Strava oddity
#1
SuperGimp
Thread Starter
Strava oddity
OK, so I hopped back on the bike tonight and went for a nice evening ride... forgot my headlight (doh!) but somebody created this segment and I figured I was close enough that I could swipe first with a little effort, so.... I did!
But what's this? I have the men's record and I'm in second place? How is that even possible? I'm a trifle annoyed right now.
Here's the ride, despite my nervousness about not having a light, I guess my eye searing tail light and reflective jacket kept me safe enough.
https://app.strava.com/activities/26693692 (check out Chapman Grade if you want to see what I'm talking about, Strava has me in second)
But what's this? I have the men's record and I'm in second place? How is that even possible? I'm a trifle annoyed right now.
Here's the ride, despite my nervousness about not having a light, I guess my eye searing tail light and reflective jacket kept me safe enough.
https://app.strava.com/activities/26693692 (check out Chapman Grade if you want to see what I'm talking about, Strava has me in second)
#3
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Possibly the #1 is anonymous?
or averaged 40mph?
or averaged 40mph?
#4
Senior Member
Can't help you with Strava but that's enough to make you madder than a tick in a tar bucket. Looks like there was a "Jorge Almaguer" on the same route/ride.
I can't even get my Garmin to agree on an elevation gain with itself much less figure out Strava - which is always saying to me 'hthu'.
The same 15 mile route has an elevation gains of 501, 620', and 861' with corrections ON for each of the 3 rides. There's a 160' delta in the Max Elevation number.
Ride with GPS has the gain as 840'
I can't even get my Garmin to agree on an elevation gain with itself much less figure out Strava - which is always saying to me 'hthu'.
The same 15 mile route has an elevation gains of 501, 620', and 861' with corrections ON for each of the 3 rides. There's a 160' delta in the Max Elevation number.
Ride with GPS has the gain as 840'
Last edited by IBOHUNT; 11-02-12 at 07:47 AM.
#5
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IBO - have you set up an 'elevation point' for your usual starting location? Once I did that, I started getting consistent elevation readouts.
As I understand it, since its 'barometric pressure' based, it will vary from day to day - but setting an elevation point fixes that.
As I understand it, since its 'barometric pressure' based, it will vary from day to day - but setting an elevation point fixes that.
#6
Senior Member
GPS is apparently bad at calculating altitude, something to do with the angles of the satellites. And if it's pressure based well that's just throw-away data then.
#8
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I'm sure those guys at strava know how desparate you are to have a #1 award on your profile, they're messing with you ha ha!
#9
SuperGimp
Thread Starter
As for altitude, I think the most reliable results are achieved using the garmin data with no correction (if you correct it, you're using survey data and if you are riding mountain roads and your position is off just a skosh you can really trash the results). The barometric data is pretty good and seems to vaguely correlate with what strava comes up with. I don't get too worked up about it anymore.
Who the heck is Jorge Almaguer? He rode a mountain bike over what is known as the "Fullerton Loop", something I've never done on account of not owning a MB. That route is vaguely in the same area I rode last night but it's not even close to "rode with" IMO. Oh well. I'm sure he had a good time.
#10
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That would be #3 and yes, I'd like to enjoy it until somebody fast accidentally takes it away.
As for altitude, I think the most reliable results are achieved using the garmin data with no correction (if you correct it, you're using survey data and if you are riding mountain roads and your position is off just a skosh you can really trash the results). The barometric data is pretty good and seems to vaguely correlate with what strava comes up with. I don't get too worked up about it anymore.
Who the heck is Jorge Almaguer? He rode a mountain bike over what is known as the "Fullerton Loop", something I've never done on account of not owning a MB. That route is vaguely in the same area I rode last night but it's not even close to "rode with" IMO. Oh well. I'm sure he had a good time.
As for altitude, I think the most reliable results are achieved using the garmin data with no correction (if you correct it, you're using survey data and if you are riding mountain roads and your position is off just a skosh you can really trash the results). The barometric data is pretty good and seems to vaguely correlate with what strava comes up with. I don't get too worked up about it anymore.
Who the heck is Jorge Almaguer? He rode a mountain bike over what is known as the "Fullerton Loop", something I've never done on account of not owning a MB. That route is vaguely in the same area I rode last night but it's not even close to "rode with" IMO. Oh well. I'm sure he had a good time.
Doesn't strava just take the data from your garmin? Or does it try to match it to existing 'known good' data? Before I set an elevation point, my rides (both strava and ride with gps) had really wacky starting elevations. After, very consistent and rwgps actually seems to have stopped giving me extra bonus feet of climbing (in fact now its reporting less than strava). ... I'll dig around on the web when I get some time and see if anyone documents how they do this.
As for 'rode with', I get that too - I think its 'so and so was out riding along the same route at the same time as you, and we're going to infer that you were riding together, aren't we brilliant' - NOT!
I'm definitely considering all my elevation data as suspect.
#11
SuperGimp
Thread Starter
If you look at the gpx data from your garmin, it appears that there is explicit elevation data. The only really important thing (to me) is the change, not the absolute correctness of the elevation. I have noticed on rides that involve me shutting off my garmin, I may have a sudden elevation "bump" when it turns back on and reacquires the elevation.
Here's an example - I rode down and met some friends for a ride, and while they were getting ready my garmin shut off at about the 1:19 mark. It reacquired the elevation when I turned it back on so I went from 467 feet at the 1:19 mark to 331 at the 1:41 mark and I didn't move. (https://app.strava.com/activities/10024360 it's much easier to see if you look at the performance tab)
I've never tried to determine if it affects my total elevation in any way though, it usually seems to "lose" altitude when I turn it back on. As others have said, setting an elevation point at a spot you ride past will presumably correct that little glitch.
Here's an example - I rode down and met some friends for a ride, and while they were getting ready my garmin shut off at about the 1:19 mark. It reacquired the elevation when I turned it back on so I went from 467 feet at the 1:19 mark to 331 at the 1:41 mark and I didn't move. (https://app.strava.com/activities/10024360 it's much easier to see if you look at the performance tab)
I've never tried to determine if it affects my total elevation in any way though, it usually seems to "lose" altitude when I turn it back on. As others have said, setting an elevation point at a spot you ride past will presumably correct that little glitch.
#12
Senior Member
IBO - have you set up an 'elevation point' for your usual starting location? Once I did that, I started getting consistent elevation readouts.
As I understand it, since its 'barometric pressure' based, it will vary from day to day - but setting an elevation point fixes that.
As I understand it, since its 'barometric pressure' based, it will vary from day to day - but setting an elevation point fixes that.
#13
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#14
Senior Member
I created this one last week, https://app.strava.com/activities/26587103#476252197 and someone already bumped me off the KOM. It's only a matter of time until the super jocks around here discover it and knock me to off the first page. I like it because of a hairpin turn with great visibility that lets me practice cornering.
Pressure altitude is more accurate than GPS altitude, especially if you are mainly concerned with elevation changes, as opposed to absolute elevation.
Pressure altitude is more accurate than GPS altitude, especially if you are mainly concerned with elevation changes, as opposed to absolute elevation.
Last edited by CommuteCommando; 11-02-12 at 03:06 PM.
#15
SuperGimp
Thread Starter
Strava hooked me up and fixed that segment... woo hoo, King of the Block!
So that'll last until somebody sufficiently speedy figures out they need to deep six my time. i have noticed that there are some funky games going on with short segments and I'm not sure how people do it... actually, I have a pretty good idea, but I'm not willing to game my results just for a little electronic glory. or I'm just too lazy to do it.
So that'll last until somebody sufficiently speedy figures out they need to deep six my time. i have noticed that there are some funky games going on with short segments and I'm not sure how people do it... actually, I have a pretty good idea, but I'm not willing to game my results just for a little electronic glory. or I'm just too lazy to do it.
#16
SuperGimp
Thread Starter
LMAO, and it's gone already. Now I'm second for real.
How fleeting the glory. Some 140# kid in his early 20s beat me by 6 seconds. I guess I know what I'm doing next Tuesday. Ha ha.
How fleeting the glory. Some 140# kid in his early 20s beat me by 6 seconds. I guess I know what I'm doing next Tuesday. Ha ha.
#17
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go out and take the KoM back... then pull a TdF and salt the road with thumb tacks... ?
#18
SuperGimp
Thread Starter
#19
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#20
SuperGimp
Thread Starter
Got it! But it's like kissing my sister, I tied the guy. Strava still thinks I'm king, thank you Strava.
https://app.strava.com/activities/27143603#486620064
It was dark, my flashlight was misbehaving, I missed the light and didn't get the boost from the downhill before the segment... blah, blah, blah. I'll have to try and take sole ownership next week when I'm down there again. I love having a goal.
https://app.strava.com/activities/27143603#486620064
It was dark, my flashlight was misbehaving, I missed the light and didn't get the boost from the downhill before the segment... blah, blah, blah. I'll have to try and take sole ownership next week when I'm down there again. I love having a goal.
#21
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Got it! But it's like kissing my sister, I tied the guy. Strava still thinks I'm king, thank you Strava.
https://app.strava.com/activities/27143603#486620064
It was dark, my flashlight was misbehaving, I missed the light and didn't get the boost from the downhill before the segment... blah, blah, blah. I'll have to try and take sole ownership next week when I'm down there again. I love having a goal.
https://app.strava.com/activities/27143603#486620064
It was dark, my flashlight was misbehaving, I missed the light and didn't get the boost from the downhill before the segment... blah, blah, blah. I'll have to try and take sole ownership next week when I'm down there again. I love having a goal.
#22
Senior Member
Got it! But it's like kissing my sister, I tied the guy. Strava still thinks I'm king, thank you Strava.
https://app.strava.com/activities/27143603#486620064
It was dark, my flashlight was misbehaving, I missed the light and didn't get the boost from the downhill before the segment... blah, blah, blah. I'll have to try and take sole ownership next week when I'm down there again. I love having a goal.
https://app.strava.com/activities/27143603#486620064
It was dark, my flashlight was misbehaving, I missed the light and didn't get the boost from the downhill before the segment... blah, blah, blah. I'll have to try and take sole ownership next week when I'm down there again. I love having a goal.
#23
SuperGimp
Thread Starter