One part of me thinks that it's stupid to flag a segment like that because common sense should prevail. Let Darwinism take it's course, because you deserve what you got coming if you purposely blow through a stop sign for Strava glory.

But the other side of me knows the reality is that there are people who take Strava way too seriously, and that it's not just their safety they are putting at risk. An oncoming car may choose to swerve into a ditch. A pedestrian could get killed. Heck, if a bike T-bones a car and launches the cyclist into the driver or passenger window, it could kill a passenger in the car. And then there is simply the horror and guilt a person can feel if they actually killed the cyclist...even if the cyclist is 100% at fault.

Strava is also a poplar tool for tourists, and this could give someone a false sense of security that the road doesn't have a stop sign. Still though, any rider should be responsible for themselves and not use Strava as an excuse.

So I guess yeah, I would flag it...as dumb as that kind of sounds.

Yes I would. Strava segments do lead to people killing themselves and this sounds like a perfect example. It is not the KOM that is the problem it is the segment itself. But Strava probably won't do anything about it. I have flagged hundreds of CRs that were some weekend idiot who records all their bike rides as runs, which is pretty obvious when you see someone who does 60 miles a month of some activity "running" a 3:50 mile. I have asked and asked Strava to automatically recategorize runs as rides if they break a world record. If it really is a weekend warrior who happened to break the 800m world record, so be it, they can change it back.

However, Strava doesn't give a rats ass about runners or triathletes. They care about getting money from the weekend warrior with things like their insurance program (stupid and does not apply to anyone not using a phone to record activities) and their socializing follow others and talk about it direction. Triathletes have asked and asked for multi-sport events. We have asked for challenges where say the swim distance is multiplied by 10, the run 4 and biking 1 to get a triathlon score. And the list goes on of good suggestions ignored like sadly yours will be even though it is a very good suggestion. I really love the Strava community and hate the company.

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2018 Races: IM Santa Rosa, Vineman Monte Rio, Lake Tahoe 70.3

Yes, strava wants you to do that as well:

https://www.strava.com/stand-with-us

I think most would have common sense, but it only takes a couple to risk it. One will make it and the other won't be so lucky.

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this post is already too many brain cycles—let alone the effort required to view/flag the ride in strava.

it's strava, not the UCI road champs.

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no sponsors | no races | nothing to see here

Maybe I am misinterpreting. I don't think he is worried about someone not being able to get the KOM, but if its a legit dangerous section of road that people should be careful on.

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Use this link to save $5 off your USAT membership renewal:
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I have no idea what you are trying to say. It doesn't matter if someone gets killed if it's not in the UCI world championship?

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
Instagram • Facebook

flagging segments is dumb. ignore it and move along. $.02

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no sponsors | no races | nothing to see here

Before this gets too crazy, you have checked if this result was not posted in the course of a race in / through that area where the intersection would clearly be controlled and safe to proceed through blindly.

I live on the street. I am not aware of a race that goes in that direction.

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
Instagram • Facebook

Some tae-Bing-do using the date, area/Street name, and clever search help words like “race” may provide some interesting results. Also, if there are also close segment leaders on the same date with awesome user handles.

I had flagged it right before starting this thread. As of now, His KOM is removed. He is now third instead of first.

BUT... his third place still has him going through that stop sign at 32 mph. The two guys tied for first are twin pro cyclists. I kinda sorta know them and have ridden with them a few times. They went through the stop sign at 29. Seems like this is a never-ending battle.

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
Instagram • Facebook

Those are their real names.....

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
Instagram • Facebook

The whole running Strava thing is crazy. Signed up for an account this summer for the first time (biked the whole summer), and did my first run today in 8 months because of knee surgery and healing time. Looking over my run today I guess I went through a few segments and checked the leader board. Top three times for one segment are guys who did 5-10K's those days at 3:45 per mile pace...and they've been up there for 4 years.

Was looking for a way to flag them through the app but stopped after a few minutes realizing they probably don't care if its been up that long.

AAAANNNNNDDD....


This is probably all about nothing. I just looked at one of my rides and strava has me going through that sign at 28 mph. I have never run that stop sign.

Edit - if there is some sort of averaging going on I guess that explains it.

Given the second fastest guys are at 29 there, and I know them to be very good bike riders, I wonder if the 48mph run was actually running the stop sign.

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
Instagram • Facebook

Probably need to drink some whiskey or something, you just crossed the line into Strava mob boss.

Lol. I'm gonna light up a $300 cigar and drink a glass of Johnny Blue while sitting at a folding card table in the back room of the office at Mick's Used Bikes and Home Theater Systems.

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
Instagram • Facebook

Actually if you flag it as being a ride instead of a run, they have reversed those 100% of the time for me and I have flagged stuff like that about a hundred times. They are very good about it when a ride is put up as a run. Go ahead and flag it. But, what they wont' do is take steps to stop this frequent problem from reoccurring.

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2018 Races: IM Santa Rosa, Vineman Monte Rio, Lake Tahoe 70.3

Wait...you have flagged about a hundred Strava segments? Damn, you have some spare time on your hands. Imagine that effort put towards training

Thanks Ralph for your positive support. 1. That is over a period of years. 2. if you train all day every day you won't do well. 3. I'll bet I am faster than you.

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2018 Races: IM Santa Rosa, Vineman Monte Rio, Lake Tahoe 70.3

I'm confused. Your original post talks about flagging the segment, but subsequent posts indicate that you're only talking about flagging KOM-holder's ride.

If the segment is unsafe, which it sounds like it is, you should actually flag the segment so that people aren't doing stupid shit to win it. Just flagging KOM's ride accomplishes nothing.

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Eliot
blog thing - strava thing

...Except move OP up the leader board. 😀

Personally I don't think there should even be Strava segments for descents, and any competition around descending in my club is strongly discouraged. I love a good fast descent when conditions allow, but safety should always come first and I simply don't think it's a good idea to encourage anybody to take risks beyond their ability to try and get a better segment placing.

Since they do exist, I really wouldn't bother flagging segments for dangerous riding. Doesn't achieve anything. If you always respect the Stop sign then you're clearly not bothered enough about the segment to care about your own placing (which is absolutely the right attitude!) so why worry about who's above you? There will always be some idiot who's going to go too fast, but they're not going to stop because you got their segment flagged, in fact if anything they're likely to go back and have another go to reclaim their KOM. If I see people riding dangerously in person, particularly if their riding is putting others in danger, I generally try to have a word though it's difficult doing so in a way which is actually going to make them think about their riding and not just piss them off. But policing Strava for dangerous riding? Too many to bother about, let it go.

Descent segments are stupid. There are enough random deer on that road to worry about, let alone the known stop sign and cars.
I barely ever let myself get to 40mph descending back into town. Just not enough time to react.

Which is why I use disc brakes :)

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Alex Arman

Strava

What about getting a mate to stand at the intersection and wave you on if the coast is clear? I've seen some lowlife cyclists do that before to get a KOM on a downhill segment. I've often jumped on the bike intending to go for that elusive KOM that's 5/10s out of reach, only to be thwarted by a red light/sunday driver. I'm not going to run a stop sign at a major intersection and put myself in harms way for a KOM.

Boggles the mind... yet Strava has now encouraged/facilitated/"made this ok" by rewarding the "fastest". Didn't a guy go through a red light and subsequently a windscreen in San Fran trying to best a segment time?

I'll toast their "balls of steel" but at the end of the day if they end up in a wooden box it's darwinism....

Where did you see this at? That would be an interesting study.

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I recently deleted a segment on my Strava that goes through two stop lights. First one is a three way light where there is a fork in the road and cars are coming on your right, the next stop part of the segment takes you through a left turn

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All I Wanted Was A Pepsi, Just One Pepsi

Team Zoot, Team Zoot Mid-Atlantic

A stop sign or a traffic signal? there's a big difference.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/bicyclist-us-guilty-vehicular-homicide/story?id=19759724


Quick google found this. Not sure it's the exact one I saw but it's along the same lines

Unfortunately there a many more like it

http://www.ibtimes.com/...ing-accident-1695078

I can't distinguish whether you're talking about the ones who risk their reputations and/or lives.......or the ones who care.

"Thanks Ralph for your positive support. 1. That is over a period of years. 2. if you train all day every day you won't do well. 3. I'll bet I am faster than you."


Not sure what kind of support you are looking for. Being obsessed with inconsequential Strava records seems pretty odd. But I will concede that you are faster than me. More importantly though, my dad can beat up your dad.

To make sure everyone is safe, Strava should have a speed limit database that autoflags rides if exceeded. It could then auto route this info to police stations so tickets can be handed out accordingly.

Stop Lights, Traffic Signals whatever floats your boat

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All I Wanted Was A Pepsi, Just One Pepsi

Team Zoot, Team Zoot Mid-Atlantic

Nooooooo! I was entering an intersection that I knew was the beginning of a Strava segment and I had a green light plus a 20 mph tailwind. I knew if I hit the gas I would have a chance of getting the KOM. It was a two lane road each way and as I crossed the intersection there was a car to my left and the speed limit was 45 mph. There was a slight downhill for the first third of the segment (2% grade) and I actually passed the car on my left. I glanced over and could see the passenger look to his left (looking at the speedometer was my guess) and he mentioned something to the driver then looked at me and gave me a thumbs up. I don't ride with a bike computer (had a 920XT on my wrist) but Strava had me at hitting 48 mph so technically I was speeding. That was a bit of fun and traffic was light (just me and that other car).

That segment was 0.8 or 0.9 miles long and I missed the KOM by 1 second.

The only Strava segments I have flagged were ones where I know they were driving in their car and had forgotten to stop their GPS devices.

I have seen segments flagged in the area as "dangerous" and usually there's a stop sign at the beginning or end.

I woudn't... but I know some that do... someone around me seems to flag any segment that has an intersection in it One is a driveway at the top of a hill, not sure why "they" flagged that one. I wish you could see "who" flags these things, I'd like to know why that one was flagged.

I digress, I only flag cheaters that motorpace, the segment itself is a personal choice thing.... the people that set them up and those that race them.

Strava was once cool, then all the flagging of segments and KOMs started. What is safe for one might not feel safe for others. Maybe he had friend at the stop sign showing him there were no cars, who cares? maybe his iPhone GPS had some massive hiccup.

I stoped using Strava and paying for it long time ago, totally useless app for people with too much time. All this captain kudos BS is pathetic, wow look I rode Epic 10km today, I'm exhausted and so fit now, can't move my legs... OMG you rode 40km it impossible I will flag your ride...

There is some phase of encouragement when you are new to it, and that is great, but if one would stop and think it is useless app using big data god knows how and in what way.

Lets take two scenarios here in my home town:

One regular segment called Four Way Stop or Not:

https://www.strava.com/segments/8369815


To do well on this segment you need to blow though a flat stop sign. The stop sign is often quiet outside of rush hour. But a fast segment is not possible without breaking the traffic code.


This sprint segment Pie Guy to Fat Guy (between two pizza joints):


https://www.strava.com/segments/9530835


The start of this segment requires you to time perfectly the green traffic light. This one invites you take a risk with running a yellow but is less dodgy.


Segments like this (a local club TT which goes through a bunch of 4 ways):


https://www.strava.com/segments/1400794


This invites the same rule breaking but the four ways are manned by volunteers at the weekly TT.


All are suspect. But if you were to flag them all you would be there all day.

I had a KOM that was flagged for starting before a stop light....I did not make the segment or I would have edited it to start after the light.

I like Strava. It's useful for keeping track what my buddies are up to, really convenient for tracking improvement on segments you do commonly (vs. yourself), and can also be fun to compete against other people.

+1

Who cares what your time is on a "segment" that is uncontrolled, subject to technical limitations (GPS), human error (misclassifying data), and human stupidity (blazing through stop signs). Why would I care about how my time compares to others on small strips of terrain that I know can be so easily manipulated? That's what we have races for (well, unless you're Julie Miller). Go fast on a controlled course on race day, that's all that matters.

That said I do like Strava for the social aspect. I do enjoy seeing my friends' workouts as I feel like there is a learning opportunity over time. The segment portion I find useless however, and I know I could beat 99% of the people that have faster "segments" than I do if they showed up to an actual race.

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Strava

GPS isn't accurate enough for that.

Depends on the segment. Extended climbs tend to be pretty legit. For example, take a look at the Mt. Palomar South Grade segment, and every person in the top 10 is a legit climber.

I agree that Strava is not a surrogate for racing. Few enter more actual bike races than I do every year. But I still enjoy Strava. I think some of the "Strava backlash" here is from Type A types who can't handle there being an ordered list of people, and they're not at the top of the ordered list and there's some BS in the list so BURN THE MOTHER DOOOOWN. With Stava you kind of just have to not take it too seriously, and have some fun with it. Save the super serious Type A ego alpha male domination attitude for race day.

All you have to do is flag the segment itself as hazardous. Then the leaderboard won't show up at all for anyone unless they click through a bunch of releases.

Won't have to ever worry about it again.

I do save the "super serious Type A alpha male domination attitude" for race day - that was the whole point of my post.

I just think it's annoying when people brag about their times on imaginary courses under imaginary conditions. That's more "Type A" in my mind and speaks to a fragile ego.

I'm sure some of the segments are legit, not arguing that they're all bogus.

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Strava

I find it hilarious when people say stuff like this. Talk is so funny.

If your ego were so intact you'd completely ignore it all anyway and wouldn't be bothered to even bring it up.

Yet your'e on here decrying it and making comments about how you could beat 99% of people that have faster strava segments.

THAT's the fragile ego.

I wasn't referring to you, specifically, there.

*eye roll*

I come in the top 1% in almost every field I race in, whether that's road races, tris or masters swimming. So it would be a good estimate if I actually tried to race imaginary Strava segments. I am just expressing my opinion on the validity of a ranking tool. Take it as you will.

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Strava

Isn't this like "flagging" a Bigfoot story?

Of course you do.

I'll take it as a verbose fragile ego.

You claim my ego is fragile for discussing results I find illegitimate, by claiming my results are illegitimate? Pot, meet kettle.

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Strava

No, I claim your ego is fragile because you need to claim that you have legitimate results in the first place.

Pot meet kettle is an assertion of hypocrisy. If I had previously replied with a copy of my palmares or something, then that assertion would have merit. But since I haven't said a thing about myself personally, it doesn't really make any sense whatsoever.

Kind of like your assurance that you don't have a fragile ego...

My claim of your hypocrisy is based on YOUR need to delegitimize MY results, after you claim I have a fragile ego for delegitimizing the results of others. Therefore, by your logic, you must also have a fragile ego.

Your ad hominem is just validating my point. I could easily send you a link to my results whereas a Strava KOM... well, they might have just hung their arm out of the car while driving up a climb. Back to the OPs point - people are risking their lives and lives of others to climb these stupid leader boards. I guess my fragile ego will never know what that feels like.

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Strava

I've flagged segments that run intersections and stop signs. Many cases (at least around me) the segments existed before the stop sign or light did.

I believe Strava actually wants you to do this.

The flip side is there are lots of segments that I honestly think you'd have to be unsafe to get. Like flying down a hill with traffic, driveways, or blind turns. Though I let those be because maybe others are more comfortable in those situations or ride at different times.

Bottom line, at least for, if you have to break the law to get the segment - I flag it.

i'm still waiting for them to automatically flag any runner whose pace - over any distance - is faster than Bolt's pace on the 100/200 meters. seems like it'd be easy to do, but they don't.

well put. cyclists have been descending like suicidal adrenaline junkies since long before strava existed. and i'm sure that many people's descents, *relative to their capabilities,* are just as dangerous in the middle of the strava pack as up at the KOM level.

I think you'd need a distance minimum because GPS errors can cause jump in pace, etc.

Can you post the segment or road? Is it Old Stage?