Strava or mapmyride?

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Steppylud

Über Member
Location
Epsom
I've used map my ride for a while now but hear a lot about about Strava, is there any difference/benefits one over the other?
 

bpsmith

Veteran
Strava is just plain awesome. Can't compare to MapMyRide, as not used it, but if you can't describe it as Awesome then take a look at Strava. It's free, so nothing to lose really. ;)
 

w00hoo_kent

One of the 64K
I started on MapMyRide because it was really easy to map stuff. In fact I've been using map my run for a year or two longer than I've been back on the bike. I like how the mapping side works, it's easy to use once you are used to it and has a reasonable AI for following roads and cycle paths. It's still my go to mapping tool and it synch's really well with the Garmin to upload rides. The hills aren't categorised the same way as Strava and seem to be more generous than Strava (also they have a Cat 5 classification all of their own.) It will tell you how well you're doing vs yourself and others, although there are less people on it than Strava. I find it a lot easier to map out the rides that I didn't have my Garmin for and still log them so MapMyRide is still the only logger that records everything I do. As I've used it so much I've taken a paid membership for this year, I have a policy of if something is properly useful to me and I can pay for it, I do.

When I got the Garmin I decided to also give Strava a go. It's just as easy as MapMyRide to log workouts on from the Garmin and keeps records just the same as MapMyRide it's got a lot more people on it so you get more of a feel for how you are doing on various segments, but equally it makes it a lot less likely that you are going to be up the top anywhere unless you are really good. I've no idea how to create routes on Strava or how to log workouts that haven't been automatically recorded but I don't really care as MapMyRide does that perfectly well for me.

My habit now is to finish my ride, plug the Garmin in to the PC, upload to MapMyRide and have a look at what I did, switch to Strava, upload to there, it's not really any hassle. While I prefer how MapMyRide presents most things, the analysis on Strava is better so it was much easier to see what speed I was doing at a specific bit of my ride on Strava when I really wanted to know it.
 

woodster0273

Senior Member
Not used Map my Ride but used Strava and Endomondo. Still prefer Endomondo to be honest. I think the UI is much better and its always very accurate for me.
Strava is OK as well don't get me wrong, just prefer the Android app and also the web layout of Endomondo.
 

welsh dragon

Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
I have both on my tablet. I tend to use strava just to tell me how far ive gone and nothing else, but they are both excellent apps, and easy to use. You'll be happy with either of
them.
 

w00hoo_kent

One of the 64K
Having just done the upload, I'd add - Strava is cleverer. Garmin connect is blocked at work so I just upload the raw file, MapMyRide doesn't realise this and tries to upload it a second time when connected properly. Strava realises it already has that activity. But Strava is more annoying, it doesn't mix distances as easily so if you want to climb in metres you have to ride in kilometres and also it refuses to let you join until you've told it how heavy your bike is. Like anyone really knows!
 

Steady

Über Member
Location
Derby
I use Endomondo for recording, like woodster above, I prefer the UI of Endomondo, and it just seems a whole lot easier, but then afterwards I'll download the gpx from Endomondo and upload to Strava for segments and the social side of it.
 
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bpsmith

Veteran
It needs the bike weight and rider weight in order to give you the calories burned and wattage for those if us without the real kit on our bikes.

Really don't get anybody who says "I don't like Strava, because there are too many people in there who are too good, so I will never be near the top"!?!

I am new this year and done 750 miles after not doing any real exercise in 10 years. I started out slow, but soon picked up the pace. I am now listed on a few top tens, with between 150 people on some and 1200 on other segments. I sit in the top 100 on a lot of my segments, with some really good riders around me. If someone with the above scenario can do it, then we all can.

I irony is...Strava is Swedish for...Strive!!!

I encourage those above to Strive to get near the top?

For me, the "Top" is variable. It's in the top 50% for some, the top 10% for others. What does it matter? It's all relative. I may get those KOM's out of 1000 riders soon, but that still wouldn't make me a Pro. It's just a bit of fun for those of use who will never make it that far. ;)
 

DannyCFC

Well-Known Member
I suppose it comes down to the specific features you want. I use Strava, the brains of the outfit prefers Map My Ride.

The main reason I stick with Strava is the Cycle Chat club - I like to see what people are up to as it gives me something to aim for long-term, and it will make me suggest a slightly longer Sunday ride than usual if I think it'll move me up from 180/181 to into the low 170s!
 
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Steppylud

Steppylud

Über Member
Location
Epsom
Thanks all. I think I will stick with MMR as I have never had a "oh I wish it did ....." moment. Really like the mapping tools and it seems pretty accurate to me. Thanks for the input!
 
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