Strava has today launched new Annual Achievements that will enable cyclists and runners who use its apps and online network to receive annual King of the Mountains (KOM) and Queen of the Mountains (QOM) as well as Course Record (CR) trophies.
According to the company, the new awards will make it easier for users to track their goals over a calendar year, in line with the targets it says many people set themselves at the start of each year.
It says that existing KOM, QOM and CRs will continue as all-time records and badges of honour, but the new system will make it easier for users to gauge their progress throughout the year as well as ensuring everyone has the opportunity to get their name on a segment leaderboard.
The initiative is accompanied by the launch of solid icons for all-time achievements, and icons in outline for the annual ones, adds Strava.
Its director of international marketing, Gareth Nettleton, said: “We know that for many of our athletes on Strava, they plan goals and track improvements a year at a time.
“The new Annual Achievements leaderboards give priority to yearly progress and give Strava members the chance to stake their claim in 2015, while still respecting the all-time achievements of Strava members.
“We’re thinking of this as honouring the world record holder in the marathon but also recognising the leaders each year.”
More information is available in this blog post on the Strava website.
It has also set cyclists some challenges for the opening month of the New Year – the Gran Fondo 100 and Gran Fondo 150 encourage people to ride, respectively, 100km or 150km in a single ride during the month.
Meanwhile January’s Strava Climbing Challenge aims to get users to climb 20,150 feet (6,142 metres) by the start of February.
16 thoughts on “New for 2015 – Strava launches Annual Achievements”
Just got back from 60 miles
Just got back from 60 miles and I had over a 150 trophies, I was wounding what was going on. After reading this I’m dispointed I wasn’t first on every single one. 😉
Don’t really get the point in
Don’t really get the point in this (or the willy waving KOMs bring as well).
KOM chasers already blow up and ruin club rides often enough, sitting in the back and then flying off when the segment they want comes along, this is just going to make it worse when someone wants to bag the ‘2015/16/15… KOM’
Instead of racing people who aren’t actually there at the same time they should get a license, pin a number on and participate and support the sport.
The point of ‘tracking own improvement’ is pointless.People can track their own improvement by just looking at their own times on a segment.
glynr36 wrote:Don’t really
Bah humbug! It’s just a bit of fun ffs…
glynr36 wrote:Don’t really
[quote=glynr36]Don’t really get the point in this (or the willy waving KOMs bring as well).
KOM chasers already blow up and ruin club rides often enough, sitting in the back and then flying off when the segment they want comes along, this is just going to make it worse when someone wants to bag the ‘2015/16/15… KOM’
Instead of racing people who aren’t actually there at the same time they should get a license, pin a number on and participate and support the sport.
The point of ‘tracking own improvement’ is pointless.People can track their own improvement by just looking at their own times on a segment.[/
Mmm…interesting choice of signature then
It’s not when it’s ruining
It’s not when it’s ruining club runs.
glynr36 wrote:It’s not when
So tell the people ruining your runs to clear off to another club then.
Managed to grab 7 KOM,s of
Managed to grab 7 KOM,s of 2015 becuse all of those club riders are too soft to go out in a bit of wind or still have a hangover from last nights celebrations <:P
If it’s that big a problem on
If it’s that big a problem on your club rides maybe you need to raise the issue in your club? Better than moaning on here?
It’s got nothing to do with
It’s got nothing to do with “tracking your own improvement” – it’s just a way to keep the MAMILs (and I should say this isn’t meant to be pejorative – pretty much describes me) engaged with the whole Strava concept since it’s pretty difficult for anyone to get in the overall top ten on segments like Box Hill/Ventoux/Buttertubs etc (ridden by many thousands/been in a pro race) – this at least provides a brief opportunity at “glory” for those that care about such things. Whether those who chase KOMs are misguided or not I don’t know – whatever works and gets more people riding more is ok for me.
It’s a bit of a laugh really,
It’s a bit of a laugh really, went out early doors and 1st and got 50 odd, the guys I was with bagged loads as well. I’m sure it will settle down once the christmas break is over and people are back on their bikes.
Don’t have a problem on our club runs, we have “usual” tear ups for town signs or on the last mile, but that’s for those who want to, it’s not obiligatory and doesn’t ruin the run for others, we re-group and ride on.
Hah! Yes! Moans about segment
Hah! Yes! Moans about segment hunters, has a strava show off segment display thing as a forum signature =)) 8} =D>
I thought the whole point of
I thought the whole point of Strava was the KOM’s?
I think the annual KOM thing is a natural progression for the reasons outlined above.
Not sure about the whole club run thing… I believe Strava is merely the excuse now given for anti-social activity that always used to be pinned on the ‘winter warrior’ or ‘January world champion’… people have been smashing club runs since I was a wee nipper… its the inevitable result of putting people participating in an activity that is fundamentally competitive… they will want to compete.
Does it damage the sport? Maybe… but only in the same way that Power meters do… by that I am focusing on those trying racing after bagging a few local KOM’s or hitting some impressive power numbers… these people turn up to a race expecting to be competitive, and the disconnect between physical fitness and racing performance is hard to take.
Without power, without Strava or indeed other ways of measuring ability, I’m sure people went into racing far more accepting of the kicking and learning curve required than they are currently.
‘I thought the whole point of
‘I thought the whole point of Strava was the KOM’s? ‘
Depends on your attitude really. I use it as a training diary and to analyse power data.
I don’t bother with segments or KoMs/ leaderboards – I find that stuff pretty sad to be honest – MAMIL willy-waving as someone above says. You can’t truly compare yourself to other riders, unless you were on the same ride on the same day as them. And that is, after all, what racing is for…
andyp wrote:’I thought the
There are loads of different cycling apps, and solutions for monitoring your training… Strava’s USP and reason for its success is the option to ‘race’ or at least compare times with other riders. Is it sad? probably, is it the confines of the MAMIL? Absolutely not.
I personally love the pointlessness of it all… I like the fact that you are racing on different days, different conditions, and that in reality, comparison is not valid… it is what makes it funny.
As mentioned, if you are serious about competition, pin a number on, but if you want a way to spice up a dreary ride, then look no further than Strava!
As an aside, I am saddened that by the 4th of Jan, I am no longer automatically pinging up 2015 top tens… clearly there are plenty of quick guys out there smashing the miles in!
Don’t mind about KOMs etc as
Don’t mind about KOMs etc as I’m in an area of very talented riders (as are a lot of people). I do care about personal progression or consistency so comparing to other riders especially those I know gives me an idea of fitness.
I don’t get the whole 2015 koms set up. If this was to be the way forward then why not make the boards appear as ‘this year’ as standard and allow ‘all time’ leader boards to be selected at a persons discretion. You see you have a 2015 kom but to see the 2015 list is a bit of a gaff. It would be good to see all your personal times on the mobile up rather than your latest and top three but i suppose for adetailed analysis using the computer is more apt.
Personally iwould prefer some settings that allow users to tailor their strava appearance such as turn the 2015 kom off
I get it and it kinda makes
I get it and it kinda makes sense – some of the KoMs are deeply entrenched and will be due to that one-off awesome tailwind from 2012 or something similar.
All it does is create new targets, but those of us who go riding early in January will find ourselves with a lot of trophies, as the first 10 in any segment get one by default and we’ll all get 3 the first three times we do a segment this year too. Maybe it will slightly devalue them..
As for the guy moaning about club riders zooming off for Strava segments – you just need to make it clear that the rides aren’t for Strava hunting, obviously if the group works up a bit of speed then that’s fine but club rides are a group activity and not a solo selfish enterprise.
A niche group of older club guys should be putting these guys in their place…you know the guys I mean as every club has them.