Strava

Went looking for some hills this afternoon after work, but I'd have to do this and much more every day to finish the Rapha Rising challenge. Don't see that happening...

http://app.strava.com/rides/13474546

Went out for a short blast this evening and pleasantly surprised to grab a couple of KOMs on my doorstep. Was having a look through my other CR/KOMs and noticed this one:

http://app.strava.com/segments/1743134

Clearly someone has created a segment for this decent from Avoriaz to Montriond. I was on a family holiday and managed to get out for a few short rides on the winter bike before the kids were up for breakfast. This was one of my all time favorite rides (the only time I've ever ridden in proper mountains) so was well chuffed to see I hold the KOM for the decent, particularly as I slowed for a while to chat to a very nice French bloke about the spectacular scenery and the "goat village" half way down the decent.

I've enjoyed Strava since I joined a few months back as it's the perfect amount of "sport" for me since I quit time trialling, but spotting this is the icing on the cake for me. Will have to go back now and not chat to friendly French cyclists next time 8-)

Edit: just looked at the "performance" for the segment. It's pretty clear where I slow down to talk to my French friend.

I believe the word you are looking for is descent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA

That video is stunning. Beautiful. You'd think his enormous balls would cause massive wind resistance at that speed, but he seems to have no problem.

Outstanding bike handling skills. I just watched with the volume cranked up - brilliant!

Does anyone else feel a bit embarrassed when flagging a ride?

I feel like I shouldn't care, but I do.

nope, not when it's some muppet going up a 7% hill at 48mph

Eurgh. I've been climbing the same hills over and over and I'm only up to 19pc on Rapha Rising.

Good luck. I wouldn't fancy trying to do that much climbing in London, you've not got enough hills.

Oops wrong thread

Eurgh. I've been climbing the same hills over and over and I'm only up to 19pc on Rapha Rising.
Your best bet is to head out into the Surrey hills of an evening, and plough up and down a few of them.

Head out to Woldingham, Chalkpit Lane and that whole ridge along to Sundridge. Avoid Beddlestead Lane at the moment though, it's hub deep in gravel at the bottom of the dip.

I've found that the College Road climb, along 100 yards of main road, then Fountain (?) Lane is ok. Each two-way circuit is a few hundred metres.

Making a segment: I would like to create a segment called "10 mile test" which is laps of Herne Hill from the start/finish line until one passes the 10 mile mark.

Is there an easy way of doing this, rather than highlighting 10 miles of a previous ride, which is the only way I can see of doing it?

http://app.strava.com/rides/13671593

Anyone care to help a brother out?

How many laps = 10 miles. Once you have that it's easy enough.

I don't know, I keep pedalling until my computer says "10.0"

10 miles = 16.09 kms / 450 meters per lap = 35.75 laps?

I just tried to make a new segment, and it did something odd.

And trying to edit it I just made another useless one. Fuck it, I give up.

Working it out with laps is the easiest way for this. Just ask a HH regular down there, they'll probably know.

When we do TTs we make them finish at a lay by, lamp post, sign or something. Then you can zoom in (with maps showing satellite images) and mark it.

I cannot find how to zoom in whilst creating a segment, by random stabbing around in the dark I've possibly created a 10 mile segment, but I don't think it starts in the right place.

Why not find a straight road and ride along it for 10mi?

Switch the map to satellite imaging and you can zoom right in as close as you could want.

Shame that Strava doesn't analyse all your rides and look for the fastest 10 mile stretch like it does for runs: runs don't have location-based segments, but instead you get fastest mile, 2 miles, 5km, 10km etc, and I think it just scans all the way through your rides and looks for the fastest from any and each start point along the route.

Switch the map to satellite imaging and you can zoom right in as close as you could want.

I did not know that.