‘I sleep well at night knowing I’ve caused a civil war’ – How a cyclist's KOM-equalling climb on San Francisco’s steepest segment triggered a Strava battle

English cyclist Harry Macfarlane recently matched the King of the Mountain (KOM) record on Bradford Street, San Francisco’s steepest cycling segment, a record that had stood unchallenged for over five years. Macfarlane completed the climb in 14 seconds, equalling the time set by local rider Mike Scanlon in December 2020. His attempt, accompanied by playful British-themed social media posts, sparked a wave of reactions from the local cycling community, igniting a spirited competition on the Strava platform. Bradford Street is famed for a particularly brutal 10-yard section with a gradient of 41%, making it one of the steepest streets in the world, although this claim is debated. While Macfarlane’s overall segment time matched the KOM, scrutiny quickly focused on his performance over this extreme section, where he ranked sixth fastest. The challenge to his record prompted several local riders to attempt to reclaim the KOM, turning the segment into a hotbed of competitive activity. In the days following Macfarlane’s ride, the KOM was successively broken multiple times. Gino Gabuyo shaved the time down to 12 seconds, followed by Jake Lanich with 11 seconds, and finally Ivan Linser, who set the current record at an astonishing 10 seconds. Macfarlane, already en route back to Europe, welcomed the fierce competition, acknowledging that he had instigated a “civil war” among San Francisco riders and promising to return for another attempt. This episode highlights the passionate nature of local cycling communities and the intense pride riders take in their segment records, especially in iconic and challenging locations like Bradford Street. Macfarlane’s bold challenge and the ensuing rapid series of record attempts demonstrate how a single ride can energise a competitive spirit and foster a dynamic rivalry, even across international lines. The battle for the KOM on Bradford Street now appears wide open, with the record likely to be contested further in the near future.