10/12/14 1:37 PM

So a local guy here, not me, is going around and using his end of season strength to take all the local KOMs. He will soft pedal out to the segment, hammer it (he is rail skinny and VERY strong) to take the KOM then soft pedal home. He admitted to me via Strava that is what he is doing.

I kinda think it is greedy and not cool. If a person takes a KOM by riding a solid ride the entire time it just seems more the spirit of the KOM competition. I have noted he is wind doping too. Waiting until the wind is right for the best speeds.

He will also go out of his way to hunt them all down, one at a time.

What do y'all think, is this outside the spirit of Strava?

10/12/14 3:01 PM

to get overly worked up over losing some random KOMs.

fwiw...all your points are indeed valid.

10/12/14 3:41 PM

Not worked up, just a discussion point.

Worked up was when he CALLED me about a guy who obviously used a moto to take some local KOMs. He was all up and PO'ed about it. Why I don't know, the guy on the moto took my KOMs. I just flagged the rides and Strava deleted them.

10/12/14 4:29 PM

I tend to agree with you, but unfortunatley there aren't any rules or ethics when it comes to Strava segments. I used to get a bit miffed about it as I thought a KoM done during an overall solid ride was a better achievement than targeting one specific segment and rolling home again.

But, as time goes on, have probably been guilty of that myself a couple of times but really lost some interest in the KoM's when half of them are done by A grade racers that are drafting in groups (mine are all solo) or when the Pros roll into town for the Tour Down Under and sweep up a heap of them so don't get so concerned about it any more.

Yes there is also wind drafting, have heard of dudes even wearing jackets on backwards to act like a sail, some people get a bit precious about it all I think and often the GPS is inaccurate enough that some KoM's that I lose I think might be a bit suspect, but don't usually flag them unless it is wildly obvious or that a moto was definitley used.

Strava segments have probably lost some of their meaning here too, as you know (Erik) from my rides, some of them have well over 150 segments or more where often on your rides there may only be a few so they probably hold more weight, if that makes sense.

I guess in the end I have just accepted that Strava is little more than a social game that has many flaws and a data collection tool if you like and treat it as such.

10/12/14 4:35 PM

quote:

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I guess in the end I have just accepted that Strava is little more than a social game ....

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10/12/14 5:38 PM

thanks for the idea... I maybe will start using Strava again...

joking aside, I agree with you.

10/12/14 5:56 PM

Take them back. Recruit a few pacers if needed. I have no doubt many KOMs are set this way as well as by KOM hunting. That's just the way Strava is.

10/12/14 6:29 PM

Everyone of mine except one I had in Charleston was done solo.

Funny thing, he is so strong he takes them all, solo. He just is right now, riding routes just to take the KOMs he does not have yet. Kinda like the ball hog in a basketball game.

In fact that is exactly how he makes me feel about it. Like a ball hog in a basketball game...

10/12/14 6:30 PM

Figure out a way to kick the ball over the fence. ;)

10/12/14 6:54 PM

yeah, delete all of my segments. I created over half of them...

10/12/14 7:04 PM

Get one of these I got today, Local caught Salmon. Cook it and eat it. You will forget all about that asshole. ;)

10/13/14 4:30 AM

I may slow cook a small hog I shot last week for homemade pulled pork. You have yours, I have mine.

Pics of the hog are not for public viewing.

10/13/14 5:33 AM

http://reviews.mtbr.com/the-angry-singlespeeder-why-strava-sucks.

10/13/14 9:19 AM

Technology and I have parted ways somewhat. I used a heart rate monitor for a few years until I could tell what my effort level was without looking at my heart rate.

I picked up a Fitbit, used it for a couple of weeks, and decided that I ran and bked enough that it didn't tell me anything I needed to know.

I have no interest in knowing how pathetic my power output numbers are.

I ride for pleasure - I speed up when I want to go faster and slow down when I want to go slower. I rarely look at my speedometer. I don't recall whether I have a cadence function . . .

10/13/14 9:30 AM

"I speed up when I want to go faster and slow down when I want to go slower."

I slow down when I try to go faster. ;)

"I rarely look at my speedometer."

Only use I have for a Speedo anymore is really when I take a turn on the front to make sure I stay a constant speed.

I found the entire Strava experience annoyed me for the most part.

My polar HRM had cadence until it quit again. So I am done, already bought two new cadence pickups once for two bikes and they worked for one season most. Just like Starva, I don't want to fuck with all that shit, I just want to roll...

This has been my best cycling year in over a decade.
HRM wise, I have had it on on my 4 hills rides recently. To my surprise I only went zone 4 once during climbs. Guess preemptive pace as a result of given readings proved valuable. Climbing with Elaine helps me a lot, as I back off pace to stay with her. It has helped me learn a little about my own pace better than the HRM has. Go slower to go faster etc.

10/13/14 9:35 AM

I go downhill when I want to go faster.

I'm usually going slow enough that there's no reason to go slower.

10/13/14 11:13 AM

I have to admit, I like getting KOMs. They are rare but I am fit enough to garner one every now and then.

I also the like the social aspect because I like to encourage friends who do well. I rarely get a chance a to ride with others so Strava lends the social aspects of group rides that I don't get very often.

I don't chase KOMs, If they happen they happen. I took a long time friend out with me today. He and I communicate via Strava and I knew he could hang these days from his data. That made the difference on the ride.

10/13/14 11:33 AM

"I knew he could hang these days from his data"

I ride with folks that "can't hang' with me often. But yet they can because I don't go out of my way to make the ride invitation a negative experience for them by pounding them into the ground. Especially the case with Elaine. Even on the Crater Lake climbs she came away with feeling accomplished.

Point being, when I ride with folks, I ride with them.

Just saying, not criticizing ya Erik.

10/13/14 3:47 PM

I do not (and will not) use Strava, but in 5 seconds I found this expression of the Holy Spirit of Strava:

http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/8-tips-for-getting-a-kom-on-strava/

10/13/14 5:06 PM

I can't get over the "look at me" aspect of Strava. Not a hater per se, but don't look at it or use it.

10/13/14 5:45 PM

@Sparky when I ride with my wife and kid of course I ride a pace that they can and will enjoy. With another competitive minded adult male, I ride my ride. I introduced him to the sport and took him out on his first rides. We rarely get to ride together and he would not have liked it if I soft pedaled on his behalf. Though I did when he could not ride hard anymore. He gave it his all, and when that was up, I took care of him. That is way rides should go. They make us stronger in mind and spirit.

Like you and Elaine, I go whatever Jeannie can ride and let her pick the pace. For one thing, "encouraging" your spouse can always have negative effects....


Dan the last 4 on the list are cheating in my book.

10/13/14 7:13 PM

quote:

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I rarely look at my speedometer.

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10/14/14 6:38 AM

Put me in the anti Strava camp as well much for the reason that Greg mentioned.
I'm actually a numbers geek and use a power meter on all of my rides, but Strava just never appealed to me and after reading this thread it appeals to me even less.

10/14/14 7:55 AM

quote:

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I can't get over the "look at me" aspect of Strava.

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quote:

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If a person takes a KOM by riding a solid ride the entire time it just seems more the spirit of the KOM competition.

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quote:

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is this outside the spirit of Strava?

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10/14/14 10:17 AM

April, don't get me started. We have a could-be great group ride that has two main flaws- 1) a guy or two that sit mid pack the entire ride, but then have to sprint to the coffee shop to get there "first" every time we go out and 2) guys that turn the second half into a race...

Why not race? The point of a "group" ride is to ride as a , well, group. Races exist. Strava KOM's are even more weenieish, for the reasons set forth upthread. If folks race a hill on a given day, together, the strongest guy wins. KOM's are pointless. As are guys that "need" a certain avg speed at the end of a ride, or worse, guys that will ride around the block or lot at the end of 48 mile ride because they "need 50 today".

As I get older, the more of a grumpy old man I become.