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I think you're mostly correct here, but Strava's main selling point isn't the data store and interface (which in my opinion is not great). It's the social featu

by prhn 4y ago

I think you're mostly correct here, but Strava's main selling point isn't the data store and interface (which in my opinion is not great). It's the social feature. I've met a massive community of cyclists: rode with cycling "celebs," trained with really strong amateurs, met a ton of people, learned about weekly group rides, learned about the best rides in the area, and made some very good friends. Most of this was facilitated by Strava. I'm glad it hasn't devolved into just another shitty social media app, but I do feel like they are not capitalizing on what makes them unique. Right now that is being the de facto cycling social media network.

jeffbee 4y ago
> I've ... made some very good friends. This is my experience. Strava is the only social network where I've made friends. It is a net positive in life. Every other social network I tried to use caused me to fire some friends eventually.
- jq-r 4y ago
  Funnily enough, it pretty much broke apart our weekend riding group. That was a mountain bike group, and in my city there were about 20 of us on those rides depending on a season. It didn't matter who was the fastest uphill or downhill, or who was the bravest to go on some scary drops and jumps. It was always just about having fun whatever your abilities are. It was always damned fun on those group rides. Ride a lot, talk a lot, enjoy the greenery and fresh air, beer at the end, what's not to like? But little by little, and then all of the sudden, everyone had Strava, nobody wanted to rest on a nice place to stop, it was always segments, segments, and more segments. People didn't want session some nice jump or a section, it was always a white knuckle ride top to bottom with no technique, or fun, and just furious time comparisons on the end of segments. People would even heatedly argue about them too, and some riders I know don't talk to each other anymore because of it. Forget about chatting while riding, how you can chat if your heart is pounding and you're chasing that elusive KOM? So with time, that diverse group fractured because the slower guys couldn't keep up with the "I only ride segments" guys, and smaller groups formed, but those were actually quite short lived. Some of those still ride, but mostly solos or in very small groups which is quite sad to me. I guess Strava can definitely help you out if you're riding a road bike to find a group which suits your ability. I guess in every city you can have plenty to choose from. But that just doesn't work if your area has say 50 riders in total. Segments in the mountain are great, but only if you ride alone like a training, just don't drag a mountain bike group into it. Just to make it clear, I don't blame Strava here at all, it is just people who get obssessed by numbers and see rivalry when none exist. Or as the saying goes: comparison is a thief of joy.
Alex3917 4y ago
And that would be a great value at $3-4 a month, but at double that, meh.
jwineinger 4y ago
What features of Strava have helped with that? Did you find a local cycling group on Strava and met up with people via that? I seem to be a cycling (or at least group riding) dead zone, because there don't seem to be any active groups near me. I get kudos from friends afar but the only person that Strava helped me connect with was someone that I chatted briefly at a stoplight with, who then found me via Strava flyover. But even then, we've never ridden together since.
- rday 4y ago
  Flyover also helped me connect with groups that I would see riding in other directions. Since flyover was made opt-in, I haven't gotten any use out of it. Opt-in is probably a really good idea, even though it killed the feature. I really liked that feature. But yea, it was too easy to abuse. Are you able to see any frequent routes using the global heat map?
- nradov 4y ago
  Use the flyover feature and segment leaderboards to identify users active in your area, then check which clubs they have joined. Some of those clubs might have a weekly group ride either listed as a Strava event, or on a linked web site or Facebook group. Many bike shops also organize a weekly group ride as a marketing strategy. If you're already coming there to ride then there's a good chance you'll buy something or use their mechanic service.
mbesto 4y ago
> It's the social feature. Agreed. But this is a feature that only works on a free model. I'm not aware of any major social network makes money on 100% of its user community.
- kaesar14 4y ago
  You’re not wrong but “no one’s done it so no one should ever even try” isn’t a good reason
Lio 4y ago
As a current subscriber I'm not sure I agree with this. Yes Strava does do social stuff but they're a mixed bag and also free. I like that they don't do aggressive surveillance as a business model (it's one of the reasons I subscribe) but it's also pretty useless for organising and planning future rides. Lots of people comment and give kudos after an event's happened but I don't know anyone using Strava to agree meeting up somewhere. All of that side of things seems to happen on Signal, Whatsapp or FB here. I do like the route planning but I'm not sure I'll continue to subscribe just for that given the new prices.
- prhn 4y ago
  I 100% agree with your criticisms. That was my point. Strava’s main feature is the social element, but they are not really maximizing the leverage they have with install base. Compare Zwift. I can log in and join a group ride at just about any time of the day. Now, I know that’s not a completely fair comparison because Zwift is online so it always has access to way more riders, but where is the analogue in Strava?
  - Lio 4y ago
    Ah right, yep that makes perfect sense and I agree on the comparison with Zwift too. Strava are in a unique position compared to Garmin Connect. Whist I use Garmin and they seem to be the most popular bike computers I still know lots of people in my cycling club that use Wahoo or Hammerhead units. Strava is the place that everyone comes together after a ride.

by prhn 4y ago

jeffbee 4y ago

> I've ... made some very good friends. This is my experience. Strava is the only social network where I've made friends. It is a net positive in life. Every other social network I tried to use caused me to fire some friends eventually.

jq-r 4y ago
Funnily enough, it pretty much broke apart our weekend riding group. That was a mountain bike group, and in my city there were about 20 of us on those rides depending on a season. It didn't matter who was the fastest uphill or downhill, or who was the bravest to go on some scary drops and jumps. It was always just about having fun whatever your abilities are. It was always damned fun on those group rides. Ride a lot, talk a lot, enjoy the greenery and fresh air, beer at the end, what's not to like? But little by little, and then all of the sudden, everyone had Strava, nobody wanted to rest on a nice place to stop, it was always segments, segments, and more segments. People didn't want session some nice jump or a section, it was always a white knuckle ride top to bottom with no technique, or fun, and just furious time comparisons on the end of segments. People would even heatedly argue about them too, and some riders I know don't talk to each other anymore because of it. Forget about chatting while riding, how you can chat if your heart is pounding and you're chasing that elusive KOM? So with time, that diverse group fractured because the slower guys couldn't keep up with the "I only ride segments" guys, and smaller groups formed, but those were actually quite short lived. Some of those still ride, but mostly solos or in very small groups which is quite sad to me. I guess Strava can definitely help you out if you're riding a road bike to find a group which suits your ability. I guess in every city you can have plenty to choose from. But that just doesn't work if your area has say 50 riders in total. Segments in the mountain are great, but only if you ride alone like a training, just don't drag a mountain bike group into it. Just to make it clear, I don't blame Strava here at all, it is just people who get obssessed by numbers and see rivalry when none exist. Or as the saying goes: comparison is a thief of joy.

Alex3917 4y ago

And that would be a great value at $3-4 a month, but at double that, meh.

jwineinger 4y ago

What features of Strava have helped with that? Did you find a local cycling group on Strava and met up with people via that? I seem to be a cycling (or at least group riding) dead zone, because there don't seem to be any active groups near me. I get kudos from friends afar but the only person that Strava helped me connect with was someone that I chatted briefly at a stoplight with, who then found me via Strava flyover. But even then, we've never ridden together since.

rday 4y ago
Flyover also helped me connect with groups that I would see riding in other directions. Since flyover was made opt-in, I haven't gotten any use out of it. Opt-in is probably a really good idea, even though it killed the feature. I really liked that feature. But yea, it was too easy to abuse. Are you able to see any frequent routes using the global heat map?
nradov 4y ago
Use the flyover feature and segment leaderboards to identify users active in your area, then check which clubs they have joined. Some of those clubs might have a weekly group ride either listed as a Strava event, or on a linked web site or Facebook group. Many bike shops also organize a weekly group ride as a marketing strategy. If you're already coming there to ride then there's a good chance you'll buy something or use their mechanic service.

mbesto 4y ago

> It's the social feature. Agreed. But this is a feature that only works on a free model. I'm not aware of any major social network makes money on 100% of its user community.

kaesar14 4y ago
You’re not wrong but “no one’s done it so no one should ever even try” isn’t a good reason

Lio 4y ago

As a current subscriber I'm not sure I agree with this. Yes Strava does do social stuff but they're a mixed bag and also free. I like that they don't do aggressive surveillance as a business model (it's one of the reasons I subscribe) but it's also pretty useless for organising and planning future rides. Lots of people comment and give kudos after an event's happened but I don't know anyone using Strava to agree meeting up somewhere. All of that side of things seems to happen on Signal, Whatsapp or FB here. I do like the route planning but I'm not sure I'll continue to subscribe just for that given the new prices.

prhn 4y ago
I 100% agree with your criticisms. That was my point. Strava’s main feature is the social element, but they are not really maximizing the leverage they have with install base. Compare Zwift. I can log in and join a group ride at just about any time of the day. Now, I know that’s not a completely fair comparison because Zwift is online so it always has access to way more riders, but where is the analogue in Strava?
- Lio 4y ago
  Ah right, yep that makes perfect sense and I agree on the comparison with Zwift too. Strava are in a unique position compared to Garmin Connect. Whist I use Garmin and they seem to be the most popular bike computers I still know lots of people in my cycling club that use Wahoo or Hammerhead units. Strava is the place that everyone comes together after a ride.