There's something quite nice about the way segment names pop up on the rides of people you know. Rather than just a squiggle on a map that needs examination. The segments give a good snapshot of where people have been riding and what kind of ride they've had. I've also enjoyed conversations on club runs prompted by finding out that someone has recently enjoyed cycling somewhere a little more exotic than usual.
Riding in London offers few 'pure' opportunities to compete, there's always an additional factor involved in setting a benchmark time that it becomes almost meaningless. It's much nicer to just find your interest piqued by the wanderings of your fellow riders.
I hadn't realised that Strava could have such an effect on group rides Rhys. I can see how it would encourage indisciplined riding though. I've been lucky that the one club that I ride with who are quite Strava orientated seem to put a greater emphasis on riding together. Each ride seems to have a clear purpose and routes and speeds are determined before setting off on the basis of who is riding. The obligation to the group overrides any need for speed. Mind you, since they operate more as a group of friends interested in cycling, they're not such a magnet for misplaced competitiveness as some other groups might be. I've seen enough of it without Strava as a catalyst to know how frustrating such behaviour is.