It seems pretty accurate if you have a computer. The most inaccurate readings I got were when I was using the smartphone app. I've seen a lot of questionable segments from other people using the smartphone app too, which I assume is mostly due to bad GPS data.

Garmin 800. There would be short segments that I might reach the low 30's and it listed my top speed as 7 or 8. Then I'd try longer segments and maintain 24+ for 2 miles and each time the times would be different - by a significant amount.

To me it felt inaccurate and I've heard lots of excuses why they are inaccurate.

Either way it was influencing my riding in a negative way, so I stopped uploading my rides there.

I have a power meter, heart rate monitor, cadence sensor and Garmin. I am happy with Garmin Connect.

I only use a smart phone app on my commute, it is a Moto G. And it seems accurate. The only time I get inaccurate readings are spikes in speed on downhills. But lately it has been seemingly accurate. All distances and times and speeds are as expected.

I only check everything at the end of the ride, it is stashed in my bag otherwise. I am not sure if it does real time speed and what not.

Free version. I do enjoy Strava - it motivates me. The little PR Awards on my rides when I know I had a good ride boost my motivation. I might enjoy the paid version to filter down to my age group, etc. to make myself feel like I'm on top of the segments, but I know I'm not. I'm gaining ground on the leaderboards though. It might not count for anything, but it is motivational.

I've been using the free STRAVA app for about a year mostly because I'm cheap. I use it primarily to log my rides and show off to my OLD friends on facebook because I'm doing something they think they are too old to do.

Free

It's motivation through numbers.
It will keep you riding do to peer pressure.
It can help identify weak spots in your training.
It can give you a reason to keep that power meter on your bike.
It can get you to meet people on bikes.
It can give you maps of rides you would not know existed around the hood/vicinity.
It can give you excuses why you sucked that day :D
V

Pretty much summed it up. When you say "I'm just going to take it easy today," suddenly you realize you're in a segment, and then you push yourself that much harder.

I've been doing free for a few years now but also use some outside stuff that uses Strava data.

Strava + Veloviewer + Race Shape.

One premium thing I miss is heatmap, which used to be a standalone free web app 'til Strava bought it. I only want that because of a kooky goal of mine - to ride every mile of every road in the county.

I have had the free version for a couple of years now and have never received an email. I login through my facebook, so I think that would be why. I don't ever plan to upgrade unless I radically change my riding habits. I don't let it post to my facebook, so I do not think it has made a difference there.

I don't get emails either. I got a couple of nag screens on the phone app recently but I think they're done with those.

A couple of years ago they were throwing up the nag screens seen below on the web site, I was so close to ceasing use of the free one there for a while but they seem to have stopped doing that altogether.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/...95cdae74_b.jpg

On Garmin Connect, a pro on a 180-mile training ride can't roll along in z1/2 with a 104 heart rate and go through the segment you defend your KOM on with your life and knock 30% off your all-time best time.

Strava Free + Veloviewer does it for me.

Strava Premium for me, because it's awesome and Best in Class. GarminConnect is straight-up amateur in comparison. Features, user interface, number of users...Strava is simply the gold standard in social media cycling. Zwift is gonna be interesting for stationary rides, and I'm queued up for that, too, ready to happily pay the monthly premium if it's even half as killer as it sounds like it is.

Ohh VeloViwer seems nice. I shall explore more this evening.

That is why I signed up for premium. But I found that Wahoo Fitness gave me enough info and I just send my info to Strava after the ride.

That is interesting to know. I have been slowly trying to determine what sort of HR and cadence sensor I want. I used to have an old Polar running HR monitor, but I changed the chest strap battery and it died a few weeks later.

Another "free"loader. Same thing with this place.

I upgraded to premium recently, don't think I'll keep paying. Premium has more features, but most of them I don't use. Of most interest to me is how I compare with others in my age group. I can live without that feature too.

Is there a way to "replay" your ride on strava along with other riders that use it? For instance, i think it would be interesting to replay a race and see where everyone was at during certain parts, like what happened to cause a breakaway etc. Or even power numbers?

edit: I just found this feature at strava labs

Free

Premium? I canceled my Free account a few months back :roflmao:.

Strava is neat and all but didn't do much for me and became just another thing to check or update. I'm fine keeping track of my rides and stats in the Sigma Data Center.

Free. I don't have anything else to track rides but my phone and Strava works well for that. I like to know how long/fast/high I've ridden and compare that to a previous ride. I don't care that much about segments except if I am trying to figure out why I was faster or slower overall on a given ride. It also helps me to know when I should do some maintenance..even if I don't actually do it on time :P

This. I'm premium and that combined with the social aspect do it for me. Still load to garmin but rarely look at it. I sit back and watch for kudos and comments nowadays whereas I used to constantly go after KOM's. Besides forums, where can you talk trash about your buddies and thank them for those hard pulls with data to back it up?

Completely agree with this. Given the features and the UI, I am happy to pay $60/year for them to keep doing what they are doing. GarminConnect frustrates the hell out of me now. Strava has become primary for me while uploads to garmin are just in case they get their act together down the road.