I'm currently wondering if recording ride stats actually adds anything or if it's an added and unnecessary faff. Has anyone else given it up ?
Deleted my account ages ago. Mind you, I stopped riding ages ago too. Hopefully the 2 people who gained KOMs appreciated my gesture 😉
I have various reasons for recording mine, but then I also record my running, walking, paddling, swimming etc. It all goes on Garmin Connect which automatically feeds Strava. It's really not much of a faff. TBH I'd drop the Strava bit if some of the add-ons I use (e.g. VeloViewer) didn't require it as a data source.
Yes, but the same as Colin, it's linked through Garmin connect so I don't really need to do anything.
I long ago gave up trying for KOMs or even PBs. It is however a great resource for looking back at rides, routes etc, getting ideas for new rides, associating photos with rides plus the features such as mapping, popularity heatmap and automatic route generation are brilliant.
Best site by a mile for route planning.
I used to. Competing against myself on local trails that I've ridden many times made them more fun for a while. I ended up getting a bit too into it though, it got to a point where I'd have an enjoyable ride, get home, check strava, find that I hadn't beaten any of my times and feel deflated. Ended up deleting it.
It did teach me some lessons though. When I concentrated on trying to ride smoothly I was fast. When I tried to ride fast I wasn't.
Writing this has reminded me of a quote but I can't remember the source. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
No faff for me as Strava is linked to my Garmin connect so everything automatically uploads
I only really use it to log my daily mileage and to see how i do on big rides
According to strava ive currently done 41'000 miles in the last 10 & half years, so roughly 4000 miles a year
I like it for keeping a track on my level of activity and use it for road, gravel, MTB, Wattbike, swimming, yoga and bigger than regular walks.
I have all the smart stuff, segments, notifications etc switched off as I found them to be an unwelcome distraction.
My Garmins on the bikes, my Garmin instinct and my Apple Watch all load directly into it, as does the Wattbike, so it all just appears !
Used to care about data and KOMs. But a couple of years ago I sacked it off completely. I decided I needed less tech in my life and the last place I want tech is on a bike. So all gone. Nothing recorded at all now.
No faff as Wahoo automatically uploads after each ride. If it motivates you to ride further or more often, then it's worth a bit a faff. I went to the free membership last year, and rode quite a bit less (job role change also affected it as I'm now on my feet all day outside so not cooped up in an office). So I'm now paid up again and it helps me get out.
I stopped with the pandemic and never went back for running or cycling. I used my Garmin when training for the SDW in a day but generally I don't record anything anymore. If I'm not trying to achieve a particular thing then I have no interest in what it tells me.
i user it to make sure im getting enough riding in, especially over winter
also useful for tracking when forks need servicing etc
My Strava feed defaults to Private but I'll occasionally make runs and rides visible to Followers. That's more for sharing routes and photos.
If I’m not trying to achieve a particular thing then I have no interest in what it tells me.
Yeah, I've reached an age when I have to concentrate a bit harder on getting - and staying - fit whether I've an "event" planned or not, so I tend to record it all anyway.
Find it useful for finding new rides which someone in my various clubs complete.
Mind you the irritating reminder telling me I'm no longer a local legend makes my blood boil. Don't have much in life but that's one of them.
Yep
Generally to compare my rides with myself, but there is the competetive edge when a few are out together. I find rides are more fun when NOT chasing trophies though
22 KOM's, 116 top 10's 😉
A lot are ebike though, so how much merit they hold is probably contentious. I'll take the DH ones, the rest have too many variables (and I'm deristricted)
I record all my activities on Strava though, not just bike - to see how active I've been over a month/year
I do Polar that is basically just for a diary more than anything. That syncs over to Strava only cos none of those I ride or ski with have access to Polar. I could delete the account entirely (again).
The only faff is pressing the start button on the watch. And a long press of the stop button when I finish.
I like it for a record, to guage fitness, and to see what mates and the odd pro are doing. Nice to see what colleagues who live abroad are riding too #cyclingstillthenewgolf. Not interested in koms, up or down.
I really like Strava. It’s just my favourite social media.
I loved seeing where friends are and what they are doing. No moans or politics.
I’m a geek and love all the numbers. Height gained etc.
Plus it’s a useful planning tool
I do some mild target setting but that would easily be done with a note book
Oh yes, and for Timmy Mallet
Mind you the irritating reminder telling me I’m no longer a local legend makes my blood boil.
I have most of the notifications turned off, I only get them for my own ride uploads and comments/kudos on them.
I am faster than a mate on all segments but he is faster than me on the full trail.....Did he juice????
I think its Shite 🙂
Nope.
Never have never will.
I have no need to compare myself to anyone else and don't think it would help me.
I gave up racing years ago and if I ever felt the need to measure my self against others would return to that.
I do however record my rides on a Garmin so I can keep track of if I'm being a lazy slacker/doing a bit much/when stuff needs servicing.
Riding with some of the faster none pros in the area I live in and seeing all the pros that also live here tells me that I don't need any more sticks to beat myself with.
I use the free one and almost all my stuff is set to Followers...vast majority of the stuff it offers I get free from Garmin and I'm invested in that. I don't route plan - other than checking a map and having a general idea of where I'm going.
I do tend to use it to Kudos friends stuff though, so although I don't use it really myself, as a social nosey tool, it is useful!
Yep, but only the free version to use for personal reference and to see where mates have been riding TBH, not fussed for KOM's/segment times ect
Oh yes, and for Timmy Mallet
Same here! Love that man.
Yes
Yep I record all my runs, rides, hikes, gym sessions on my watch which auto syncs to Strava. I enjoy keeping a log of my training and being able to look back at it.
I check the app regularly and like to give support to friends sharing their activity when they are grinding away towards a goal.
Everything I upload is private but if I've got photos or been somewhere interesting I make visible to friends. Group activities (races, social rides) I set to public so the people I've met there can find me.
I find the KOM element cringe and I think the app would be better without them.
Nope.
Never have never will.
I have no need to compare myself to anyone else and don’t think it would help me.I gave up racing years ago and if I ever felt the need to measure my self against others would return to that.
I'm glad you're not on it. I'd be sick of seeing the riding you're doing when I'm stuck in work!
It's only a tool for comparing yourself to others if that is what you want from it. You'll get the odd local tosser who thinks he's a legend because he's got a couple of KOMs on trails with 30 riders or from when a now destroyed trail was in perfect condition, but anyone who has ever tried riding with properly good riders know where they stack up in the grand scheme of things.
Yep. Was a free member for many years, but decided to start paying a couple of years ago.
I find the general metrics and info useful, route planning is great, and the heatmaps are great for finding new trails.
I find KOMs something of a poisoned chalice. I like racing myself to beat previous times, and I'm (slightly) proud of some of my better KOMs 😁
Nice to see, and give encouragement, to mates too.
I’m using it as a training log and a bit of social media. I don’t chase KOMs or bother to look at them. Zwift links seamlessly, as does Garmin. I like to register my walks too. Normally with Henry. And add a nice photo or two. No point in social media without something to look at.
I’m a paying member. Like here, if you’re not paying, hit the product.
anyone who has ever tried riding with properly good riders know where they stack up in the grand scheme of things.
😂 Tell me about it.
I thought I was a competent rider until I moved here.
It's tough when your new riding mates are mostly earning a living from riding bikes/reviewing bike stuff /tuning suspension and all around 20 years younger.
I’d be sick of seeing the riding you’re doing when I’m stuck in work!
I'll start sending you more pics to wind you up then.😁
Does deleting strava even count if you don’t tell everyone you’ve deleted strava…
No. Next question.
“I really like Strava. It’s just my favourite social media.
I loved seeing where friends are and what they are doing. No moans or politics.
I’m a geek and love all the numbers. Height gained etc.
Plus it’s a useful planning tool
I do some mild target setting but that would easily be done with a note book”
+1 for this, I’ve used it since 2013 and been naming rides since about 2015 and it’s great to look back through, with the rides named I can remember pretty much all of them, and so many great pictures, to look back on.
Yup. Found all sorts of "secret" trails thru Strava.
I mostly use it so I can remember where I've ridden!
That’s another good point above. Whenever I want to ride a random area/country, I search Strava segments and look for the steepest and longest downhills, then filter the top 10 by week or month and you’ll find some good rides.
As others, I jus use it to record my rides and have used in for 10+ years but always the free version as when trying the full version on a free trial I got nothing from it that I needed which is basically start Strava on Phone, put phone in pocket, stop and upload when I get back home. I would take my phone anyway so not much hassle to record the ride and get a nice 10+ year record.
I used to go for KOMs years ago when I was relatively fast on gravel roads but now those bastard people who are actually fast (road riders on gravel bikes) are using the same routes I can wave goodbye to any chance of even getting in top 100.
The free fatmap OS map access is really useful. Well worth it for that alone now that VR has gone away.
I've never used it. Which seems odd now as pretty much everyone does/has. I'm just not into logging rides beyond what the GPS does for routing and measuring time + pace, and I have low GAS levels for much digital faff creeping into riding or the social media aspect of things like that.
Plus, my pace up the local hills compared to the average Cat 1/2 roadie... I'd rather feel fast in ignorance on a solo ride than know I'm slow via facts!
Exactly as Mr Salmon (and a few others) says. It, linked with a HRM, also helped enormously when I was recovering from an op and subsequent ups and downs.
Strava is many things for different people.
It acts as a journal.
I do a bit of vague days analysis - hours, power, cadence.
I do lots of sports and it's a good place to record it all
I often plan routes on it, that auto transfer to my Garmins. The heat maps are useful for sealing out stuff that does not necessarily look possible on a map.
I keep it all private by default. I'll post stuff public if it might be interesting.
I use it to have a little insight into the activities of friends - kayaks, runners, cyclists. Across 4 continents.
I never ever look at KOMs. Well that's not true - my near neighbour has 3 full pages of them which is incredible to look at but other than than, not interested in the slightest. I don't know where I am on them (probably no where as most of my rides are private) but I do look at and compare my own times on certain segments from time to time.
My 4 pet strava hates :-
People who fill my feed with nonsense like a 1km walk to the shop. Most get the boot, but a few have stayed as they do interesting stuff every now and again.
Strava's teeth ichingly shite new automatic bot generated kudos every time an activity is loaded. I'm not a American with a ego to flatter - **** off with this shit.
I wish custom personal goals were easier to create ( number of paddles a month, a goal based on power maybe).
And lastly - I make the odd route I've planned available and public. Millions of us do. So why does Strava not make them more easily searchable? It feels like a missed opportunity.
I use it to log rides, distance or time over the week/month and to look at how sections compare to last time i rode them to guage if i really do feel rubbish or if i was just riding a harder gear.
I dont like the competitive side that it brings out in some, as i think it can be detrimental to relationships with other trail users, but i guess there have always been those who liked to use trails as their own racetrack.
Yep but it’s mostly just social, keep in touch with a few folk I don’t ride with that often and it’s nice to see what everyone’s up to.
Have a crack at the odd KoM now and then but tbh not really too fussed about them.
All my geeky stuff is done through TrainingPeaks/WKO so don’t really use it for any of that.
I decided the premium wasn't worth it, and the free version is so pared back now that you can't even see how you fared alongside you mates, or that day, only all time, which rarely applies to me. It may be sad and mean nothing, but if I get a trophy on a decent segment, it feels good and bolsters confidence that I'm doing something right!
I like to see what friends are doing, especially with pictures.
I use it as a data source for TrainerRoad's calendar but have it set to private by default. I joined strava quite early on and was really motivated by leaderboards, recording big distances etc - I definitely think it got me doing stuff I wouldn't have otherwise done. I also used to get a lot of social value from it. Round about the pandemic I realised it was becoming just a FOMO generator for me so basically stopped looking for mental health reasons. I'm really grateful for the enjoyment I've taken from it but I don't miss it.
Yep, love it. Bar this place it’s the only social media I use.
I use it to see what others are up to, to compare my efforts and to plan routes.
It’s not about comparing yourself to others unless you want it to be.
I find it’s a really positive place with loads of people congratulating each other rather the telling others how good they are.
I think it’s great. I find all sorts of trails/tracks on it which I would never find unless riding with someone to show me. I often steal someone’s route using save route which is a great feature. I use the segment rides for that day to see if a trail is running well or washed out. I also use the segment times for the year to figure out if a trail is blocked by trees etc, checking the times for the segment gives me an idea if it’s cycled or hike a bike.
I also like to see what others are doing/a social nosey parker.
What I don’t like is some off road routes are difficult to map out. I sometimes have to put it in manual mode to get the route through certain sections. Mostly the route builder is pretty good though.
Comparing your efforts with others is only a small part of it.
Nope, never. But I’m not training for anything, just out enjoying myself. Really don’t care how fast or far I’ve gone. Getting lost is part of the fun and finding new (to me) routes is good. So rides not recorded, navigation if needed by map.
Yep, just the free version for last year, still gives basic power meter data (something I was never sure of in past).
Mainly to import turbo rides usually from Zwift (but odd session from MyWhoosh etc.), create a log of any outdoor rides I do which have been less frequent and far less noteworthy over the past 18 months since long covid, plus then send everything to https://www.intervals.icu/ for a bit of data-tastic analysis.
I am, and pay for it annually. Is it worth it, possibly!!
I do like to record my rides and compare against myself. I'm not fast enough downhill to compete against the enduro lads and mostly ride road solo, so again, won't be troubling any road KOM's either.
I do like the heatmaps for mtb'ing and the route planner.
Yeah I really like it. Its cool to see what other people and my mates are doing in terms of riding and can motivate me to get out.
Also it's useful as a basic training tool to keep a check on volume and I find the personal heatmap feature is good for motivating me to take my bike with me when going away somewhere, as I like adding more bits to the map.
I find the segments useful in terms of trying to beat myself and checking my own performance but they stopped being useful/relevant in the context of other people ages ago as I'm just not fast enough to ever really be in the top 15% and probably never will be now.
I use intervals.icu now for training related stats.
It was a fairly petty thing that led me to not renew the Strava subscription (well, apart from the price increase…) and that was the fact that it appeared unable to accept that people do easy rides.
No, Strava, this wasn’t a “weaker effort than usual”. While I don’t want it to be the riding equivalent of sports day at St Barnabas’, it’s too much of a blunt instrument.
I love seeing my friends rides and photos. And I get to give them a thumbs up for it. I hope they do the same for me.
elevation and distance are the only stats I care about. I could obviously see mine without uploading to the internet.
I do occasionally get the “this looks like an e-bike ride would you like to change it “ which makes me feel good.
I just use the free version, KOMs and leader boards don't interest me, it's a nice, easy way to keep a ride diary, tag on photos, etc.
I do like to see if I'm making progress on occasion by scoring the odd PR. Seeing what friends have been up to and give them 'kudos' is actually a nicer version of social media too IMO.
I do plug it into veloviewer as well for the analysis bit, mostly to try and understand how I'm doing physically, mostly looking at HR rate on climbs, it's far cheaper than a Strava subscription for similar tools.
I have started Zwifting now unfortunately, again more as a personal training tool, not too concerned about the racing, it does appear to have become a whole very serious aspect of pretend cycling, I just don't like getting cold and wet too often. I keep my zwift uploads private on Strava though.
Yes, use it, but I used to record all my rides and runs anyway, so using Strava save me having to do that. The ability to look at a run I did 20 years ago is good, but is also bit depressing.
Really enjoyed using it but just cancelled as ive been a member since 2014 and things are getting tight at the moment.
For me it's not really about how quick/slow you are, there's more to it than that.
If you're training for anything there are far better apps available (Intervals.icu, TP, WKO, GC etc)
I haven't ridden much in the last few years but am starting to do so again, and can't decide what to do - I did have a stem top cap mount for the little garmin edge 25 I have but I've taken it off as I don't really need or want to look at it while riding for stats, and these days my rides are more about fun, not speed. I do find it handy to be able to quickly check the time/overall distance though so I can get home roughly when I planned to etc. And it's nice to see what you've done in a month, so I think the best solution for me is probably a minimal garmin watch. As everyone else has said, garmin app is linked to strava so it all ends up there automatically!
Chucked it in a few years back. I used to live in a honey spot, and stuff like Strava makes a difference (along with YouTube, it's not entirely Strava's fault) in those places. Folks obviously use it to find trails. You ride a nice out-of-the-way spot one week, then go back say a fortnight later, and the thing's 20 ft wide, there's litter all over the place and the corners have been blurred or demolished or in one case - a tree branch cut to make the entrance a bit straighter.
Plus the whole KOM thing was messing with my riding, again in a honey spot, you get used to going from 889 place to the dizzy heights of 878 place if you really nail it, but still each ride, and each section was becoming this massive thing in my head that I had to ride perfectly otherwise...So binned it
I still use Garmin to journal my riding, and it gives me more stats than I could possibly need, but without contributing to overuse, or being mentally exhausting.
Use to pay for it until they put the price up then went to the free version. I just use it to log miles as Zwift and my watch automatically upload to it. Don't give a toss on the other stuff.
There must be some really sad ****s on it though. I was surprised I got a KoM up a local hill that I use to run up and the following day the person who had the record went out and got it back. I thought if you're that desperate for it you can keep the KoM.
Stop ? No. I never started in the 1st place.
In terms of not paying for Strava, I believe that part of my VeloViewer subscription actually goes to Strava as a sort of access/licencing fee. I've suggested to VV that, like intervals.icu, they consider using a feed direct from Garmin Connect too.
I do, and I use it for all sorts of reasons. I don't pay for it - I get everything I want from the free version.
- It's good for researching routes, particularly some munros. If a few people have ridden it, it might go. If no one has, I need to take more care.
- I race, so being able to see if I'm going faster than I used to and faster than others is really helpful.
- I like to see how far I've gone in a year. It also helps me reach some targets I have for distance and elevation each week to keep me fit enough to race.
- It's nice to get a top ten or a KOM. Validation that the training is working or the skills are improving.
- Some of my friends do some interesting things and record them with Strava and it's nice to see what they're up to. (Mind you, some of them only seem to ride bicycles indoors and haven't set their rides to default to private. They can get bent. No one cares about your Zwift ride.)
I think if you aren't training or racing, or you aren't fast, it doesn't do anything that thousands of other apps don't. Certainly, if I were just riding normally with no aim to improve and I were constantly getting 850th place I'd not use it.
My 4 pet strava hates :-
People who fill my feed with nonsense like a 1km walk to the shop. Most get the boot, but a few have stayed as they do interesting stuff every now and again.
Strava’s teeth ichingly shite new automatic bot generated kudos every time an activity is loaded. I’m not a American with a ego to flatter – **** off with this shit.
My assumption is that these are people that have their watches set to auto recognise activity rather than deliberately recording their shopping? I could be wrong but I cut some slack based on that assumption
I wasn't aware of auto kudos but would make sense. A guy I've not seen for years gives me kudos on everything, I thought he must get notifications when a friend uploads activity or something
No one cares about your Zwift ride
The way Zwift rides appear is one of my pet peeves. Why bother providing a map and a photo? All virtual activities should updload the same as a treadmill workout - time, distance, pace. no photo, no map.
I wasn’t aware of auto kudos but would make sense. A guy I’ve not seen for years gives me kudos on everything, I thought he must get notifications when a friend uploads activity or something
No - it's actual Strava that's now gives you the shite 'kudos'. For example, yesterday Strava gave me "Wow! Nice work, Convert" for a 2metre paddle in the garage. I'd manage to have some finger trouble on my fenix and started and stopped an activity that wasn't and it uploaded before I could stop it.
Re people publicing everything - To be fair you are right - some of it will be people recording everything active beyond an accidental fart (maybe even those) and Strava's moronic default preferences meaning we all need to know about it. I'd far rather everyone had everything private and it stayed that way unless you were motivated to do something about it. I suppose the petty response would be to fill their feed with patronizing kudos and "awesome work - go you walking to buy you KFC" comments on every single one of their mundane posted activities until they learn to sort their settings out.
And zwift should have to remain private by LAW.
I just use the free one, being type 2 diabetic who controls it un-medicated with diet and exercise, i belong to a few T2 groups, and we tend to gee each other on all over the world which is cool.. met a few people via it too and ridden in spain with a gent who is T2 via it.
It's good in that it holds me accountable, I try to do 10,000km a year, so Wahoo uploads directly to it.
I also find that as a group of friends, some use Wahoo, some Garmin etc, so a good way to store MTB and gravel routes we have all compiled and shared within the group, and share gpx from there.
But never been one for segments, KOM etc, and hate the "local legend" bit, of course i am, i live i a village of 30 houses with 2 gravel paths put!
i Strava. and i enjoy keeping a log of my miles, and where i have been. and photos i have taken on the rides.
it kind of helps as you get older. memory-wise
I use strava...
- Use it as a journal of where ive been
- Use it to find other trails/routes
- As other have said, nice to get the occasional trophy knowing the training is still working (i race too)
- Repository for the rideout photos
- See what my mates are doing and what theyre upto/where been
- Use Strava Beacon so Mrs SSS knows where i am if i have an accident, or if we are both out on the trails, but not together (doing different loops like at say Gravelfoyle), we can see where each other is
The mute option has been a godsend. Managed to quietly sack off the walk-around-the-blockers, zwifters, look at me I'm on holiday willy wavers, and haven't offended anyone.
I pay and though I wasn't delighted about the increase think it still offers decent vfm for something I use almost every day. Only social media I do and think it stops me from becoming a complete misanthrope.
I use the route planner a lot.
I like having the history of rides.
I entertain people with my slightly off beat ride write ups which often bare little relation to the truth....
My assumption is that these are people that have their watches set to auto recognise activity rather than deliberately recording their shopping? I could be wrong but I cut some slack based on that assumption
I record my commutes as I gain points via Vitality Health program and points mean prizes....
The mute option has been a godsend. Managed to quietly sack off the walk-around-the-blockers, zwifters, look at me I’m on holiday willy wavers, and haven’t offended anyone.
Pretty much that, not bothered by segments but I love seeing where mates around the world are riding, hiking or running. Photos and videos are even better. I also like to look back and see where I've been over the years.
I also use the heatmap and route planner to find new routes or if I am riding somewhere I don't know.
I live somewhere where trails can be covered in snow for a significant part of the year. Strava is the only way to know if certain trails are actually open (ie if the segment has no rides today/last week/last month, there's a good chance it's not rideable. Of course, it isn't completely reliable but gives you a good idea of what is likely to be rideable or not, particularly if any recent rides have photos or something other than "Afternoon Ride" as a title.
This can also be useful if a wind storm or forest fire has ravaged the area.
I've also commented on someone's recent ride I'd found and asked (and got) some useful trail beta which saved me a wasting a ride on a trail which wasn't rideable.
Trailforks doesn't tend to such granularity of trail
