If you keep biking regularly, will you keep PR'ing?
#26
Non omnino gravis
PRs are going to get fewer are farther between unless you continually ride in different places, and even then there's a point where they stop showing up almost entirely. Because for every segment you routinely cover, there will always be that one day where everything was just right, and you went as fast as you're ever gonna go in that spot. Getting older certainly isn't going to help future efforts.
My Strava PRs by Year:
2016: 1,368
2017: 1,190
2018: 632
2019: 250
2020: 98
I mean, there are a decent number of segments I've covered over 500 times.
My Strava PRs by Year:
2016: 1,368
2017: 1,190
2018: 632
2019: 250
2020: 98
I mean, there are a decent number of segments I've covered over 500 times.
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#27
Full Member
Thread Starter
PRs are going to get fewer are farther between unless you continually ride in different places, and even then there's a point where they stop showing up almost entirely. Because for every segment you routinely cover, there will always be that one day where everything was just right, and you went as fast as you're ever gonna go in that spot. Getting older certainly isn't going to help future efforts.
My Strava PRs by Year:
2016: 1,368
2017: 1,190
2018: 632
2019: 250
2020: 98
I mean, there are a decent number of segments I've covered over 500 times.
My Strava PRs by Year:
2016: 1,368
2017: 1,190
2018: 632
2019: 250
2020: 98
I mean, there are a decent number of segments I've covered over 500 times.
#28
Non omnino gravis
#29
Senior Member
Faster on a particular segment is not the only way to measure improvement. My measure? Segments never ridden before, in other states.
#30
Full Member
Thread Starter
#31
Full Member
Thread Starter
Thank you for that. I've been doing 50-60 pr's per year for the last 4 years prior to COVID. After COVID, 560 pr's since. Bike more. PR more. Who would have thought that.
#32
Non omnino gravis
Unless it's continual improvement of a PR on a individual segment or series of segments, it's not really very telling. During COVID, my Strava Heatmap is pitiful-- I ride the same handful of routes most every day, because I just can't be bothered to do longer rides that would involve stopping for food/supplies. As I've covered some of these 25-30 mile routes a hundred times, PRs are pretty much off the table. I have a 31.5 mile route where I've done 3 efforts in the exact same time, down to the second.
I have no idea how you could view total segments covered or segment efforts without Veloviewer, but I have that, so I know. I've covered 3,854 unique segments, but only 2,827 of them at least twice-- and Strava doesn't give you a PR until you've covered a segment at least twice.
I have no idea how you could view total segments covered or segment efforts without Veloviewer, but I have that, so I know. I've covered 3,854 unique segments, but only 2,827 of them at least twice-- and Strava doesn't give you a PR until you've covered a segment at least twice.
#33
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My BM's are regular, but my PR's are getting less and less frequent. TMI?
I think if a person is continually setting PR's, the BF troll in me has to chime in with, "Just how out of shape were you, when you first started recording these things?" But I would never say that. Besides, I'm sure it's a lot more complicated than that.
I think if a person is continually setting PR's, the BF troll in me has to chime in with, "Just how out of shape were you, when you first started recording these things?" But I would never say that. Besides, I'm sure it's a lot more complicated than that.
#34
Full Member
Thread Starter
My BM's are regular, but my PR's are getting less and less frequent. TMI?
I think if a person is continually setting PR's, the BF troll in me has to chime in with, "Just how out of shape were you, when you first started recording these things?" But I would never say that. Besides, I'm sure it's a lot more complicated than that.
I think if a person is continually setting PR's, the BF troll in me has to chime in with, "Just how out of shape were you, when you first started recording these things?" But I would never say that. Besides, I'm sure it's a lot more complicated than that.
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#36
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Fitness gains are a temporary thing and they don't continue forever. The greatest gains in fitness happen when you are new to training and the longer you train the less gains you will make. Eventually there comes a time when all the gains stop no matter what you do or how much you train, when that happens then all you can do is to try and maintain whatever fitness you have.
#37
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#40
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You guys are missing the point. If you ride a new area, each one is a PR!
Ride new places and each time it's your best!
FWIW, last week I got a message from RWGPS: Congratulations, you set a PR on XX Hill! You now rank #118 .
Ride new places and each time it's your best!
FWIW, last week I got a message from RWGPS: Congratulations, you set a PR on XX Hill! You now rank #118 .
#41
Full Member
Thread Starter
Is it better to subjectively feel good about an effort on a segment or is it better to PR? There have been many hill segments where I PR'd, but I felt like I struggled through it(not pushing, just struggling, is there a difference?). Other times, I would intentionally push the effort(cause I felt like I had the energy, or maybe tried to chase some one) and actually feel good with the effort, but then I wouldn't even get in the top 3 of my PR's.
#43
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I care more about efforts. That’s what I am able to do on a particular ride. PRs are affected by external factors like the wind, whether you’re riding in a group, traffic, etc, but your effort is your effort.
#44
Senior Member
Some of my rides, I do for pure enjoyment
Other rides I try to push myself, and Strava helps me do that, by removing some of the subjectivity of my efforts. Using Live Segments, I can see if I'm ahead or behind my best pace or inching up on one of my faster buddies. I plan to get some power pedals soon to measure wattage.
Interval training has given me the best bang for the buck, increased my pain tolerance, and even made the fun rides.. even more fun
Different pedal strokes for different folks
#45
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Personally, I love Strava. It's not for everyone.
Some of my rides, I do for pure enjoyment
Other rides I try to push myself, and Strava helps me do that, by removing some of the subjectivity of my efforts. Using Live Segments, I can see if I'm ahead or behind my best pace or inching up on one of my faster buddies. I plan to get some power pedals soon to measure wattage.
Interval training has given me the best bang for the buck, increased my pain tolerance, and even made the fun rides.. even more fun
Different pedal strokes for different folks
Some of my rides, I do for pure enjoyment
Other rides I try to push myself, and Strava helps me do that, by removing some of the subjectivity of my efforts. Using Live Segments, I can see if I'm ahead or behind my best pace or inching up on one of my faster buddies. I plan to get some power pedals soon to measure wattage.
Interval training has given me the best bang for the buck, increased my pain tolerance, and even made the fun rides.. even more fun
Different pedal strokes for different folks
#46
Senior Member
nOT FOREVER
Yes you will improve for a while until you get closer to your potential. There is a natural aging process that reduces your potential over time. Your question has a pretty complex answer though. In order to reach your potential you have to continue to stress your "machine". If you don't you plateau and stay there for a while and then gradually over time you will decline. Cardiac output and efficiency naturally declines due to age. I can attest to this. I am 75 and have been riding 40 years. My max heart rate has decreased from about 185 when I started to about 130 now. You lose muscle mass as well so power drops off.
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#47
Senior Member
The first time you ride a segment, it's automatically a PR for you. So if you want to keep getting PRs, just keep riding new routes! Whether or not you continue to get PRs on existing segments depends on how hard you train, not necessarily by your mileage.
#48
Senior Member
For intervals, I either find or create a custom segment of the appropriate length, star it, then watch my pace on the Garmin. I've been doing 2 and 3 min max effort intervals, 7min threshold intervals and 15 min steady state intervals. Once I started doing intervals, I noticed substantial gains in my climb speed.
I have a buddy who does his intervals w power meter and feels that really improves consistency of effort over just watching the Live Segment alone. I'm ordering some power pedals soon. We'll see if it helps!
#49
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I have the Garmin 820 ... and any segments in Strava that I star will show up on my Garmin while I'm riding. It will let me know I'm approaching the start of a segment, and while I'm in the segment, it will let me know how I'm doing vs my PR and how I'm doing vs my next fastest buddy (whomever that is). I believe Live Segments thru Strava is only available if you have the Strava subscription.
For intervals, I either find or create a custom segment of the appropriate length, star it, then watch my pace on the Garmin. I've been doing 2 and 3 min max effort intervals, 7min threshold intervals and 15 min steady state intervals. Once I started doing intervals, I noticed substantial gains in my climb speed.
I have a buddy who does his intervals w power meter and feels that really improves consistency of effort over just watching the Live Segment alone. I'm ordering some power pedals soon. We'll see if it helps!
For intervals, I either find or create a custom segment of the appropriate length, star it, then watch my pace on the Garmin. I've been doing 2 and 3 min max effort intervals, 7min threshold intervals and 15 min steady state intervals. Once I started doing intervals, I noticed substantial gains in my climb speed.
I have a buddy who does his intervals w power meter and feels that really improves consistency of effort over just watching the Live Segment alone. I'm ordering some power pedals soon. We'll see if it helps!
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