I’m not really one to plan a route b/c of (KoM) segments, but it’s a nice surprise when you upload your data and you see that “achievement” on Strava, especially if there is a KoM that has been ridden hundreds of times. Kind of like Cracker Jack boxes and the surprise toys they use to have. In a way, it kind of validates your training a bit. It’s fun and provides a little extra motivation.
It seems that some ppl get really upset about losing their KoMs, though, and will go back out and take them back within a few days of losing them. Too bad Strava doesn’t let you know when an attempt was made and didn’t succeed. It’d be cool to offer encouragement to that person.
Just out of curiosity, how many KoMs do you have with more than 100 attempts? I’m not the strongest rider in my area, BY FAR, but I have a few that meet that criteria. Just a good day with wind to my back, I guess.
Are there any “famous” KoMs that members of a community try to take? I’d love to see a few in Strava. (provide a link!)
I hate to admit that I was one of those guys (although I waited a couple of weeks before re-taking my KOM.) In my defense, though, it is on the road leading to my neighborhood: my turf. But, I take it as a fun challenge rather than some serious offense.
For me, the fun segments for triathletes are the 2-4 mile “TT” segments that are flat, rolling or slightly up hill, where aero is actually an advantage. I figure that helps compensates for the pack advantage that the roadies have.
I finally got one which was at the end of a sprint tri bike portion. I have done that section a lot of times and thought “if I don’t get it today, I’ll never get it” since I had the tt bike, helmet, it was a race, etc. I will admit that I didn’t go as hard on the other portion of the bike as I did on that section just so that I could get it. Oh and I had a majority tailwind which always helps. I’ve got lots of top 10’s but only one KOM so they are pretty hard to come by.
It seems that some ppl get really upset about losing their KoMs, though, and will go back out and take them back within a few days of losing them. Too bad Strava doesn’t let you know when an attempt was made and didn’t succeed. It’d be cool to make fun of that person on their Strava profile page.
I have one KOM that has been ridden by a total of 9 people. I think I even got it while riding my bike home from a beerfest. Obviously not a very popular route.
Way to many strong bikers in town for me to get any decent ones.
It would be pretty pimp if you could claim this one.
How cow, 315W average for 2.5 hours. I do admit, the couple Strava KOMs I have I pay attention to. Here in Kansas those are broken when strong winds are at your back. I remember a really windy day that I didn’t ride but was thinking “My two Northbound KOM’s are going down”. They did. A month or so later I took them back.
I have a pretty regular road route I ride during my lunch breaks. It’s got 2 segments on it. I had gotten a KOM on another local segment in probably February, and then got one of the 2 on my regular route about a month later. The very next day, the guy who had them before went out and regained both of them. I’m thinking: Dude, you realize I did it on my 24 year old Softride roadie with 28’s? Usually I don’t try for it, it’s just part of my ride.
Anyway, today the conditions were right and I beat his KOM on the regular route. About half-way through it (before it actually hits the real uphill) I thought I’d baked myself and let up a bit, and then I coasted the last 15 yards or so (it ends at a busy intersection – why do people do that?). I ended up cutting 3 seconds off my best time for that segment, and I’m now 2 seconds in the lead… Tenuous, at best. I figure it’ll last a day or two.
When I get that “uh oh” email I always make a point of giving kudos to the person who raised the bar a bit. I’ll make an effort to take it back too, but it isn’t like I’m moping around like some king in the diaspora. I should hope others don’t take it so seriously. The only time I can think of that I was a bit miffed was when a hurricane made its way up north and we got some crazy west-bound wind in Virginia and someone took my KOM. I had turned myself inside out taking that rolling time trial section over about 10km. I’m not going to claim to be above using a tail wind, but it isn’t very sporting with a gale force wind assist.
I’m not really one to plan a route b/c of (KoM) segments, but it’s a nice surprise when you upload your data and you see that “achievement” on Strava, especially if there is a KoM that has been ridden hundreds of times. Kind of like Cracker Jack boxes and the surprise toys they use to have. In a way, it kind of validates your training a bit. It’s fun and provides a little extra motivation.
It seems that some ppl get really upset about losing their KoMs, though, and will go back out and take them back within a few days of losing them. Too bad Strava doesn’t let you know when an attempt was made and didn’t succeed. It’d be cool to offer encouragement to that person.
Just out of curiosity, how many KoMs do you have with more than 100 attempts? I’m not the strongest rider in my area, BY FAR, but I have a few that meet that criteria. Just a good day with wind to my back, I guess.
Are there any “famous” KoMs that members of a community try to take? I’d love to see a few in Strava. (provide a link!)
Not a big strava user, but I got goated into going for the KOM on probably the most traveled road in Madison. Wasn’t a favorable day wind, heat, or humidity and I didn’t get a single cyclist to pass or even a car pass but I nabbed it by a single second. I’m posting so hopefully someone can take it down and I can go after it again. http://www.strava.com/segments/689121?filter=overall
I’m not really one to plan a route b/c of (KoM) segments, but it’s a nice surprise when you upload your data and you see that “achievement” on Strava, especially if there is a KoM that has been ridden hundreds of times. Kind of like Cracker Jack boxes and the surprise toys they use to have. In a way, it kind of validates your training a bit. It’s fun and provides a little extra motivation.
It seems that some ppl get really upset about losing their KoMs, though, and will go back out and take them back within a few days of losing them. Too bad Strava doesn’t let you know when an attempt was made and didn’t succeed. It’d be cool to offer encouragement to that person.
Just out of curiosity, how many KoMs do you have with more than 100 attempts? I’m not the strongest rider in my area, BY FAR, but I have a few that meet that criteria. Just a good day with wind to my back, I guess.
Are there any “famous” KoMs that members of a community try to take? I’d love to see a few in Strava. (provide a link!)
Not a big strava user, but I got goated into going for the KOM on probably the most traveled road in Madison. Wasn’t a favorable day wind, heat, or humidity and I didn’t get a single cyclist to pass or even a car pass but I nabbed it by a single second. I’m posting so hopefully someone can take it down and I can go after it again. http://www.strava.com/...89121?filter=overall]
Hey Tom, did you have a 5’ FTP type test around that time to compare power numbers to? Just curious how they compared. Kickass ride by the way.
It would be pretty pimp if you could claim this one.
How cow, 315W average for 2.5 hours. I do admit, the couple Strava KOMs I have I pay attention to. Here in Kansas those are broken when strong winds are at your back. I remember a really windy day that I didn’t ride but was thinking “My two Northbound KOM’s are going down”. They did. A month or so later I took them back.
KOM’s here are the same way. I don’t have any at the moment. The longest I’ve had one stand was a week. I don’t go out with intentions of going after a KOM, but I know where the segments are. Pretty windy at the beach and sometimes, if the wind is right, it’ll tempt me. However I know the next day it’s windy my KOM will be gone.
I find some delight in messing with Strava segments from time to time. In fact, some of my better riding partners and I met because of Strava segments we were all showing up on. It’s good natured competition when you want to/and are feeling good, but you can royally screw up a workout if you only are paying attention to achieving digital glory!
I’m not really one to plan a route b/c of (KoM) segments, but it’s a nice surprise when you upload your data and you see that “achievement” on Strava, especially if there is a KoM that has been ridden hundreds of times. Kind of like Cracker Jack boxes and the surprise toys they use to have. In a way, it kind of validates your training a bit. It’s fun and provides a little extra motivation.
It seems that some ppl get really upset about losing their KoMs, though, and will go back out and take them back within a few days of losing them. Too bad Strava doesn’t let you know when an attempt was made and didn’t succeed. It’d be cool to offer encouragement to that person.
Just out of curiosity, how many KoMs do you have with more than 100 attempts? I’m not the strongest rider in my area, BY FAR, but I have a few that meet that criteria. Just a good day with wind to my back, I guess.
Are there any “famous” KoMs that members of a community try to take? I’d love to see a few in Strava. (provide a link!)
Not a big strava user, but I got goated into going for the KOM on probably the most traveled road in Madison. Wasn’t a favorable day wind, heat, or humidity and I didn’t get a single cyclist to pass or even a car pass but I nabbed it by a single second. I’m posting so hopefully someone can take it down and I can go after it again.http://www.strava.com/...89121?filter=overall]
Hey Tom, did you have a 5’ FTP type test around that time to compare power numbers to? Just curious how they compared. Kickass ride by the way.
No 5’ min FTP test. This route is very tricky, the route is in very bad shape with lots of twists and turn, gravel in corners, and downhill sections - I also had a race in less than <36 hours so it wasn’t all out. If I went out and did an all out 5 min test it would be around 410.
If there is a tailwind on a ride and I know a KOM is nearby, I’ll push harder to try and get it. But in my area, tailwind assisted KOM’s are all that are left. So you have to wait for the weather gods to give that added bonus before trying.
