Strava Garmin Virtual Partner Uploader replacement??

mrbenj

The more strava obsessed here will probably know about the Strava Virtual Partner uploader which allows you to upload someone's strava segment ride onto your Garmin. It means you can use the virtual partner function to measure your real progress against a person's ride rather than just compare average speed.

However, the virtual partner uploader is part of the raceshape website which is due to be 'turned off' on October 1st. So, does anyone know of anyone website or way of downloading segment data onto your garmin to use with the virtual partner?

Bar Shaker

Could you load the segment ride you want to race against as a course?

I must admit, I do enjoy the segments function on my Edge 1000.

mrbenj

Hi Bar Shaker, Having thought about your question, I've realised y question is really - How do you get someone's segment ride data onto a garmin to race against? It's possible to to put a course on the garmin and race against it but how can I get a just section of someone else's ride (a segment). This is the bit that the raceshape website does so brilliantly.

Bar Shaker

I have used Adze to repair a damaged gpx file. You could easily use it to cut the segment out of someone's ride and save that as a course.

dabber

I guess the other thing that will disappear when Raceshape closes down is the SNAP Tool.
I've found that quite useful when there has been GPS/Satellite drift.
'm not aware of any substitute for that????

Bar Shaker

Dabber wrote:

I guess the other thing that will disappear when Raceshape closes down is the SNAP Tool.
I've found that quite useful when there has been GPS/Satellite drift.
'm not aware of any substitute for that????

That's exactly what I used Adze for. My track had drifted away from the road under thick tree cover and Strava refused to recognise it. That was on my 800 without GLONASS.

dabber

Bar Shaker wrote:

Dabber wrote:

I guess the other thing that will disappear when Raceshape closes down is the SNAP Tool.
I've found that quite useful when there has been GPS/Satellite drift.
'm not aware of any substitute for that????

That's exactly what I used Adze for. My track had drifted away from the road under thick tree cover and Strava refused to recognise it. That was on my 800 without GLONASS.

Unfortunately it appears that Adze is only available for the Mac.

topcattim

mrbenJ wrote:

How do you get someone's segment ride data onto a garmin to race against? It's possible to to put a course on the garmin and race against it but how can I get a just section of someone else's ride (a segment). This is the bit that the raceshape website does so brilliantly.

Yes I agree that this was a really useful function in RaceShape. Like you,I'd be interested in any work round for this now.

mrbenj

I've looked into this a bit more and it may not work to download someone's ride from strava and crop it using something like Adze (or a PC equivalent). If you're a Strava Premium member then you can download a gpx of someone's ride BUT strava says this download is "stripped of all performance data"
http://blog.strava.com/new-premium-feat ... lity-5426/

I'm assuming this performance data includes speed in which case it wouldn't be any good for the virtual partner. If anyone knows differently please advise - I'll look into it myself and see if it works.

mrbenj

Bit of an update. When downloading gpx rides from Strava all the speed data is removed so a gpx editor wouldn't allow the segment data to be uploaded. It might not all be bad news though, Ben from Veloviewer suggests there is a possibility the Virtual Partner (and possibly the SNAP function) might still work after Octboer 1st https://www.facebook.com/VeloViewer/pos ... 9544248145

topcattim

mrbenJ wrote:

Bit of an update. When downloading gpx rides from Strava all the speed data is removed so a gpx editor wouldn't allow the segment data to be uploaded. It might not all be bad news though, Ben from Veloviewer suggests there is a possibility the Virtual Partner (and possibly the SNAP function) might still work after Octboer 1st https://www.facebook.com/VeloViewer/pos ... 9544248145

I hop that works out. I'm not going to bother downloading any segments in advance, as the ones I am interested in change over time, but it would be a shame to lose this functionality. Thanks for checking this out.

mrbenj

GOOD NEWS! Raceshape has shut down but the Virtual Partner uploader is still available http://strava-tools.raceshape.com/vpu/ . Happy KOM hunting people

topcattim

mrbenJ wrote:

GOOD NEWS! Raceshape has shut down but the Virtual Partner uploader is still available http://strava-tools.raceshape.com/vpu/ . Happy KOM hunting people

Recently, I've just been keeping a track of which rides have my best segment performances, and loading those in to the Garmin, with names that identify which segment it is. Then, as I approach the segment, I've just loaded that segment. That way, I can then track against myself. I've found that better than using the virtual partner course, as there seems to be a timelag between me arriving at the start, and the Garmin noticing I'm there, which means that each time, the VP gets about 8s headstart. I can factor that in, but the other technique, loading the whole ride where I had a good segment. Clearly that only works, though, if I've ridden that segment before, but given that my motivation is to do better than me, rather than better than someone else, that usually works out fine.

topcattim

mrbenJ wrote:

GOOD NEWS! Raceshape has shut down but the Virtual Partner uploader is still available http://strava-tools.raceshape.com/vpu/ . Happy KOM hunting people

Recently, I've just been keeping a track of which rides have my best segment performances, and loading those in to the Garmin, with names that identify which segment it is. Then, as I approach the segment, I've just loaded that segment. That way, I can then track against myself. I've found that better than using the virtual partner course, as there seems to be a timelag between me arriving at the start, and the Garmin noticing I'm there, which means that each time, the VP gets about 8s headstart. I can factor that in, but the other technique, loading the whole ride where I had a good segment. Clearly that only works, though, if I've ridden that segment before, but given that my motivation is to do better than me, rather than better than someone else, that usually works out fine.

dabber

Just had a quick look and it seems that SNAP is still available at the moment. Whether it will disappear at some time I don't know.