I can recognise a bit of something in everyone's comments.
Personally, Its made me ride harder on the road, but against myself not others. If I happen to move up the leaderboard, I'm happy, but I'm well aware that I'm a middle aged bloke and half the people above me (and some below) are probably half my age so I don't take it too seriously (I don't yet pay for premium so don't have the age filter option).
One guy I ride with has turned into an arse, pootling along at 12mph until he hits a segment, at which poitn he dissapears into the distance. The last ride I went on with him he sat on my wheel, or some distance behind it, for the first 30miles moaning about the pace but at the end of the ride he went storming off ahead because he wanted to hit a Strava segment fast.
I ride more and I can see that I'm actually faster and better than I thought I was. I'm not often out of the top 25% of all riders and that's before I filter out the youngsters and skinny buggers (I'm 39 and 13 stone). I've got a fair few top tens under my belt, some top 5's and even one KOM but I'm sure someone will snatch that from me soon.
Its expensive... as a result of dodgy readings using my phones GPS, I've invested in a Garmin.
On group rides I still kick back and savour the social side if that's what the ride is about, but I'll put the hammer down a bit more and go segment hunting when I'm out on my own.
I like being able to see what my mates are up to. One of the guys I ride with knocked out an 80 miler today and its good to be able to leave a comment and a virtual slap on the back.... got to keep him motivated!
Personally, Its made me ride harder on the road, but against myself not others. If I happen to move up the leaderboard, I'm happy, but I'm well aware that I'm a middle aged bloke and half the people above me (and some below) are probably half my age so I don't take it too seriously (I don't yet pay for premium so don't have the age filter option).
One guy I ride with has turned into an arse, pootling along at 12mph until he hits a segment, at which poitn he dissapears into the distance. The last ride I went on with him he sat on my wheel, or some distance behind it, for the first 30miles moaning about the pace but at the end of the ride he went storming off ahead because he wanted to hit a Strava segment fast.
I ride more and I can see that I'm actually faster and better than I thought I was. I'm not often out of the top 25% of all riders and that's before I filter out the youngsters and skinny buggers (I'm 39 and 13 stone). I've got a fair few top tens under my belt, some top 5's and even one KOM but I'm sure someone will snatch that from me soon.
Its expensive... as a result of dodgy readings using my phones GPS, I've invested in a Garmin.
On group rides I still kick back and savour the social side if that's what the ride is about, but I'll put the hammer down a bit more and go segment hunting when I'm out on my own.
I like being able to see what my mates are up to. One of the guys I ride with knocked out an 80 miler today and its good to be able to leave a comment and a virtual slap on the back.... got to keep him motivated!
