Strava and the Social Bandwagon
"Introducing Athlete Posts" / "The new home of your athletic life" read the titles... and my heart sinks. It goes on - there is more...
"Strava got a big upgrade today, and you can experience it by following these 36 athletes.
I have long since championed the "Do one thing do it well" kind of thing.... I appreciate this means that one size may not fit all, or not generally not please the masses, but there is a line to be drawn between artistry / alchemy / cold hard cash.
I am reminded of a similar conversation a younger me heard at a club AGM in response to "how do we get more members?" ..... "do we need or want more members?"
At the time I was like OMG WTF to that... but now when I see the same faces, and hundreds on the books, and the focus and core shifted away to something I cannot get behind... then I am reminded that what I once considered to be a really negative phrase as questioning "well this works - lets do this - better". This is golden. This is in fact, to me, everything. Who knew right? Anyhoo - I digress (always).... .
So - Strava - if there are two things I should think the last week have taught you they would be:
- KEEP YOUR TIME LINE LINEAR PLEASE - I dont want it ordered by kudos or comment, I want days day shaped, early to late, in order smaller to bigger. Simple.
- I DO NOT WANT STORIES / OTHER - if I want Social I will use Facebook. I follow people I know mostly, people I care about. There are tools for adding stories or write ups to your rides. Use them. Don't. Your choice. Like reading them. "Curated" content - from professionals you are name dropping, with their own blogs? Guided by sponsor? Following the team line? No thanks. I would follow their blogs / RSS / podcasts / FB / LinkedIN / Twitter / Instagram - whatever. It has no place on my timeline.
I pay for Strava Premium.
People ask me why.
My answer is.... or was - because it's a great offering. It came to market doing everything - doing it right - with little in the way of obstacles to entry or use... it worked on just about every damned device - and became a defacto tool overnight for cyclists. Sure. I like what I see. I am supporting that.
HOWEVER - start veering from your goals, your ethic, the reason why you are where you are - aspirations of becoming something else.... and I am out, with my feet. Toys from pram - it's how I roll. I do not think I am alone.
If you could do things for me for me - a paying customer - make it faster. Keep it add free. Show me more stats. Do more interesting things with the stats. Integrate with existing platforms in more innovative ways - DISRUPT not get on the wrong band wagon, too late, for no good reason.
SO - sorry for using so many CAPS and bold and "tell you what I think" like the gutter press ... however it is like watching a plane crashing. Slowly.
Pull.
Up.
...or you are gonna crash.