14 replies to this topic

[ajcjfb]

Curious if your group ride is suffering from Strava Syndrome.  Symptoms include a diminished sense of flow and camaraderie replaced by a wacky series of random lead outs and elbow dancing at every slight crest and city limit sign.  Just a fad or a great tool for making training a bit more interesting?

[Chris_N]

STRAVA will help you set a "new PR!"

Edited by Chris_N, 17 July 2012 - 10:12 AM.

[ajcjfb]

That's worse than getting RickRoll'd

[cgilker]

I think the answer is yes. Unless your group ride's "culture" or values were already instituionalized (Knucklehead ride, for example), many group rides have become exactly that. Strong riders start at the back of a hill (a Strava KOM segment, of course), follow a series of wheels, then sprint for the line. Which leads to many attacks, which makes the ride sketchier, more dangerous, etc.

And, sure, some riders are looking for that added competitiveness in their rides. But the idea of a group ride (as I still think of them) is morphing into a group race.

[Mark EWERS]

Ever been out riding and see someone idling at the bottom of a hill in prep for a KOM attempt? I saw it last week, a lone rider. The way he attacked that hill, it sure wasn't hill repeats.

[billh]

sounds like fun . . . is there a Marshall Hill Strava?

ps--looks like there is, and I recognize the current leader . . . !

http://app.strava.com/segments/685646

Edited by billh, 17 July 2012 - 12:56 PM.

[Dave F]

I was on a leisurely tour of South County/Mehlville/Oakville about a week ago.  Had Strava on tracking my stats since MapMyRide has been sketchy lately.  Got home, put the bike away and didn't think anything more about it.

Then Sunday I got an email that somebody had taken my KOM title for Lemay Ferry climb from Mattis Road to Butler Hill Road, which prior to that I didn't even know existed as a segment for anyone.  121 feet climb over .7 mile - HC for sure lol.

The people at Strava are geniuses though - I keep thinking about going out to recapture my "crown".

http://www.strava.co...-ascent-1736772

[thefutureofamerica]

I don't think it's Strava's fault... with or without an app for it, there will always be sections of group rides that those who are part of the group from week to week know as 'sprint points'. They're often uncontested from October to January, but in July, they're definitely on.

[nomoretickets]

Is there a Strava segment for Penrose turn 3? :-P

[rockhound]

Some people have too much time on their hands.

(null)

[ssalmons]

billh, on 17 July 2012 - 12:50 PM, said:

sounds like fun . . . is there a Marshall Hill Strava?

ps--looks like there is, and I recognize the current leader . . . !

http://app.strava.com/segments/685646

The only way I'm climbing that hill at 15 mi/hr is being towed behind something with an engine.

[billh]

ssalmons, on 18 July 2012 - 11:16 AM, said:

billh, on 17 July 2012 - 12:50 PM, said:

sounds like fun . . . is there a Marshall Hill Strava?

ps--looks like there is, and I recognize the current leader . . . !

http://app.strava.com/segments/685646

The only way I'm climbing that hill at 15 mi/hr is being towed behind something with an engine.

I was trying to find the old thread on self-report times up Marshall hill, but I remember Dan Schmatz did a 2:30-something . . . !

[robertm]

ajcjfb, on 17 July 2012 - 09:43 AM, said:

Curious if your group ride is suffering from Strava Syndrome.  Symptoms include a diminished sense of flow and camaraderie replaced by a wacky series of random lead outs and elbow dancing at every slight crest and city limit sign.  Just a fad or a great tool for making training a bit more interesting?

It was happening long before Strava.  I don't know a single person who can actually ride in a paceline correctly who isn't a master racer.

[klages]

Chris F has the 12th fastest time up Marshall?  I would have thought Mr Froome could do better than that after seeing how he toyed with his own teammate, Mr Wiggins, at Peyragudas

Edited by klages, 23 July 2012 - 11:34 AM.

[nomoretickets]

klages, on 23 July 2012 - 11:33 AM, said:

Chris F has the 12th fastest time up Marshall?  I would have thought Mr Froome could do better than that after seeing how he toyed with his own teammate, Mr Wiggins, at Peyragudas

he rode this climb on a penny farthing