Strava Effect

CruzLike

CruzLike

Guru
Hi All
I hope you are racking up the KOM for this falls Cruzbike Challenge.
In an effort to collect these as fast as possible, I drive near the segment and park. Sometimes this is located midway between the start and end of the segment. I find it nice to have a warm up and cool down before and after.
Yesterday was a great day. I was really feeling good. Legs feeling strong. Just crushing the segment. I make it to the van and I notice some people stopped at my car and was looking in the windows. In between breathes I yelled "Get away!" I couldn't stop. I finished the segment, claiming the KOM. When I got back to the van nothing was missing.

Did I do the right thing?

This didn't happen. It dd cross my mind as I blazed by.
 
jond

jond

Zen MBB Master
These people looking in your windows are strava former kom holders. .........

Did you slow down hesitant pedal motion ? No then you did the right thing. Lol
 
CruzLike

CruzLike

Guru
Strava1

Strava1

I assume I did. I have not uploaded the ride yet. I often saw my cruising speed a couple over the KOM average. I feel pretty confident.

This segment was interesting. It had bonus segments. I rode about 2 miles and covered 4 segments, two of which qualify for challenge.
I rode from left to right, C, D, B and E.
 
Barefoot Biker

Barefoot Biker

Active Member
I agree with @jond - probably former strava KOM holders trying to find the magic! I'm not sure why anyone with a cruzbike would still want a car. At least you knew your bike wasn't in it, but unless there was something of value in the car, such as a child ^H^H^H my own unarmed child, I would have carried on as well.

I am generally more concerned at the end of a segment when it comes to safety because that is where I've had the closest calls. For example, on one segment that ends at a cross street, the cross traffic has a stop sign. I did not have a stop sign. When the car crossing made it a rolling yield, I had to decide - in front of or behind. I was bold and elected for an "almost left turn" in front of the car because I was fast enough that I calculated I could put myself into the corner houses yard before it had any chance of hitting me. I passed in front. The car passed behind me. I don't think they ever saw me and luckily I didn't need to leave the road for that yard. My friend behind me said he dialed 9 on his phone as he watched it unfold. I'm sure from his perspective it looked even closer than it was. This was all just beyond the segment end, but when you're full gas, critical thinking skills seem, to me, at least somewhat impaired for a bit beyond the segments end so, that's usually the place I like to scout out in advance and have as much of a plan as possible how and when to abort.

Do not be afraid to abort your attempt though. Sometimes your next attempt will be better anyway. It took me five attempts for this one last week https://www.strava.com/segments/17190765 (which, I know, I know, not a mile long blah blah blah, but it's Universal!). If the traffic doesn't look right, try again. If your speed was not enough at the start, don't bother, start again, et cetera. Maybe a box truck will be running 35mph in front of you on the next one!

That effect though is powerful. What I like about it is how much it motivates me to improve and to go hard. Left to my own devices if there isn't anyone in front of me and I'm not going for a segment, I slow down. So, for that I like the effect. Hopefully we all sort safety as the higher priority though. Reminds me of this - https://www.wired.com/2012/06/opinion-strava-lawsuit/

Looking forward to seeing ya'll in White Lake, North Carolina in October!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
visit our website visit our website
Top