Ride with GPS to Strava: A Better Alternative

If you're a serious cyclist, you know how important it is to track your rides and compete with others. Ride with GPS to Strava is a common route, but it's not the most efficient way to log your miles.

Ride with GPS, in particular, has a feature that allows you to export your ride data to Strava, but it's a manual process that can be frustrating.

The manual export process from Ride with GPS to Strava means you'll have to set up a separate account on Ride with GPS and sync your devices, which can be a hassle.

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Strava's social features can feel overwhelming for riders who prioritize navigation and route discovery. Its focus on performance metrics and social networking can be a turn-off for those who value practical tools over social hype.

Strava's outdated maps and limited offline functionality have frustrated users, especially urban riders who have noted its failure to display one-way streets, leading to unr rideable routes.

Strava's premium features require a subscription costing $7.99/month or more, which can be a barrier for some riders.

Expand your knowledge: Strava Premium Features

Ride With GPS is a cyclist-centric app that excels in navigation and route planning, making it a strong alternative to Strava.

Its robust free version and affordable premium tiers offer a cost-effective solution for riders who value practical tools over social features.

Outdated maps and limited offline functionality have been issues with Strava, but RWGPS provides a more reliable experience.

Strava's premium features require a subscription costing $7.99/month or more, while RWGPS offers a Basic premium tier for $5.99/month or $59.99/year.

Strava's default public sharing can expose ride start points unless privacy zones are set, raising concerns for commuters or privacy-conscious riders.

If you value your privacy, you might find RWGPS's more controlled sharing features a better fit. Live tracking is limited to designated contacts, giving you peace of mind.

Strava's public leaderboards can create social pressure, making you feel like you need to perform. RWGPS's focus on navigation avoids this pressure, allowing you to ride without worrying about competition.

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Connecting your Ride with GPS account to Strava is seamless, and it's a great way to get kudos when your ride is automatically synced to your Strava account.

RWGPS integrates effortlessly with GPS bike computers like Garmin, Wahoo, and Polar, making it a great option for cyclists who want accurate metrics for speed, power, and elevation.

Strava also syncs with devices, but its integration can be clunky for non-premium users, and some devices have GPS issues that RWGPS handles more reliably.

RWGPS's Premium version supports automatic uploads to Strava, Apple Health, and other platforms, making it a convenient option for cyclists who want to track their rides across multiple platforms.

RWGPS's reliable device syncing ensures accurate metrics for speed, power, and elevation, complementing tools like the SILCA Professional Tire Pressure Calculator for data-driven cyclists.

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RWGPS isn't perfect, and its social features are less robust than Strava's. It lacks the vibrant community of kudos, comments, and clubs that make Strava so engaging.

Some users report memory issues on the website platform and occasional segment data load failures. This can be frustrating, especially for those who rely on RWGPS for their daily rides.

For riders who prioritize navigation and practicality over social engagement, these drawbacks are minor.

RWGPS's free version is a game-changer for budget-conscious cyclists, offering robust route planning and tracking without any upfront costs.

For just $5.99/month, you can upgrade to premium features like offline maps and live logging, which is a steal compared to Strava's $7.99/month premium plan.

The free version of RWGPS also gives you access to a vast route database, making it easy to discover new rides without committing to a subscription.

Strava's free version, on the other hand, locks key features like route planning and detailed analytics behind a paywall, which can be frustrating for casual riders.

RWGPS's lower-cost premium tiers and generous free features provide more value for cyclists who focus on navigation rather than chasing KOMs.

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RWGPS isn't perfect, and its social features are less robust than Strava's. This means you won't find the same level of community engagement, with no kudos, comments, or clubs.

Cyclists who thrive on competition may miss Strava's leaderboards, which RWGPS lacks. This can be a drawback for those who enjoy racing and comparing times.

Some users have reported memory issues on the website platform, which can be frustrating. You may also experience occasional segment data load failures, which can be annoying but aren't a deal-breaker.

For riders who prioritize navigation and practicality over social engagement, these drawbacks are minor.

Creating a route is a crucial step in syncing your RideWithGPS account with Strava. You can create a route from scratch, but if you already have a route on Strava, you can import it to RideWithGPS.

To import a route from Strava, go to your "My Routes" page via the "Dashboard" in Strava, and select the route you want to import. You can then export the route as a GPX file by clicking on the "Export GPX" button and selecting "Save File".

Once you have the GPX file, go to RideWithGPS and select "Upload" and then "Select files". Choose the GPX file you just exported from Strava and click on the "Open" button.

You can then view the route in RideWithGPS and check that all is OK. Note that this route will not have a cluesheet, making it difficult to modify in RideWithGPS. Changes to the route need to be made by using the "Control Point" method.

To modify the route, place a "Control Point" either side of the section you want to change and then drag the route to where you want it to go. If you make a mistake, use the "Undo" button to try again. When finished, save the changes and you can share a link to the route via email to [email protected].

We will then "Trace" the route and send a link back to you for further editing. Once you are happy with the route, share the link with us and we will add the route to the SARCC RideWithGPS route library and add it to the appropriate event.