Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Rivals!? Where do I see this info? 
Silly STRAVA Racing
- Thread starter fossyant
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
it's a new tab next to update.Rivals!? Where do I see this info?
Mapster1989
Senior Member
- Location
- Sheffield, England
As Peter Sagan would say, 'my Strava commute this morning contained much unluck'.
Felt really good this morning - a slight niggle in the left thigh, but pretty sure there was a tailwind so decided to make the most of it.
However:
Blasting up an ascent in the big ring only to find there's a new set of temporary traffic lights half way up
Swing round the bend onto the fast descent to the church and get stuck behind a bus refusing to do more than 20mph
Now what's the forum view on Strava drafting?
I put some extra effort in to get tucked behind a Vauxhall Astra estate this morning, which meant I covered a flatish segment at 30mph ave (or whatever he was doing). I think it's only 1 or 2 mph over my best 'non-drafted' time but I reckon it will be good enough for KOM (I'm currently second). Legitimate and karma prevailing for the other two segments...?
...Or cheating?
Felt really good this morning - a slight niggle in the left thigh, but pretty sure there was a tailwind so decided to make the most of it.
However:
Blasting up an ascent in the big ring only to find there's a new set of temporary traffic lights half way up
Swing round the bend onto the fast descent to the church and get stuck behind a bus refusing to do more than 20mph
Now what's the forum view on Strava drafting?
I put some extra effort in to get tucked behind a Vauxhall Astra estate this morning, which meant I covered a flatish segment at 30mph ave (or whatever he was doing). I think it's only 1 or 2 mph over my best 'non-drafted' time but I reckon it will be good enough for KOM (I'm currently second). Legitimate and karma prevailing for the other two segments...?
...Or cheating?
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Pffft.
My best time up Bromley Hill is only 8 seconds off the KOM, who is Mat Hammond, a Cat 2 racer.
If there were a field on Strava where I could register that when I set that time, I was drafting a bus for the first half of the climb, I would. But there isn't. So I won't.
(By spooky coincidence, I've just noticed that it's a year to the day since I set that time. Oo-er!)
Haha, good stuffPffft.
My best time up Bromley Hill is only 8 seconds off the KOM, who is Mat Hammond, a Cat 2 racer.
If there were a field on Strava where I could register that when I set that time, I was drafting a bus for the first half of the climb, I would. But there isn't. So I won't.
Strava isn't necessarily about being the out and out fastest, in the same way that road races aren't always won by the fastest riders.
Tactics, weather conditions and luck all come into play.
Even over the course of an individual time trial weather can worsen, traffic can interfere etc so the guy going off first may ride a different course to the guy going out last.
In my eyes a good placing is acceptable through whatever means (within reason). Tailwinds, drafting etc all come into play.
That's part of the appeal - you have to truly earn a segment KOM these days and you're always aware that riding your fastest probably won't be good enough on its own. You have to wait for that perfect storm where the stars align and the wind is blowing the right way, you're feeling great, you've had a bit of luck with the lights, the traffic is light and Doris doesn't pull out of that side road.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Well said, that man!
Mapster1989
Senior Member
- Location
- Sheffield, England
Not a KOM but my mate beat me by 3s on a 2min sprint segment last night. Woke up, on the bike, put 10s into him. Boom!
Bragging rights with mates are just as important as KOMs!
Mapster1989
Senior Member
- Location
- Sheffield, England
Damn right. I was blowing by the end though so I'm glad I beat him!
Smurfy
Naturist Smurf
- Location
- Smurfette's Kitchen
Meh! I was in second place on the one and only Strava segment I've ever ridden. Just had a quick look and I've been pushed down to 5th.
I've only been beaten by 2 seconds, so it's time to kick some butt!
I've only been beaten by 2 seconds, so it's time to kick some butt!
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
haha same for me, is sylvain in your club? He's a beast of a rider, used to ride a similar commute to him a few years back, saw him pretty much everyday and I swear every climb i've gone for in my area and he is at the top :/Jeez, wish I'd never found that. All of my 10 rivals are racer boys, the top being one of the fastest Cpl of riders in my club, heh!
