Strava has mainly taught me that really fast MTB riders don’t seem to use Strava. At least, that’s the only explanation I can come up with for how high I place on climbs* despite being on a rigid SS and doing them in the middle of big rides.
I treat other people exactly the same on a ride that I happen to be recording on Strava as I would if I wasn’t recording it, but knowing the segments are there makes me ride harder than I would otherwise.
I like that I can compare my times on a segment in different rides so I can see if I’m getting faster or slower. Wish had had a few years worth of rides on there instead of just this summer.
*did you see the subtle willy-waving I did there?