Strava instead of computer
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 808
Likes: 16
From: Beaverton, OR
Bikes: It's the motor, not the bike, right?
Strava instead of computer
Do any of you commuters use Strava? I don't have a computer on my new summer bike build, so I've gotten into using Strava since I was introduced to it by a friend. It does a great job of tracking my rides. I've seen posts about it on the road forums, but almost all of my riding is commuting or utility riding, and I'm wondering if anyone else like me uses it as well. I'm not tracking big long rides like the roadies, but just like being able to see how much I'm using my bike (instead of my car). It's also been interesting to see how long my commute actually takes, and how little difference there is in time between a commute where I take it easy, and one where I'm going as fast as I can.
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 1
From: Buffalo, NY
Bikes: Schwinn Tourist (2010), Trek 6000 (1999)
I don't use Strava, but I use a similar app called Runkeeper; instead of a dedicated cycle computer. That might change, since my rides are getting longer and longer. They chew through battery when the screen is on. I'm limited to about 3 hours of riding, before the phone's battery is dead.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 409
Likes: 1
From: On my bike...
I use Strava for all my rides - mountain, road, commuting, errands, everything.
You don't get the real time data of an actual bike computer, but I like the ability to track my performance over certain stretches, and individual rides, as well. There's a steep hill on my commute and I like to see my time up the hill get shorter and shorter each week.
You don't get the real time data of an actual bike computer, but I like the ability to track my performance over certain stretches, and individual rides, as well. There's a steep hill on my commute and I like to see my time up the hill get shorter and shorter each week.
#5
Full Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 221
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Bikes: '13 Felt Z5, '13 Giant Anthem 29er, '05 Specialized Sirrus, 2021 Fairdale Taj, 2021 Surly Midnight Special, 2022 Surly Midnight Special
I use runkeeper and am experimenting with mapmyride. I'd buy a garmin if I didn't already have the phone
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 177
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From: Bunkie, Louisiana
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
I use the iRunner app on my iPhone and its great. You can tap the lock button on top of the phone and make the screen go black and the app will continue to track progress. When you get to where your going just unlock your phone and it will bring you rite to the app. Strava is pretty good to, I've used it a time are two.
#7
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Toledo, Ohio
Bikes: Cannondale Scalpel, Trek Soho S (Commuter #1), Cannondale CAAD3 flat bar road bike (Commuter #2)
I use map my ride on my iphone and love it. I don't even use a dedicated bike computer anymore. Map my ride can also interface with ANT+ devices like heart rate and power. I think it's great and it's only a few buckaroos.
#8
Erect member since 1953
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,000
Likes: 38
From: Antioch, CA (SF Bay Area)
Bikes: Trek 520 Grando, Roubaix Expert, Motobecane Ti Century Elite turned commuter, Some old French thing gone fixie
For some reason I decided to Strava all my rides this year. I commute and ride for fun. I've only used the phone app a few times. Usually I use the Garmin 500. It would be overkill for just commuting, but since I have it already, why not?
https://app.strava.com/athletes/264291
https://app.strava.com/athletes/264291
#9
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville, North Carolina
Bikes: Trek Madone 2.1
I use an app called Cyclemeter. I have just about used them all. I like Cyclemeter because it works internally within its own app, you don't have to join anything. I also like the fact that it will email my wife or whoever I choose as I ride to let them know where I am and at what speed I am moving. Give it a try, I think you will love it.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 190
Likes: 2
From: Portland, Oregon
Bikes: 2018 All-City Space Horse Disc, 1992 Bridgestone RB-1, 1987 Centurion Ironman, KidzTandem
I've used Strava for every single ride I have done, whether it is a century or a quick ride around the block. I think it is a fantastic app, I really love looking through all of the statistics.
#12
Obsessed with Eddington

Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,334
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From: Brussels (BE) 🇧🇪
Bikes: '16 Spesh Diverge, '14 Spesh Fatboy, '18 Spesh Epic, '18 Spesh SL6, '21 Spesh SL7, '21 Spesh Diverge...and maybe n+1?
I use Mapmyride...no experience with Strava. I use MMR for the route building functionality, then upload to my phone (iPhone 4s) which i mount on my handlebars and lets me see the route in detail as I progress. Not really awesome, because I refuse to pay their MVP pricing, but good enough that I can vary the route, without getting lost whilst avoiding the roads filled with people in the slowmotion Indy 500 every morning. My 2 cents.
#13
curmudgineer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 113
From: Chicago SW burbs
Bikes: 2 many 2 fit here
I use an app called Cyclemeter. I have just about used them all. I like Cyclemeter because it works internally within its own app, you don't have to join anything. I also like the fact that it will email my wife or whoever I choose as I ride to let them know where I am and at what speed I am moving. Give it a try, I think you will love it.
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: North Queensland, Australia
Bikes: '93 Cadex CFM3, '84 Repco Nishiki Olympic 12,'87 Peugeot Montblanc, '09 Giant Trance X1, '13 De Rosa R838
I use strava for every ride, in conjunction with a very cheap computer just so I can see how fast I'm currently going. Plus strava gives you info on your average speed, so I use the computer to try and roughly match the average in real time. Has anybody used strava pro? It is pretty expensive... Wonder if it is worth it
#15
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 204
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From: Mooresville, North Carolina
Bikes: Trek Madone 2.1
https://cyclemeter.com/0610630a577d6c...30621-0619?r=e
#16
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville, North Carolina
Bikes: Trek Madone 2.1
You can also export your trips at anytime. Here is the link to the app
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cycl...330595774?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cycl...330595774?mt=8
#17
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Silicon Valley
Bikes: 2013 Sirrus Sport
You can also export your trips at anytime. Here is the link to the app
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cycl...330595774?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cycl...330595774?mt=8
#18
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 808
Likes: 16
From: Beaverton, OR
Bikes: It's the motor, not the bike, right?
Cyclemeter sounds cool. Are any of you familiar with the app Tasker? You can set it up to automate all kinds of cool tasks. I wonder if I could set it up when using an app like Strava, to do what the Cyclemeter app does (e.g. send my location to my wife). I to have it set up that if I lost my phone and I text it a key word, it will text me back it's location, take a picture with front and rear camera, and lock the screen.
I had never thought of using Tasker for these types of cycling applications, but I bet the possibilities are endless.
I had never thought of using Tasker for these types of cycling applications, but I bet the possibilities are endless.
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Bikes: 2006 Kona Jake, 2011 Trek Cronus CX
I have used Runkeeper, Map My Ride and Strava (the apps for tracking and the web sites). I have used them for commuting and longer rides.
Right now I use Runkeeper and Strava. Runkeeper and Map My Ride have voice feedback so you can leave the screen off but still get some info on pace, etc. so if you ride with headphones, or are riding somewhere quiet, you can hear how you are doing.
I will say the runkeeper GPS seems a little worse than strava or map my ride, but this is marginal. Map my ride website is a little clunky and they give you no way to export your GPX/TCX files, you need to use a 3rd party and do it one by one, which is very annoying. Also they give you no way to edit specific rides, only the routes, so if you mess up (leave your tracking on) you can't fix it.
Runkeeper supports routes, allows you to edit routes and edit rides, and also allows you to export GPX files in bulk. So with the routes I am generally too lazy to track every single commute, so I have saved my commute route, and just put in the time I left and arrived (approx.) as I don't care about speed, segments, or anything, just tracking my distance.
I then use this site to keep my strava and runkeeper in sync: https://tapiriik.com/
This ensures if I use Runkeeper or Strava for tracking then it will appear in both, do not however load GPXs manually or tapiriik with duplicate rides. Also I find with Strava I can last quite a few hours on my iphone (6+ hours) if I turn off cellular data while I ride. Last, distances between all 3 will never match as the algorithm they use is different.
Right now I use Runkeeper and Strava. Runkeeper and Map My Ride have voice feedback so you can leave the screen off but still get some info on pace, etc. so if you ride with headphones, or are riding somewhere quiet, you can hear how you are doing.
I will say the runkeeper GPS seems a little worse than strava or map my ride, but this is marginal. Map my ride website is a little clunky and they give you no way to export your GPX/TCX files, you need to use a 3rd party and do it one by one, which is very annoying. Also they give you no way to edit specific rides, only the routes, so if you mess up (leave your tracking on) you can't fix it.
Runkeeper supports routes, allows you to edit routes and edit rides, and also allows you to export GPX files in bulk. So with the routes I am generally too lazy to track every single commute, so I have saved my commute route, and just put in the time I left and arrived (approx.) as I don't care about speed, segments, or anything, just tracking my distance.
I then use this site to keep my strava and runkeeper in sync: https://tapiriik.com/
This ensures if I use Runkeeper or Strava for tracking then it will appear in both, do not however load GPXs manually or tapiriik with duplicate rides. Also I find with Strava I can last quite a few hours on my iphone (6+ hours) if I turn off cellular data while I ride. Last, distances between all 3 will never match as the algorithm they use is different.






