Discussion
RizzoTheRat said:
I wonder if Strava really understand their users? IMO only a small portion consider themselves Athletes. the majority use it as a way of recording what they've done on a platform that their mates also use regardless of what watch/computer/app they're recording on. I have several friends logging 30+ minute parkruns on there.
I couldn't give a monkeys about KOMs or where I am in the leaderboards, but I do use it to compare my previous attempts at the same route, which looks like it'll still be free. That's a functionality I'd pay for, and would guess a lot of other people would too, but I'd have thought people that care about segment leaderboards are in a minority.
Maybe that's the point - they've worked out that they might be able to convert the "athlete" users who don't pay into paying users by making this change, and they don't think it's going to effect the much larger % of casual users who never look at segments. They've got all the data about who's doing what after all!I couldn't give a monkeys about KOMs or where I am in the leaderboards, but I do use it to compare my previous attempts at the same route, which looks like it'll still be free. That's a functionality I'd pay for, and would guess a lot of other people would too, but I'd have thought people that care about segment leaderboards are in a minority.
BMWBen said:
RizzoTheRat said:
I wonder if Strava really understand their users? IMO only a small portion consider themselves Athletes. the majority use it as a way of recording what they've done on a platform that their mates also use regardless of what watch/computer/app they're recording on. I have several friends logging 30+ minute parkruns on there.
I couldn't give a monkeys about KOMs or where I am in the leaderboards, but I do use it to compare my previous attempts at the same route, which looks like it'll still be free. That's a functionality I'd pay for, and would guess a lot of other people would too, but I'd have thought people that care about segment leaderboards are in a minority.
Maybe that's the point - they've worked out that they might be able to convert the "athlete" users who don't pay into paying users by making this change, and they don't think it's going to effect the much larger % of casual users who never look at segments. They've got all the data about who's doing what after all!I couldn't give a monkeys about KOMs or where I am in the leaderboards, but I do use it to compare my previous attempts at the same route, which looks like it'll still be free. That's a functionality I'd pay for, and would guess a lot of other people would too, but I'd have thought people that care about segment leaderboards are in a minority.
If you want to do a variety of workouts on different devices, have some cool features and see how you’re doing and see your mates workouts, post a picture of your activity etc it’s all free still and a great service.
If you get more into it, there’s other features you might use but you need to subscribe to get them and they’re more expensive for strava (who are a business) to develop and manage.
Tall_Paul said:
okgo said:
Dangerous move.
Now you’re only the fastest of people that pay vs everyone (that uses Strava). Takes the shine off a KOM IMO. I’ve paid for years, maybe since 2011 but the above is my thought.
Everyone on strava will still be on the leaderboard, free or premium member. what's changing is that as a free member you'll only be able to see the top 10. Premium members can see the whole leaderboard, age, weight classes, and segment analysis.Now you’re only the fastest of people that pay vs everyone (that uses Strava). Takes the shine off a KOM IMO. I’ve paid for years, maybe since 2011 but the above is my thought.
I’m surprised they haven’t been able to make money on all the data we’ve given them in the last few years. Surely someone would pay to know where we all ride, how often and how far/fast?
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 19th May 09:23
For casual riders like me the price seems ambitious, especially for 'mainly summer' cyclists. £20-25 pa would be more acceptable and this equates to a typical cycle club subscription. Veloviewer at £10 pa I've no problem paying for.
Another thought would be to charge £20 pa per sport - there must be similar cost to maintaining leader boards for running and cycling - why should those who do one activity subsidise those who do two (or three)?
Another thought would be to charge £20 pa per sport - there must be similar cost to maintaining leader boards for running and cycling - why should those who do one activity subsidise those who do two (or three)?
millen said:
Another thought would be to charge £20 pa per sport - there must be similar cost to maintaining leader boards for running and cycling - why should those who do one activity subsidise those who do two (or three)?
I can't see why it would be any more expensive to maintain? All it's really doing is picking up a field you complete for them in the database to tell them which sport you've done today, and then applied it to the relevant leader board.Strava does provide a good service. It has become part of life for many sports enthusiasts in a short time.
I've never paid for the premium features as I'm not that interested in the analysis.
The leader boards are only interesting to compare with my friends and people I know who are similar (and/or older, younger, bigger, smaller). I'm not competing with professionals or pelotons of club riders who put in fast times on popular cycling routes.
I've never paid for the premium features as I'm not that interested in the analysis.
The leader boards are only interesting to compare with my friends and people I know who are similar (and/or older, younger, bigger, smaller). I'm not competing with professionals or pelotons of club riders who put in fast times on popular cycling routes.
Ray has views
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/05/strava-cuts-of...
I have tried to find a way of doing one of the things he suggests for our club - without success so far.
"why can’t clubs/teams create shared Strava routes that automatically sync into the team members’ accounts based on upcoming rides on a team calendar?"
and the other he suggests I thought was already done "why can’t Strava Beacon then automatically integrate across teams/clubs so that people know where everyone is on a group ride?"
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/05/strava-cuts-of...
I have tried to find a way of doing one of the things he suggests for our club - without success so far.
"why can’t clubs/teams create shared Strava routes that automatically sync into the team members’ accounts based on upcoming rides on a team calendar?"
and the other he suggests I thought was already done "why can’t Strava Beacon then automatically integrate across teams/clubs so that people know where everyone is on a group ride?"
Johnnybee said:
Will you still be able to compare your own times on segments?
I reckon not...DC Rainmaker summary:
Free users:
• Top 10 all-time and top 10 women Results in Leaderboard
• New Segment Creation is allowed
• Segment Detail screen is allowed (just not leaderboard details)
• Segment Explore / Search is allowed
• Flagging Segments is allowed
• Activity achievements is shown on a ride (KOM’s, CR’s, PR’s)
Paying Subscribers only:
• All segment leaderboards (including following/clubs/this year/age groups/weight classes)
• Analyze segment efforts
• Compare your results
• Analyze your efforts
I signed up last night. can't think of many things for less than £1 a week that will provide me with as much entertainment. Been having a laugh with my riding buddies challenging each other to segments during lockdown. Be a shame to lose out on that. It's pointless I know but I do quite enjoy uploading a ride and waiting to see if any top 10 cups or KOMs pop up. And with no races to do I've been targeting a couple of longer local hills and segments to train for to get PRs on.
I rarely do the same route twice on my bike but do for running and the "matched runs" feature is quite useful for tracking progress, I think this will be lost on the free accounts.
I rarely do the same route twice on my bike but do for running and the "matched runs" feature is quite useful for tracking progress, I think this will be lost on the free accounts.
BMWBen said:
Maybe that's the point - they've worked out that they might be able to convert the "athlete" users who don't pay into paying users by making this change, and they don't think it's going to effect the much larger % of casual users who never look at segments. They've got all the data about who's doing what after all!
Fair point, but I can't help thinking there's a lot of us who would happily pay a small fee for some of what is currently free. Enough to justify 3 tiers maybe? Free to log your run/ride and see your friends, low cost to see basic segments and heat maps, with maybe some tools for creating and sharing group routes, and then a higher tier for all the details. For £4 a month, it's a bargain in my view. I've been paying for a few years now (2015) as it's something I'd be sad if it disappeared. I find it motivates me to ride more (bit like the veloviewer explorer stuff at the moment too).
The site has been struggling for a while, and they'd called out the growth in zwift causing them issues with leaderboard performance. Makes sense to reduce their costs if they aren't making enough money to break even out of the current base.
The site has been struggling for a while, and they'd called out the growth in zwift causing them issues with leaderboard performance. Makes sense to reduce their costs if they aren't making enough money to break even out of the current base.
On YouTube videos I've seen the 'Routes' functionality on the phone app being demonstrated, where you can set variables like how much elevation you want, and it even giving you a choice of 2 or 3 different routes.
I've signed up for a Summit trial but all I get when I try and create a route on my phone is the ability to draw a rough route and have it turn it into a route. No options to specify any kind of criteria about elevation, duration or whatever, and no multiple routings being displayed. This is iOS app by the way.
I've signed up for a Summit trial but all I get when I try and create a route on my phone is the ability to draw a rough route and have it turn it into a route. No options to specify any kind of criteria about elevation, duration or whatever, and no multiple routings being displayed. This is iOS app by the way.
daddy cool said:
I reckon not...
DC Rainmaker summary:
Free users:
• Top 10 all-time and top 10 women Results in Leaderboard
• New Segment Creation is allowed
• Segment Detail screen is allowed (just not leaderboard details)
• Segment Explore / Search is allowed
• Flagging Segments is allowed
• Activity achievements is shown on a ride (KOM’s, CR’s, PR’s)
Paying Subscribers only:
• All segment leaderboards (including following/clubs/this year/age groups/weight classes)
• Analyze segment efforts
• Compare your results
• Analyze your efforts
This is the bit that I wouldn't want to lose. I have only been riding for a few months, and I really like seeing my improvement up certain climbs etc. To be honest, £40 is not much to pay for something i use a few times every week.DC Rainmaker summary:
Free users:
• Top 10 all-time and top 10 women Results in Leaderboard
• New Segment Creation is allowed
• Segment Detail screen is allowed (just not leaderboard details)
• Segment Explore / Search is allowed
• Flagging Segments is allowed
• Activity achievements is shown on a ride (KOM’s, CR’s, PR’s)
Paying Subscribers only:
• All segment leaderboards (including following/clubs/this year/age groups/weight classes)
• Analyze segment efforts
• Compare your results
• Analyze your efforts
One of the main things I use it for is seeing where people have been going. If you are going offroad and trying to stick to legit bridleways, it will give you a good idea on whether you are allowed to cycle there or not. Having said that, I had a crash on a ride on Sunday, trying to get to where a mate had ridden the day before and found a good climb; if I hadn't had a look at his Strava post I might not have gone there!
There are so many good features in Premium, it seems good value to me. My son and his mates have started running and really like the free features of it; everyone likes to know how far they went and how long it took them, and to have a dabble with finding new routes.
There are so many good features in Premium, it seems good value to me. My son and his mates have started running and really like the free features of it; everyone likes to know how far they went and how long it took them, and to have a dabble with finding new routes.
I've always found it surprising that the kind of folk who drop £3k+ on a bike and have no problem paying Rapha £200 for a pair of shorts would grumble at paying Strava for something which they obviously value, given how much debate and discussion there usually is about average speeds, segment times etc. at the coffee shop.
At the other end of the scale, folk like my wife who maybe cycle 10-20 times per year and who appreciate trying to improve their relative position in the leaderboard as a motivator, but would never think of themselves as 'athletes', are simply never going to pony up for a Strava sub, regardless of what feature it unlocks. I guess if she can still see her historical performances then she'll probably be happy enough.
They should go for a genuine tiered sub model imho. A Veloviewer-type cheap option, maybe £20/yr to get access to basic leaderboards and routes, and a full-fat one at the current prices which is needed to see age/weight splits, as well as hrm, zones, power etc. data.
At the other end of the scale, folk like my wife who maybe cycle 10-20 times per year and who appreciate trying to improve their relative position in the leaderboard as a motivator, but would never think of themselves as 'athletes', are simply never going to pony up for a Strava sub, regardless of what feature it unlocks. I guess if she can still see her historical performances then she'll probably be happy enough.
They should go for a genuine tiered sub model imho. A Veloviewer-type cheap option, maybe £20/yr to get access to basic leaderboards and routes, and a full-fat one at the current prices which is needed to see age/weight splits, as well as hrm, zones, power etc. data.
Edited by loudlashadjuster on Tuesday 19th May 14:34
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff