Strava Rivalry?

[creadinger]

Ok, fine! I signed up for Strava… geez…

My commute in southeast up to Suitland, may afford me some record attempts due to the fact that hardly anyone rides there. Less competition = oh yeah! This morning riding up Suitland Rd, I drafted behind a backhoe carrying a concrete casket to the Washington National Cemetery. Otherwise, I guess I can see how I stack up against other 200+ lb people riding steel touring bikes.

Question – given the fact that my commute is in southeast, DC… do you think a Garmin 200 or iPhone will work if it’s in the pocket of one of my panniers? I don’t really feel comfortable displaying expensive electronics in that area.

Also, generally does anyone have a Garmin 200? Recommend it? I’m thinking about upgrading from the ~$25 cyclocomputers that I’ve been using for the past 7 years.

[DismalScientist]

@creadinger 22698 wrote:

Ok, fine! I signed up for Strava… geez…
Otherwise, I guess I can see how I stack up against other 200+ lb people riding steel touring bikes.

Question – given the fact that my commute is in southeast, DC… do you think a Garmin 200 or iPhone will work if it’s in the pocket of one of my panniers? I don’t really feel comfortable displaying expensive electronics in that area.

I resemble that comment.

I run Strava on my Droid phone in the pocket of my khakis.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@creadinger 22698 wrote:

Ok, fine! I signed up for Strava… geez…

My commute in southeast up to Suitland, may afford me some record attempts due to the fact that hardly anyone rides there. Less competition = oh yeah! This morning riding up Suitland Rd, I drafted behind a backhoe carrying a concrete casket to the Washington National Cemetery. Otherwise, I guess I can see how I stack up against other 200+ lb people riding steel touring bikes.

Question – given the fact that my commute is in southeast, DC… do you think a Garmin 200 or iPhone will work if it’s in the pocket of one of my panniers? I don’t really feel comfortable displaying expensive electronics in that area.

Also, generally does anyone have a Garmin 200? Recommend it? I’m thinking about upgrading from the ~$25 cyclocomputers that I’ve been using for the past 7 years.

I have a 200 and I absolutely love it. Sure, it’s not as fancy as the 500 or 800, but it was way cheaper…and I don’t worry much about my HR or cadence, so the extra cost wasn’t justifiable. What I love is that it saves me from having to fiddle with my phone and kill its battery, particularly on long rides. I just really hated having to worry about pulling out my phone out to pause the ride or whatever, and if the app crashes, you just lost your ride data. And when I don’t use my Garmin (when I’m running errands or whatever), I always forget to start and stop the app on my phone, but since the Garmin is mounted on my stem, I always remember it. And you don’t have to worry about calibrating it or any of that crap.

Also, the 200 has a basic version of Courses, so you can plot out your ride using the online software, then upload it to your device and it’ll give you rudimentary directions (a line to follow and a direction pointer), and tell you when you made a wrong turn. With few exceptions, this has worked really well for me and saved me from having to constantly pull out my phone and try and figure out if I’m on the right course or not. Definitely makes exploring a bit more fun and less stressful, although you do have to take the time to plot out the course, but that’s kinda fun.

[Tim Kelley]

I think that the 200 would make a great commuter GPS but if you’re at all interested in more fitness riding and tracking other performance data, I would look at the 500 or 800, or even go with one of the triathlon watches like the 305 or 310.

And yes, it should work from a pocket of a pannier.

[creadinger]

First ever commute with strava and I got a 2nd place on a climb and a 5th place on a flat. I didn’t even know the segment which I got 5th even existed, so I can give that a bit more effort in the future.

There’s another climb segment on Suitland Rd that I could do, but I turned into the federal center before it ended. I’ll give a go next time!

[vvill]

Or just create your own segment to be KOM of! (for a day)

[GuyContinental]

Strava has made a “critical change” in their terms and conditions- frankly, I don’t have a history of the old terms but the new ones include this:

YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE TO RELEASE STRAVA, ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES, EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS AND LICENSORS (THE “RELEASED PARTIES”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY CONNECTED WITH YOUR ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES, AND PROMISE NOT TO SUE THE RELEASED PARTIES FOR ANY CLAIMS, ACTIONS, INJURIES, DAMAGES, OR LOSSES ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES.

http://app.strava.com/terms#termination

[vvill]

@eminva 22627 wrote:

Tell me something: Why are some of these segments on net downhills? I thought the “King of the Mountain” was the guy who got up the mountain the fastest?

Liz

Yeah I was a bit confused with the KOM title for segments when I first started using Strava. I guess if the segment is flat/downhill they should make a green jersey icon or something.

My favourite segments are all hills anyway.

[eminva]

@DismalScientist 22689 wrote:

I know all about this. I’m number 3 (in full dress khakis! (non-military)) on the Roosevelt Bridge after 1 real attempt and about 15 aborted ones.

In some ways, age has its privilege — I have a routine and I do the same segments day after day after day. Once in a blue moon, I hit a segment without any other cyclists, joggers, strollers or zombies the whole way. Yesterday was like that — I guess the heat scared them all off.

Liz

[DismalScientist]

@eminva 22983 wrote:

In some ways, age has its privilege — I have a routine and I do the same segments day after day after day. Once in a blue moon, I hit a segment without any other cyclists, joggers, strollers or zombies the whole way. Yesterday was like that — I guess the heat scared them all off.

Liz

I lucked out today and it was clear. So I took the KOM. Piece ‘o cake.

[DismalScientist]

How does one keep one’s heartrate below 90 when descending the S of certain death at 70 mph?
http://app.strava.com/segments/1045526

[vvill]

Just another segment that is too short/tight for accuracy with GPS units.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@vvill 22999 wrote:

Just another segment that is too short/tight for accuracy with GPS units.

Oh come on, you mean to tell me that Dirt didn’t actually hit 69.9mph coming down that thing? Hater.

2 Pete Beers Jun 14, 2011 69.9mi/h 89bpm 0W – 0:08

[Mark Blacknell]

@TwoWheelsDC 23016 wrote:

Oh come on, you mean to tell me that Dirt didn’t actually hit 69.9mph coming down that thing?

Despite having no idea how it might have been accomplished, I’m *certain* Dirt hit 69 on purpose. Absolutely.

[vvill]

0 Watts too: he was just coasting with the weight of the fat bike.

[Author]

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