What happens when you take your Strava KOMs just a bit too seriously? That's what two Australian cyclists seemed determined to tell the world after their heated argument went viral last month.
The situation: A Melbourne-area cyclist named Brendan Edwards called out a fellow rider, Scott Bradley, for stealing 40 or so of his KOMs on local climbs. Bradley responded by saying it was nothing personal. Edwards then called Bradley a "cyber bully" who "ruined my Strava experience."
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Things escalated from there, with the fight eventually moving from Strava to Twitter and cyclists across the globe joining in. It all got a little personal for a situation that didn't involve prize money, trophies, or any other real-life consequences.
The thread—which has since been deleted but is preserved in an article on Mpora—is replete with insults and insinuations. Edwards accused Bradley of targeting his rides specifically, and that the emotional distress of the constant notification emails was making him "seriously consider deleting" his Strava account. (We should point out that he could always turn off notifications.)
Bradley denied that he was stalking Edwards, noting that Brendan could make his segments private and suggesting—perhaps as a challenge—that he go out and ride the routes again. Soon other Strava users entered the fray, with one saying that he found stealing so many KOMs "disturbing." Another (apparently chiming in from Sweden) tried to mediate: "A KOM is not a static title," he wrote. "Just because you got it once, does not mean you can keep it forever.
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The broader cycling community really got to gawk once the thread made its way onto Twitter, attracting more than 100 comments discussing Strava etiquette or simply laughing at the situation.
The Strava boards have since calmed down, with the thread disappearing and Edwards removing his name from his account. Both of the riders could probably stand to read our Strava Intervention Guide before logging another ride or stealing any more KOMs. (Looking for more cycling news and updates? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.)
Nab more KOMs yourself and boost your speed in the saddle by adding these three plyometric moves to your workouts:
