I’ll begin by singing some praises: Without Strava, I’m not sure I’d have re-engaged with cycling at the level I did. Coming from just occasionally messing around on mountain bikes as a teenager to trying my best to race at an elite level, Strava has played a role in pushing me to PR, hunt KOMs, and ride faster and harder than ever before.
However, over the past few years, I’ve become disenchanted with social media. Platforms that once seemed good for my motivation and mental health became burdensome. Strava was no different. Postride data-checking turned into mindlessly looking at what everyone else was doing, comparing stats, and ultimately getting annoyed by ego-fluffing ride titles and novel-length explanations of “why I didn’t win the race or get that KOM.” I found myself hooked on those little dopamine hits that came with the handful of validating kudos and silly little comments. I started incessantly doomscrolling on Strava—I already have Instagram for that. Eventually, I began to feel disdain for the world I love so much. As a society, we have a deeper issue with social media consumption, and I really don’t want cycling to be part of the problem.
That’s not to say I downright hate Strava and think you shouldn’t use it. All I’m proposing is that it’s not a bad idea to take a break and focus on getting back to riding for yourself. But if you’re still loving the social aspect of Strava, stick to it! If it’s a motivator for you to keep on riding, don’t let me stop the stoke.
Not using Strava doesn’t mean I’m devoid of data or tracking. I use cycling computers and smartwatches to track my rides, as well as TrainingPeaks, with a coach, to plan out and analyze my efforts after a race or workout. TrainingPeaks also functions as a journal where I keep notes on how I felt through different training cycles or events.
You may still see me occasionally reappear on Strava to share a cool ride or experience. From time to time, I do utilize its incredible heat-mapping tool when building routes in new places. Plus, I enjoy having live segments show up on my computer every so often. Some of these features, isolated from the social media noise, make Strava feel more like the tool I initially learned to love. But for the most part, my account serves as a dusty old locker filled with mostly fond memories.
Strava and I will continue our limited relationship as I enjoy my rides the old-fashioned way, without the need for anyone’s kudos but my own.
Trevor Raab is the senior photographer for Runner’s World and Bicycling, a dedicated cyclocross racer, and, occasionally, a product reviewer for the Test Team. He fits the typical “how I got into bikes” story: his dad introduced him to mountain bikes when he was a kid, then found skateboarding in the middle, worked as a bike shop mechanic, and now he’s riding or racing every sort of bike he can find.
