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Strava stopping direct Ant+ connection. Any alternative

oxomanoxoman Posts: 8,670
edited October 2019 in Road general
Currently use Ant+ plus / bluetooth cadence sensor on my defy for training etc connected direct to Strava on smart phone app, come the end of the month that function will no longer be possible as Strava stopping that function. I refuse to use or replace my garmin as its about as reliable a politician. Didnt really want to use another dedicated device unless i really have to. Does anyone have any ideas on this one, ie alternative apps i can use to upload to strava. Cheers.
Too many bikes according to Mrs O.

Posts

  • fenixfenix Posts: 5,437
    My Garmin Fenix hasn't missed a beat in 4 years. Well worth it for me.
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 8,670
    2 garmin edge touring and a plus all failed for various reasons, mainly unreliable software issues.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • bsharp77bsharp77 Posts: 533
    What phone are you using oxoman?
    If its an iPhone, i've used Cyclemeter and the Wahoo fitness app and both are very good.
    Wahoo fitness is free, whereas cyclemeter was paid for.

    There are android versions available of both apps as well, but I haven't personally used them so can't vouch for them, but I would assume they are of the same quality and reliability.

    I've moved to a Garmin 530 in the past couple of months and it really is great - turn on and forget, with instant uploading to garmin connect / strava / trainingpeaks at the end of the ride which is great.
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 8,670
    Currently using samsung android, currently wouldn't even consider a cycling garmin. Never had problems with my walking one's but nothing but grief with cycling ones. Several mates have all had similar issues with edge touring models. Didn't really want to fork out for another GPS device unless I really need to.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • figbatfigbat Posts: 680
    Strava themselves suggest using the Wahoo Fitness app and then syncing it with Strava. This happens automatically and seamlessly in my experience.
    Strava wrote:
    The easiest way to upload your data is to record your activities with sensor data using the Wahoo Fitness app. It works with both sensor types and can automatically upload your activities to your Strava account.
    Cube Reaction GTC Pro 29 for the lumpy stuff
    Cannondale Synapse alloy with 'guards for the winter roads
    Fuji Altamira 2.7 for the summer roads
    Trek 830 Mountain Track frame turned into a gravel bike - for anywhere & everywhere
  • slowbikeslowbike Posts: 8,496
    Must admit - I've never had anything but isolated issues with my Garmins - so it must be you ;) - Oh - I don't routinely update the firmware either - although with the new 820 I don't think I get the choice .. anyway ... no - I wouldn't bother getting a GPS/Cycle computer to record Ant+/Bluetooth on the turbo ... not when you can use an existing device to do it.
    Sorry - I use BKool simulator on the turbo and Garmin GPS off it ...
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 8,670
    If it was isolated I would worry 3 different units 2 of which where direct warranty replacements from Garmin. Did C2C last yr and 3 of us using edge touring ones all failed within an hr on last day. Only 2 recoverable at roadside, all purchased at different times places etc. Never updated software due to reported glitches until well after last yrs C2C.The cadence unit is on my Defy and use the data just to measure my general fitness.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • slowbikeslowbike Posts: 8,496
    oxoman wrote:
    If it was isolated I would worry.
    Don't worry - generally, computers just work when I approach ...
    Just "fixed" a laptop that wouldn't log in with the generic username & password by walking up to it - typing the generic info and pressing return ...
    I'm used to it ;)
  • slowmartslowmart Posts: 4,023
    Oxo- what cadence meter do you have? Most manufacturers have their own app which you can usually sync with Strava?

    I’ve got a cycplus which has been trouble free and works perfectly with TrainerRoad.

    Unfortunately I can’t verify it’s usefulness for syncing with Strava
    “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”

    Desmond Tutu
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 8,670
    Slow, it's the generic giant one that they fit to the defy adv and tcr,s. Not sure of its just rebadged by giant or not.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • slowmartslowmart Posts: 4,023
    I’ve just had a look around and it seems the wahoo cadence meter and app which syncs with strava might be the best alternative.

    If you can, wait for the dust to settle as other remedies may come to light as it seems Strava has took their user base by surprise and left users scrambling for a viable solution.

    Techs great until it doesn’t work and then I feel like a chimpanzee with a power tool.
    “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”

    Desmond Tutu
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 8,670
    Yep, pretty much what I thought when I got the email. I may get a GPS watch for Christmas as possibly pushing the running and duathlon a bit more.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • cowboyjoncowboyjon Posts: 89
    So strava just became a fitness app that doesn't let you sync a heart rate monitor. What an absolute joke of a company.

    For folks like myself who use a smart phone instead of a cycling computer, just head to the app store and download wahoo for free.

    It's superior in every way to strava (you can actually customise your display and it will show current speed and heart rate instead of just the average) other than segments and social integration. It also syncs to strava at the end of a ride if you wish.
  • cougiecougie Posts: 22,512
    So why use Strava anyway Jon ?
  • cowboyjoncowboyjon Posts: 89
    cougie wrote:
    So why use Strava anyway Jon ?

    I am now asking myself that same question.

    Mainly to keep track of the mileage me and my bikes have done. Next year I plan on joining a local club and it let's me see what I'm in for and what kind of level the riders I will be joining are at.
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 8,670
    I think most people use strava as one of the first on the scene and certainly most used. I'm wondering if they have been under pressure to be just a means of keeping the records rather than a direct connection to heart monitors etc.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • slowmartslowmart Posts: 4,023
    Strava has stated its down to the number of crashes of service from Ant+ and Bluetooth connections that has forced their hand

    @oxo re GPS watches - be mindful of the battery life of your using the watch to collect data from
    cycling
    “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”

    Desmond Tutu
  • NapoleonDNapoleonD Posts: 18,632
    slowmart wrote:
    Strava has stated its down to the number of crashes of service from Ant+ and Bluetooth connections that has forced their hand

    @oxo re GPS watches - be mindful of the battery life of your using the watch to collect data from
    cycling

    My Fenix 5+ records all day, I’ve done 12hr ultramarathons with it and it’s not gone below 20%
    Twitter - @NapD
    Strava - Alex Taylor (sportstest.co.uk)
    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • slowbikeslowbike Posts: 8,496
    NapoleonD wrote:
    slowmart wrote:
    Strava has stated its down to the number of crashes of service from Ant+ and Bluetooth connections that has forced their hand

    @oxo re GPS watches - be mindful of the battery life of your using the watch to collect data from
    cycling

    My Fenix 5+ records all day, I’ve done 12hr ultramarathons with it and it’s not gone below 20%

    That's because it only records a point every 10 meters ... you're obviously too slow .... ;)
  • philbar72philbar72 Posts: 2,228
    ouch. working with mission critical software as I do, I'd be absolutely flabbergasted to think that you'd cut 2 of the cornerstones of what your app is built on, suddenly gets cut out.... that's lunacy.

    surely now is the time for someone to do what strava does but without the bugs.
  • cyclecliniccycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    I use a Garmin 1030 before that a 1000 and before that a 500 and never had data issues not that I bother much with data any more. I did once though.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 8,670
    Well surprise surprise after nearly a yr strava have reinstated Bluetooth linking but only to heart monitors at the minute. Let's hope cadence sensors are next.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • thistle_thistle_ Posts: 4,393
    Oxo, bit irrelevant now but can't you connect it with ant+?
    Did Strava remove the ant+ support too?
    (Appreciate not all phones support ant+)

    I stopped using the Strava app ages ago and switched to IPBike. You have to bung the developer £5 after you've exceeded the trial distance (10k wheel revolutions or something)
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 8,670
    Yep they did, just means I've not used my inbuilt cadence, speed sensor for a bit as I couldn't be bothered to download another app to use it then transfer to strava.
    Does mean I can start using my heart monitor again though for running and biking for accurate readout. Been relying on Fitbit data for a bit.

    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • bobmcstuffbobmcstuff Posts: 9,084
    Yeah I use a Garmin for cycling but for running, just my phone. Having HRM connection was mildly important for that. It was very lame of them to get rid of it in the way that they did, throwing their own devs under the bus like that.
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 8,670
    That was my thoughts at the time. Just can't get my head around why only heart rate monitors and no cadence sensors yet. Time will tell.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
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