Lifestyle

2015 Strava Stats: How Does Your Speed and Distance Data Stack Up?

The active social site have shared their 2015 data - here's a look at the interesting bits...

There’s no denying it – Strava has changed the way a lot of people ride – for better or for worse. In fact, in recently revealed stats the ride and run logging site told us that they received a jaw dropping 5.3 activities every second during 2015.

That amounted to 115,788,572 rides in total – 23,126,613 of which were in the UK. Alongside useful nuggets – such as the fact that the most activity heavy day of the year in the UK was 30 June – Strava have also unveiled the average ride and annual mileage of our UK riders.

Strava Data Shows Huge Rise in UK Female Cyclists

We can’t help but admit we were just a bit intrigued to find out how we stacked up compared to the average UK female, and indeed the average UK male – we expect most of you will be equally curious, too.

Joanna-Bloggs’ average ride is 34km (that’s 21 miles) – only a smidge less than the total reached by Jo Bloggs at 41 km (25 miles). Our average speed is a little slower at 19.8km/h (12.3mph) but actually total time riding suggests we women are equally dedicated – spending a few minutes longer in the saddle.

Climbing varies a lot per region – the hilliest rides took place in Merthyr Tydfil (in South Wales) whilst Cambridgeshire hosted the flattest rides – but as a UK overall average women’s outings covered 226 metres (741 feet).

Though averages per ride didn’t differ that greatly between men and women, overall yearly averages did – with women totalling 410 km (254 miles) to men’s 832 km (513 miles). However, those of us geeky enough to divide metres climbed by kilometres travelled would be pleased to note a very thin difference between men and women’s climbing ratios.

For those who use their bikes to get around, it will no doubt be interesting to see the data compiled by commuters. This breed quite understandably declines by 50 per cent in the winter, but maintains an average speed not far off the overall average – though the fact few people commute off-road on mountain bikes may play a role here.

With London being the most heavily popular area, it’s understandable that the volume of riders and rides was much greater there. This was particularly evident when looking at the most hotly contested segments – three alone of which are located in Richmond park.

The most popular, Sawyers Hill, has an average incline of just 2 per cent, but it does feature a 10 per cent stinger which you’d certainly notice if riding laps at full gas. In total, 6,455 women have attacked the hill and rower turned Duathlete Mathilde Pauls takes the top spot.

The Top Professional Women Road Cyclists to Follow on Strava

The only rider to claim more than one of the climbs is Maryka Sennema, with Newlands Corner and Broomfield Hill and the top ten includes:

1) Full Sawyers Uphill – Richmond Park, London
2) 100Climbs No14 Box Hill – Box Hill, Surrey
3) Hampton Court Drag – Hampton Court, Surrey
4) Coombe Lane to Abinger Hammer – Guildford, Surrey
5) St Leonard’s to Kingston Mini Roundabout – Thames Ditton, Surrey
6) Broomfield Hill 4% Climb – Richmond Park, London
7) Newlands Corner from West Clandon/A246 – Guildford, Surrey
8) 100Climbs No17 Leith Hill – Leigh Hill, Surrey
9) Tour de Richmond Park – Richmond Park, London
10) Ditchling Beacon – Hassocks, East Sussex

Overall, we’re pretty impressed to see the UK overall totals, which clearly demonstrate there’s an awful lot of riders in the country getting out and active every day. Particularly, it seems, on June 30.