StravA

mistermatthew

Having recently picked up a smart phone I was out on my first two Strava spins.
I was wondering how accurate are the elevation measurements?(how do they work?) and also any tips on how you use it to help with training?

Any other cool cycling apps?

Cookie_Monster

GPS like the garmin edge use a pressure sensor to calculate changes in height, not sure how certain smartphones do it but in my experience they're not accurate at all.
you can log onto strava on the PC and correct the elevation by clicking on it in the activity.

godtabh

I did two cycles on the 24th using an edge 500 and an iPhone

iPhone measures 52.5km. 368m gain.

Edge measured 52km at 381m gain

godtabh

Edit sorry other way around

Ole Rodrigo

The strava app is dependant on how well the phone OS and GPS circuitry is working. You might find it is not working correctly because a particular update is required for the phone, and so on. That said in my experience ( on an iphone anyway ) it is usually ok for spins up to 60/70 km and not too many hills, which should also leave you some battery power. The battery usually lasts for 4 hours with the app running on a full charge. If there's anything else running or you take some calls it could be quite a bit less.

The general consensus is a dedicated device like a garmin is better for a number of reasons. One obvious reason would be having enough battery power to make a call should you need to ( like a pickup coz you didn't bring your spare tube )

blabley

I use http://www.sportstracklive.com on a Samsung Galaxy S2 running Android, but as has been said this uses the phone's GPS to work out altitude. Then data from The Weather Channel for Wind speed etc. I love it, of course just need to take it with a pince of salt really.

I tend to get about 4/5hrs out of it, but a mate of mine has a Pebble so when you stop for a lunch break just plug that in... depends on how long your riding for really, just remember to turn off all apps, Bluetooth etc

Diego Murphy

If you put the phone into flight mode while you're cycling, your gps app will still work but you'll double the battery life. Alternatively, turn off your 3g as this eats battery.

godtabh

When using the iPhone I turn off 3G and could easily get 7 hours plus talk time. 3G uses a lot of battery

Lanzecki

GPS uses a lot of battery as well. consider turning data services, buletooth, wireless off if you don't need them.

My Phone HTC ONE X averages about 4m accuracy. Best accuracy was 1m that I noticed, but I soon learned to not be to obsessed. The next best option is something like a Garmin Edge.

Hungrycol

C'mere, if someone takes your KOM that (I think) is physically not possible on a bicycle do you cry and think that this Strava KOM is bull**** and forget about it or contact the new KOM owner and ask how TF did they beat it by that margin and at that speed?

I had one KOM and now it's gone

colm_gti

Hungrycol wrote: »

C'mere, if someone takes your KOM that (I think) is physically not possible on a bicycle do you cry and think that this Strava KOM is bull**** and forget about it or contact the new KOM owner and ask how TF did they beat it by that margin and at that speed?

I had one KOM and now it's gone

You can report it if you think they are faking it.

Or if you think it's real and you can't get it back, report the segment as unsafe

2 Wheels Good

Hungrycol wrote: »

C'mere, if someone takes your KOM that (I think) is physically not possible on a bicycle do you cry and think that this Strava KOM is bull**** and forget about it or contact the new KOM owner and ask how TF did they beat it by that margin and at that speed?

I had one KOM and now it's gone

What's the segment?

Hungrycol

colm_gti wrote: »

You can report it if you think they are faking it.

Or if you think it's real and you can't get it back, report the segment as unsafe

Looked at it in more detail on the PC and it looks legit. Averaged 57kph over 1.5km. It's Whitehall - Coolock Sprint. He knocked 9 seconds off my time and added 5kph faster. The depressing thing is there's no way I can increase my average by that much over that distance. Let it go Col, let it go.

I'm just going to cry into my porridge.

Raam

Flat KOMs, LOL!

Plastik

There are lots of ways to make your KOM times 'look' legit on Strava - DigitalEPO for example, works. KOM's have become pretty pointless on it unless you can verify the person that set the time and it's consistent with how they ride regularly.

Wishbone Ash

Hungrycol wrote: »

Looked at it in more detail on the PC and it looks legit. Averaged 57kph over 1.5km. It's Whitehall - Coolock Sprint. He knocked 9 seconds off my time and added 5kph faster. The depressing thing is there's no way I can increase my average by that much over that distance. Let it go Col, let it go.

I'm just going to cry into my porridge.

Yes - looking over the full 56km ride that he did, it looks fairly legit. The other segments and averages are within normal ranges. It looks like he got tucked in behind a truck, had a strong tailwind and gave it an almighty blast as he neared the finish of the ride.

That segment shouldn't be permitted anyway as it's on a motorway!

Hungrycol

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Yes - looking over the full 56km ride that he did, it looks fairly legit. The other segments and averages are within normal ranges. It looks like he got tucked in behind a truck, had a strong tailwind and gave it an almighty blast as he neared the finish of the ride.

That segment shouldn't be permitted anyway as it's on a motorway!

Yeah that's the conclusion I came to too. It's on the N1 and finishes just before it becomes M1.

Wishbone Ash

Hungrycol wrote: »

It's on the N1 and finishes just before it becomes M1.

Apologies- point taken. I thought it became a motorway after the first turn off for Santry.

(I'll have to give it a blast myself then so! )

Hmmzis

If the direction of the segment is from SW to to NE then the 60+kmh breeze might be of some assistance. There is a segment not far from my house where the KOM was done with an average of 70kmh (the segment is fairly flat with a ramp at the start that gives a good starting speed). This was done on a very breezy day with the wind in the back. I only know that because I was going over that segment the same day and going at 55kmh felt almost effortles while any other day that speed would mean a balls out effort. I wouldn't have a hard time imagining someone doing that with a good effort and the wind in his back.

Beasty

I think that bit of his ride does look suspicious. He stopped in town, then on several occasions picked up speed very rapidly. To cap it, he was doing 55kph or so on the roundabout just before the end

The pattern in town suggests he could have been putting the bike into a car;)

Hungrycol

Raam wrote: »

Flat KOMs, LOL!

Ergo Strava KOM's are Bull****?

colm_gti

Raam wrote: »

Flat KOMs, LOL!

Stoppit, they exist to make us fattys feel good about ourselves!

on_the_nickel

Hungrycol wrote: »

Ergo Strava KOM's are Bull****?

I don't think so, I can't think of one round here that I would consider in any way dodgy.

If you seen one that's obviously been done in a car/motorbike/train, either contact the individual or report to Strava. As for digital EPO, anyone who would go to that extent to take a virtual KOM obviously has some serious need issues and it's probably best to let them have it.

Having said that, there's not a lot you can do about a group of riders creating a train to pick KOMs off, but that's part of the game.

CramCycle

colm_gti wrote: »

Stoppit, they exist to make us fattys feel good about ourselves!

I comfort eat to get over it, it's alot easier to deal with the humiliation.

Hungrycol

on_the_nickel wrote: »

I don't think so, I can't think of one round here that I would consider in any way dodgy.

If you seen one that's obviously been done in a car/motorbike/train, either contact the individual or report to Strava. As for digital EPO, anyone who would go to that extent to take a virtual KOM obviously has some serious need issues and it's probably best to let them have it.

Having said that, there's not a lot you can do about a group of riders creating a train to pick KOMs off, but that's part of the game.

I know I'm just licking my wounds.

on_the_nickel

Hungrycol wrote: »

I know I'm just licking my wounds.

I know - see my last sentence!

Phoenix Park

A quick question please folks as i'm new enough to this app.

I've been using Strava on a Samsung galaxy s2 and MOST of the time its fine, but I've lost a couple of rides now that have either failed to upload or else a chunk has disappeared at some point during the cycle.

This could be the phone of course, but I never had a problem with mapmyride. Aside from battery usage issues is it possible to use both apps at the same time to map a particular ride?

Also, assuming incoming calls/texts are not a concern would I be better off using Flight Mode? Looks like Strava themselves say this will USUALLY work on most phones. Whenever Strava has failed I've never had an issue with the battery, i'm not running anything else on the phone I shouldn't be (I think!). It just seems unreliable for me, but I can't figure out why when I never had a problem with Mapmyride. I'd prefer to use Strava permanently though as so many people seem to use it for segments.

Thanks in advance.