
Strava is a social fitness platform that allows users to track and analyze their physical activities, such as running, cycling, and swimming. It's a great tool for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who want to monitor their progress and compete with others.
Strava's main features include GPS tracking, which provides accurate distance, pace, and route data, as well as social sharing capabilities that allow users to connect with friends and join groups. Strava also offers a leaderboard system, where users can compete with others to earn badges and rewards.
One of the most popular features on Strava is the "KOM" (King of the Mountain) challenge, which allows users to compete with others to earn the fastest time up a particular hill or climb. This feature has been a game-changer for cyclists and runners who love a good challenge.
Strava's mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices, making it easy to track and analyze your activities on the go.
For more insights, see: Strava Premium Features
What is Strava
Strava is a social fitness platform that allows users to track and analyze their physical activity, including running, cycling, and swimming.
It was founded in 2009 by Mark Gainey and Greg Auden, and is now owned by PE Holdings, a private equity firm.
Strava is available as a mobile app and a website, making it easy to access and use on the go.
You can connect your devices, such as GPS watches and heart rate monitors, to track your activities and sync them with your Strava account.
Strava has over 100 million registered users worldwide, making it one of the largest fitness communities online.
The platform uses a gamification approach, where users can compete with friends and join challenges to stay motivated and engaged.
Strava also offers a feature called "Segments", which allows users to compete on specific routes and sections of roads or trails.
You can earn badges and rewards for achieving certain milestones and completing challenges, which can be a fun way to track your progress.
Strava also provides detailed analytics and insights into your activity, including pace, distance, and heart rate data.
This information can be used to set goals and track progress over time, helping you to improve your performance and reach your fitness goals.
Getting Started
To get started with Strava, you'll need a fitness tracker, computer, and smartphone - a combo that's a must-have for a seamless experience. Download the no-cost app from the iOS or Playstore if you plan to use your phone.
You can create a new password, sign up with a FB or Google account, or use your email address to sign up for Strava. Your front-facing profile will have public information, but your account will be private and only viewable by you after logging in.
Strava is accessible through a computer, and the initial setup is more involved, but it creates a more seamless interaction on the site since your workout information can be uploaded automatically.
To set up your profile, decide how much of your fitness data you want to store or share on your public-facing profile. You can set up notifications, share fitness and outfit info, and even block out locations you want to hide on your runs or biking sessions.
You can also set your training log to public or private, and routes ran can be promoted to grow your following or kept confidential for your use only.
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Features and Tools
Strava offers a range of features that make it a valuable tool for tracking and sharing your fitness activities. You can record your rides with GPS, which is a great way to track your progress and identify areas for improvement.
Strava's social media features allow you to post your exercises to followers, complete with a map of your route and any pictures or videos you'd like to share. This can be a great way to stay motivated and connect with other users who share your interests.
One of the most popular features of Strava is its friendly competition within Strava Segments. This allows you to compete with other users on specific routes or segments, which can be a fun way to push yourself and try to beat your personal best.
Strava also offers a range of tools for planning and customizing your routes. You can use the app to plan cycling routes, which is a great way to explore new areas and find new challenges.
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Strava's Beacon feature allows you to share your location in real-time with friends and family, which can be a great safety feature for solo workouts. You can also nominate others as a safety contact for your workout, which can give you an extra layer of peace of mind.
Strava's leaderboards show the most frequent runners or riders on a segment, as well as the fastest times by activity type. This can be a fun way to compare your progress with other users and see how you stack up.
Strava's membership options include a free version, so you can try out the basics before committing to a subscription. This is a great way to get a feel for the app and see if it's a good fit for you.
Premium Subscription
Strava's Premium Subscription offers a range of features that can help you improve your performance and achieve your fitness goals.
The subscription costs £47.99/$59.99 a year, or £6.99/$5 a month, making it an affordable option for those interested in data and exercise.
With the subscription, you can access routes, planning, and recommendations, as well as matches rides and runs with performance analysis.
You'll also get a training log, segment leaderboards, local legends, and live segments on compatible devices.
The subscription also includes monthly activity trends and comparisons, goal setting, heatmaps, and training plans.
For cyclists, the appeal of Segments is probably worth the price alone.
If you're interested in data and exercise, especially running and cycling, then the Premium Subscription is definitely worth considering.
Here are some of the key features you can expect from the Premium Subscription:
- Routes, planning, and recommendations
- Matches rides and runs with performance analysis
- Training log
- Segment leaderboards, local legends
- Live Segments on compatible devices
- Monthly activity trends and comparisons
- Goal setting
- Heatmaps
- Training plans
- Power curve - if you have a power meter
- Fitness and freshness analysis
- Year in Sport
You can try out the Premium Subscription features for free with a 30-day trial before deciding whether it's worth the monthly subscription.
Compatible Devices
Strava is compatible with a wide range of devices, making it easy to track your activities and connect with friends.
You can sync your Strava account with various GPS computers, including Garmin, Polar, and Suunto, by linking the two together in the Apps section of your device's settings.
The Strava app is also available on mobile devices, such as Apple and Android phones, as well as on smartwatches like Fitbit and Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Here's a list of some of the devices that can be synced to Strava:
- Amazfit
- Bkool
- Bryton
- Casio
- CATEYE
- COROS
- CycleOps: Joule
- Fitbit
- Garmin
- LIVEROWING
- Lyzene
- MIO
- Peloton
- Pioneer
- Polar
- Recon: Jet
- Sigma
- Soleus
- SRM:PC8
- Suunto
- Tacx
- TomTom
- Wahoo
- Zwift
You can also sync your Strava account with other fitness apps, such as Apple Health, Endomondo, and Google Fit.
The Social Side
Strava is a social platform that's built around activities, not content. It rewards consistency over curation, making it a refreshing change from other social media apps.
You can follow friends, teammates, and even pro athletes, giving you a sense of community and inspiration. The app also allows you to give kudos (likes) and leave comments on others' activities.
Strava's feed shows the latest workouts from anyone you follow, making it easy to stay connected with your fitness community. You can also explore routes that people are running nearby or check out heat maps to find popular trails and loops.
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One of my favorite features is the ability to check your own heat map, which shows how much ground you've covered in your neighborhood, city, or beyond. It's strangely satisfying to watch the orange lines connect and overlap on the landscape.
Strava also has a competitive element, with popular routes divided into segments and users ranked based on their top times. You can earn the title of King or Queen of the Mountain (KOM/QOM) if you run or ride one fast enough.
Clubs are another underrated feature of Strava, allowing you to join mini-communities with shared interests. You can log workouts, join challenges, and see others' progress, even if you're not part of an in-person training group.
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Overview
Strava is a platform that records data for your activities, which can then be shared with your followers or publicly.
You can share your activities using the Strava mobile app or by linking devices from third-party manufacturers like Garmin, Google Fit, Suunto, and Wahoo.
Strava automatically groups activities that occur at the same time and place, making it easy to track your progress over time.
The recorded information for each activity includes a route summary, elevation, speed, timing, power, and heart rate.
How to Use
Strava is a social fitness app that allows you to track your activities and compete with friends.
To get started, download the app and create an account. Strava syncs with popular fitness trackers and running watches, making it easy to connect your devices and start tracking.
You can track a variety of activities, including running, cycling, swimming, and even hiking. Strava's GPS tracking feature provides accurate distance and pace information.
To compete with friends, join or create a group, and Strava will automatically match you with others who have similar interests and goals. You can also follow friends and athletes to see their activities and achievements.
Strava's leaderboard feature allows you to see how you rank against others in your group or community. You can also set and achieve goals, such as completing a certain number of workouts per week.
Strava's social features make it easy to share your progress and connect with others. You can post updates, photos, and comments to your activity feed, and even share your achievements on social media.
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