What's the single greatest cycling invention in the world?

[loudlashadjuster]

Data.

Whether in the form of a free Strava account or in its most extreme form including power meters, cadence, HRM, Wattbikes and the like, access to data about our rides has changed things completely, even for cack-handed amateurs like me.

I can state fairly categorically that I would not have cycled so much in the past 2 or 3 years if it weren't for the motivation that Strava, VeloViewer etc. provides.

I can manage on a steel frame, with a basic groupset and could even happily do away with clipless pedals, but take my data away and I'd feel the loss.

I know it's a minor thing or even a distraction for some, but the changes data collection and analysis has wrought at almost all levels have been remarkable.

Runner-up spot: LED lighting and lithium batteries. Who remembers st like this?

[LordHaveMurci]

Brings back memories that pic of Ever Ready lights!

Does Strava etc really make that much difference? I've only been road riding for 6-8mths & I'm only doing a max of 35mls so far, I've found the weather has been the limiting factor rather than motivation, would Strave help me & if so, how? I have a basic Sigma computer so I know how far/fast/long I've ridden for.

[Craikeybaby]

I'm going with Strava, as it is a bigger step from what existed before.

[Gruffy]

loudlashadjuster said:

Data.

Whether in the form of a free Strava account or in its most extreme form including power meters, cadence, HRM, Wattbikes and the like, access to data about our rides has changed things completely, even for cack-handed amateurs like me.

I can state fairly categorically that I would not have cycled so much in the past 2 or 3 years if it weren't for the motivation that Strava, VeloViewer etc. provides.

It's the same story for me. I took up cycling 18 months ago and very much doubt I'd have found it half as rewarding/addictive without the data from Strava, then the HR monitor and now a power meter. Call it gamification if you like but being able to beat myself and others on segments and long rides has been a huge motivator.

[yellowjack]

LordHaveMurci said:

Does Strava etc really make that much difference? I've only been road riding for 6-8mths & I'm only doing a max of 35mls so far, I've found the weather has been the limiting factor rather than motivation, would Strava help me & if so, how? I have a basic Sigma computer so I know how far/fast/long I've ridden for.

Strava can make a big difference to motivation.

Joining the clubs and challenges makes the most difference for me. Take the week or so between Christmas and New Year as an example. I signed up for the Rapha Festive 500. I know it was only for a silly cloth patch and some limited overs bragging rights, but I can't see what other reason I'd have found for knocking out a 75 miler and a 130 miler on consecutive days in the depths of December. Ergo, Strava, and it's daft challenges, must have motivated my lazy carcass into doing it. Now I'm not suggesting that it'll transform you into an Audaxer overnight. I'm in my third year since I signed up to Strava. It took me until last year to sign up to the Festive 500, and until this year to really put the effort in to crack it, but no Strava = no "need" to ride silly long miles in winter time.

For someone in your position, with a 35 mile maximum ride? Sign up to the Grand Fondo challenges. In winter months they tend to be 100km to get your 'badge'. Alright, it's nearly double what your longest ride is so far, but it should be achievable if you have the time and pace it nicely. None of my cycling is what most folks regard as 'quick', but that's not where my motivation lies. For me it's all about long, relaxed, enjoyable rides in great countryside.

If you've not yet used Strava, and don't have a compatible GPS, you can still sign up for a free account, and enter the data from your Sigma computer as a manual entry. It won't count toward the challenges (not verifiable) but YOU will be able to track increases in pace, distance, etc, and you can 'follow' other 'athletes' on there to see how things will work once you have the GPS unit. It can be addictive, and some folk take it too far. One chap I know even refused to ride while he was without a GPS unit as it "wouldn't be worth the bother if I can't post the data on Strava!", and lots of moaning (me included) ensues when a ride's worth of data is lost to human error or a technical fault. So long as you use it sensibly, though, it can be a very good motivational tool.

[LordHaveMurci]

yellowjack said:

Strava can make a big difference to motivation.

Joining the clubs and challenges makes the most difference for me. Take the week or so between Christmas and New Year as an example. I signed up for the Rapha Festive 500. I know it was only for a silly cloth patch and some limited overs bragging rights, but I can't see what other reason I'd have found for knocking out a 75 miler and a 130 miler on consecutive days in the depths of December. Ergo, Strava, and it's daft challenges, must have motivated my lazy carcass into doing it. Now I'm not suggesting that it'll transform you into an Audaxer overnight. I'm in my third year since I signed up to Strava. It took me until last year to sign up to the Festive 500, and until this year to really put the effort in to crack it, but no Strava = no "need" to ride silly long miles in winter time.

For someone in your position, with a 35 mile maximum ride? Sign up to the Grand Fondo challenges. In winter months they tend to be 100km to get your 'badge'. Alright, it's nearly double what your longest ride is so far, but it should be achievable if you have the time and pace it nicely. None of my cycling is what most folks regard as 'quick', but that's not where my motivation lies. For me it's all about long, relaxed, enjoyable rides in great countryside.

If you've not yet used Strava, and don't have a compatible GPS, you can still sign up for a free account, and enter the data from your Sigma computer as a manual entry. It won't count toward the challenges (not verifiable) but YOU will be able to track increases in pace, distance, etc, and you can 'follow' other 'athletes' on there to see how things will work once you have the GPS unit. It can be addictive, and some folk take it too far. One chap I know even refused to ride while he was without a GPS unit as it "wouldn't be worth the bother if I can't post the data on Strava!", and lots of moaning (me included) ensues when a ride's worth of data is lost to human error or a technical fault. So long as you use it sensibly, though, it can be a very good motivational tool.

Many thanks for a great reply, my old iPhone 4S battery dies quite quickly, guess thats the main reason I don't use tracking app's as on a longer ride the battery will die & I don't want to be carrying a Power Bank too!
Apologies for the thread hijack, as you were!

[yellowjack]

loudlashadjuster said:

...runner-up spot: LED lighting and lithium batteries. Who remembers st like this?

Remember them? I've got a boxed front one in the garage. Sadly, the lens is cracked (through the box). The MOD had these in it's stores inventory system until fairly recently (definitely the last ten years). It's where I got mine, when I was instructed to get it 'written off' and chucked in a skip. No idea why I keep it, neither, as it won't fit a modern bike without the metal bracket brazed to the fork leg or sat at the headset bearing.

[Daveyraveygravey]

The weekend before last, my Propel was away at the menders, so I had to take my son's Allez out. It's a good bike (makes me question why I spent £1400 more on the Propel, but that's a different story!) but it has plain old flat pedals. I found them hard to use and got quite frustrated. You can't climb the same way, part of you is thinking about keeping your ankles at the right angles to keep your feet in the right place, and when you get out the saddle, it all goes haywire! It's also harder descending, as the speed picks up, your feet bounce around and you don't want to lose contact with the pedals. The only benefit was stopping and starting didn't have that little nagging doubt that you weren't about to unclip.

I can live without disc brakes on my road bike and electronic shifting, I understand there are benefits to both of these but I don't feel they would make a significant difference to my riding yet.

I like Strava and my Garmin, I spend quite a bit of time off the bike looking at how I've got on, what I should work on next, where I should go, who of my friends has done what.

[anonymous-user]

Rather randomly, it's the National Lottery in my opinion, without it there would be no British Cycling as we know it, we'd be unlikely to return with regular gold medal hauls from the track champs, they would probably be no British TdF winners (I know they ride for Sky but the Sky/BC links are quite well rooted), there'd be no Sky rides and regular road racing would be the same muddled affair it previously was with huge regional differences, disorganised coaching and no central governing body.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Daveyraveygravey said:

The weekend before last, my Propel was away at the menders, so I had to take my son's Allez out. It's a good bike (makes me question why I spent £1400 more on the Propel, but that's a different story!) but it has plain old flat pedals. I found them hard to use and got quite frustrated. You can't climb the same way, part of you is thinking about keeping your ankles at the right angles to keep your feet in the right place, and when you get out the saddle, it all goes haywire! It's also harder descending, as the speed picks up, your feet bounce around and you don't want to lose contact with the pedals. The only benefit was stopping and starting didn't have that little nagging doubt that you weren't about to unclip.

I can live without disc brakes on my road bike and electronic shifting, I understand there are benefits to both of these but I don't feel they would make a significant difference to my riding yet.

I like Strava and my Garmin, I spend quite a bit of time off the bike looking at how I've got on, what I should work on next, where I should go, who of my friends has done what.

This for me!

I ride a heavy fixie/single speed out of steel with tech from the 70s! DOesnt bother me and I enjoy it , but would loathe it without clipped in pedals!

Otherwise CHINA: In how we can buy clothes/bikes/parts at such cheap prices

[Some Gump]

LordHaveMurci said:

Brings back memories that pic of Ever Ready lights!

Does Strava etc really make that much difference? I've only been road riding for 6-8mths & I'm only doing a max of 35mls so far, I've found the weather has been the limiting factor rather than motivation, would Strave help me & if so, how? I have a basic Sigma computer so I know how far/fast/long I've ridden for.

Depends what you're like. I'm quite goal orientated. Strava lets me set goals and strive to get em.
I'm also easily destracted. Strava stops me from saying "I rode about 15 miles" when in reality it was 13.7. If you have set a target of 200 miles a month, and you're 43.7 miles from target with 2 days to go, then todays ride is 44 miles or further - 35 miles because it's a bit wind isn't "close enough", it's "less".

Also, fighting that git from purchasing over the segment on our way home. That was great banter for almost a year (when someone actually fast put KOM out of reach by about 100 watts)...

[S10GTA]

Toss up between Strava and LED lights for me.

Strava is a massive motivational tool for many, and brings you closer to others. Lights have made a huge difference, you can actually see where you are going now!