Alternative to Strava?

[TheFungle]

I've been a user of Strava since 2012 in addition to my GPS data being uploaded since I started recording in 2010; in short, the 50k miles of recorded data represents a significant slice of my cycling history.

I've been a segment hunting we but these days over and I've no real desire for the analysis it offers as part of the premium subscription. I'm also increasingly hacked off with the constant (if understandable) push of having to pay for access to features I've no interest in.

What are the alternatives, if any?

Garmin Connect is something I have access to but it doesn't really do anything for me.

[defblade]

If you want something free, I think it'll be hard to get away from the "premium push".

I know kamoot records my rides (at the same time as Strava), but never use it for this, so couldn't say if it pushes its premium version.

I think dealing with Strava's own advertising is a small price to pay for the free use of it. The only bit that winds me up slightly is the never-ending "loading" whirls in the segment list.

[TheFungle]

defblade said:

If you want something free, I think it'll be hard to get away from the "premium push".

I know kamoot records my rides (at the same time as Strava), but never use it for this, so couldn't say if it pushes its premium version.

I think dealing with Strava's own advertising is a small price to pay for the free use of it. The only bit that winds me up slightly is the never-ending "loading" whirls in the segment list.

Agreed, at least it isn't 3rd party advertising!

[Gren]

I'm in a similar place.

I use Garmin connect to keep track of all my activities - hiking and general fitness through my Fenix and road/mountain biking through my Edge. It keeps all my stats in one place and allows me to follow routes

I create routes (hiking and bike) in Ride With GPS and then just 'pin' them to appear in Connect

I still use Strava to review my rides. I don't compare to others just to myself. I have a free account so the comparisons are very limited. The reason I stick with Strava is the segments. I suppose I could transfer the ones I want onto Connect and get better tracking of my performance against my history but I haven't been bothered to do so

So in short I could probably do everything I need (and better?) in Connect but at the moment I stick with RwGPS and Strava because it's easier. I'd also probably lose a couple of years data from when I used a Wahoo Bolt a couple of years back

Edited by Gren on Monday 1st July 08:50

[teeCup]

I too have been on Strava for years but have never found any real value in the premium options offered, certainly not at its current cost. I use it for the social side of seeing what my mates have been up to and sharing kudos etc, then use Garmin Connect for the more ‘personal’ stuff I like to track such as weekly / monthly distance and elevation gained etc.

This seems a good compromise between saving the money on a premium subscription and utilising the few worthwhile features that are now locked behind the Strava paywall.

Off topic I know, but is there a PH Strava club?

[Rough101]

Garmin Connect is fine, I’ve used since before Strava and it plugs into things like Relive etc.

I upload via Garmin and it automatically syncs with Strava

[Gren]

teeCup said:

Off topic I know, but is there a PH Strava club?

Yep. 614 members. I joined it years ago but have never really looked at it until now

[some bloke]

I use Wahoo on my phone, it connects to my HRM (might also be Wahoo made though?) without a problem and displays HR data while cycling. It uploads automatically to Strava too, so you still get your segments.

[teeCup]

Gren said:

Yep. 614 members. I joined it years ago but have never really looked at it until now

Thanks, I’ve found it and joined.

[john7]

Would Relive offer what you’re looking for?

[Steve vRS]

Might be a controversial opinion but I pay for Strava Premium and use a few of its features. However, I think that Strava offers excellent value for money. No in your face advertising, mapping and ride/ run recording all for just over a pound a week. I’m a happy customer.

[redrabbit29]

Steve vRS said:

Might be a controversial opinion but I pay for Strava Premium and use a few of its features. However, I think that Strava offers excellent value for money. No in your face advertising, mapping and ride/ run recording all for just over a pound a week. I’m a happy customer.

I'm the same.

My mindset changed a bit when I saw a post about two years ago saying that people will spend £500 on a new wheel but not £4 a month on a brilliant social media app which all their friends use, tracks all their activity, gives fitness scores, route planning, clubs, messaging facilities etc ...

The same post said something like, the money is to support the app and the engineers and staff working on it to keep going. Commercially it needs income to maintain and improve.

Not saying this is true for everyone. But moreso those who exercise a lot, have friends on Strava, etc.

[CheesecakeRunner]

redrabbit29 said:

The same post said something like, the money is to support the app and the engineers and staff working on it to keep going. Commercially it needs income to maintain and improve.

This is precisely why I pay for it. Software development since its inception has created a rod for its own back with so many valuable pieces of software being created by volunteers and given away through altruism. This is resulted in a market that doesn’t value the work that goes into the creation of the products at all, and expects everything to be free.

Software creators of all sizes need to be paid for their efforts. Even more so with things like Strava that have an ongoing cost to run. The fact that so much of Strava is available free and without ads is a massive credit to Strava, but only exists because of those who do pay for it.