Strava challenges
 

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[Closed] Strava challenges

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Do any of you do them?

I just got an email saying I can enter a challenge in July and if I cycle 130km in 24 hours, I get a virtual trophy and the opportunity to buy one of the special edition jerseys for $130.

I cant decide if it is genius or bat SH** crazy...


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 1:41 pm
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If you're someone who responds positively to a challenge then it's good. If it's just going to stress you out if you don't do it then it's bad.

I did a few but found I was just choosing those I knew I could do without stretching myself which seemed pointless so I stopped.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 1:43 pm
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I tell you what, don't do it and I'll sell you a jersey for $120

Win-win


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 1:44 pm
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Yes, got the rapha climbing one 2 years ago with about 7000m climbed in a week. The day ones are not as appealing but the week/month ones are great for motivation, the trick is to break it by half way or it a real uphill(pun intended) challenge. Also do them on a road bike unless your a proper masochist.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 1:45 pm
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I sometimes do the monthly distance ones, if you're getting to the end of the month and a couple of hundred km on the goals it can be a good incentive to get out for a few more rides.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 1:45 pm
 D0NK
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have signed up for a few challenges and succeeded (several I signed up after already [intentionally] completing them 🙂 ) it's pushed me to do bigger rides than normal, it is kinda the equivalent of getting your digital 25m swimming badge. I reckon it's a much more healthy use of strava than chasing KOMs

Screw the shirts tho, stupid money.

currently trying to decide whether to sign up for rapha rising, 8800m in 9 days, if I go for it there's probably going to be a few nights of up and down the same local hill umpteen times.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 1:46 pm
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You don't see many of those shirts out on the road.

More embarrassing than wearing the polka dot Jersey?


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 1:48 pm
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Doing the rapha rising one for the third year, got the last two, it's motivation to push myself. Not doing it for the opportunity to buy something. Although I noticed people sell the Rapha rising roundels.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 1:49 pm
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Just looking at the Grand Fondo one for July, a nice yellow reckon I might get that (just need to hit the road hard)


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 2:02 pm
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I enter them all but do my rides as normal 😳

Manage to complete most of them though - won't manage the Rapha Rising one as that's about 1000m of climbing a day for 8 days IIRC. Would be nice if it coincided with a mountainous cycling trip though.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 2:14 pm
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if it wasn't for the fact I've done 18km in the last 6 weeks due to injury and illness the 8000m would be on the cards, Using the rides from the last one it's a 3 day challenge so Sunday/Wed/Sat should sort it but I reckon it's a long way off...


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 2:17 pm
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I enter the Rapha Rising challenges that comes up this weekend - thats a bit of a challenge, more so because I still got this manflu.

The monthly grand fondo and other monthly ones are just a bit of desperate willy waving I think.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 2:23 pm
 D0NK
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hmm ~29,000ft, wales this weekend should take care of ~10,000...
maybe...
<edit> Damn, doesn't start til saturday.

The monthly grand fondo and other monthly ones are just a bit of desperate willy waving I think.
and the difference between a bit of willy waving and rapha rising is....?
unless you are private with no followers it's all degrees of willy waving, desperate or otherwise.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 2:23 pm
 DT78
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Started this year, Done several now. Rapha festive 500 was hard, will look to the rising challenge though given family commitments I May not be able to do it in a couple of days. Done every gran fondo except one (as I had 2 races that month - gorrick enduro and erlstoke)

I did buy one jersey, the one for January. Because I liked it and I wanted to support strava (not premium). I do wear it and have been asked by a couple of riders about it, so a 'talking point' when you meet other riders.

The ones that think its willy waving I probably wouldn't get along with so not fussed what they think...

I haven't worked out what to do with roundals. Sat in my drawer...


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 2:54 pm
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The monthly grand fondo and other monthly ones are just a bit of desperate willy waving I think.

Ha, thats me then! Never really thought of it like that but there is an element of it I suppose. I've enjoyed them this year, got me out the door and doing more than I would have normally and it shows. Between work and family commitments the challenges are a welcome motivation. The Gran Fondo ones have been perfect, I've been squeezing them in between dropping off sprog 1 at school and picking her up, I'd normally not have cycled this far between drop off pick up. Got me looking for some new roads to try too. This along with a handful of segements have helped my break me ploddering/bimble norm.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 4:05 pm
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Are they not all "road" based tho!


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 4:56 pm
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Are they not all "road" based tho!

You can please yourself. I usually do a fair bit of off road.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 5:00 pm
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As a relative new comer to Strava, I just did the July Gran Fondo, and am going to have a crack at the Rapha Rising.

I say why not? Gives you a goal and keeps it interesting.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 5:16 pm
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I appreciate I can please myself but knocking out 50 miles on the road is a damn sight easier than 50 miles on the Derbyshire trails.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 5:59 pm
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Yep love em all extra motivation.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 6:09 pm
 D0NK
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Are they not all "road" based tho!
yeah, some mtb based challenges would be nice, did a GF xc admittedly a lot of it was ncn stuff, but the bigger challenges are gonna be nigh on impossible offroad for most. Mind you I don't think strava can differentiate between road and xc anyway so not sure how it could work. If they could ID the xc stuff would there have to be a minimum % of dirt as its pretty tricky to do a 100% xc route


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 6:13 pm
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the "Gran Fondo" are pretty easy - 130km is not much - guess its to sell jerseys,

Rapha Rising is a proper challenge IMHO and wish there were more of these


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 6:14 pm
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I do all the Rapha / Strava challenges. Maybe I should stick the full set of badges (sorry, roundels) on eBay... 😉

I did sign up to one of the monthly Gran Fondo things then promptly forgot all about it. And I did that Specialized Spring Classics challenge too and yes, I did actually buy the T-shirt. 😳

I like it as an occasional thing, gets me out and about, acts as an incentive to find some new trails. I do a lot of it on my CX bike so a good mix of road & trail. But doing all my rides as part of a challenge would get very tiresome very quickly.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 6:43 pm

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