Silly STRAVA Racing

[Pedrosanchezo]

Hacienda has more KoM's than you.

Sort it out.

I lost some.

 

[400bhp]

He would have no chance, dr_pink is a machine

Nah, bollox, she aint on strava-must be shat.

 

[totallyfixed]

Nah, bollox, she aint on strava-must be shat.

Absolutely, so shat in fact that she can only average 22 mph for 100 miles on a rolling course, therefore she is terrified of competing against you Strava athletes and what you are capable of..................with a tailwind.

 

[400bhp]

Does using strava mean you're "slow" then?

Why have you brought your other half into it anyway?

 

[ColinJ]

Can't imagine you'd get any "KoM's" anyway-not with 1 gear

I went to watch the National Hillclimb Championships on the tough Ramsbottom Rake in 1999 and all the best riders were riding fixed!


(Most of the slow, zig-zagging, eyes-bulging, falling-off riders were too though! )

 

[totallyfixed]

In which part of my reply did I say Strava riders are slow? Is there a rule about representing your better half? Are you feeling challenged? Like I said earlier, enter a hill climb, happy to recommend some.
I do however find it hilarious when I read about "some" Strava riders who wait for a gale force tail wind, not really fair is it.

 

[400bhp]

You do realise how your posts come across don't you?

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

In which part of my reply did I say Strava riders are slow? Is there a rule about representing your better half? Are you feeling challenged? Like I said earlier, enter a hill climb, happy to recommend some.
I do however find it hilarious when I read about "some" Strava riders who wait for a gale force tail wind, not really fair is it.

I am sure there are many Strava users who don't need tail winds to put in impressive times. I for one do hill climbs and have yet to be spanked by anyone on a fixed gear bike .
There are no doubt riders out there who use the wind as an aid but then in my experience it all doesn't make much difference - one way or another there will be someone faster who comes along and sets a new fast time.
It's all good fun, what's wrong with that? If you think people are deluded about being fast due to Strava then i can assure you that's not the case. Many pro's, elite athletes and extremely talented amateurs use the site.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

I went to watch the National Hillclimb Championships on the tough Ramsbottom Rake in 1999 and all the best riders were riding fixed!


(Most of the slow, zig-zagging, eyes-bulging, falling-off riders were too though! )

More a right of passage than any real benefit. Fixed is fine over short distance but will get spanked on any climb of note. Efficiency is key in climbing. Sheer power will get you so far then it will not.

Would have been entertaining to watch though.

 

[fossyant]

Not been bothering much with any KOM hunting recently, but as I had a feeling traffic would be light on a particular half mile section (road works before it and it's half term) I thought I'd have a little pop at it. Rolled up to the lights, and waited behind a flat bed transit. It took off quickly, so I just rolled off. Put some beans into it and just kept upping the RPM. Haden't a clue how quickly I was going until I had to brake as I'd caught the van up - I was slowed to 27 mph. Checked strava and I'd averaged 30.5, which is a bit of a surprise as my legs will have been doing a good 150 rpm on the flat (I ride fixed). Needless to say I was goosed after that. Almost had to call out the fire brigade !

I have a feeling I won't be on top for long - I knocked Potsy's work colleague off top spot - I'm sure he'll get it back !

 

[HLaB]

More a right of passage than any real benefit. Fixed is fine over short distance but will get spanked on any climb of note. Efficiency is key in climbing. Sheer power will get you so far then it will not.

Would have been entertaining to watch though.

On the contrary Fixed is superior over distance if (and a big if) the gradient is fairly consistent and the right gearing has been selected. This knowledge I believe has been used in to win the National Hill TT a few times.

 

[Hacienda71]

Fixed versus gears on a hill climb has to be down to the regularity of the gradient. I could see climbs like Long Hill and The Cat and Fiddle both used for the nationals where they are long and draggy with no very steep sections being climbs where a fixed set up may work. But a climb that has severe changes in gradient would suit a geared bike more. Winnats and Mow Cop come to mind in that category.

 

[Rob3rt]

It is quite clear that Strava is mostly for fun (it offers little in terms of in depth training analysis, although they are improving it), the odd person will think having loads of KOM's means they are some sort of elite athlete, but those are few and far between. Most treat it as fun and to measure their own progress.

More a right of passage than any real benefit. Fixed is fine over short distance but will get spanked on any climb of note. Efficiency is key in climbing. Sheer power will get you so far then it will not.

Would have been entertaining to watch though.

Fixed is quite widely considered as superior in hill climbs with (near) constant gradients.

That said, have a look at the CTT video from last years National HC on the Rake, one guy says, definitely a good one for riding fixed, the next, definitely not one for fixed, i.e. at the end of the day the best is the one the rider is most comfortable riding on the given hill.

The guy who won, Jack Pullar was riding with gears. Matt Clinton rode into 3rd place on a fixed gear bike.

 

[fossyant]

It's bloody hard trying to get a good place on a flat or downhill segment on a fixed. I suppose you don't have to worry about which gear you should attack it in, just keep pedalling, faster, faster, owww !

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

On the contrary Fixed is superior over distance if (and a big if) the gradient is fairly consistent and the right gearing has been selected. This knowledge I believe has been used in to win the National Hill TT a few times.

It is quite clear that Strava is mostly for fun (it offers little in terms of in depth training analysis, although they are improving it), the odd person will think having loads of KOM's means they are some sort of elite athlete, but those are few and far between. Most treat it as fun and to measure their own progress.




Fixed is quite widely considered as superior in hill climbs with (near) constant gradients.

That said, have a look at the CTT video from last years National HC on the Rake, one guy says, definitely a good one for riding fixed, the next, definitely not one for fixed, i.e. at the end of the day the best is the one the rider is most comfortable riding on the given hill.

The guy who won, Jack Pullar was riding with gears. Matt Clinton rode into 3rd place on a fixed gear bike.

Besides the weight saving (minimal) why would fixed be superior to geared? How many hills are you going to find the exact cadence that is required to suit your efficiency?? Even if the hill/climb was the same all the way up, why wouldn't one just ride a geared bike in one gear?

IMO fixed is a preference for the purist. It can have very little benefit regarding VAM.