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To Flag or not to Flag?
That tis the question.
https://www.strava.com/activities/235139758#7467916118
The recent debate about Canal paths got me looking at what you can do to 'tidy up' Strava. I have gone along quite a few canal paths and gravel roads in the country. However I know myself that anything like cruising road speeds, +25kph, on wet gravel bends cobble stone with a canal beside and joggers and dogs, well they just are not worth it. I found that you can't really get rid of a segment, just hide it. Even if you were to flag one as hazardous it just removes the leaderboard and other people can always click to view it anyway. So I just have to choose to ignore these.
However I did find I could flag individual rides. I started looking at some of the leading times on some of the segments I frequent. At first it was easy to spot the car drivers leaving their Strava on after a ride in the country, followed by a 70kph drive in along an A road.
Then I came across the effort of the fellow about. Now I don't think there is a rule saying you can't draft a vehicle, but to have your Girlfriend drive along a route on purpose seems a little like sharp practise. Is this guy daring me to flag him with that title, or just thumbing his nose? It's not like I would be able to best the second place guy anyway. I'm guessing a 85" Brakeless Fixed isn't the kind of bike you would normally be riding around on unless you are Guy Martin.
Also would you flag a ride if just one segment has bad GPS and the rest looks fine. What criteria do you use, or is this something very few people look at? Strava Batman, keeping the streets clean.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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15 comments
I had a KOM through Parham house, about 4km through a deer park, a bit like Richmond Park only it is infinitely quieter. It got flagged much to my chagrin, initially I assumed because someone was jealous of my fantastic abilities (it was a following wind kind of day, but I was completely alone) but the owners of the property seem to not like cyclists and have put up massive notices about it not being a right of way especially to cyclists so I think they don't want bikes passing through. Perhaps they flagged it?
When I post my Blockhaus descent I think my indicated 214 mph top speed may cause a few issues!
I still own a KOM from drafting a slurry tractor...(Dung Draft)...anyone is welcome to better it....sans dung/avec dung splatter....
Who cares?
I've had KOMs, some won by hard graft, some by checking out the wind direction or being fortunate to have a bus in front of me.
Now I am just satisfied with a top ten placing as there is a guy I know in the south Glasgow area who has virtually every KOM going and is practically unbeatable.
At the end of the day, it's just a bit of fun and I don't think it's worthwhile getting upset about losing a KOM or risking your neck to get one.
Bro just enter an actual race to find out how good you really are.
Only KOM I had was a 13km stretch in rural East Yorks when a peloton of 20-25 of us blasted through whilst doing Newcastle to London 24hr. Took 1min off the previous best - but that was entirely due to us riding as a large bunch in a little cycled area.
These days I just have leaderboards set to show only my times on segments by default. Competing against myself (and the odd look at me vs mates I follow) is my only interest these days.
Oh, how can you do that? Is that a pro feature only?
No - I've got bog-standard membership and I can do it.
Go to Settings --> Display Preferences and you'll see three options - one of which is "Default Leaderboard View".
Change the setting to "My Results".
everyone that has a KOM on strava falls into at least one of the following categories, and often more than one:
1) they're a professional cyclist, or at least a really, really good one
2) they had a massive tailwind
3) they were drafting a car/van/lorry/paceline/whatever
4) they've found, or made for themselves, a segment that barely anyone has done
5) they got a GPS glitch in their favour
I've got a few KOMs and they're all a combination of 2, 3 and 4. unless you genuinely believe you're the fastest cyclist in your area, which i categorically don't, what's the point in wasting any time worrying about it?
6) favorable set of traffic light sequence
Just went to check my KOMs and of the 10 I have, 9 of them are elements of 2/3/4/6. The only one that I actually 'deserve' is on a fairly popular route that I've ridden hundreds of times on the commute and know every inch of.
KOMs are willy-waving, unless they're up a proper hill. Then you know it's been earned IMO.
Dave you are flat out wrong on this. Yes, SOME of the above factor could be true of some KOMs but most are genuinely set. I know because I have had to fight in some way to get every KOM I have. The term KOM is a misnomer for a start. It should be Segment Leader or something else; KOM suggests that only uphill segments are 'genuine' or worthy of attention. This is unfair and does not reflect the efforts people have to put to gain sprints or long flat segments (what I call Coursing.) Are sprints or TTs any less genuine competitions than climbing? If you dismiss the flat you are unfairly dismissing anyone who isn't a certain bodyshape. I will never be able to climb as I am somewhat long in the body [weasel shaped] and will never have the power to weight ratio of a climber, but I am a 'big unit' and can push and push and push. Simon Yates has KOM on one of my local climbs, how exactly am I supposed to take this KOM; keen though he may be you wouldn't expect Sir Steve Redgrave to beat him, or (Sir) Mark Cavendish either.
Every KOM is a little jewel, like the Crystal Maze it takes Strength, Speed, Skill or Knowledge or a combination of all the above to gain a KOM. I have a KOM sprint 1 of 179, 42.8kph for 0.71km. That doesn't fall into any of the above categories it was just fighting for it. I have others that are equally good according to VeloViewer a 10/1722 is also in the top one percent, Its not just about being No.1 if the competition on is on an open road. Even trying to steal those #4 self made segments off their originators is fun, you have to find them, then follow the course and maintain your speed, like Orienteering. All segments have their values and challenges. I am sure I will be very happy the day I grab a 1 of 1000 or over. If you make a segment I will be happy to take it off you if I have the ability.
Given what I've just said I think I should leave the Gentleman's ride, if it took persuading his Girlfriend to drive around on New Years day to bag up a few KOMs he must be showing some ingenuity. I may rethink this if I can ever attain the 58kph required for second spot.
FYI the fastest cyclist in my area is a Mike Humphreys who has taken back 4 segments that I took off him for a short time. But he can't ride every road. Touche Mike.
Flag it - drafting aside, he has no taste in tops.
Oh and fwiw before I get shot down, yes I use strava, yes I enjoy it but I don't worry about people sniping segments/drafting/glitches.
Maybe go outside and not worry about other peoples competitiveness/willy waving on strava...
Take a chill pill and enjoy the ride.