Strava seems a little unfair on us oldies
Discussion
Just for fun I had a go at some Strava segments around my way.
I am nearer 65 than I am 55 but while the 65-75 KOM are well within my reach the 55-65 are most definitely not
A 10 year bracket in your 20s and 30s is nothing. That same 10 year bracket after 55 yrs of age seems faintly absurd?
I am nearer 65 than I am 55 but while the 65-75 KOM are well within my reach the 55-65 are most definitely not
A 10 year bracket in your 20s and 30s is nothing. That same 10 year bracket after 55 yrs of age seems faintly absurd?
272BHP said:
Just for fun I had a go at some Strava segments around my way.
I am nearer 65 than I am 55 but while the 65-75 KOM are well within my reach the 55-65 are most definitely not
A 10 year bracket in your 20s and 30s is nothing. That same 10 year bracket after 55 yrs of age seems faintly absurd?
Local Legend is the way to go for achievements when older. These young ones might be quick but are they consistent? I am nearer 65 than I am 55 but while the 65-75 KOM are well within my reach the 55-65 are most definitely not
A 10 year bracket in your 20s and 30s is nothing. That same 10 year bracket after 55 yrs of age seems faintly absurd?
272BHP said:
I will get bored of it eventually I guess.
I just think Strava should really go down to 5 year brackets after the age of 50.
In terms of VO2 max we supposedly experience more % physical degradation in just 3 years from 55 - 58 than we do from 20 - 40
It's rough up this end I tell you
Well, keep riding! Either way, whether you're pushing 600w or 100w, you're rocking it out on the bike regardless.I just think Strava should really go down to 5 year brackets after the age of 50.
In terms of VO2 max we supposedly experience more % physical degradation in just 3 years from 55 - 58 than we do from 20 - 40
It's rough up this end I tell you
JEA1K said:
There's too many variables to let it worry you .... there are people out there who target segments when the wind's at its strongest.
I mean come on.
And e-bikes. There are some very suspicious timings near me. I mean come on. Xenoous said:
Well, keep riding! Either way, whether you're pushing 600w or 100w, you're rocking it out on the bike regardless.
Exactly this, I suffered from tallipies, which was corrected in childhood, but my ankles don't flex, hence I have no calf muscles, hence my username, which was a nickname I got as a teenager from another cyclist I know. I will never be fast, never push big watts or have massive endurance as essentially I cycle with my thighs alone and only produce 'power' for about a third of the pedal stroke. I don't care, I like riding my bike, it keeps me fit, and you can have the best kit in the world on a budget that would struggle to buy a nice second hand car.
The hobby of cycling, building bikes and the other associated activites (like my Alps road trip) are more than enough reason to keep doing it.
I'm a similar age to the OP and whilst I do look at my rankings I'm happy if I'm in the top 20% of riders on any given segment. Far more interesting to me is seeing if I'm at least maintaining my own level of fitness over time rather than being faster than Joe Bloggs.
I did have (may still have) one KoM. It was downhill though and on a windy day so whilst it was nice to see it was hardly a life changing event
I did have (may still have) one KoM. It was downhill though and on a windy day so whilst it was nice to see it was hardly a life changing event
I only pay attention to sub 400m sprints. Unlike the rest of my output I'm blessed with plenty of short term power, so even at 48 I can mix it at the top. I'm only on my second season of cycling including an enforced 4 months off last winter, so the gains are still coming. Hoping to take a few more KOMs next Spring/summer. As long as you don't take it too seriously, a bit of competition doesn't hurt anyone.
Other than that I just like to use it to gauge how I'm improving. Roll on Spring.
Other than that I just like to use it to gauge how I'm improving. Roll on Spring.
In the early days it wasn't beyond reach to manage the odd KOM locally but now multi generations have had a go and around me there's a fair few which have been used for pro races so some of the times are just crazy. Like it's been mentioned it's good to use yourself as a metric (Just to watch the decline!)
Anything age group is only there to appease people that aren’t that good at something - see triathletes.
I’ve progressively been losing all my KOM’s but some still remain, oldest ones now almost 14 years old, you need some wind help for most of the popular ones such is the amount they’ve been done.
- see triathletes. I’ve progressively been losing all my KOM’s but some still remain, oldest ones now almost 14 years old, you need some wind help for most of the popular ones such is the amount they’ve been done.
MaxFromage said:
I only pay attention to sub 400m sprints. Unlike the rest of my output I'm blessed with plenty of short term power, so even at 48 I can mix it at the top. I'm only on my second season of cycling including an enforced 4 months off last winter, so the gains are still coming. Hoping to take a few more KOMs next Spring/summer. As long as you don't take it too seriously, a bit of competition doesn't hurt anyone.
Other than that I just like to use it to gauge how I'm improving. Roll on Spring.
Wait another 10 years and that will dwindle a fair amount but you will still be able to mix it a bit. And then the very next spring when you put the hammer down properly for the first time and .... nothing Other than that I just like to use it to gauge how I'm improving. Roll on Spring.
I agree about the competition element. The soul needs a bit of that.
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