Ireland Embraces Strava With New Road Signs

Michael Finch | 9 May 2017

Always know exactly how much longer you have to pedal hard with these smart signs. – By Molly Hurford

strava-illustration

Your favourite cycling app just became part of the physical world. Cyclists are able to anticipate the beginnings and ends of Strava segments long before they reach them in Clare County, Ireland, thanks to new signposts installed by the county.

“Cyclists will be able to get detailed information in advance of tackling a hill… [and] challenge themselves to see how their times compare to the fastest attempts on the hills,” said Eoin Hogan, the rural recreation officer for the county, in an interview with StickyBottle.com. Additionally, they’ll know exactly how much longer they have to sprint!

Taking Strava Seriously: Council in Ireland Adds Strava Segment Signshttps://t.co/WPMjUTBZFF #Cycling #UKCycleChat #Strava @Strava pic.twitter.com/gQMeTzp5ej

— Friendly Cyclist (@FriendlyCycles) April 26, 2017

The signposts are marked with Start and Finish badges emblazoned with the Strava logo; starting signposts also offer information about distance, grade, altitude and max gradient.

Impressively, the signs have integrated near-field communication (NFC) chips that connect with smartphones wirelessly. By tapping the sign with a phone, cyclists can open the Strava webpage featuring the segment, including the KOM time to beat). The chips also let riders with NFC-enabled phones pause and upload their times at the finish.

So far, there are three marked segments: the start and finish of Corkscrew Hill, Castle Hill (regularly used in the Rás, a major Irish race), and the Meggagh Valley climb.

The Strava signs are part of Clare Get Sidetracked, an outdoor recreation initiative in County Clare.

Ireland Embraces Strava With New Road Signs

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