to ask your opinion of Strava for cycling

[bloodorangesareyummy]

DH thinks I should start using it to log my miles etc, but I am worried it will turn me competitive and obsessive and suck the joy out of my hobby. The people I know who use it seem preoccupied with their speed, how many miles they've done etc. I am naturally a competitive person so would it be a mistake?

[AnnaRacks]

It's quite nice to see how far you've cycled in a week, or in one ride. I don't really use it for speed (but then again I'm not fast, and I don't mind about speed), but use it to record my own progress.

It's quite nice when other people give you kudos!

I also use it for running and am pretty competitive with myself on times - it gives you comparisons against the previous runs you did on the same route so you can see how you are improving.

It is a bit addictive - it's a bit like if it's not on strava, it didn't happen! (I did a 10km run on Sunday and thought it hadn't recorded - I was gutted!).

[GreatBigPolarBear]

Love strava but yes, easy to get obsessed!

[Ifailed]

Strava can be useful to track your progress, and I do sometimes like watching the Flybys as I'm nosey and wonder where the people I pass have come from and going to. The segment thing can be quite a pain though, especially if you have a competitive streak, and if there's one thing guaranteed to ruin a group ride is having someone suddenly zoom off trying to get a better score on one.

Don't trust their calorie burn estimate, it is woefully optimistic.

[BikeRunSki]

I prefer to use a standalone Garmin to record distance and route, and not join in with all the segments, Queen of the Mountains type stuff.

[Thinkingabouthowlifechanges]

I joined Strava a few months ago and yeah I have become a bit obsessive!

BUT it's been great as it pushes me to ride more as I want to get fittter and faster. I like to monitor my progress like how many miles so far this year. And I like seeing how I compare to people in my cycling club on certain stretches of road.

I've got a few QOMs which I'm very proud of.

It's gutting when you do a really good effort on a climb then realise Strava was turned off