As my first Strava picture and only my second attempt at using Strava for artistry rather than training (the first being my New Year’s wishes), this January 5 effort was laden with tough lessons.

To the aspiring Strava artist, I offer these words of caution:

• Draw carefully: your Garmin doesn’t come with an eraser. I was nearly half done my Strava selfie when I botched an eye and made a series of wrong turns along the nose (below). After 30+ kilometres of drawing, I had to abort the mission and start from scratch.
• Explore unfamiliar areas in advance. My trouble with the nose arose because I didn’t know the area, the streets and the shortcuts I’d incorporated into my route.
• Prepare for a long outing. As this was my first major Strava art project, I had no idea it would require 3 ¼ hours on the bike. By the time I got to the hair, rush hour was in full swing and dark was falling. I had no lights, and in my panic to finish I missed a few patches of hair. (Some have noted, unkindly, that this adds to the picture’s realism.)
• Brace yourself for imperfection. When I finally got home and uploaded the ride, I discovered I’d made a wrong turn on the right side of the mouth. After much pulling of hair and gnashing of teeth, I just called it “Picasso-esque” and moved on.

See it on Strava