A meandering blog about Strava with Self Awareness, Brilliant Moves, Cannonballers, Fatbikes, Asshat Hannity and Gravel Grinders

Dear Readers,

I love Strava. I think it's a great training tool. It's amazing as a platform to store and analyze data. I like segments. I like being able to set goals for them. I love that it gives me an easy comparison between different times that I rode different sections. I like the social aspect of Strava.  I am happy to have connected with a number of friends and training partners through Strava. We have a Strava group that is primarily a local group of people that ride together. It creates a fun environment, and is a great training tool, and a nice addition to the community.

Recently, Strava made two moves that have generated lots of buzz in the Internets.  I think both recent moves were brilliant and helped to pump up energy and engagement for Strava.

First, the year end summaries:  I looked at exactly three of these. They were cool. It was nice to have an entire year's worth of riding summarized. I didn't understand why folks hated this. After I saw three I had enough. I didn't look at anymore. Everyone could make that decision.

Second, and probably the more controversial was the introduction of "best of the year" rankings. I'll admit that it was pretty weird to go on our annual New Year's Day Toast ride, which is by no means a hammer-fest, and come home and get some trophies. I know that some have criticized this as "everyone wins something". I don't see it that way at all.

First, those initial times will all be surpassed as the year goes on. They will be improved upon all year.  Most of those from our New Year's ride have been already. Honestly, there are really only a couple times a year that I normally look at the leader-boards. There are three periods a year that I'm really strong enough to challenge for any of them. You know what? January is not one of these times. Strava's move adding "best of 2015" has had me looking at the best of the year leader-boards, as well as the overall leader-boards. Riders will be chasing the best of 2015 results. They'll be looking at them in January. Frankly, I think it will create a  "rising tide lifts all ships" event. People engaged in the leader boards, at a time when normally maybe they wouldn't. I like it. It's fun. Cheers I say...

I have to admit, I  don't really understand Strava haters. I respect their right to not use it. I don't understand the vitriolic passion and angst against it.  Perhaps a soul rider that doesn't freakin' care at all about the ride data? That's cool.  I respect that. But do we all have to be the same? Clearly to some extent everyone of us get something different from riding. Strava is something that many enjoy and I believe adds to the experience for those that like that sort of thing.

I think of Strava use like my relationship with Fox News. I don't really like Fox News, but I also don't generally feel the need to tell the entire world that I think Fox New sucks. If you don't like Strava, don't use it. I don't like Fox news so  I turn off that ass-hat Sean Hannity every chance I get.

Okay, maybe Hannity isn't a great analogy. Let's say Fatbikes. Not something that I am interested in or understand. I understand there are fatbike evangelists. I just don't get it. That's cool, if that's what you dig. Good on you. Just not my thing. No one is making me ride a fatbike. Just like no one is making anyone use Strava. Each to their own.

 Now the term gravel grinder that's a different story- damn cycling marketing.... I do generally enjoy fire-road rides... I hate gravel grinders and that term should be banished from the cycling vernacular.

Perhaps the push-back on Strava is a result of some of the bad behaviors it can encourage. ( how many can you pick out of your community ?):

The Obsessed Hunter- the rider so busy collecting KOM/QOMs they don't have time to race, or to upgrade out of the beginner class.

The Mimic- the rider who will see one rider's successes, and the next day go out and try to better those successes by blatantly attacking all the same segments. I find that I inspire a lot of these folks. It's like they are saying "if that fat-fuck can get up that hill at this pace, I know I can crush it!" I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? Fuck you very much for the compliment.

The Cannonballer- the idiot storming through sections yelling "out of the way Strava!" No comment really needed here. Strava is no excuse to ride like an idiot or not be social.

Yeah, these behaviors make me crazy too, but at the end of the day, I know everyone gets something different out of cycling. If their bag is different than mine, that's cool. Overall I find the benefits of Strava outweigh the folks that tend to dick things up... Don't worry, Hunters and Mimics- I still love you. Cannonballers, not so much.

Now a moment of self-awareness:

Yeah, I own that I can be an elitist, and I believe the game should be played a certain way. I also pride myself in listening and learning. I want to know what works for other people. I want to keep learning and getting better. Maybe not faster, but better. That's one of the things that I love about cycling- always something to learn and improve. I'm lucky to have a great support system and a great coach,  Chris Mayhew, who helps me from myself. But you know, I respect folks have different approaches and play the game differently. Frankly, this is one of things that makes cycling great as everyone can get something different from it.  Wait, I don't like cheaters, I have a pretty low tolerance for cheaters and vampires. Now jackassery, yeah I like that. So yeah, if folks don't like strava or fatbikes that's okay man. It's also cool if other people do. There's room under the tent   Long time readers of CUTER THAN JAMES FRANCO are probably not surprised by any this. AND YES, I get that NONE OF THIS PARAGRAPH REALLY HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH STRAVA, and MAY BE A LARGER OUT LOOK ON LIFE.

BUT I DIGRESS.


Obviously, I'm a Strava guy. In the last year, I've really used it more as a data analysis tool and frankly looked for my own PRs and goals.  All of that to say: Bravo Strava! I think both of your recent moves were brilliant. You successfully got folks talking about Strava, and got folks engaged in Strava at at time when most of us would probably not be looking at the leaders-boards at all. If you aren't a Strava person that cool too. We all get something different out of this game after all...

wow, that was some meandering...

thanks for reading.

respect
fatmarc