Discussion
Anyone see this recent challenge?
https://www.strava.com/challenges/king-of-the-airf...
It's a 4km time trial around Tempelhof Airfield, Berlin. Nothing remarkable about that, but I only found it because some Strava riders that I 'follow' signed up to it. On the 22nd, and 23rd of March. The challenge finished on 21st March, and requires that you travel to Berlin to physically ride a specific route/segment. Nowt wrong with that either. It's possible to complete a challenge, then sign up to it only after you've completed it. What puzzles me is that the two chaps I'm following who signed up haven't completed the challenge, neither can they now do so (it's closed), nor I suspect, were they ever likely to (they are Portugal and Brazil based riders).
I'm not sure why 61 riders, out of the 84 who signed up, would do so if they had absolutely no chance of completing it? Not trying to criticise, as I have signed up to distance and climbing challenges I'm unlikely to complete, but if you live on the other side of the planet and the challenge is already closed, why bother? I'm not buying the 'language barrier' excuse either, in this age of GoogleTranslate. Are there folk out there who'll just sign up, without reading the Ts'n'Cs of a challenge, automatically? I know it doesn't do any harm, but it seems a bit silly to me. But hey, ho. Just an observation.
https://www.strava.com/challenges/king-of-the-airf...
It's a 4km time trial around Tempelhof Airfield, Berlin. Nothing remarkable about that, but I only found it because some Strava riders that I 'follow' signed up to it. On the 22nd, and 23rd of March. The challenge finished on 21st March, and requires that you travel to Berlin to physically ride a specific route/segment. Nowt wrong with that either. It's possible to complete a challenge, then sign up to it only after you've completed it. What puzzles me is that the two chaps I'm following who signed up haven't completed the challenge, neither can they now do so (it's closed), nor I suspect, were they ever likely to (they are Portugal and Brazil based riders).
I'm not sure why 61 riders, out of the 84 who signed up, would do so if they had absolutely no chance of completing it? Not trying to criticise, as I have signed up to distance and climbing challenges I'm unlikely to complete, but if you live on the other side of the planet and the challenge is already closed, why bother? I'm not buying the 'language barrier' excuse either, in this age of GoogleTranslate. Are there folk out there who'll just sign up, without reading the Ts'n'Cs of a challenge, automatically? I know it doesn't do any harm, but it seems a bit silly to me. But hey, ho. Just an observation.
pablo said:
Cant you copy/import other peoples rides or something in strava? maybe thats how they do it? maybe they just sign up to all the challenges to get some kudos, some people just join strava clubs to be top of the weekly mileage leaderboards. its a funny old world.
I just checked my profile, and I've realised that I'm now in a dozen Strava 'clubs'. Oops!Mind you, most of them are reasonable ones for me to belong to. Apart from PH and my 'old boys' group from my time in the army, there's a couple of local ones (cribbing of routes for the use of), a handful of 'owners clubs' for bike brands I own, and the final three are 'usual suspects' international 'clubs' like Bike Religion and Not Too Pro To Say Hello. I can't see me joining many more, though, especially without ditching some off the current list. It's been a long time since I topped a weekly leaderboard, though
Your mention of 'kudos' got me thinking, as well.
My Brazillian 'follower' is following 12,565 people, and has 4,535 followers. This morning he rode 2.0 miles, and so far has been given 'kudos' 616 times! I know there's meant to be a 'community' vibe on Strava, but that, surely, is a bit extreme? Unless he's some form of celebrity in Brazil? Or the latin types just get more involved?
Like I said, though, it's really none of my business, and not doing anyone any harm. I just find it a bit 'odd'. I've less than 50 of each (followers/following) and the 'dashboard' thing gets a bit too 'busy' for my liking even at this time of year. I regularly consider thinning out my lists, but don't, for fear of causing offence (silly, I know) so I keep it manageable by being selective about whom I 'follow'.
Talking of clubs on Strava, how arsey is this one?
https://www.strava.com/clubs/129528
You need to have completed 100 challenges just to be considered? Pretentious much?
Or maybe I'm just bitter because I'm about 98 challenges short
https://www.strava.com/clubs/129528
You need to have completed 100 challenges just to be considered? Pretentious much?
Or maybe I'm just bitter because I'm about 98 challenges short
"Dr Beard" is the club admin, and only member!
Fair play, he rides between 800 and 1550 miles per month, and never seems to have a day off the bike, but WTF? Setting up a club only you are likely to be joining any time soon? Defeats the object of a 'club', no? He has 119 'finisher badges' in his trophy cabinet, by my count.
I also checked my tally, and then realised that I don't have a 'trophy cabinet' on account of how I'm not a 'Premium' member. So not only do I have to finish approximately 97 more challenges, but I have to part with money regularly too, if I want to be a member of the beardy fella's exclusive little club...
...
I'm interested in getting a watch to use with Strava.
I'm not bothered about having oodles of features, but ease of use, a clear display of pace and something that would be able to cope with distance & time intervals would be good. Heart rate might be handy, although I do have a stand-alone heart rate monitor watch, which would require wearing two wrist devices...
I'm not bothered about having oodles of features, but ease of use, a clear display of pace and something that would be able to cope with distance & time intervals would be good. Heart rate might be handy, although I do have a stand-alone heart rate monitor watch, which would require wearing two wrist devices...
okgo said:
1000 miles a month is soon racked up by commuting and weekend stuff if you want it. I know a lot of family men doing that sort of mileage.
Not all familt men have equal circumstances or commitments though. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for another. I am not going to get a single ride in on any weekend in April due to childcare. Thats 0630am until 2300 each day on my own with two babies and that doesn't even include my complex weekly shift pattern which is in itself unpredictable.
I still get good mileage in but if I was not married with no kids and a 9 to 5 job my monthly mileage would double if not triple.
I usually manage about 100-130 miles a week, got 4 kids under 12. I get the opportunity to ride a couple of lunchtimes weather permitting to do that.
However, joking to a mate about the fact I was racing on Mothers day has turned cycling into a dirty word in our house at the moment
( Guess who sent the message to the wrong person! 
)
However, joking to a mate about the fact I was racing on Mothers day has turned cycling into a dirty word in our house at the moment
( Guess who sent the message to the wrong person! )I am either working, or at home looking after kids. The caveat being that as we both work shifts, the norm is that as one of us arrives home the other is walking out the door to go to work, and that is seven days a week all year round. I also start and finish at all times around the clock so cycling in and back from work is not always feasable at 30 miles each way.
I'm not interested in racing, but if I was, I still would not be able to put anywhere near enough time or effort into it because of all these factors. I am constantly missing weekend rides, always having to turn down offers of trips to the coast, hardly ever get to do sportives and can forget about anything that is more than a day, lejog for example. Yes I can commute to and from work fairly regularly, with my rucksack, and I get to do the odd weekend morning ride if I am lucky but that's about the extent of my cycling life.
I'm not interested in racing, but if I was, I still would not be able to put anywhere near enough time or effort into it because of all these factors. I am constantly missing weekend rides, always having to turn down offers of trips to the coast, hardly ever get to do sportives and can forget about anything that is more than a day, lejog for example. Yes I can commute to and from work fairly regularly, with my rucksack, and I get to do the odd weekend morning ride if I am lucky but that's about the extent of my cycling life.
Dizeee said:
Not all familt men have equal circumstances or commitments though. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.
I am not going to get a single ride in on any weekend in April due to childcare. Thats 0630am until 2300 each day on my own with two babies and that doesn't even include my complex weekly shift pattern which is in itself unpredictable.
I still get good mileage in but if I was not married with no kids and a 9 to 5 job my monthly mileage would double if not triple.
Yeh I know, but most people don't work shifts and weekends. So you're the exception rather than the majority.I am not going to get a single ride in on any weekend in April due to childcare. Thats 0630am until 2300 each day on my own with two babies and that doesn't even include my complex weekly shift pattern which is in itself unpredictable.
I still get good mileage in but if I was not married with no kids and a 9 to 5 job my monthly mileage would double if not triple.
Dizeee said:
I am either working, or at home looking after kids. The caveat being that as we both work shifts, the norm is that as one of us arrives home the other is walking out the door to go to work, and that is seven days a week all year round. I also start and finish at all times around the clock so cycling in and back from work is not always feasable at 30 miles each way.
I'm not interested in racing, but if I was, I still would not be able to put anywhere near enough time or effort into it because of all these factors. I am constantly missing weekend rides, always having to turn down offers of trips to the coast, hardly ever get to do sportives and can forget about anything that is more than a day, lejog for example. Yes I can commute to and from work fairly regularly, with my rucksack, and I get to do the odd weekend morning ride if I am lucky but that's about the extent of my cycling life.
Do what I did become a man wI'm not interested in racing, but if I was, I still would not be able to put anywhere near enough time or effort into it because of all these factors. I am constantly missing weekend rides, always having to turn down offers of trips to the coast, hardly ever get to do sportives and can forget about anything that is more than a day, lejog for example. Yes I can commute to and from work fairly regularly, with my rucksack, and I get to do the odd weekend morning ride if I am lucky but that's about the extent of my cycling life.
e you get reasonable pay and depending on your client base the perks can be good.....The Walrus said:
Do what I did become a man we you get reasonable pay and depending on your client base the perks can be good.....
I'd be prepared to give it a run for sure.e you get reasonable pay and depending on your client base the perks can be good.....One of my main regrets is not finding cycling earlier. I had literally ten years worth of oppurtunity when I was younger to have gone out and smashed it up all week all weekend. I literally found cycling a the worst possible time of life !
MC Bodge said:
I'm interested in getting a watch to use with Strava.
I'm not bothered about having oodles of features, but ease of use, a clear display of pace and something that would be able to cope with distance & time intervals would be good. Heart rate might be handy, although I do have a stand-alone heart rate monitor watch, which would require wearing two wrist devices...
Why specifically a watch - do you run as well? If not, I'd have thought a Garmin 510, for example, which is specific to a bike (and can go on your stem or just out in front, rather than having to turn your wrist; especially annoying if it's cold and you have long sleeves and gloves onI'm not bothered about having oodles of features, but ease of use, a clear display of pace and something that would be able to cope with distance & time intervals would be good. Heart rate might be handy, although I do have a stand-alone heart rate monitor watch, which would require wearing two wrist devices...
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