Are We Condemned to Strava?

[ava1ar]

Another Use Case of Strava Maintenance Log

Now, it is the big Vado 6.0.

View attachment 185680

I have noticed my chain started skipping on the 10th (out of 11) gear, a 13T sprocket. A brief peek into the Strava Maintenance Log made me understood the chain was ridden for 1,000 miles and needed a check for the stretch. Although an inspection with a Bike Hand YC-503 chain stretch tool clearly indicated a 0.75% stretch, I also measured between 10 subsequent chain rollers with a digital caliper (the exact value was 128.22 mm). The rule of thumb is: 'If the chain is stretched to 128 mm, replace it immediately. If it is 129 mm, the small cassette sprockets are probably already damaged'.

The Strava Maintenance Log reminds me what chain was used last time and how many chain links I needed. I intend to replace the chain and also replace the 13T cog only (most Shimano cassettes are serviceable).

Or you can just use belt and forget about all these issues

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Or you can just use belt and forget about all these issues

What about brake pads?

 

[ava1ar]

What about brake pads?

What about them? Just replace as necessary. They don't need much attention, comparing to chain and cassette.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

What about them? Just replace as necessary. They don't need much attention, comparing to chain and cassette.

I hope you do not replace your car's brake pads "as necessary", that is, when the brakes have lost their stopping power The Maintenance Log gives me a good information when the e-bike brake pads should be replaced just in time.

 

[ava1ar]

I hope you do not replace your car's brake pads "as necessary", that is, when the brakes have lost their stopping power The Maintenance Log gives me a good information when the e-bike brake pads should be replaced just in time.

Interesting. I replaced mine several times already and didn't notice clear pattern when do to this - their state depends a lot about how much I ride, where do I ride and, most important, how many rainy rides I am doing. Usually I just check them every couple of weeks and replace as necessary.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

every couple of weeks

As often?! Do you ride in high mountains?

My front pads have been in use on my heavy/fast e-bike for 2,500 km; rear pads have been there for 5,000+ km and only now I consider having a look at them. According to Strava Maintenance Log I replaced the brake pads only after 6,700 km (a year of riding) the last time!

 

[ava1ar]

As often?! Do you ride in high mountains?

My front pads have been in use on my heavy/fast e-bike for 2,500 km; rear pads have been there for 5,000+ km and only now I consider having a look at them. According to Strava Maintenance Log I replaced the brake pads only after 6,700 km (a year of riding) the last time!

Well, I try to do a regular checks for basic things every couple of weeks (or every 10 rides) - takes only a minute or two, but allows to spot things like broken spoke or wear out brake pad and top up air in the tires. Consider this a routine service, vs. more serious one, where I change an oil in rear hub or check and true the wheels every about 6 month.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Well, I try to do a regular checks for basic things every couple of weeks (or every 10 rides) - takes only a minute or two, but allows to spot things like broken spoke or wear out brake pad and top up air in the tires. Consider this a routine service, vs. more serious one, where I change an oil in rear hub or check and true the wheels every about 6 month.

That's OK!
Only I need to stress out the brakes are the least of issues in my case. Lived I in high mountains, the brakes would be my priority #1!

 

[MartsEbike]

I'm a fan of Komoot (Paid subscriber) but it's worth remembering it's not a navigation app in the strictest sense, it's an app to find routes other people have created. If that happens to be military personnel using it then you'll be directed that way! It's always best to review and edit the routes it provides.

That aside I've found excellent routes with it, and places I'd never normally visit.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

One wonders how cyclists managed for decades to keep their brake pads in decent shape without the technological wonders of 2024. I mean, I'm a guy but please.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Haven't read most of the posts here, but fast-forwarding to the present...

Q. Anyone, what's your #1 selling point for paying for and sinking time into Strava?

Between EBR, premium RideWithGPS, the latest Specialized app, only a casual interest in my performance stats, and no interest in sharing rides or maintaining maintenance logs, I have all the ride data and off-saddle time sinks I need.

Can't ditch the Specialized app right now, as its all that's standing between me and a $$$ investment in a fancy bike computer. I'd much rather reserve that for a future range extender.

As for the time, I'd much rather spend it with you guys.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I'm a fan of Komoot (Paid subscriber) but it's worth remembering it's not a navigation app in the strictest sense, it's an app to find routes other people have created. If that happens to be military personnel using it then you'll be directed that way! It's always best to review and edit the routes it provides.

That aside I've found excellent routes with it, and places I'd never normally visit.

I'm also a Komoot subscriber. You are correct Komoot includes many routes created by other people but it is also one of the best route planning system especially for Europe including the British Isles. Say, I am in Co. Donegal Ireland and know the e-bike Rental is located in Carrick F94 VY84. I intend to see the famous Slieve League cliffs. Opening Komoot, entering the postal code and now just five practical routes for a Road Bike show up. I just select one of them, and that's the one and only that allows seeing what I want to see. Splendid! However, Komoot is even better for route planning if there are more alternatives, and you need your own route. What is great for Komoot is it takes the Bike Type in consideration. Wanna MTB, Gravel, Road, Touring? Click and here you are! Komoot will select only the appropriate surfaces, and will warn you against many surprises en route (stairs?)

A road e-bike 200 km route I created myself in Komoot. There were several alternative routes, so I had to ask experienced friends for the best option. Note, there was 770 m of cobblestone en route, and I got a proper warning. Komoot is very precise about the surfaces and types of roads to be ridden.

One wonders how cyclists managed for decades to keep their brake pads in decent shape without the technological wonders of 2024. I mean, I'm a guy but please.

Teeth were pulled without anaesthesia and in septic conditions for millenia

Q. Anyone, what's your #1 selling point for paying for and sinking time into Strava?

Who said you had to pay for Strava? The features I like the most:

• Storing the rides and treating it as a memories' repository. It is so easy to recollect specific rides and related photos! I keep all my rides since 2013 there. First, I used Endomondo for many years; after Endomondo demise, I ported all the rides to Strava using an inexpensive smartphone app. Later, I used Strava app, and eventually Strava was fed from Wahoo Roam 1, Bolt 2, and Roam 2.
• As Strava is the most accomplished of all systems of this time, I have access to many past ride data including cadence, power, calories, average and maximum speed, and even weather on the day of the ride (subscribers only). Interestingly, Strava is the only system that picks up the ride title defined in the bike GPS computer app. If my ride in Wahoo app is 'The most remote southwest road point of Poland' then that name goes to Strava. Strava is even aware whether the ride was E-Bike Ride or just Ride.
• 'Everyone is on Strava'. Strava has a great social and motivational role. I personally maintain Strava communication with several EBR members, not even saying that all my riding buddies and people I ever rode with are there. For instance, many new names from a group ride appear as "ridden with" post ride, which helps making new friends. Also, active riders watch one another, and get motivated for longer and more frequent rides. Eventually, cycling clubs and groups announce their future rides there.
• You can define what bike was used for the ride. Then it becomes clear if your friend rode a Frey EX or a Vado SL on a given day
• Strava Maintenance Log.
• You can compare your activities on monthly or yearly base. Also, you can see how your potential riding mate performs. Is he/she a fast or slow rider? What are typical distances ridden by them? What is their yearly mileage?
• Strava has great privacy features. Visibility: Everyone, Friends, Only I. There's also a special privacy feature that excludes an area of the radius you specify. So your rides seem to begin and end, say, 1 mile from where you live.

If your buddy stops appearing on Strava, you can assume many reasons (like winter) but you can also assume the person is either seriously ill or no longer between us (like Lee Martin, a former active EBR member was a Strava friend and disappeared on one day in the cycling season, not responding to comments or messages. Earlier, he had a terrible bike crash, and I learned of it from Strava, then watched Lee's recovery and his return to e-bike riding).

Strava is not flawless. It has a poor route planner and even worse smartphone navigation.

 

[MartsEbike]

I'm also a Komoot subscriber. You are correct Komoot includes many routes created by other people but it is also one of the best route planning system especially for Europe including the British Isles. Say, I am in Co. Donegal Ireland and know the e-bike Rental is located in Carrick F94 VY84. I intend to see the famous Slieve League cliffs. Opening Komoot, entering the postal code and now just five practical routes for a Road Bike show up. I just select one of them, and that's the one and only that allows seeing what I want to see. Splendid! However, Komoot is even better for route planning if there are more alternatives, and you need your own route. What is great for Komoot is it takes the Bike Type in consideration. Wanna MTB, Gravel, Road, Touring? Click and here you are! Komoot will select only the appropriate surfaces, and will warn you against many surprises en route (stairs?)

It's good when riding roads and cycle paths, where much of this data comes from official sources too. But it has flaws elsewhere - especially if you ride off-road (Singletrack/woodlands/gravel etc), where it's often using user-contributed data. (To OSM or Komoot).

Especially in the UK. We have Rights of Way (footpaths, bridleways, byways etc) and Freedom to Roam laws (open/common land), often across privately owned land. Exercising your rights doesn't mean you won't encounter objecting landowners. They might make it as difficult as possible. (Thankfully many don't!).

For example. Just on my last ride, it tried to navigate me up a Bridalway. The bridleway was signposted - so was legit, but it meant going through a farm yard, with the farmhouse adjacent and machinery all around. The farm gates were closed. It felt too much like trespassing on private land to open those gates, ride through the middle of the farmyard and look for this bridleway, which wasn't obvious from the roadside, so I ultimately had to ride around it. But someone must have made it through at some point, so the data exists. In reality, it wasn't a good route.

This isn't the first time it's done that ever. Recently I was directed to a footpath at the end of someone's garden. You had to ride down their driveway, behind the house and to the rear of their garden to find this footpath. Again I didn't feel comfortable following the route and diverted around it.

I could give many more examples. The only blessing is people report these segments on Komoot/OSM so they're either removed or warnings like you've posted above are added.

So while it's good, and I've subscribed, I have to say it's not 100% reliable. User-contributed data has its faults and it is best to review the routes.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Teeth were pulled without anaesthesia and in septic conditions for millenia

Yeah, but that was for the lack of anything better being available.

I do not see how any smartphone app is a decent substitute for frequent inspection of your bike and its critical components. Any competent cyclist does a bare minimum safety check before every ride. And you should probably inspect your brake pads at least every couple of months, or more if you ride more or ride dirty, steep, and rough.

Yes, there are lots of useful things one can do with a smartphone app. I'd rather we focused on the things you can't do any other way or can do much better with an app than we could in the before times. And if you need a reminder to do a basic bike inspection once a month you don't need Strava to do that, there are these things call calendar apps that do a good job for things like that.

 

[MartsEbike]

A photo of an UK e-bikers worst nightmare. Kissing Gates. Traditional cyclists create routes on Komoot and then carry bikes through these with ease.

Along comes me on a heavy e-bike and I'm stuck.

These gates are often used in the British countryside and Komoot does not highlight them. I wish it would!

 

[Mr. Coffee]

A photo of an UK e-bikers worst nightmare. Kissing Gates. Traditional cyclists create routes on Komoot and then carry bikes through these with ease.

Along comes me on a heavy e-bike and I'm stuck.

These gates are often used in the British countryside and Komoot does not highlight them. I wish it would!

Talk to me after you get your bike over one of these:

It isn't a real bike trip if you don't have to carry your bike at least a bit.

 

[MartsEbike]

Talk to me after you get your bike over one of these:

View attachment 185816

It isn't a real bike trip if you don't have to carry your bike at least a bit.

Stiles! Yep, those are annoying too! You'll find these in places in the UK but more often they look like the one below.

It should be the law to have them marked out on maps!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yeah, but that was for the lack of anything better being available.

I do not see how any smartphone app is a decent substitute for frequent inspection of your bike and its critical components. Any competent cyclist does a bare minimum safety check before every ride. And you should probably inspect your brake pads at least every couple of months, or more if you ride more or ride dirty, steep, and rough.

Yes, there are lots of useful things one can do with a smartphone app. I'd rather we focused on the things you can't do any other way or can do much better with an app than we could in the before times. And if you need a reminder to do a basic bike inspection once a month you don't need Strava to do that, there are these things call calendar apps that do a good job for things like that.

I agree that any bike should be "walked around" like an aeroplane before the ride. I would say checking the tyre pressure, a brief check of braking action, and visual inspection are the bare minimum. However, inspecting the brake pad wear for hydraulic disk brakes requires wheel removal, and ultimately removing the pads; not what you would do even in several months unless the rider is paranoiac about it. Similar to the aviation (or even a car with its 'date replaced' tags on the critical equipment), a Maintenance Log helps you planning the maintenance; you learn by experience when you should draw your attention to a given component. A calendar app? Why? Strava is a system (computer and app) native to cycling. All in one place; and you do not need to pay for it even.

Kissing Gates.

Martin, so assume you start the Komoot Route Planner, set it to "MTB (e-bike)", route from A to B, and the Komoot route leads through the gates?!
Unbelievable Perhaps it is because Komoot is a German app and perhaps the German do not know the specifics of the British Isles?

Please do not rely on the routes created by other people. Make your own route and tell me what you have got, please

 

[Stefan Mikes]

P.S. In my Komoot, planning on the PC, property gates in problematic areas are marked by a little padlock symbol... This only works for "Cycling" but not for the "Mountain biking" mode, as either mode uses different maps!

 

[Chargeride]

Stiles! Yep, those are annoying too! You'll find these in places in the UK but more often they look like the one below.

It should be the law to have them marked out on maps!

View attachment 185821

Thats a ladder stile, in the style of a ladder.