :p

I upload everything to Strava, but barely look at it.

I enjoy seeing where others in my area are riding. Very useful for finding new routes.

So you don't use Strava, but you still let it dictate how you ride?

Hmm.

Yeah, that's a bit of weird obsessiveness. It's like not being able to hook up with someone so you ****-block any of your friends that try to hook up with that person, too.

In addition to seeing what my friends are up to I track a few pros, e.g. Robert Gesink, who live and train in nice vacation spots like Girona. It's great for identifying all the good local rides. I used it to map out a couple weeks of rides this spring and they were all good with small roads and paths we'd have never found on our own. My rides post automatically so not a lot of effort.

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!

Those who don't like the social aspect of Strava might want to try a free subscription to Training Peaks.

Training Peaks is all business, no drama.


-Tim-

In my area at least, only the Cat 6 riders obsess about Strava. All the actual racers use it to keep in touch and share with teammates and friends. Maybe because they all already hold the KOMs!

Is there anyone else besides me who has never had an ounce of interest in Strava?

No, you are the one and only pure soul who is untainted by Strava.

I use the free version for routs and see how I compare to others in the area but I don't live on it or just die by the KOM's. I don't like the new social media part of it though. But I don't pay anything so its fine. It is nice to connect with friends on there. I have friends around the country so that is a fun aspect of it.

I have cycling friends all over the world. I like seeing their daily workout results on Strava. I also like the competitive nature of Segments but, as age slows me down, I may lose interest in that.