Strava

Strava only uses it's own elevation data if there is none from the device. I rode 4 hours in biblical rain the other day, and the altimeter was all messed up only recording 400ft ascent when I knew the route was more like 4500ft. But I discovered you can make Strava recalculate the elevation for a ride/run if you want.

Ok thanks for the replies... Next question is will the use of strava eat up all my Internet data?

I don't think it'll use any when it's just recording and in your pocket. But once you open the app look at the map in strava etc, it'll use google maps, so that'll use some.

Also, you can run your phone in airplane mode, but still have GPS on. Well, I'm on Android, and I can, not sure on iPhone.

Yes. I have an altermeter, buy usually use the elevation correction thing. My point being - riding in the UK, don't pay extra for an altermeter.

@mk1mark Strava won't use any mobile data while recording. When I was on holiday abroad, I just turned mobile data off and uploaded activities when I got back to the hotel WiFi.

Just tested iPhone airplane mode and I got the little GPS symbol, but the Strava app is saying 'GPS signal lost'. Turned airplane mode off and it has now found GPS signal.

You could always buy a budget running GPS watch instead? I might be moving on a Garmin FR10 soon. Turn it on, forget about it. Full charge lasts about 5 hours.

5 hours aint enough! I can get 12+ from an Edge 800 as long as I don't leave the maps view running too much.

Hi Mark, someone is selling a Garmin 200 for cheap here. So much better than using your phone. Pretty handy to navigate with too.

Is there a way to spot if people are using 'Digital EPO' on there?

Some of these are just ridiculous: http://www.strava.com/segments/1084352?filter=overall

Altimeter

Can we spell it correctly, please?

I almost went for 'altemetre' !

Nope. As has been said, it doesn't use mobile data. I can vouch for this as I used it in Australia with my data turned off the entire time.

^^^62kph for 17 seconds isn't that unbelievable. Drafting is very likely though.

How odd. That page has changed since I posted it! The leader was at 61 mph, plus some others at 50 odd mph. I wonder if, given the page has had several recent hits, they've investigated it?

Somebody probably flagged it after you linked to it

will the use of strava eat up all my Internet data?

Not if you turn your data connection off. It's not needed for GPS logging, just for displaying non-cached maps, browsing people's rides etc and uploading rides.
You will lose out on aGPS as well, so it may take longer to get a GPS fix.

As I'd been rinsing my data allowance by thinking I needed the data for the GPS to work I tried it this morning with it off and other than the lock taking longer ^, it worked fine without it. Proper #technofail there.
How does the GPS get a lock without data then?

The device is running complex calculations based on the trasmissions sent by GPS satellites to detemine it's position. It doesn't need to download any data.

^From my basic understanding of GPS.

Ahh magnets, I see.

FWIW, I fired up Strava on WiFi in Australia, left the app open and then hit record outside when I was out of range of the WiFi.

Strava uses data for various things, but not sending and receiving GPS.

Good to know thanks.

Welllll GPS can optionally use mobile data to get a fix:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS

.. and there's Google's crazy wifi hotspot -> location mapping.

It will probably depend entirely on your phone - the Strava is probably just asking the phone for an accurate lat/long and it's entirely up to the handset how it provides that.

It was definitely faster getting a fix with mobile data on but handy to know that I don't need it.