I'm hooked on Strava and I don't care who knows about it

 People are ditching their social media apps, but I could never let go of the oasis that is Strava   

I’ve noticed a trend these days of people distancing themselves from social media. “X is a cesspit,” one friend recently told me, deploring his feed’s shift to extreme, offensive views. Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, has come under scrutiny too, last week apologising for subjecting users to videos of violence and gore. And though I’ve never dabbled in TikTok, people I know who use it say it’s taking hours out of their day – hours dedicated to watching horses have their hooves cleaned, for example – time they’d have rather spent elsewhere.

Look, I’m all for taking a step back from social media. But there’s one app I refuse to live without: it’s orange, exercise-based, and I’ve recently moved it to the prized ‘dock’ position at the bottom of my phone screen, meaning it’s never out of my sight. I’m talking about Strava, of course, an app to which I think I might be addicted, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ll tell you what I like about Strava. While other social media sites are plagued with hostile content, Strava is an oasis of good vibes. I tap into its warm, orange glow, and discover my friend’s 65-year-old mother has been out for a “sunny jog”, a 6km canter through the countryside. How wonderful, I smile. My kudos to you, Sue.

I scroll down a little more. An ex-colleague has been out on a 70km cycling loop – he found it tough, he writes, but he had a jolly good time. I then dig further, and lose myself searching through people’s profiles. I stumble across an old school acquaintance, who’s now an avid cyclist, and is training for an Ironman. It turns out he comfortably averages over 30km/h on the bike. I’m pleased for him, if a little jealous.

When I click off Strava, I tend to leave feeling inspired, which I can’t say for many apps on my phone.

The difference, I think, is that while other social media platforms show a radical portrait of life, a scene of excesses and extremes, Strava is rooted to the real world. These are people I know, looking to improve their wellbeing, and smelling the roses as they do so. I’m always happy to commend them for it.

I’ll admit, it’s nice when they commend me as well, but I don’t obsess over the kudos. Instead, as I wait to get my breath back after a ride or run, I spend 10 minutes or so poring over the data of my activity. I look at my heart rate, my splits, power and speed. This practice has brought me in tune with my body, teaching me more about myself than any GCSE Biology textbook ever did, although that’s perhaps a reflection on my teenage attention span.

It's not just the data that's got me hooked. When I go abroad, I use the maps tool to find routes in places I've never explored. These are curated from the app's 135 million users (Strava prefers to call them "athletes"), and I'm often spoiled for choice for paths to follow. Last year, for example, I tested a route out in France's Vosges mountains, and it ended up being one of the best bike rides I've ever had. My dad couldn't believe I'd found it so easily.

Some turn their noses up at Strava. You might even be one of them. They say comparing yourself to others is unhealthy, as is the constant pursuit of personal bests, and dopamine-seeking boost of kudos. I care very little for those things. But if I did, I’d encourage the naysayers to mind their own business.

I will say one bad thing about Strava, though. A few years ago at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, I was given a free pair of Strava-branded sliders – one-strapped flip flops – and they rubbed so badly they drew blood on the tops of my feet. I didn’t press any charges, but I’ve since thrown the sliders out. Stick to making exercise apps, Strava, I think you’ve got a knack for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 Leontien van Moorsel’s journey in cycling is nothing short of extraordinary. She began her career in 1977, quickly making a name for herself by dominating both the track and the road. Throughout the early 1990s, she engaged in thrilling battles with French legend Jeannie Longo, showcasing resilience and determination that made her a force to be reckoned with. Twice, she conquered the Tour Féminin, proving her ability to rise above fierce competition and establish herself among the elite. However, her path was not without setbacks. In 1994, she took a step away from cycling due to health struggles, but her comeback was nothing less than remarkable. By 1998, she returned stronger than ever, seizing the world title in the time trial and earning a silver medal in the road race at the World Championships, proving that setbacks are often just setups for greater victories.

Her crowning moment came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where she delivered a historic performance, capturing three gold medals across road and track events—an achievement that placed her among the greatest cyclists in Olympic history. Her versatility, endurance, and tactical brilliance were on full display as she dominated the time trial, road race, and 3 km pursuit, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. But her story didn’t end there. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, she faced an agonizing moment when a dramatic crash in the road race saw her stretchered off the course. Many thought her campaign was over, but in a stunning display of determination, she returned just two days later to successfully defend her time trial title, cementing her status as a legend.

Beyond her Olympic triumphs, van Moorsel etched her name in history by setting a new women’s world hour record in 2003, covering an astonishing 46.065 km in Mexico City. This record stood unchallenged for nearly 12 years, a testament to her sheer power and endurance. Following her retirement after the 2004 Olympics, she remained deeply connected to cycling, taking on the role of director for the Women’s Amstel Gold Race in 2017. However, controversy knocked on her door when allegations surfaced regarding the use of performance enhancers in 2000 and 2001, a claim that stirred debate but never overshadowed her legacy as one of the most dominant and inspiring figures in the sport.

From battling elite competitors to overcoming personal hurdles and achieving Olympic greatness, Leontien van Moorsel’s story is a testament to resilience, passion, and the unyielding spirit of a champion. Her name remains etched in cycling history, not just for the titles she won, but for the way she defied the odds and redefined excellence on two wheels.

 Tiffany Cromwell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Bring back the bicycle license plates 

 

 

 

no matter how often it happens its always a little jarring to realize that someone is like completely bag of rocks stupid

 I hope this country gets fucked in the ass by Satan 

 

18-year-old Cat Ferguson set for Paris-Roubaix debut in first pro year

 "I can't tell you how excited I am," said junior world champion as she revealed provisional 2025 programme

Double junior world champion Cat Ferguson is set to become one of the youngest competitors ever at Paris-Roubaix this April.

The 18-year-old is down to make her debut at the cobbled Monument, as part of her stacked road calendar this season, which opens at this month’s Milan-San Remo.

Revealing her programme to Cycling Weekly, Ferguson said she’s expecting a “big jump” in her first full year as a pro.

“It’s crazy,” the Movistar rider said. “I think it’s incredible to just be in the position I am, but to be doing a race like Roubaix, I can’t tell you how excited I am to be able to do that race.

“Also, Carys [Lloyd, Movistar] and Imogen [Wolff, Visma-Lease a Bike] are doing the race, so for the three of us to do a race like that in our first year as a pro together is really special. We’ve come through the ranks from under-14s and we’re now doing Paris-Roubaix at 18-years-old together. It’s going to be incredible. Hopefully I can make it to the velodrome – that’s my aim.”

Ferguson impressed the cycling world last autumn when she won two of her first four pro races, riding as a pre-contract stagiaire for Movistar. She also claimed both the junior road race and time trial titles at the UCI World Championships, becoming the first rider to complete the double since Zoe Bäckstedt in 2022.

Having raced cyclo-cross through the winter months, Ferguson’s road debut this year is set for Milan-San Remo, the inaugural edition for women, on 22 March. “We don’t know the route yet, it’s not actually released, but it’s probably the longest race of the year,” she said, adding with a laugh: “I’m not feeling fit enough yet to want to know how long it is.”

The 18-year-old’s programme will then see her compete in a string of one-day Classics, including Gent-Wevelgem, Flèche Wallone, and Brabantse Pijl, before turning to stage races in Spain, and the Lloyds Tour of Britain.

“I’m really looking forward to the Tour of Britain,” she said. “I don’t know the route for that, but I’m hoping there’s [a stage] in Yorkshire. Getting some friends and family out to watch would be really special. And it’s the only [WorldTour] race that there is for women in Britain, so I’m excited for it.”

Ferguson's programme for the latter half of the year is yet to be decided, but she said she feels “lucky” to be given such opportunities over the next few months.

“It’s a balance of wanting to push me and show me what the level is, with races like Roubaix, but also not absolutely hammering me and doing all the big races,” she said of her calendar. “It’s also a nice balance that I will do some smaller races, where hopefully I can be a little bit more at the front, or survive for a little bit longer.”

Paris-Roubaix Femmes will take place on 12 April, two weeks before Ferguson’s 19th birthday.

 Wednesday Worlds