Strava / Trailforks changes
Discussion
FYI for anyone else that records in Strava and syncs ridelogs to Trailforks (or other apps):
https://www.trailforks.com/blog/view/changes-to-st...
The long and short of it is that Strava have changed their API terms and now all ridelogs synced from Strava to Trailforks are forced to 'private' visibility on TF, and the data is cut off from most of TF analysis stats like trail use and leaderboards etc.
For some reason this has been applied retrospectively to all the ridelogs from before the API change as well - I've just checked TF and all my past ridelogs have been made private and the leaderboards on most trails are basically empty. [ETA: TF have clarified that this was specifically required by strava, if TF don't comply they will lose access to the strava API]
To me this is utter BS - its my data not strava's and if I choose to share it with TF that should be up to me, and no way should a change of terms be applied retrospectively to logs recorded when the terms were different.
TF developers say they have improved their recording functionality and you can still sync ridelogs recorded in TF to Strava, but Strava have strangled the use of logs synced the other way. So I guess I'll try recording in TF next time - I might sync to Strava or I might just ditch Strava altogether, more people use strava (for now) but the areas I ride most often have far more trails in TF than strava segments.
I wonder how much of the MTB rider market strava will lose with this pettiness...
https://www.trailforks.com/blog/view/changes-to-st...
The long and short of it is that Strava have changed their API terms and now all ridelogs synced from Strava to Trailforks are forced to 'private' visibility on TF, and the data is cut off from most of TF analysis stats like trail use and leaderboards etc.
For some reason this has been applied retrospectively to all the ridelogs from before the API change as well - I've just checked TF and all my past ridelogs have been made private and the leaderboards on most trails are basically empty. [ETA: TF have clarified that this was specifically required by strava, if TF don't comply they will lose access to the strava API]
To me this is utter BS - its my data not strava's and if I choose to share it with TF that should be up to me, and no way should a change of terms be applied retrospectively to logs recorded when the terms were different.
TF developers say they have improved their recording functionality and you can still sync ridelogs recorded in TF to Strava, but Strava have strangled the use of logs synced the other way. So I guess I'll try recording in TF next time - I might sync to Strava or I might just ditch Strava altogether, more people use strava (for now) but the areas I ride most often have far more trails in TF than strava segments.
I wonder how much of the MTB rider market strava will lose with this pettiness...
Edited by GravelBen on Friday 13th December 03:06
Yup we knew...
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2024/11/stravas-change...
Strava do seem to be doing there best to pee everyone off and this time I think they have shot themselves in both feet. That and the dumb ass AI. I'm honestly considering canceling my Strava sub as its the only way to disable the AI.
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2024/11/stravas-change...
Strava do seem to be doing there best to pee everyone off and this time I think they have shot themselves in both feet. That and the dumb ass AI. I'm honestly considering canceling my Strava sub as its the only way to disable the AI.
I saw your posts about this over on PB. For me it isn't the end of the world not being able to sync over to Trailforks, but I do like having the stats at the end of the ride.
It feels like Strava had the best API, so everything seemed to run through that, e.g. I logged my rides on Apple Workouts, imported them to Strava, which then synced them to Trailforks. I'll have to see if there's another middle service that I can use (or write one).
It feels like Strava had the best API, so everything seemed to run through that, e.g. I logged my rides on Apple Workouts, imported them to Strava, which then synced them to Trailforks. I'll have to see if there's another middle service that I can use (or write one).
I was feeling a bit ranty about the whole thing! 
I've downloaded my activity archive from strava, so I should be able to upload that to trailforks directly making it independent of strava's API.
I haven't checked yet but hopefully there is (or will be soon) a tool to upload those activities in bulk and replace the old ones synced from strava automatically, as doing them one by one would be very painful.
I don't use any other apps but I understand a lot of people using third party training or coaching apps etc with strava are understandably pissed off about it.
I think this will hurt strava badly long-term - despite all the negative response their attitude has been to double down and try to justify themselves with unbelievable claims (like saying it will only affect 0.1% of apps) and laughably lame excuses (like the claim they are doing it to give users more control of their data, when it is obviously the exact opposite). They have also blocked any questioning of it on their own community forums etc.
I've downloaded my activity archive from strava, so I should be able to upload that to trailforks directly making it independent of strava's API.
I haven't checked yet but hopefully there is (or will be soon) a tool to upload those activities in bulk and replace the old ones synced from strava automatically, as doing them one by one would be very painful.
I don't use any other apps but I understand a lot of people using third party training or coaching apps etc with strava are understandably pissed off about it.
I think this will hurt strava badly long-term - despite all the negative response their attitude has been to double down and try to justify themselves with unbelievable claims (like saying it will only affect 0.1% of apps) and laughably lame excuses (like the claim they are doing it to give users more control of their data, when it is obviously the exact opposite). They have also blocked any questioning of it on their own community forums etc.
Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 15th December 05:06
More of a mountaineering and skiing app but Strava acquired and have killed Fatmap
This was incredibly useful mapping program. You could upload your own files like Strava but the value was others uploaded files which included GPX files for mountaineering routes and ski tours together with professionally curated route descriptions organised into guidebooks. If you were visiting, say St Anton, you could just fire up FatMap and you'd get see what others had been up to but also graded descriptions of off piste routes - enough activity to keep you safe and busy for a week.
The basemap, I believe was google earth which gave amazing 2D and 3D mountain views for planning. Additionally, as a subscriber you could overlay local maps ie. Ordnance Survey, IGN (France), Swisstopo etc. In addition to this there were layers for aspect, steepness, snowfall, snow depth and avalanche risk. Incredibly useful for planning finding your way through challenging terrain.
Essentially they took the fancy 3D mapping visuals and killed everything that was useful.
This was incredibly useful mapping program. You could upload your own files like Strava but the value was others uploaded files which included GPX files for mountaineering routes and ski tours together with professionally curated route descriptions organised into guidebooks. If you were visiting, say St Anton, you could just fire up FatMap and you'd get see what others had been up to but also graded descriptions of off piste routes - enough activity to keep you safe and busy for a week.
The basemap, I believe was google earth which gave amazing 2D and 3D mountain views for planning. Additionally, as a subscriber you could overlay local maps ie. Ordnance Survey, IGN (France), Swisstopo etc. In addition to this there were layers for aspect, steepness, snowfall, snow depth and avalanche risk. Incredibly useful for planning finding your way through challenging terrain.
Essentially they took the fancy 3D mapping visuals and killed everything that was useful.
Strava’s nonsense was mentioned in the Veloviewer thread.
I haven’t ever used Trailforks but hopefully they develop a link to sync from other data sources and just take Strava out the loop. To that end I just created a squadrats account to enable me to sync activities straight from Garmin and remove Strava from the loop.
I’ve only ever used Strava because it linked to things like JustGiving for charity stuff. If they’re not willing to output my data where I want it, they’re not getting it in the first place.
I haven’t ever used Trailforks but hopefully they develop a link to sync from other data sources and just take Strava out the loop. To that end I just created a squadrats account to enable me to sync activities straight from Garmin and remove Strava from the loop.
I’ve only ever used Strava because it linked to things like JustGiving for charity stuff. If they’re not willing to output my data where I want it, they’re not getting it in the first place.
Strava being Strava. Through their changes and improvements I went from a Premium user to basic, to cancellation of my account. I maintained a second one, purely for routing data through, but since Garmin have made their interactions simpler with other apps, Strava's use to me is over. Not sure they have the handle on how many people need them. Less than they think, I suspect.
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