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Running the iPhone app on a 3GS and it keeps failing to pick up on segments - definitely had a KOM last night!!
I'm assuming this is down to the GPS in the phone rather than the app itself or the website - are "proper" GPS units better or do they still suffer from the same problems? It looks like you can upload GPS plots to the Strava website so assuming this works the same as the iPhone app...
And advice on basic, fit-for-purpose GPS units that would do the job?
garmin 200, cheap does the job.
Second garmin 200 and extra 20% off halfords until 23rd - picked one up yesterday for £93 and get quidco cash back on it too.
Use a garmin or even endomondo if that works better, then import your route into strava through the website.
Yeah I had this issue too (iPhone 4)
I have no idea whether the Garmins are more accurate, although I gather newer iPhone 4s has a better GPS chip in it.
If I was buying a Garmin, I'd go for one with a heart rate monitor.
i use endomono and strava, two days running now i have had straight line sections, todays totaled 5 miles altogether, now thinking of getting a garmin myself, dont think the pnones gps is up to this to be honest
I've been noticing strange things with Stava as well. Last night three of us rode, two with iPhones and one with a Garmin. Even though we all rode together we haven't all got the same segments. Sometimes there are even two segments for the same section of track but I think that's an issue with the Strava database.
I personally think the whole thing is a bit daft but it's a genie in the bottle, or rather out of it once you start using it.
The segments you're timed on are not taped off so you get loads of people straight lining just to get a better time and that's OK except it mashes up the trail.
I've also seen a rising trend for Strava addicts to put bells on their bikes so they can warn peopel to get out of their way if they're on a flying run!
GPS in phones are not capable of providing remotely accurate timing, anyone pumping themselves up on a phone derived KOM is just delusional.
What evidence do you have for that? Any GPS is only as good as the GPS chip that's inside. There's nothing to say phones [i]can't[/i] be as accurate as dedicated GPS units.
Dude I got banned from strava.
I've had problems with Strava apparently not picking up segments using a Garmin 305, but every time further inspection has shown I haven't passed through the start and finish, or have deviated too much from the original segment route, or have been going in the wrong direction.
People are pretty stupid when they set up segments. Some run across main roads (bit dangerous when the red mist is on), or start and stop just the wrong side of a gate etc that you need to dismount for. Another pet hate is big climbs with segments that only take in a little bit - guess the same goes for downhills. Top to bottom, or vica versa please. They'll have to police the segments more aggressively at some point I think, or it shall begin to rip my knitting.
Realman, what did you do to get banned from Strava? Whatever it was I'll need to avoid it. I think I would get withdrawal symptoms. I'm attempting to own Scotland, just a few Division 1 Roadies in my way 😉
bit of a generalisation there Jambalaya . what I'd say is that phone GPS isn't as consistent or reliable as a dedicated GPS but it can be just as accurate. As evidenced many times by logging with both phone and proper GPS. in fact most of the time it's pretty spot on.
small comfort yesterday though when my ride logged on strava and another mobile tracking app added a comedy detour so none of the segments were recorded. of course if I was that serious about strava I'd always use a proper GPS but I'm not so I don't.
Some sedgments are picked up by phone others are picked up by GPS's and others are missed completely.
Don't stress about it, if a pro rider did it no one would stand a chance anyway, just use the "My Results" tab on the left hand side to see your improvements
Phones use GPRS which is reliant on phone reception rather than True GPS IIRC. Which means it will. Scone less accurate the poorer the reception is. In a lot of places including the Alpes this is not usually a problem.
No, that's not true. Some phones use A-GPS (assisted GPS) where they will use cell tower triangulation to assist the GPS to get a fix. This usually lowers the time taken to get a fix, it doesn't really affect the accuracy but if anything would augment it.
The question is whether a dedicated GPS has a better antenna and a more advanced GPS chip than a phone, but that will definitely vary based upon make / mode of phone / GPS device.
No problems with my HTC phone using Strava. Proper GPS chip in it. It'll do assisted GPS if you turn the satellite function off where it just triangulates your position via cell towers but with GPS turned on, it's always been accurate to within a few metres either using Strava or Google Maps.
People are pretty stupid when they set up segments. Some run across main roads (bit dangerous when the red mist is on), or start and stop just the wrong side of a gate etc that you need to dismount for. Another pet hate is big climbs with segments that only take in a little bit - guess the same goes for downhills. Top to bottom, or vica versa please. They'll have to police the segments more aggressively at some point I think, or it shall begin to rip my knitting.
The segments thing is just how it's been set up on the database, there's a couple of climbs near me that have 2 segments within them, one does the whole climb the other has been set shorter for whatever reaosn. +1 for Strava going through them and weeding out duplicates although I imagine that would be one hell of a time consuming job.
Dude I got banned from strava.
Didn't know they had a classified section
Accuracy may be more to do with where the device is stored, and how good a visibility of the sky it gets. A garmin will be on your wrist or bike usually, whereas a phone could be in your pocket or pack?
I'm surprised how good a reception the phone gets to be honest, my strava route for a 19mile off road run didn't have any bits missed or straight-lined. Phone was in a pocket for that one, so generally a good unobstructed view of sky.
Lead lined camelbak seriously ?
Never had an issue with mine missing trails.
On an iphone 4
No issues at all with Strava on my iPhone 4. Maybe deleted the app and download again?
Garmin 500 in the classifieds
Get a gps status app and see how accurate the gps chip in your phone is. They are available for apple and android, then stop whining when you have some facts
I'm finding the most annoying thing is some of the trails I ride run quite near to roads and roadies with inaccurate GPSs are getting the KOMs!
bruneep : 😆
used to run strava app on iPhone 4s, but bought edge 500 from halfords in sale and got cash back etc... through quidco
Its cheaper if you buy your own HR and Cadence sensors.
Find it works better, battery lasts longer especially as I ride in areas with poor mobile coverage (which seems to drain battery as well on iPhone)
My annoyance with the iPhone app is that I do a lap an it misses sections. Definately done them. Got annoyed on the Dyfi as there were about a dozen segments but I only had 9 show up where as my brother in law using a Garmin had everything. I'm about to order a Garmin though to avoid this in the future
I've had endomondo straight line before when the battery has reduced and its gone into power save mode.
out of interest on Friday I went out with Strava running on a HTC Wildfire S in a jersey pocket and a Garmin 500 on the stem. Uploaded both trails up to Strava. Only went through one Strava segment and the Garmin was 2 seconds quicker compared to the phone app.
So now only bothing with the Garmin 500 🙂
out of interest on Friday I went out with Strava running on a HTC Wildfire S in a jersey pocket and a Garmin 500 on the stem. Uploaded both trails up to Strava. Only went through one Strava segment and the Garmin was 2 seconds quicker compared to the phone app.
I've got a similar set-up: HTC Desire S in a back jersey pocket (on the road bike so it's got a clear view of the sky) and a Garmin Edge 305 on the stem. I never bother downloading the Garmin, I just use it as a cycle computer. On todays ride all the data (avg/max speed, distance etc) tallied but the GPS reckoned I'd done 2409ft of climbing, the phone reckoned on 1912ft. The GPS has an atmospheric altimeter as well as the GPS so I think it's more accurate. Basically, I want my extra 500ft of climbing!
My Strava Grrr! is that when I've defined a segment with painstaking accuracy on google maps, by the time you save it, the saved segment that appears has the start and end points in random places loosely based on the start and end points I have defined. So you start a climb at the bottom of a hill - by the time you save it, the start point is halfway up the hill. Also, a few of the segments I've ridden seem to have start and end points in places that don't define what they're trying to do particularly well. So it seems the problem doesn't just happen to me.
On todays ride all the data (avg/max speed, distance etc) tallied but the GPS reckoned I'd done 2409ft of climbing, the phone reckoned on 1912ft. The GPS has an atmospheric altimeter as well as the GPS so I think it's more accurate. Basically, I want my extra 500ft of climbing!
You're right, some units have an altimeter in which is far more accurate for determining height gain than GPS is. However, I'm fairly sure that Strava corrects for this once your route has been uploaded.
https://strava.zendesk.com/entries/20965883-elevation-for-your-activity
my phone can put me about 50m away from the actual route when it feels like it. the garmin is much more accurate however but still very easy not to get picked up on a segment. I've made a couple of segments but as theres so much room to deviate from the exact trail i took then it shows im the only person to do it, even though i know others do it, obviously just a few meters to the left or right in places so it doesnt pcikup i guess.. dont think theres anything that can be done about that.
Bruneep 🙂
How do you import routes from endomondo to strava then?
davesmate - MemberHow do you import routes from endomondo to strava then?
Do it on your computer.
Just save the routes as a gpx from endomondo onto your desktop or whatever, then upload it when you're in Strava.
My 800 completely missed a segment on monday night.The KOM belongs to a poster above 😉
Did it again this morning and it was fine.
Right ho. Easy when you know how eh!
Mine missed a segment on a big hill this evening, and after I'd hurt myself staying in the big ring all the way up.
🙁
davesmate - MemberRight ho. Easy when you know how eh!
🙂 Assuming you're not taking the P, here's how I got it to work it with a bit more detail.
On Endomondo, in the page for the "workout" you want to copy over to Strava, click the "export" tab.Then click on the export to .gpx file
Then check the "open with xml editor option"
This opens up a web page with a load of programming language type stuff on it.
Go to the "File" then "Save As" bit of your browser and save it to the desktop.
Then open up Strava and click the "upload activity" box in the top right hand corner, then "upload a file on your computer", then browse to wherever you've saved the file, then upload it.
There's probably a less convoluted way of doing it but that was how I got it to work after a bit of trial and error.
stefmcdef - your problem came up in a recent thread and somebody reckoned it was a bug caused by the "keep my house secret" function.
Garmin app on iPhone works well for me. Picked up segments that another rider with the Strava app missed. I just export the gpx files for certain rides from garmin connect and upload them to Strava.
Right, enough is enough I'm getting a Garmin.
I've found with strava on the phone you have to follow the exact line. There's a few on the roads near me that get missed if you use the pavement based cycle path directly next to it
I've been wondering why the last few times I've been out it's not picked up a segment. Looking closely at the route it shows that the line isn't even following the road I was cycling on... it was about 30metres out!
.... and all the while that the riders were ****ing about with various phones and gips gadgets to check their segment times, the birds were singing and the sun was setting. There was a lovely new trail just off the normal route too, fairly well hidden and only noticed by riders who were looking around now and then. Ah well.. one of them got a KOM anyway so he was happy. The slower line was more fun and had better flow, but who cares about flow when you can win a KOM? Just ignore the fact that it's all innaccurate enough as to be fairly pointless, it's a game and having your name on top is what counts - just like the arcade games when they were younger, but none of them were any good at Double Dragon.
The end.
)
Strava going through them and weeding out duplicates although I imagine that would be one hell of a time consuming job.
Does it not hide them automatically?
I know there are 5 near identical segments on the climb up Holmbury Hill, that differ by a few feet, even have the same name, but they're all hidden bar one.
I'm KOM on all of them 🙂
I keep having times wiped from the segments all together and also I hardly ever pick up the segment for the full Twrch trail at Cwmcarn despite being very careful to stick to the trail. INFURIATING! I think I'll cancel my premium membership.
My brother-in-law was having similar problems with his HTC phone. He discovered that most of the problems were due to the case he kept it in. If he removed the case, it tracked nearly perfectly, using either Endomondo or Strava. He also has used a GPS-booster application that seemed to help.
However, he's still since bought a Bryton unit.
I wouldn't worry about not being able to pick up the Cwm Carn full red loop. It's pretty depressing when you do. 😳
Well yes its one of the hardest 13k trails you can do I reckon! The climb never gets any easier and I do it quite often too!!
I bought a cheep GPS tracker, so far it's proved completely accurate, even down to weaving in and out of parked cars!
goes for about £15-£30, mine just lives zip tied to my camelbak or in my jersey pocket which probably helps give it a far less obstructed view of the sky took.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=navin+minihomer&_sacat=0&_odkw=navin+mini+himer&_osacat=0
For the first time since april I didn't turn it on today on my ride, and it was quite refreshing not to be risking life and limb or busting a gut chasing times.
Really, It's not a race you know, you can log a slow strava and people don't laugh at you.
But it is isn't it otherwise what's the point , but I'd admit I'm to competitive and just feel the urge to go out and push, even after my own kom's. Silly I know but thats just the way I am .
But it is isn't it otherwise what's the point
I like the competitiveness but I also use it as a training/ride log. Great when someone is showing you some new trails etc. Also done some of the miles/meters challenges which involve getting stuff done not racing. It's got a few layers really.
I had the same problem with the iPhone strava app. I just started using motion x app then uploading the GPX file when I got in. Never missed a segment after that. I now have a Garmin though as having the info on your bars when chasing down a PR is great motivation to keep going.
Just got a PR this mornin now 65th out of 69 .i am a TIGER RAAAAAAHHH
Is there a way on the Strava website to see all your results? Not just KOMs, but all of them? Or all the segments you've done? Seems a fairly obvious thing to be able to do but I can't find it.
Recently, having started using a Garmin Oregon 450 to record longer rides, I noticed Strava would display the Garmin-recorded GPX route as straight lines, and thought it was a problem with the Garmin device. But in the links below, the ridewithgps map displays the Garmin GPX route as I'd expect to see it, where-as Strava doesn't. Has anyone had this issue as well, and configured to interpret the gpx file properly?
Strava: [img] 
[/img]
Ridewithgps:
[img] 
[/img]
Monsta - looks like ride with gps is correcting the route
Possibly the way Strava algorithms interprets gpx files. I reckon they average out the number of data locations to account for the variety of different devices people use to record their routes? A gpx file from a smartphone has to be less accurate than one from a dedicated GPS device. I know my phone samples something like every 3 seconds whereas my Garmin 510 samples every second. The Garmin so far has always managed to pick up all segments I might ride - even under heavy tree cover. The phone on the other hand does miss a fair few segments. It's quite interesting to have both GPS and phone recording at the same time. While the overall routes are pretty similar - segment times can vary wildly, especially on short fast down hill segments.
Example fromthe other week for a DH segment - 1 min 58 sec on the phone - on the GPS 2 min 10 sec - on the same ride, on the same bike at the same time.
Strava is for wet lads, kitchen clock if you want to be macho fantastico.
I found [url= http://www.wheelsuckers.co.uk/profiles/blogs/got-a-strava-kom-which-one-garmin-or-iphone ]this[/url] blog useful in explaining why my (Garmin) times were slower than my mates (iphone) times, it includes some useful responses from the Strava team.
I missed a segment yesterday- not because my device was inaccurate but because it was set up by someone with a crap device - surely it was waterproof as he was in the river 🙂
The iphone 4 ime has been pretty accurate picked up stuff my old garmin 205 missed.
My edge 500 has been excellent though.
Are the GPS watches any good for this kind of thing?
Forerunner 305 310 xt and 910 xt are all excellent.
I run so little i just bought a 910 xt watch strap and put my edge 500 on my wrist
after I'd hurt myself staying in the big ring all the way up.
wibble
surely this all averages out. Sometimes a less accurate GPS will actually give u a faster time some times it wont.
Presumably the speed over the 4 seconds is averaged so it really depends on the shape of the trail.
Just to set the facts straight being an RF engineer with a background in GPS 🙂
The GPS in a phone is no different to the GPS in a Garmin, the chip provider might be different but its still a GPS chip.
The GPS in a phone can be every bit as good as a dedicated GPS, indeed I use an IP rated Android phone as my main navigation tool hill walking.
But a smartphone has lots of things squeezed into it and may use a smaller chip/patch antenna which may also be surrounded by other RF devices. This can mean a phone GPS can be a little fussier about how it is positioned and carried to get a good fix. So a phone stuffed into a seat pack on a bike ridden in a wooded area is going to suffer more than a dedicated GPS in the same situation. But all GPS prefer a good view of the sky such as mounted on handlebars or in at the top of a rucksack.
The GPS in a phone does have one advantage over dedicated GPS devices though, an internet connection which allows it to download data over the internet that will improve its speed in getting a fix, this is called assisted GPS (A-GPS).
Dedicated GPS devices usually have a larger patch antenna, rather than a small chip antenna, some even have a stubby helix coil antenna such as the Garmin GPSMAP6x series. The bigger the antenna the better.
Accuracy can be improved with the use of spaced based augmentation systems (SBAS) that us ground stations at known locations to send correction information to GPS receivers via geo stationary satellites. this can give >5 meter accuracy. Most modern GPS chips support this, including those in phones.
GPS accuracy is largely down to geometry, having a good spread of satellites visible around the horizon provides better geometry than only having satellites directly above you.
Some device can have better accuracy by supporting both the US GPS and Russian Glonass systems, this works because with more satellites in the sky you have a better chance of getting good geometry.
So GPS performance in phone is largely down to the design of the phone itself. how large the antenna is, where the antenna is located in the phone and how much importance the designer put into GPS performance compared to wifi/bluetooth and phone radio performance.
Sometimes a less accurate GPS will actually give u a faster time some times it wont.
GPS doesn't give speed (as such - actually potentially it might). Software gives speed.
I recorded a ride yesterday on 1 phone, using both Endomomdo and Runkeeper. The average speeds differed, the total distance differed, and the maximum recorded speed differed a lot. And Runkeeper took longer to agree that GPS lock was good. So 2 apps have used the same available GPS messages from the same GPS chipset in different ways.
+1 For Garmin i use 800 and a 500 no probs, not as many KOMs as id like though maybe there a bit to accurate! 😛
>Is there a way on the Strava website to see all your results? Not just KOMs, but all of them? Or all the segments you've done? Seems a fairly obvious thing to be able to do but I can't find it.<
Not on the free version afaik.
But dead easy to import your Strava times into this software and see them:
I've found the Garmin 500 I'm using way more reliable than the HTC phone I used before but the Garmin / Strava combo is far from perfect. It's good for training / monitoring your own performance but the KOM thing shouldn't be taken too seriously for off road use. For example a few of the trails I use regularly have very close road sections so the leaderboard is chocked with super fast times set by Roadies who have never ever been down the Singletrack. Similarly loads of guys half my age riding CX bikes and I'm on 33lb full suss. Still, it's good fun as long as you keep it all in perspective.