http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: Strava heatmap - Recent Posts en Thu, 21 May 2026 10:04:45 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=3#post-144974 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:09:56 +0000 chdot 144974@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>(a third of all head injuries are now caused by skiers crashing into each other) </p> <p>"</p> <p>Oh well at least 'we' don't have that problem! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=3#post-144973 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:02:05 +0000 amir 144973@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Similar thing for skiing (they really ought to try go uphill):<br /> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26449404"><br /> "Do skiing apps encourage dangerous behaviour?" </a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=3#post-144883 Sun, 09 Mar 2014 01:35:50 +0000 Focus 144883@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ amir</p> <p>"To clarify, standalone GPS devices will not (usually?) directly compare your times to those on the Strava database..."</p> <p>A valid addition to my post. In my effort to bee concise, I omitted to point that out. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=3#post-144844 Sat, 08 Mar 2014 14:42:06 +0000 gembo 144844@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Some of the canal bridges are blind. If you ring your bell, you sometimes hear a ring back, this lets both parties approach with caution</p> <p>I like to ring my bell, I am saying, hello I am here BUT I am never insisting people get out my way, I ring bell and slow down to pass safely, I also say thank you if the person has stepped to the side</p> <p>Some people do not like the silent pass, others don't like the ring, others thank you for ringing and passing slowly</p> <p>Lots of walkers, joggers and dogs have taken to wearing lights </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=3#post-144825 Sat, 08 Mar 2014 12:55:06 +0000 Kenny 144825@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>- We can probably all agree that a pedestrian on the towpath doesn't need to use a bell when they're going under the bridges.<br /> - But a lot of us would argue that a cyclist has an obligation to fit and use a bell in this scenario.<br /> </em></p> <p>Although I have a couple of times used my bell in these circumstances, I generally don't bother any more, because I don't understand what it is meant to be signalling. When I'm running on the canal path, I'm going at least as fast under the bridges as I am when I'm cycling, and I'm taking up no more width. Therefore, if I was to ring my bell but come across someone under the bridge, I fear that the bell ring implies to them that they shouldn't have gone under the bridge, which I don't think is reasonable. The only other conclusion I can think of is therefore that it warns people that I'm coming, but as @Dave says, you don't ring a bell when you're on foot, so why is there a need to if you're cycling?</p> <p>So I just don't any more.</p> <p>I do ring my bell a lot on the NEPN, so I'm not against bells, just not in the above scenario. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=3#post-144765 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 21:02:26 +0000 LaidBack 144765@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sustrans Volunteers out clearing rubbish from path. Manure is preferable to dog crap. Going OT now... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=3#post-144763 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 20:50:39 +0000 chdot 144763@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Are you saying that Mr. Laidback's bicycles have a continence problem? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=3#post-144760 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 20:36:33 +0000 tk 144760@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's why the path has been covered in manure then! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=3#post-144758 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 20:29:30 +0000 steveo 144758@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>At least the horse won't mind the muddy mess at the side of the path. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=3#post-144756 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 18:45:17 +0000 LaidBack 144756@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Strava 'obstacle' on Roseburn Path today. <em>(If I used this app!)</em></p> <p>We slowed up and asked the riders is we were ok to pass. Also sounded bell. It all worked fine. No drama at all.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66067108@N08/12989064895/">Overtaking police horses...</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144717 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:32:57 +0000 earthowned 144717@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For me one of the best side benefits of using Strava is that I have discovered loads of great cycling routes out in the countryside from looking at other peoples rides. </p> <p>I can tap into a collective knowledge to find and plan routes that I would never have discovered otherwise. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144697 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 12:25:29 +0000 amir 144697@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There is also a social element - it's nice to see what others in your "circle" have been up to. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144696 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 12:23:39 +0000 amir 144696@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>To answer your question,any times recorded on removed segments will appear on the app on your device (phone tablet etc), and obviously on any 'independent' device (such as a standalone GPS) you are using"</em></p> <p>To clarify, standalone GPS devices will not (usually?) directly compare your times to those on the Strava database. What happens is that at the end of your ride, you update the GPS data to Strava, it's processed, then you can look at the new time compared to others on your phone or computer.</p> <p>In the early days, I did get quite a few KOMs but now, with the accumulation over time and the inevitable super-humans and cheats (they must be if they beat me?), I content myself with PBs. These are also rare for similar reasons, (cheating - wind behind, and moments of super-humanosity), especially in the winter. But I still continue to record. Strava is quite compatible with a traditional training program - laying down the miles in the winter then doing intervals to build up speed.</p> <p>BTW - I wonder what the longest segment is? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144689 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 12:06:51 +0000 fimm 144689@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Dave, to miss-quote you: <em>"I find the worst (most dangerous) <strong>[road use]</strong> comes from a group of people who ... have very poor anticipation [of] or empathy for anyone else"</em> might be rather true as well...?</p> <p>Segments are no longer the only way you can use Strava to challenge yourself. There are a bunch of challenges that go on, for example cycle a certain distance over the course of a month, or climb a certain number of meters, or run a certain distance in one go. I don't tend to go in for them, but I know my boyfriend does. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144655 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 08:33:49 +0000 gembo 144655@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Having a bell is no indicator of moral superiority. Particularly if you ding ding it whilst travelling at speed under the canal bridges.</p> <p>Going too fast on the canal towpath can have consequences of a wet nature</p> <p>People who feel they are completely in control have possibly missed the important point that they may look out of control to others</p> <p>When I fancied myself as a swimmer if I worked very hard at infirmary st pool I could keep up with a guy over two lengths. I went flat out, he swam one at incredible pace but without seeming to expend any effort. The next one he took it easy. Allowing me to catch him if I went like the clappers. I know who looked better.</p> <p>My favourite athletes are the ones who make it look effortless.</p> <p>All this frantic speeding up , dodging dogs, ringin bells, arguing with other users, shining cheap Chinese lights searing others' retinas just ain't cool. Strava doubtless a symptom rather than a cause. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144644 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 00:53:47 +0000 Focus 144644@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>Contrast that to someone taking it up to 15mph+ on the clear sections but slowing right down for bridges/passing people etc, and who is aware of everything going on.</em>" </p> <p>&lt;Smug mode&gt;That would be me then ;-),&lt;/smug mode&gt; </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144643 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 00:50:05 +0000 allebong 144643@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> I find the worst (most dangerous) riding comes from a group of people who are relatively unremarkable in terms of speed, but have very poor anticipation or empathy for anyone else.</em></p> <p>Couldn't have said this better - seen this type of person on canal often enough, they might be doing a 'safe' 10mph or so, but they've absolutely no sense of consideration or awareness and keep that speed up while weaving within inches of kids/dogs/other bikes. Never ring a bell (if even fitted) at bridges, never yield when hearing a bell, and are inevitably truly clueless as to the havoc they can or are wreaking. </p> <p>Contrast that to someone taking it up to 15mph+ on the clear sections but slowing right down for bridges/passing people etc, and who is aware of everything going on. </p> <p>Of course, I've seen the odd person gunning it at 20mph+ constantly along there, and they give the impression of firstly knowing what they're doing in as far as they usually have a fancy bike, and appear to be handling it well, and secondly of being total twats, as they tend to whizz by you with almost no space given (if you swerved you'd both be in trouble) and then disappear at the same speed round the next blind bend. I'd be lying if I said I haven't enjoyed the odd blast into the tailwind driven 20mph+ region, though I certainly know when it's not appropriate.</p> <p>I reckon you could probably write a book or at least a decent research paper on bell use and reactions at the bridges. For me I've thought it comes down to peds being in theory more agile, so if they're going under the bridge and hear a bell they can retreat or lean back against a wall, whereas a bike is pretty much fully committed when they go under and can't take much in the way of evasive action that won't result in an unexpected swim. But now I've thought about the times I've been running along the canal and can pass under the bridges quickly enough that I'd be in trouble if an unexpected bike came through at the same time. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144641 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 00:49:26 +0000 Focus 144641@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ <strong>Dave</strong></p> <p>I don't have a bell on any of my bikes but then the Highway Code considers the voice sufficient for a cyclist. Do I shout out when going under one of those bridges? No, but I <em>do</em> go very slowly and cautiously, especially if it's one of the bridges where you can't see so clearly beyond it as you approach. I'm not in the habit of using the canal at commuting times anyway so the risks are lower.</p> <p>Oh, and I don't race past stopped buses either ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144640 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 00:45:27 +0000 Focus 144640@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ <strong>chdot</strong></p> <p>"<em>No but presumably there are enough 'open' segments for people competing/comparing to want to keep using Strava.</em>" </p> <p>Absolutely. I am pleasantly surprised if I find I have a new PB (or in a solitary case when I had the best time for 2 days) after a ride but I'm not going out to do so specifically. I'm very certain a number of people do exactly that though (including a friend of mine, according to a club team-mate of his). I've got no problem with that if they are doing so responsibly and I doubt most reasonable people would. </p> <p>I presume Strava was set up as a training tool, rather than an ego-boosting platform to show off, but some riders have chosen to use it as the latter, unfortunately. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144633 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 23:36:12 +0000 Dave 144633@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If you want a real moral crisis, try this:</p> <p>- We can probably all agree that a pedestrian on the towpath doesn't need to use a bell when they're going under the bridges.<br /> - But a lot of us would argue that a cyclist has an obligation to fit and use a bell in this scenario.<br /> - If you're cycling behind a pedestrian under a bridge on the canal, with no interest in overtaking them, do you have to sound your bell?<br /> - if not, why should cyclists ring a bell at all? What if you're pushing your bike, or running with it at the same speed as people who are mounted?</p> <p>These thoughts dominate my rides along the canal :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144632 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 23:32:17 +0000 Dave 144632@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So long as people don't exceed the speed limit, I don't really have a position on whether some drivers can safely go faster than others (though it seems silly to deny it given the existence of multi-millionaire racing drivers).</p> <p>I suppose you force me to admit on the same basis that there probably is a stratification of cycling abilities too. I find the worst (most dangerous) riding comes from a group of people who are relatively unremarkable in terms of speed, but have very poor anticipation or empathy for anyone else. </p> <p>The absence of clear legal constraints makes it harder to judge the moral standing of faster cyclists in one sentence. However I would probably say that exceeding the motor vehicle speed limit is morally bad, even though it's not illegal on a bike. The fact that it's not technically illegal is so incidental to the workings of the real world IOW.</p> <p>It's hard to say absolute things about NEPN. Every time I see a cyclist overtake a bus at a bus stop going quickly enough that they couldn't avoid a ped who crossed in front of the (stationary) bus, I think they're creating a much bigger risk than someone who rides at the same speed on NEPN which is (in rush hour) almost deserted.</p> <p>Yet the former is vehemently defended by most cyclists ("look out for filtering cyclists is in the Highway Code", etc) whereas we might accuse a rider taking *more* care on NEPN of "tanking it" and thinking they are "superior" (sorry for putting words in your mouth, I couldn't resist). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144623 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 19:54:30 +0000 gembo 144623@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is someone from IAMS who says they are a superior driver so can drive faster than others different from someone on strava who says they can tank it on shared use path because they are a superior cyclist? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144622 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 19:22:53 +0000 chdot 144622@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ Focus</p> <p>Thanks, that what I had presumed. </p> <p>"But you don't need Strava to keep tabs on the latter anyway."</p> <p>No but presumably there are enough 'open' segments for people competing/comparing to want to keep using Strava. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144620 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 19:16:18 +0000 Focus 144620@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@ chdot</p> <p>" <em>"the removal of all these segments ought to have resulted in the removal of less considerate behaviour"</p> <p>I'm not a Strava user (or trying to find a reason to blame it) so I'm asking a question for info -</p> <p>I understand that 'removing segments' means that there is no public 'league table, but does it mean that speed/time info is not recorded on individual devices?</em>"</p> <p>To answer your question,any times recorded on removed segments will appear on the app on your device (phone tablet etc), and obviously on any 'independent' device (such as a standalone GPS) you are using, but when you log in to Strava you will only see your own time for that segment and can't compare it to anyone else's. It takes away the incentive to go faster than someone else but obviously not the incentive to beat your own time. But you don't need Strava to keep tabs on the latter anyway. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144611 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 18:01:46 +0000 Dave 144611@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My angle was more that as an increasing number of segments are removed, Strava loses its purpose. Segments are their USP (and also the only easy way to access data on riders without having to buy it).</p> <p>If someone just wants to track their own rides there are loads of sites that let you do it (which is fine of itself, in the sense that it doesn't discourage cycling per se - but it dilutes the data and makes it hard to access in aggregate).</p> <p>Are there bigger issues? Sure. But it would be nice if the CTC or other cycling bodies actually bothered to look at Strava data and refute NIMBYism rather than blindly going along with it, when the data shows that people aren't nailing along at all... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144575 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:19:45 +0000 neddie 144575@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dave, I agree with your blog in as far as we shouldn't destroy data. Most people I know who use Strava record everything they do anyway (a means to an end). So I'm not sure how deleting dangerous segments would remove that data.</p> <p>Sure, there are some people who deliberately go out to a specific segment just to do it (a means in itself), but surely that is skewing the data about 'where people are really cycling' anyways. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144566 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 12:56:34 +0000 Instography 144566@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I guess someone bothered flagging it because the path is narrow and the people hammering up from the low point inevitably won't be paying as much attention to the many people who hammer down as they might if they weren't in a race to be king of that particular incline.</p> <p>You can't blame Strava but that's just like saying guns (or cars) don't kill people. You can blame Strava for facilitating the idiocy. It used to be very difficult to get split times on segments now it's very easy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144562 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 12:17:59 +0000 stiltskin 144562@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>For example, there used to be a segment that started in the middle of the path between the golf courses on the way to Crammond (or rather, on the way back from Crammond) and went all the way to the top of the hill. That segment got flagged, and there is now a segment that starts on the road and goes up the hill.</em><br /> &amp; I have to say I wondered why anyone bothered with reporting that one. People going down the hill are inevitably going faster, much faster than anyone trying to Strava up it. The Roseburn Park segment is a stupid one, but if you look, the guy who is KOM is clearly a right plonker, he seems to do a lot of cycle path segments at stupid speeds(or at least he used to. ) with amusing names like 'doggie slalom'. You can't blame Strava for that sort of idiocy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144535 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 10:12:36 +0000 Instography 144535@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Back in the days when I was more inclined to make the effort to get there faster than I did the day before I managed quite nicely with the little computer on the bike. What Strava has done, perversely, is change what used to require sustained effort over the whole journey into little momentaries - bursts of effort over a few yards. </p> <p>I suppose for observers, it's also a way to try to make some sense of otherwise completely stupid behaviour. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12310&page=2#post-144531 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:47:04 +0000 fimm 144531@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dave, I think you and I have different understandings of what it means to flag a segment as hazardous. I don't mean that it is dangerous to cycle there. I mean that it it is an inappropriate place for there to be a segment.<br /> For example, there used to be a segment that started in the middle of the path between the golf courses on the way to Crammond (or rather, on the way back from Crammond) and went all the way to the top of the hill. That segment got flagged, and there is now a segment that starts on the road and goes up the hill.</p> <p>Almost certainly you are safer as a cyclist on the path than you are on the road (unruly dogs notwithstanding), but starting the segment on the road removes any inducement to cyclists to be a hazard to other path users (by, for example, hammering down the path in order to get a good run up to the ascent).</p> <p>There's one segment on the NEPN that I have never actually managed to ride my bike (Brompton) up! </p>