Strava thread (for users of)
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Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Out early this morning and nabbed a second in London, on City Rd running up towards Angel. Only a second off the KOM too, and I was really aiming for another of the (many) segments further along, so could have done better if I'd targeted it and started speeding up sooner. The longer segments along that stretch aren't that fast, I'm guessing most riders have to contend with traffic, at 8am on a Sunday it was pretty sparse with a slight tailwind. I'll have to give it another go next time I'm down.
plurker
tú no tienes la culpa mi amor que el mundo sea feo
Yep, a lot of my KOMs are when I've been running shows, so I'm riding at 10.30pm or so, less traffic and the light-phasing changes...
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Wanted to make a segment for the top half of Canal Rd, was stuck thinking up a name up for it:
Strava Segment | Cameron did a pig in the face
(Should probably go in the 'informal anarchist action' thread)
Strava Segment | Cameron did a pig in the face
(Should probably go in the 'informal anarchist action' thread)
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Bagged a fifth place on Kingsland Road today. Probably because I have 19 more gears and a more aero beard than most of the opposition 
Also got my first London KOM, on a poxy residential street in Woodford Green. Out of 37, so nothing to shout about, but it's inside the M25 so still counts. There's some low-hanging fruit out that way so I may be back. Did a ride out to Epping, good to cut loose a bit as there's fuck all opportunities living in the centre of town.
Also got my first London KOM, on a poxy residential street in Woodford Green. Out of 37, so nothing to shout about, but it's inside the M25 so still counts. There's some low-hanging fruit out that way so I may be back. Did a ride out to Epping, good to cut loose a bit as there's fuck all opportunities living in the centre of town.
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rubbershoes
not the only raver in the village
What are these traffic lights of which you speak?
None of my routes have any lights, but I do often have to slow for horses, the hay-munching bastards
DownwardDog
Riding a Brompton with a power meter.
I've got Strava Live working on the Edge 1000 I have on my new Focus Izalco. It's next level shit. It counts you down into the segment and then tells you how far ahead/behind your PR you are as you ride. Highly recommended.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Can you run that on the iPhone version DownwardDog ? I'm thinking of paying for the subscription Strava in the new year. I might also flog my Garmin Touring since I've used it about twice and it's crashed both times.
DownwardDog
Riding a Brompton with a power meter.
According to the website Strava Live will work on the iPhone app. Obviously the iPhone doesn't have ANT+ and therefore can't display power, cadence or HR so it's pretty useless as a head unit.
Even with the Edge 1000 it's still a bit of a bodge as it has to be Bluetoothed to the phone to get Internet connectivity. Garmin should just bring out an Edge that will take a SIM and that would be the perfect solution.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
A bit of pre-dawn raiding got me my first London KOM on Sunday, in fact I managed four, but one was shared/equalled and another was a flagged segment (was it bollocks 'dangerous'), which means I only get two on my total. My target of 100 before the end of the year looks very unlikely (currently on 88), mainly as I had to leave the fast bike in London for a couple of weeks last month (in that period where we got some decent wind too).
I'm finding in London that there's faster times on little residential roads, where people have pelted along over the speedbumps at 30mph+, yet on the main roads you'll see KOMs often around 24-25mph because the lights and traffic fuck it up for people.
I'm finding in London that there's faster times on little residential roads, where people have pelted along over the speedbumps at 30mph+, yet on the main roads you'll see KOMs often around 24-25mph because the lights and traffic fuck it up for people.
Take care with security settings - Don't want to end up like this poor fellow.
How thieves could be using the Strava app to target cyclists
How thieves could be using the Strava app to target cyclists
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Don't keep your bike in a garage is probably more sensible advice. Also don't list brand/model of bike in the equipment bit of Strava - I just have mine listed by colour ('silver bike', 'brown bike').
There have been a lot of thefts of road bikes in Leeds recently, but no idea if it's targeted. Professional cunts with a van.
There have been a lot of thefts of road bikes in Leeds recently, but no idea if it's targeted. Professional cunts with a van.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
A bit of hard work over the last few days has got me up to 95 KOMs (though the 1st out of 3 was scraping the barrel a bit). Quieter roads are helping. I'll be over at my folks in Bristol in a few days and will have my bike with me, I've already started scoping out potential crowns on Segment Explorer. The 100 target could still just about be reached before the year is out. I might have to include the 'dangerous' KOM in the total to claim it on a technicality (it doesn't show up on my profile).
I've also taken up the 30 day premium subscription trial, anyone know how to get live segments working on an iPhone? I've turned it on but seen no notifications.
I've also taken up the 30 day premium subscription trial, anyone know how to get live segments working on an iPhone? I've turned it on but seen no notifications.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
So I've managed to get my new £6.99 Aldi bluetooth HRM to speak to Strava and record my heart rate on rides. I now get more numbers - how do I know what any of them mean, how do I go about setting up 'zones'? I've had a google but mostly finding stuff about setting up the connection via bluetooth, which I've already managed.
(while I'm here: I've got my KOM total up to 139 now, on my annual target of getting 100 'good' KOMs (ridden by at least 100 people) I'm up to 91 already, taken advantage of some good wind in the last few weeks!)
(while I'm here: I've got my KOM total up to 139 now, on my annual target of getting 100 'good' KOMs (ridden by at least 100 people) I'm up to 91 already, taken advantage of some good wind in the last few weeks!)
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Squeezed out three more short suburban KOMs on my commute this morning, 2016 goal now met (100/100). Might have a crack at another good one at lunchtime while the wind is going the right way, then I'm putting my fucking feet up for a few days.
I've lost several KOMs over the last couple of weeks as people are getting their summer bikes out again, but have been gaining them at a fast enough rate that it hasn't mattered. Stupid game, but I'm sure breaking up my commute with a few sharp sprints or hill slogs is probably good for me.
I've lost several KOMs over the last couple of weeks as people are getting their summer bikes out again, but have been gaining them at a fast enough rate that it hasn't mattered. Stupid game, but I'm sure breaking up my commute with a few sharp sprints or hill slogs is probably good for me.
Virtual Blue
ready
Ran Strava (non-premium) alongside my trusty Garmin Forerunner and was disappointed to see how inaccurate it was.
I suppose it's only just a bit of fun.
I suppose it's only just a bit of fun.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
My midnight London rides are paying dividends (and making up for KOMs I'm losing back in Leeds). Picked up five last night which brings me up to 214. Felt at a bit of a loose end when I hit 200 (my target for this year) but then decided I should also try and get fifty segments where I've beaten 1000 or more other riders which I think I've now hit. Onwards to 250 before the end of the year.
It all feeds the aspergersy bit of my brain, doesn't always feel like fun as you bounce over speedbumps on residential streets at midnight. I need to go out for some proper rides.
It all feeds the aspergersy bit of my brain, doesn't always feel like fun as you bounce over speedbumps on residential streets at midnight. I need to go out for some proper rides.
plurker
tú no tienes la culpa mi amor que el mundo sea feo
I am nailing it on Blackfriars Bridge southbound at the moment; #25 overall, but coming in the top 5 every evening.
I reckon it's cause since they put the bike lanes in on the opposite side of the road, most people use those instead of the lane, and therefore everyone else is going slower than normal
I hate that southbound bike lane, you're riding directly into the traffic, and I find myself dazzled by oncoming cars, so don't feel safe riding in it at all. Might be bette rin the summer when it's light of an evneing, I hope.
I reckon it's cause since they put the bike lanes in on the opposite side of the road, most people use those instead of the lane, and therefore everyone else is going slower than normal
I hate that southbound bike lane, you're riding directly into the traffic, and I find myself dazzled by oncoming cars, so don't feel safe riding in it at all. Might be bette rin the summer when it's light of an evneing, I hope.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
I'm a mere 1832nd on that segment, nine seconds behind you, though I've tended to use the bike lane recently.
Someone took a KOM off me on Caledonian Rd yesterday, so I went out at midnight with a half decent wind up my arse and beat their new record by five seconds, despite having to slalom round a car that pulled out on me just before the end. Got another KOM for my trouble too, since I kept a reasonable speed on up past the prison and it turned out there was an overlapping one going up that far. I've done fuck all so far this year, 4 KOMs, but only a net gain of 1 since I've lost a few back in Yorkshire. Hiding from the rain and getting fat.
Targets for the year are to get 100 KOMs where at least 1000 people have ridden on the segment (currently have 70 ish), and to try and reach a total of 400 KOMs by my birthday at the end of April (which looks unlikely given the crap start), and maybe 500 for the end of the year. It's getting more difficult as I'm running out of easy ones locally. It's a fun game though.
Someone took a KOM off me on Caledonian Rd yesterday, so I went out at midnight with a half decent wind up my arse and beat their new record by five seconds, despite having to slalom round a car that pulled out on me just before the end. Got another KOM for my trouble too, since I kept a reasonable speed on up past the prison and it turned out there was an overlapping one going up that far. I've done fuck all so far this year, 4 KOMs, but only a net gain of 1 since I've lost a few back in Yorkshire. Hiding from the rain and getting fat.
Targets for the year are to get 100 KOMs where at least 1000 people have ridden on the segment (currently have 70 ish), and to try and reach a total of 400 KOMs by my birthday at the end of April (which looks unlikely given the crap start), and maybe 500 for the end of the year. It's getting more difficult as I'm running out of easy ones locally. It's a fun game though.
weepiper
I fix the machines that fight climate change
QOM this morning5th of 439 (women) on a short climb segment on my way to work this morning. 5 seconds needed to take the QOM
Now, only 109 more men to beat...
DownwardDog
Riding a Brompton with a power meter.
KoMs are serious business here in Australia. People have taken to spray painting markings on the road to indicate segment starts and finishes to aid themselves.
You really have to be in the 5 watts/kg club to get any decent KoMs round here.
You really have to be in the 5 watts/kg club to get any decent KoMs round here.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
The club I was in up in Leeds had a weekly segment competition, and people would do things like record their attempt on both a phone and a Garmin so they could choose the best time out of the two devices. You can also do something where you crop a ride right to the start of a segment and it can improve the time, although the competition organisers got wize to that one (I've noticed it elsewhere on a few KOMs where people have obviously done this).
On KOMs I have, Strava has generally estimated my wattage to be about 450, sometimes higher if I've done it with a decent wind assist. Don't know how they work it out, and I've never had a power meter to compare this estimate. I'm somewhere a little north of 75kg at the moment (more north than I'd like to be, but I've not burnt off the Christmas overindulgence yet). I was below 70 a couple of years ago, but that was following surgery and I think a lot of the gain since has been muscle.
On KOMs I have, Strava has generally estimated my wattage to be about 450, sometimes higher if I've done it with a decent wind assist. Don't know how they work it out, and I've never had a power meter to compare this estimate. I'm somewhere a little north of 75kg at the moment (more north than I'd like to be, but I've not burnt off the Christmas overindulgence yet). I was below 70 a couple of years ago, but that was following surgery and I think a lot of the gain since has been muscle.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Completed this in the early hours of yesterday morning, tearing along a route near Old St.
Up to 349 now, should make it. I'm missing the good front wheel over the last week, which is still in the shop looking a bit like a Möbius strip, having the spoke nuts soaked in the hope they become adjustable again. I've had eleven second places and six matched KOMs (which don't count) in the last week, including one hill climb where I've matched the KOM four times, just waiting for the lucky GPS drift, but having a couple of hundred less grammes spinning round on the front would probably help.
(This has been partly compensated by having functioning brakes again so I don't have to roll off the speed as early before junctions)
