If you train with a GPS then you will no doubt be aware of Strava and the way it has quite simply changing the way we cycle.
sträva is a Swedish word meaning to “strive for” or “aspire to”
The simplicity of being able to upload/record your rides and then compare against your friends and other riders on a particular segment or climb is amazing. For some the lure of achieving a KOM has become an addiction. For the uninitiated, KOM is short for “king of the mountain.” It’s a term borrowed from the Tour de France and it means you have the top time on one of Strava’s millions of segments; those lactic leg burner hills or pure out and out sprints that Strava users have created.
For some the KOM’s have become an obsession and no longer can they simply go out for a steady ride without at least having a go at one or two Strava segments!
One thing can be said for Strava and that is it certainly helps motivate you to do them extra miles or push that little bit harder knowing that you want it to look a decent ride once uploaded. I personally use it to challenge myself and look to do better on certain climbs or segments, but a KOM seems a rare achievement for me these days!
The team at Strava are also working on further functionality like route planning, live performance data via mobile apps and the ability to challenge your friends.
There are also some people who are anti-strava and say that it has ruined the face of cycling! Me personally I am a Strava fan and think it has definitely improved my overall cycling!
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