A tip for strava battery life. Turn strava on, and then turn data off until the end if your ride. Strava will continue recording as normal without data. Battery saved.
It uses the GPS that is already on your phone. You don't need any extra equipment. So yes you can just start an activity, put it in your backpack or pocket and be on your way. I like my dedicated computer for longer rides but for commutes or just shorter recreational rides this has definitely proven to be the most convenient and it's just as accurate as my Garmin. If you do use it for longer rides, say more than 3 hours it's a good idea to start the activity and then put your phone on Airplane mode so that it doesn't drain your battery as fast.
I just put a powerbank in my bag and can use the phone with data for a 24hr ride... weight is just a little extra but so convenience... use the same powerbank to charge my lights too...
I have lived in Perth for almost one year right after university. I absolutly loved this city. Miss it big times! Thank you for this great comparison :) Greetings from Hamburg, Germany
I use an Android phone with Wahoo Fitness App. 5 things it will do that the GPS Bike Computers cant do. (1) Email my FIT file to my laptop for analysis with Golden Cheetah software. (2) Remote control my drone. (3) Remote control my GoPro knockoff camera. (4) Make an emergency phone call. (5) Interface with Zwift for my trainer rides later. One negative thing. It can't tell whether it's going up hill or downhill. :-) Shane - Excellent comparative analysis!!
Wahoo fitness app also has 1 second timing vs 3 second timing on the strava app. the gps chips on modern phones are just as good as a dedicated gps unit like garmin.
Thanks for showing that 3 sec power reading exists on the Wahoo Bolt/Elemnt! Just updated mine from 5 sec. I believe 3 sec wasn't available initially. Great video, as always.
Nice review, thank! Technically speaking recent mobile phones have dual sattelite support: gps+glonass, so tracking in theory should be more precise, this is down to software implementation. Some ideas could be to compare same ride from different phones/cycling applications. Also, the gps in the phone could interfere with other metal objects, like if you have aluminium casing, the way how the phone is positioned in the pocket, could potentially impact the signal.
Perfect timing of this video. I've been using the iPhone app for about 2 years and have recently been questioning whether it's worth switching to a dedicated head unit (the Bolt is top of my list). Cheers for this, Shane, you've just made up my mind :)
Fair play. It is very clear you have put a lot of effort into capturing the data, editing it on a pc and presenting it with various different software pc-wise whilst also presenting it to us (the viewers) with engaging background music. This isn't a 30 minute job here! Fairplay. A convincing video that dedicated cycling units do a better job all-around than an app and a smartphone platform. Watching from the other side of the planet... London, UK GOODAY MATE! Cheers.
Man this guy has dedicated bike paths in maroon asphalt. I’m just trying to find streets with not too many potholes or asshole drivers who don’t watch for cyclists.
I've been GPS tracking since Nokia developed Sports Tracker for their Symbian phones. Then I've used iPhones 3G, 3GS, 5, 6s and SE. From iPhone 3GS forward GPS tracking worked flawlessly. iPhone 6s can give you 12 hours of tracking with display off. I still using my iPhone for running, for cycling I've bought Elemnt Bolt this year (awesome little device).
You can always tell who has used their phone on strava climbing challenges, as they are usually the ones that have ridden 50km but climbed 10km usually some where flat like Holland!
that's accurate, i used to use my G3 with the android app and it said a local climb had a kick up to 25% but in reality it's an average of 3% with a 7% kick near the start O.o
Hey Shane, i had a old Sigma BC1909 with pulse, speed and cadence but after i get a new smartphone with ant+ last year, i buy the wahoo speed and cadence sensors, the wahoo pulse and just use my smartphone with strava. On Android the app works fine and mutch better than your iphone app (i use the wahoo app and import then to strava with just one klick, mutch better because strava dont like any sensors) The batterie pack from my sony xperia z3 is awsome. I can drive 7 to 8 hours with my bike, active wahoo app, with music and sensors via bluethooth and dont have any problems. I dont regret the decision to use only smartphone (witch i put on my bike with a quadlock) Maybe it is the smartphone. Iphone lost so many ground to other good smartphones like One+ or Sony. Had a coffee too today, drove 92km just to get a really good one :-) Happy riding.
I use a ONE+3T and the strava gps is not as good as my Garmin 200. But tbh strava is still way out with the gps mapping as it shows some hills with me on and off the road line
Just wanted to let you know that this video got me hooked on your channel. Awesome job on the videos mate. Super on point, informative and fun. Still can't afford a bike computer but being a newbie, I reckon an iPhone mounted on a Quad Lock will keep me going fairly well for a while. You just got yourself a new subscriber. Cheers!
Hello from Asheville, NC. Great edit man. I've always uploaded with the phone even though I ride with both. Mostly because of the convenience. Usually my Garmin is pretty close. I'm very interested in your findings. Good information. Thanks for doing this Shane.
I dunno, I use an iPhone 7Plus mounted with an Otterbox Universe case to my bike. No issues as far as seeing the display. On the Strava app, I have my heart rate monitor and my power meter connected to the app. No issues. I like the feature, when I'm at a stop light, it pauses. The other two apps I use, commensurately, don't do that. However, all three apps are in agreement as far as elevation, distance, heart rate, and power (all three are connected to the heart rate monitor and the power meter). Thanks for the vid! Major thumbs up for Perth! :)
Thank you for the video. I appreciate simple, straight to the point, no fluff type information like this. Curious to get your thoughts on Element vs. Apple Watch Strava App (phone paired but not running the Strava app).
I find the Wahoo Fitness app much better. Pairs well to sensors inc BT Power-meters and gives a head of different pages of info, also upload to Strava and Dropbox. My iPhones 6s+ on a quadlock mount is secure. Battery life is poor, so the screen is off most of the time. I also have a Garmin 510 & Fenix 3HR so never miss the Upload! The only advantage of the Strava app is the segment function which gives a good feel of how far ahead (or usually behind) your PR, KOM or friends PR!
Strava havent a clue what they are doing in terms of user interface and usability. About time they spent some of the Premium Member money on someone to fix it. And it doesn't even have to be a pro interface person. Just pick someone off the street and they'll show them how fucked up it is.
It's not too fair to throw Strava's positioning under the bus. They are mapping what the iPhone's GPS sensor is providing them.. so really GPS data is a matter of the iPhone's GPS sensor needing an upgrade. Any GPS app would get the same results. It's good enough for most cases though so I doubt it will be upgraded any time soon unfortunately.
+IvanL Fitness I wasn't that harsh in my assessment. If I was, I would have been very clear. It works with the limitations of the device. That's acknowledged.
In some instances phones end up being more accurate. For example, when on a twisty singletrack mountainbike ride, the smoothed path of a dedicated gps ends up eliminating the tight turns and quick elevation changes. It’s interesting that road vs mtb makes a difference.
Very useful film... I do like the data that cycling gives.. Am also very envious of the smooth roads you have there... Here in the UK country roads are so uneven...
I got an element bolt after your review a while back. Absolutely fabulous reviews. Thank you. Regarding the bolt I am enjoying the live strava segment features the most, and also the consistency of picking up my stages power meter (which my garmin 500 struggled with at times). Sometimes when I stop for a while with the bolt when I get going again the power will read n/a .......so I just click the power button for a second and look If the sensor is picking up and all of the sudden the power picks back up. Just a little glitchy I guess
Or wear a multisport watch like the 735XT which you are more unlikely to let go flat as its worn as an everyday watch as opposed to something you just pull out when you are riding.
really helpful video here, mate! I've been debating getting that exact bike computer because up till now I've been using my Apple Watch, but it dies extremely quickly. Such a useful comparison for me!
I use my iphone, it was previously going under on ft of climbing in UK, strava have now corrected this when uploaded it is now accurate with the map, so if you plot same route on map and do the ride you get same amount of ft. It's useful enough if you can't afford a bike gprs computer. Then again I don't use cadence sensors nor heart rate, I just ride. Also battery life turn off most notifications and the iphone is good to go for battery life, I've been out all day using it before 100 mile ride and used about 80% battery, I didn't use it for looking at a route though as was with others. Oh and even garmin will put you off track like you experienced with the iphone, it happens to my dad often, hence slightly different segments get picked up on strava, with a visit into water included.
I went there last January and going around the city got 89 km.. Did not realize I did so far. Well with that view.. anyone can go so far.. 🤩 love the video.. thanks!
In my experience Strava app has taken steps back during this time. Dropping support for external sensors and requiring premium to see more of your stats such as speed during recording just to name a few
I cycled with just my phone and a basic Cateye computer for years, Strava app was ok but when I got a power meter I switched to Cyclemeter which is way more user friendly than the Strava app. But you still have all the same issues related to having a phone on your bars which is why since I got my ELEMNT I haven't looked back
I like these videos you do (also the bike paths - jeez you are set up well in Perth!). I've had a quick squish through the comments but didn't see it. One thing missing from your comparison is cost performance. Strava is free on the phone you have already anyway. That's a fairly significant benefit. Now it's definitely true that it has problems, and I think they vary considerably with the actual phone you use it on, but for someone looking to track their rides, speed, and elevation it is great for a free app. HOWEVER On some recent rides I've done, the elevation data is about 300m out of whack. This is compared to riding the same climb with an older phone. That's not ideal, to say the least. Similarly, the phone I'm using now has thrown up some ridiculous gradients on tiny stretches of road. On the whole though, I think Strava is pretty good for someone like me who rides a lot but doesn't care overly about statistics . I ride based on perceived effort and if I want to stop, I will.
Cost.... that's an interesting one. I'm more about the experience. If we want to talk cost let's look at the real cost... AU$1000+ for the iPhone7, $80/year Strava Premium, $70 for the mounting kit/case (if used), then the cost of them selling your data and your data being online, so cost of privacy overhead if we choose to be mindful with that (we are the product!)... see, it gets messy. The Strava App is far from free. But yes, it's 'free' for the basic use, and assuming zero cost for the phone... and the target consumer is the point and click / upload data / don't care about much more market. It serves a purpose... but really isn't on par for what I need. Yet.
Shane Miller Pretty much everyone has a smartphone now, so that cost can be written off. Strava Premium - I honestly don't get it. I tried it last month and it added absolutely nothing to my experience. I guess I'm not a numbers-focused rider, I just go by feel. Strava Premium really should add some more features, IMO. Otherwise there seems little reason to use it for most riders. Again, people more interested in numbers would benefit, but basic Strava has pretty good options too. So, I would delete that cost, too. (Why do they charge so much for so little? I'd join if it was cheaper.) Privacy - yep. No argument there about losing privacy but actually, there is an argument in its favour. As everyone shares their data it creates a useful resource for fellow riders, especially locals. The ability to see other people's rides (and consequently vice versa) is a big plus. I've picked up a quite a few course ideas from friends on Strava, or from the Segment Explore feature. Anyway, it's not that I particularly care about this topic greatly, (and just recently watching your videos I thought the Wahoo looked pretty good against the Garmin and I realized my cheapish smartphone's GPS data isn't very accurate in terms of elevation so it may be time for me buy a Wahoo thing), but I still think vanilla Strava for free has very good functionality that would satisfy many cyclists' needs. But yeah, ain't no big thing.
I do this kind of ride every time I go out using both Strava and Bolt. The reason for using both is the Live Tracking and information at better (so I'm told from my gf) which makes it easier for her to come find me if there is a crash. Neither have the crash alert which is kind of a bummer. At the end of the ride just delete the Strava information because my Bolt will put it their with all of the sensor data.
AMC387 hey if you need crash report function you can use brand new Bike Computer app. You have keep me safe function there. Better ui than strava... also you have free live tracking implemented.
Well its a late answer, but Google has now a feature called location sharing in Google Maps, its free and your phone doesnt have GPS turned on all the time like on Strava. Only when somebody wants to see your location, it turns GPS on.
I used ipBike on my phone before going to a Garmin. Extremely detailed numbers, like heart beats per pedal stroke, how many times you coasted, avg power while active etc etc
I use a iphone 6 to record the rides for upload, but a Garmin 200 on my bars as a GPS speedo and odo. They both track almost the exact same data, nothing crazy for ascent. Some friends who have newer garmin units show 1.5x-2x the ascent on the same route, and a few more KM. I like the app, no complaints, uploads are super quick compared to plugging in my old Garmin to my mac.
If you're trying to follow a map, though, the phone screen is much bigger and the mapping function on most gps bike computers isn't nearly as interactive as the Google Maps app on a phone.
45% battery usage for a 1h30 ride !? That's huge ! My Android phone uses 5-7% per hour (though I don't let my screen on all the time) Also I never use Strava for tracking my rides, but Wahoo Fitness App and Ride With GPS for turn-by-turn navigation. And sometimes GhostRacer if I want to race a segment against a virtual partner :-p
GoustiFruit φ I just did a ride 65 Miller in 4hours 22 minutes with Google music playing for the length of the ride and manage to only use 23% of the battery, but most Android phones have a larger batteries than iPhones.
As someone said, the strava app has better pairing on Android by the looks of it. It can pair off Ant+ and lists the devices by name allowing you select the right one easily. The battery drain is pretty minimal as well if you have the screen turned off. You still have to put up with wildly optimistic elevation. Just out of interest can you confirm whether your iphone has true GPS or an assisted GPS. [Edited] Just read that it uses GLONASS and GPS same as a garmin.
My mouth fell open when, while flying on a dedicated bike path, a sunken section revealed beautifully painted walls. With respect to phones, not sure how many phones contain an actual gps or Broadcom chipset. Many rely on cell tower triangulation. The Wahoo has such capability and does not need cell towers when in actual use on a bike. In addition, most cell phones have touch screens making it impractical to mount on a bike if used in an area with frequent rain. The Wahoo does not have a touch screen. However the map quality with certain apps is better on an iPhone such as Pocket Earth or Gaia, which I prefer to use when hiking or looking for a coffee shop in a busy city. My old iPhone 7 does not have a GPS chipset, but I pair it with the GPS equipped BadElf device for unmatched pinpoint accuracy.
I’ve been using my phone for 2 years before I got a multisport watch. With the IpBike app on Android it was just great for many things that you seem to have trouble with. What was annoying with the phone is the poor battery life though, especially with an always-on display. So I switched to a multisport watch for triathlon last year. It’s better but not really practical to read while riding, but then again I only checked my heart rate from time to time, and didn’t have a power meter. Battery life was better, but it was just enough for a 175k bike ride. I’ve just got a power meter and a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, bike computers are just better than a multi-purpose device like a multisport watch, or worse, a phone. The only downside I see is that my multisport watch has an optical hrm so now I need a heart rate strap, probably going to go for the Wahoo Tickr since it’s compatbile with everything (ANT+ for the Bolt, BTLE for the watch or the phone).
A Fenix mount is an arm! Standard humans come with two! ;) I've used my FR935 to record a few rides with power data. It seems to do a good job. I haven't put it to the data analysis sword yet though.
I was hoping Strava Labs Slide would help deal with the elevation data problem with the phone app. There are certain parts of my rides where I do easy 4% grades but it shows as 20% fluctuations all day..
All you need is a decent smartphone + blutooth speed cadence sensors(properly calibrated). Bam, proper cycle computer. Most of the time I don't need screen on but for rides under 5 hours I leave screen on and have no worries about battery life. That being said I still haven't invested in bluetooth cadence + speed and rely solely on gps. Perfectly content. I use CycleMeter app though, and once the ride is finished it automatically pushes all data to strava.
The Cyclemeter App has an option to use the Barometric Altimeter for the iPhone. I then upload the ride from that to Strava. *(I'm still in the dark ages using Cyclemeter to mirror the ride data to a Wahoo RFLKT) I can see one potential drawback in that any of the plethora of aftermarket phone cases *(or even by virtue of carrying it in your pocket) could obstruct the opening of the altimeter thus yielding bogus readings...
I can afford the Wahoo Bolt which is about $250 here, and I only have the free version of Strava on my iPhone as well as a Cateye cycle computer, but for me the free version of Strava is enough. I don't need a heart rate monitor, or many other things being hyped to pay for Strava Premium. I only need distance, time, speed, and route, and the ability to post it on Facebook. Battery life was an issue, but since I bought a 3000mhz battery case for my phone for $20, and a silicone bike phone holder for $15, I can connect my iPhone to my bike and have all I need for a full day's ride. Throw in my cycle computer and I spent about $50 total to do everything I need. The extra $200 can go towards a new set of bars. I can understand feeling the need for all of those bells and whistles, especially if it helps you to train harder (comps). But for some users, we can use that saved money by making the rides a bit more enjoyable.
I never use iphone for Strava unless as back up or when overseas without the garmin. One thing tho I've appreciated when travelling - the real time mapping on the Strava app blows the garmin and wahoo out of the water for a usable, readable and friendly map and nav while riding. One other thing, you know how the garmin gives different readings even if you adjust 5 degrees on the bar fly - you think back pocket v bar fly might also introduce a few differences?!. Cheers for the review.
Nice bike paths in Perth eh. I only use an android phone and an APP. .. but not the Strava app. The best one is called Ghost Racer. Give it a whirl. Amazing battery life and once you install and use it you will be kicking yourself spending like $300 or $500 on a Garmin or a bolt. The app is free and the device can make calls too :-). Good vid. Do a ghost racer comparison :-)
Shane.. great video! I purchased the Bolt around a month ago and love it. Was meaning to ask you for a screen shot of your home screen to see which stats you like to see at a glance and now I know. PS my home screen is very similar. Can you show us your bolt settings for some of your other "pages" and give a word or 2 about why you set up your Bolt the way you did??
wow i work as a cabin crew for singapore airlines and we stay in the Pan Pacific just behind you. I was watching you video for a while when i realised hey, isnt that pan pacific perth?!
If your ride was in congested town streets, I think your average speed would be lower on Strava because my app takes long to auto pause every time I stop. Not sure how the moving time is calculated, though. Also Strava need to update the app to Support Dark Mode. Can’t believe everyone has done it before them.
I like the using the Wahoo Fitness app to recored my ride on my phone, and then display that information on the bike using the Wahoo RFLEKT. The battery life on that thing is insane, over 5000km and I haven't had to change the battery. The thought of having to constantly worry about charging a dedicated GPS is a real turn off for me.
Just watched this video as it discusses my greatest internal debate...use my iPhone or buy a bike computer. It's hard to justify as my iPhone works well enough. Or does it? I ran three apps to test ascent data in my neighborhood. Strava recorded 523 feet, Cyclemeter recorded 374 feet (327 on another ride), MapMyRide recorded 282 feet, and my garmin watch measured 344 feet. As you mentioned, the screen on the iPhone isn't great in the sun, while your Elemnt was fine. Oh well. Maybe I'll go to the casino, win some money, then buy a Bolt. Thanks for the great videos!
Elevation is more art than science.... I've done a video on how bike computer position will impact elevation readings. Go the dedicated unit, save your phone battery. :)
Shane Miller Got the Bolt a week or so ago...your videos were very helpful. Also picked up the cadence and speed sensors...trying to keep it in the family for best compatibility! 👍🏻
Hey man great video, I really enjoy it. I have one question for you. How did you create the map of the city and that yellow line(which presented the path you were going)? Keep up the good work!
Strava: You're also at mercy of the device itself. Next test would be 3 different devices running Strava. Also Strava does have it's own algorithms that can be different from other devices e.g comparison between iconic fitbit watch and Strava on a S9 can have a variance.
I've never had my bike computer fail on me during a ride plus battery life is magnitudes longer... Nice ride / bike trail / video How long will your battery last?
Hi would just like to add something about battery, You can see on your clips that you where using your phone to play music and also shoot video, what you should also remember its a phone so also doing other duties. apart from that good video and so lovely scenery
This was more about 'general chuck it in your pocket use' use. Not trying to optimise battery life. Some video was shot with another phone, not the iPhone6 I had Strava loaded on.
Just got a Bolt. Amazing device! Went for a ride with both the Bolt and Strava on my S8 recording. At the end of the day there was a 100 meter elevation difference between the two. 673 m on the Bolt, 784 on Strava on the phone. Is the Bolt broken or the Strava records too bogus/too high? What I'm trying to say is, is the Bolt elevation recording mostly reliable according to your experience? Thanks!
Elevation is tricky. It’s never going to be the same. Even from two of the same devices. I suspect the S8 is using evaluation from the map, and the Bolt from an altimeter.
Interesting comparison, I often see a lot of variation in data from group rides riding side by side with people. Also, do you use Autopause often ? Just wondering whether this can explain it sometimes. I don't use Autopause and rely on data uploaded to strava to do it's magic.
Interesting vid I’ve been using stabs on an iPhone for some time while riding with a mate who uses a garmin that he then loads to strata. On hilly rides he always shows more height gain than I do by about a third. Seemingly the opposite to what you found with the wahoo.
Hi Shane great video mate, do you think spending extra cash on the Wahoo Roam is going to be a lot more efficient than the already wahoo bolt. I don’t own either but undecided on which to get
I also chose the Element Bolt over my Iphone running Strava. In between I used the Wahoo fitness app which I felt is better than Strava and gave me access to the heartrate and cadence without a premium membership to Strava. Anyone know why the max speeds and average speed are a little different when the Bolt uploads to Strava? Nice video.
I used the App for a couple years. Had no problems except if you don't have an iPhone you will struggle to find a holder for the phone. And the screen went black with inactivity which was annoying. That was with my Samsung. I then got an OPPO and it failed to record my hardest and best ride ever. It was heart breaking. The App just doesn't work with an OPPO. I now have an elemnt bolt.
minor question about the battery life, was the iPhone also being used as your listen device too. Noticed earbuds. You give the win to the Bolt, but if money is tight you have a phone and don't have the Bolt is it worth it to just run with the Strava.
I can't even imagine how nice it must be to have a place like that to ride.
That bike path is unreal!! Great job, Perth!
Subbu Deivanayagam yeah it looks good but nothing that special (okay I'm Dutch so I have probably very high standards )
If it is full on the bike path, then these underpasses might not be harmless, cue oncoming traffic.
Been to perth for a month, those are indeed full on bike path. I believe across australia they have the best bike paths hands down.
We have no bike trails.. we have so many riders killed every year by cars. its maddening in the USA
@@GreyGhost-r4z USA has bike trails, but not in every state. Ohio is by far the best where I am fortunate enough to live.
A tip for strava battery life. Turn strava on, and then turn data off until the end if your ride. Strava will continue recording as normal without data. Battery saved.
icedbannanas How do you turn data off ?
It's usually called airplane mode in your phone.
It uses the GPS that is already on your phone. You don't need any extra equipment. So yes you can just start an activity, put it in your backpack or pocket and be on your way. I like my dedicated computer for longer rides but for commutes or just shorter recreational rides this has definitely proven to be the most convenient and it's just as accurate as my Garmin. If you do use it for longer rides, say more than 3 hours it's a good idea to start the activity and then put your phone on Airplane mode so that it doesn't drain your battery as fast.
S F Yeah it will work even on roads that arent on the map. GPS doesnt need to know what road youre on, it just makes a line where you are.
I just put a powerbank in my bag and can use the phone with data for a 24hr ride... weight is just a little extra but so convenience... use the same powerbank to charge my lights too...
I have lived in Perth for almost one year right after university. I absolutly loved this city. Miss it big times!
Thank you for this great comparison :)
Greetings from Hamburg, Germany
I use an Android phone with Wahoo Fitness App. 5 things it will do that the GPS Bike Computers cant do. (1) Email my FIT file to my laptop for analysis with Golden Cheetah software. (2) Remote control my drone. (3) Remote control my GoPro knockoff camera. (4) Make an emergency phone call. (5) Interface with Zwift for my trainer rides later.
One negative thing. It can't tell whether it's going up hill or downhill. :-)
Shane - Excellent comparative analysis!!
Wahoo fitness app also has 1 second timing vs 3 second timing on the strava app. the gps chips on modern phones are just as good as a dedicated gps unit like garmin.
Thanks for showing that 3 sec power reading exists on the Wahoo Bolt/Elemnt! Just updated mine from 5 sec. I believe 3 sec wasn't available initially. Great video, as always.
Oh, nice bonus!
CSI Strava (and Lama) Flybys...That's just awesome!
Nice review, thank! Technically speaking recent mobile phones have dual sattelite support: gps+glonass, so tracking in theory should be more precise, this is down to software implementation. Some ideas could be to compare same ride from different phones/cycling applications. Also, the gps in the phone could interfere with other metal objects, like if you have aluminium casing, the way how the phone is positioned in the pocket, could potentially impact the signal.
Perfect timing of this video. I've been using the iPhone app for about 2 years and have recently been questioning whether it's worth switching to a dedicated head unit (the Bolt is top of my list). Cheers for this, Shane, you've just made up my mind :)
I'm having the same thoughts. What did you end up doing?
Fair play. It is very clear you have put a lot of effort into capturing the data, editing it on a pc and presenting it with various different software pc-wise whilst also presenting it to us (the viewers) with engaging background music.
This isn't a 30 minute job here! Fairplay. A convincing video that dedicated cycling units do a better job all-around than an app and a smartphone platform.
Watching from the other side of the planet... London, UK GOODAY MATE! Cheers.
Man this guy has dedicated bike paths in maroon asphalt. I’m just trying to find streets with not too many potholes or asshole drivers who don’t watch for cyclists.
I've been GPS tracking since Nokia developed Sports Tracker for their Symbian phones. Then I've used iPhones 3G, 3GS, 5, 6s and SE. From iPhone 3GS forward GPS tracking worked flawlessly. iPhone 6s can give you 12 hours of tracking with display off. I still using my iPhone for running, for cycling I've bought Elemnt Bolt this year (awesome little device).
You can always tell who has used their phone on strava climbing challenges, as they are usually the ones that have ridden 50km but climbed 10km usually some where flat like Holland!
hahahah! Everesting on a recovery day! ;)
that's accurate, i used to use my G3 with the android app and it said a local climb had a kick up to 25% but in reality it's an average of 3% with a 7% kick near the start O.o
my Iphone 5s with the strava app is pretty much exactly like my bike computer in terms of elevation. I live in northern Germany...
Yeah -- you'd think they'd filter out those anomalous altitude jumps, like gaining 10 km vertical in 10 meters.
that happens when you are cycling very close to coastal waterbodies
Hey Shane,
i had a old Sigma BC1909 with pulse, speed and cadence but after i get a new smartphone with ant+ last year, i buy the wahoo speed and cadence sensors, the wahoo pulse and just use my smartphone with strava. On Android the app works fine and mutch better than your iphone app (i use the wahoo app and import then to strava with just one klick, mutch better because strava dont like any sensors) The batterie pack from my sony xperia z3 is awsome. I can drive 7 to 8 hours with my bike, active wahoo app, with music and sensors via bluethooth and dont have any problems.
I dont regret the decision to use only smartphone (witch i put on my bike with a quadlock) Maybe it is the smartphone. Iphone lost so many ground to other good smartphones like One+ or Sony.
Had a coffee too today, drove 92km just to get a really good one :-)
Happy riding.
I use a ONE+3T and the strava gps is not as good as my Garmin 200. But tbh strava is still way out with the gps mapping as it shows some hills with me on and off the road line
Just got the bolt 2 days ago. I love it
If you need to use your phone to record via Strava, run it on "airplane" mode. Will use significantly less battery charge.
Flyby profiles, lama drama and great content earned you a sub from me!
Just wanted to let you know that this video got me hooked on your channel. Awesome job on the videos mate. Super on point, informative and fun. Still can't afford a bike computer but being a newbie, I reckon an iPhone mounted on a Quad Lock will keep me going fairly well for a while. You just got yourself a new subscriber. Cheers!
Hello from Asheville, NC. Great edit man. I've always uploaded with the phone even though I ride with both. Mostly because of the convenience. Usually my Garmin is pretty close. I'm very interested in your findings. Good information. Thanks for doing this Shane.
i love how many bike trails you have!!!!!
I dunno, I use an iPhone 7Plus mounted with an Otterbox Universe case to my bike. No issues as far as seeing the display.
On the Strava app, I have my heart rate monitor and my power meter connected to the app.
No issues.
I like the feature, when I'm at a stop light, it pauses. The other two apps I use, commensurately, don't do that.
However, all three apps are in agreement as far as elevation, distance, heart rate, and power (all three are connected to the heart rate monitor and the power meter).
Thanks for the vid! Major thumbs up for Perth! :)
Would be interesting to do this comparison today now that the iPhone has better location sensors (Galileo) and also a built-in altmeter! =)
Thank you for the video. I appreciate simple, straight to the point, no fluff type information like this.
Curious to get your thoughts on Element vs. Apple Watch Strava App (phone paired but not running the Strava app).
The Cottesloe beach is amazing, I was there January-February almost daily.
I find the Wahoo Fitness app much better. Pairs well to sensors inc BT Power-meters and gives a head of different pages of info, also upload to Strava and Dropbox. My iPhones 6s+ on a quadlock mount is secure. Battery life is poor, so the screen is off most of the time. I also have a Garmin 510 & Fenix 3HR so never miss the Upload!
The only advantage of the Strava app is the segment function which gives a good feel of how far ahead (or usually behind) your PR, KOM or friends PR!
Really love the bike infra in your city, I'm so jealous, wish people here in Waterloo/Kitchener ON would build something like that.
Strava havent a clue what they are doing in terms of user interface and usability. About time they spent some of the Premium Member money on someone to fix it. And it doesn't even have to be a pro interface person. Just pick someone off the street and they'll show them how fucked up it is.
experiment54 I can't stand Strava. Deleted after a few weeks. Horribble UI and overall not needed for a cyclist.
Henry C As the saying goes "Strava spoils a good ride"
Henry C what program do you use to analyse your rides instead?
It's not too fair to throw Strava's positioning under the bus. They are mapping what the iPhone's GPS sensor is providing them.. so really GPS data is a matter of the iPhone's GPS sensor needing an upgrade. Any GPS app would get the same results. It's good enough for most cases though so I doubt it will be upgraded any time soon unfortunately.
Although Strava could "smooth" out the GPS info in the app to make it less erratic. This might results in mixed feelings from people
+IvanL Fitness I wasn't that harsh in my assessment. If I was, I would have been very clear. It works with the limitations of the device. That's acknowledged.
For sure, I totally get what you mean. In a perfect world the next iPhone would ship with a better GPS sensor and altimeter :)
ivan lol n
In some instances phones end up being more accurate. For example, when on a twisty singletrack mountainbike ride, the smoothed path of a dedicated gps ends up eliminating the tight turns and quick elevation changes. It’s interesting that road vs mtb makes a difference.
Very useful film... I do like the data that cycling gives.. Am also very envious of the smooth roads you have there... Here in the UK country roads are so uneven...
I got an element bolt after your review a while back. Absolutely fabulous reviews. Thank you. Regarding the bolt I am enjoying the live strava segment features the most, and also the consistency of picking up my stages power meter (which my garmin 500 struggled with at times). Sometimes when I stop for a while with the bolt when I get going again the power will read n/a .......so I just click the power button for a second and look If the sensor is picking up and all of the sudden the power picks back up. Just a little glitchy I guess
Great video. I’ve been waiting for a comparison of the two for quite a while.
if you use the samsung S or note models they have ANT+ so on strava you can record your power & heart rate also
edward dillon yes but you also need the sensor unit.
Or you can use Bluetooth devices; I have a HR monitor that is both ANT+ and Bluetooth.
Or wear a multisport watch like the 735XT which you are more unlikely to let go flat as its worn as an everyday watch as opposed to something you just pull out when you are riding.
great video again, very easy to watch. keep up that positive enthusiasm!
really helpful video here, mate! I've been debating getting that exact bike computer because up till now I've been using my Apple Watch, but it dies extremely quickly. Such a useful comparison for me!
I use my iphone, it was previously going under on ft of climbing in UK, strava have now corrected this when uploaded it is now accurate with the map, so if you plot same route on map and do the ride you get same amount of ft. It's useful enough if you can't afford a bike gprs computer. Then again I don't use cadence sensors nor heart rate, I just ride. Also battery life turn off most notifications and the iphone is good to go for battery life, I've been out all day using it before 100 mile ride and used about 80% battery, I didn't use it for looking at a route though as was with others.
Oh and even garmin will put you off track like you experienced with the iphone, it happens to my dad often, hence slightly different segments get picked up on strava, with a visit into water included.
Great video mate thanks for taking the time to do this from Andy in England 👍
Love the bike path in Perth. Amazing view..💯👌
Perth is a brilliant place to ride around. Here's a tour: ruclips.net/video/wdd6iNIWOlc/видео.html
I went there last January and going around the city got 89 km.. Did not realize I did so far. Well with that view.. anyone can go so far.. 🤩 love the video.. thanks!
Very impressive Relive video. Thanks for the link. Not capable of processing the Wahoo Fitness App yet.
Would be interesting to revisit this 3 years later now that Strava is v157.0.0 see if Strava addressed any of the issues your brought up.
In my experience Strava app has taken steps back during this time. Dropping support for external sensors and requiring premium to see more of your stats such as speed during recording just to name a few
I cycled with just my phone and a basic Cateye computer for years, Strava app was ok but when I got a power meter I switched to Cyclemeter which is way more user friendly than the Strava app. But you still have all the same issues related to having a phone on your bars which is why since I got my ELEMNT I haven't looked back
Nice ride beautiful road beautiful country
I like these videos you do (also the bike paths - jeez you are set up well in Perth!). I've had a quick squish through the comments but didn't see it. One thing missing from your comparison is cost performance. Strava is free on the phone you have already anyway. That's a fairly significant benefit. Now it's definitely true that it has problems, and I think they vary considerably with the actual phone you use it on, but for someone looking to track their rides, speed, and elevation it is great for a free app.
HOWEVER
On some recent rides I've done, the elevation data is about 300m out of whack. This is compared to riding the same climb with an older phone. That's not ideal, to say the least.
Similarly, the phone I'm using now has thrown up some ridiculous gradients on tiny stretches of road.
On the whole though, I think Strava is pretty good for someone like me who rides a lot but doesn't care overly about statistics . I ride based on perceived effort and if I want to stop, I will.
Cost.... that's an interesting one. I'm more about the experience. If we want to talk cost let's look at the real cost... AU$1000+ for the iPhone7, $80/year Strava Premium, $70 for the mounting kit/case (if used), then the cost of them selling your data and your data being online, so cost of privacy overhead if we choose to be mindful with that (we are the product!)... see, it gets messy. The Strava App is far from free.
But yes, it's 'free' for the basic use, and assuming zero cost for the phone... and the target consumer is the point and click / upload data / don't care about much more market.
It serves a purpose... but really isn't on par for what I need. Yet.
Shane Miller Pretty much everyone has a smartphone now, so that cost can be written off.
Strava Premium - I honestly don't get it. I tried it last month and it added absolutely nothing to my experience. I guess I'm not a numbers-focused rider, I just go by feel. Strava Premium really should add some more features, IMO. Otherwise there seems little reason to use it for most riders. Again, people more interested in numbers would benefit, but basic Strava has pretty good options too. So, I would delete that cost, too. (Why do they charge so much for so little? I'd join if it was cheaper.)
Privacy - yep. No argument there about losing privacy but actually, there is an argument in its favour. As everyone shares their data it creates a useful resource for fellow riders, especially locals. The ability to see other people's rides (and consequently vice versa) is a big plus. I've picked up a quite a few course ideas from friends on Strava, or from the Segment Explore feature.
Anyway, it's not that I particularly care about this topic greatly, (and just recently watching your videos I thought the Wahoo looked pretty good against the Garmin and I realized my cheapish smartphone's GPS data isn't very accurate in terms of elevation so it may be time for me buy a Wahoo thing), but I still think vanilla Strava for free has very good functionality that would satisfy many cyclists' needs.
But yeah, ain't no big thing.
I hear you. I did a sportive the other day at Strava Android saw about 40 heart rate monitors! Impossible to find mine
have you updated this i wondering if strava is better now nice ride
Worse. They removed sensor support.
@@gplama I'm torn between using phone or buying a computer
exactly what I needed. Can't decide on a computer, still using iPhone
I do this kind of ride every time I go out using both Strava and Bolt. The reason for using both is the Live Tracking and information at better (so I'm told from my gf) which makes it easier for her to come find me if there is a crash.
Neither have the crash alert which is kind of a bummer.
At the end of the ride just delete the Strava information because my Bolt will put it their with all of the sensor data.
You could save battery if you texted her your GPS coordinates when this happens. She enters them in the Google Maps textbox, and voila.
EditioCastigata or use and iPhone and share location with her. That way she can track the whole ride.
AMC387 hey if you need crash report function you can use brand new Bike Computer app. You have keep me safe function there. Better ui than strava... also you have free live tracking implemented.
Garmin has live track etc.
Well its a late answer, but Google has now a feature called location sharing in Google Maps, its free and your phone doesnt have GPS turned on all the time like on Strava. Only when somebody wants to see your location, it turns GPS on.
I used ipBike on my phone before going to a Garmin. Extremely detailed numbers, like heart beats per pedal stroke, how many times you coasted, avg power while active etc etc
I use a iphone 6 to record the rides for upload, but a Garmin 200 on my bars as a GPS speedo and odo. They both track almost the exact same data, nothing crazy for ascent. Some friends who have newer garmin units show 1.5x-2x the ascent on the same route, and a few more KM. I like the app, no complaints, uploads are super quick compared to plugging in my old Garmin to my mac.
If you're trying to follow a map, though, the phone screen is much bigger and the mapping function on most gps bike computers isn't nearly as interactive as the Google Maps app on a phone.
45% battery usage for a 1h30 ride !? That's huge ! My Android phone uses 5-7% per hour (though I don't let my screen on all the time)
Also I never use Strava for tracking my rides, but Wahoo Fitness App and Ride With GPS for turn-by-turn navigation. And sometimes GhostRacer if I want to race a segment against a virtual partner :-p
+GoustiFruit φ 3hrs all up, maybe 3:15.
Yeah, typo. Still a lot.
GoustiFruit φ
I just did a ride 65 Miller in 4hours 22 minutes with Google music playing for the length of the ride and manage to only use 23% of the battery, but most Android phones have a larger batteries than iPhones.
Thank you for the apps!!
can you put more good apps?
having the screen on all time does make a huge difference though, especially in sunlight where the smartphone screen goes up to 100% brightness.
Not sure if it’s the update or what, I live in Las Vegas and Strava is spot on. Love my Strava
As someone said, the strava app has better pairing on Android by the looks of it. It can pair off Ant+ and lists the devices by name allowing you select the right one easily. The battery drain is pretty minimal as well if you have the screen turned off. You still have to put up with wildly optimistic elevation. Just out of interest can you confirm whether your iphone has true GPS or an assisted GPS. [Edited] Just read that it uses GLONASS and GPS same as a garmin.
My mouth fell open when, while flying on a dedicated bike path, a sunken section revealed beautifully painted walls. With respect to phones, not sure how many phones contain an actual gps or Broadcom chipset. Many rely on cell tower triangulation. The Wahoo has such capability and does not need cell towers when in actual use on a bike. In addition, most cell phones have touch screens making it impractical to mount on a bike if used in an area with frequent rain. The Wahoo does not have a touch screen. However the map quality with certain apps is better on an iPhone such as Pocket Earth or Gaia, which I prefer to use when hiking or looking for a coffee shop in a busy city. My old iPhone 7 does not have a GPS chipset, but I pair it with the GPS equipped BadElf device for unmatched pinpoint accuracy.
thanks Shane Miller
I saw the Pre-screening.. nice.
I’ve been using my phone for 2 years before I got a multisport watch. With the IpBike app on Android it was just great for many things that you seem to have trouble with. What was annoying with the phone is the poor battery life though, especially with an always-on display. So I switched to a multisport watch for triathlon last year. It’s better but not really practical to read while riding, but then again I only checked my heart rate from time to time, and didn’t have a power meter. Battery life was better, but it was just enough for a 175k bike ride. I’ve just got a power meter and a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, bike computers are just better than a multi-purpose device like a multisport watch, or worse, a phone. The only downside I see is that my multisport watch has an optical hrm so now I need a heart rate strap, probably going to go for the Wahoo Tickr since it’s compatbile with everything (ANT+ for the Bolt, BTLE for the watch or the phone).
Great integration of relive.
They make bike mounts for the Fenix 3/5 so I would be interested to see a comparison between one of those and a Bike Computer
A Fenix mount is an arm! Standard humans come with two! ;) I've used my FR935 to record a few rides with power data. It seems to do a good job. I haven't put it to the data analysis sword yet though.
I was hoping Strava Labs Slide would help deal with the elevation data problem with the phone app. There are certain parts of my rides where I do easy 4% grades but it shows as 20% fluctuations all day..
Wish we had cycleways like that here 😐😂
All you need is a decent smartphone + blutooth speed cadence sensors(properly calibrated). Bam, proper cycle computer. Most of the time I don't need screen on but for rides under 5 hours I leave screen on and have no worries about battery life. That being said I still haven't invested in bluetooth cadence + speed and rely solely on gps. Perfectly content. I use CycleMeter app though, and once the ride is finished it automatically pushes all data to strava.
Thought that route looked familiar.....Perth can be very windy
Nice video, what kind of camera are you using? Thanks.
The Cyclemeter App has an option to use the Barometric Altimeter for the iPhone. I then upload the ride from that to Strava.
*(I'm still in the dark ages using Cyclemeter to mirror the ride data to a Wahoo RFLKT)
I can see one potential drawback in that any of the plethora of aftermarket phone cases *(or even by virtue of carrying it in your pocket) could obstruct the opening of the altimeter thus yielding bogus readings...
thanks for posting this! awesome video
Wow that was a really long ride I was expecting it to be dark by the time you reached your destination then I realised you rode for like 45 mins 😂
Super jealous of that bike path you have
I can afford the Wahoo Bolt which is about $250 here, and I only have the free version of Strava on my iPhone as well as a Cateye cycle computer, but for me the free version of Strava is enough. I don't need a heart rate monitor, or many other things being hyped to pay for Strava Premium. I only need distance, time, speed, and route, and the ability to post it on Facebook. Battery life was an issue, but since I bought a 3000mhz battery case for my phone for $20, and a silicone bike phone holder for $15, I can connect my iPhone to my bike and have all I need for a full day's ride. Throw in my cycle computer and I spent about $50 total to do everything I need. The extra $200 can go towards a new set of bars.
I can understand feeling the need for all of those bells and whistles, especially if it helps you to train harder (comps). But for some users, we can use that saved money by making the rides a bit more enjoyable.
hi Shane.. nice video. Perth is so beautiful, I would like to riding in Perth someday.
I never use iphone for Strava unless as back up or when overseas without the garmin. One thing tho I've appreciated when travelling - the real time mapping on the Strava app blows the garmin and wahoo out of the water for a usable, readable and friendly map and nav while riding. One other thing, you know how the garmin gives different readings even if you adjust 5 degrees on the bar fly - you think back pocket v bar fly might also introduce a few differences?!. Cheers for the review.
+Si Duke Strava iPhone app doesn't use the altimeter so no to the altitude reading being different while in the back pocket.
Nice bike paths in Perth eh. I only use an android phone and an APP. .. but not the Strava app. The best one is called Ghost Racer. Give it a whirl. Amazing battery life and once you install and use it you will be kicking yourself spending like $300 or $500 on a Garmin or a bolt. The app is free and the device can make calls too :-). Good vid. Do a ghost racer comparison :-)
Nice Video! thank you for the Relive information. really cool stuff.
Shane.. great video! I purchased the Bolt around a month ago and love it. Was meaning to ask you for a screen shot of your home screen to see which stats you like to see at a glance and now I know. PS my home screen is very similar. Can you show us your bolt settings for some of your other "pages" and give a word or 2 about why you set up your Bolt the way you did??
I'll cover this in a future video.
Dont trust the altimetry on the strava app thou, great video :)
Excellent video, you just gained another sub
wow i work as a cabin crew for singapore airlines and we stay in the Pan Pacific just behind you. I was watching you video for a while when i realised hey, isnt that pan pacific perth?!
The champagne brunch in Pan Pacific SG is immense!
If your ride was in congested town streets, I think your average speed would be lower on Strava because my app takes long to auto pause every time I stop. Not sure how the moving time is calculated, though. Also Strava need to update the app to Support Dark Mode. Can’t believe everyone has done it before them.
i only use the app when i'm on my commuter bike as the mounts for my Elemnt are currently on my Giant Anyroad and Fathom as i use them more
Can you do this video again maybe the app has improved?
Maybe soon. Strava removed Bluetooth sensors, then recently added back HR support only. I hope they'll allow power meters again soon too.
Very beautiful place
❤️ good job 👌 , I am indian ,
I like the using the Wahoo Fitness app to recored my ride on my phone, and then display that information on the bike using the Wahoo RFLEKT. The battery life on that thing is insane, over 5000km and I haven't had to change the battery. The thought of having to constantly worry about charging a dedicated GPS is a real turn off for me.
you need to enable in iphone app the person seconds tracking to have better result
Just watched this video as it discusses my greatest internal debate...use my iPhone or buy a bike computer. It's hard to justify as my iPhone works well enough. Or does it? I ran three apps to test ascent data in my neighborhood. Strava recorded 523 feet, Cyclemeter recorded 374 feet (327 on another ride), MapMyRide recorded 282 feet, and my garmin watch measured 344 feet. As you mentioned, the screen on the iPhone isn't great in the sun, while your Elemnt was fine. Oh well. Maybe I'll go to the casino, win some money, then buy a Bolt.
Thanks for the great videos!
Elevation is more art than science.... I've done a video on how bike computer position will impact elevation readings. Go the dedicated unit, save your phone battery. :)
Shane Miller Got the Bolt a week or so ago...your videos were very helpful. Also picked up the cadence and speed sensors...trying to keep it in the family for best compatibility! 👍🏻
Hey man great video, I really enjoy it. I have one question for you. How did you create the map of the city and that yellow line(which presented the path you were going)? Keep up the good work!
Google Maps
Strava: You're also at mercy of the device itself. Next test would be 3 different devices running Strava.
Also Strava does have it's own algorithms that can be different from other devices e.g comparison between iconic fitbit watch and Strava on a S9 can have a variance.
What an amazing ride, but hardly anyone else is on it?
I've never had my bike computer fail on me during a ride plus battery life is magnitudes longer...
Nice ride / bike trail / video
How long will your battery last?
Hey great video that place looks amazing😎👍👍👍
Hi would just like to add something about battery, You can see on your clips that you where using your phone to play music and also shoot video, what you should also remember its a phone so also doing other duties. apart from that good video and so lovely scenery
This was more about 'general chuck it in your pocket use' use. Not trying to optimise battery life. Some video was shot with another phone, not the iPhone6 I had Strava loaded on.
Just got a Bolt. Amazing device! Went for a ride with both the Bolt and Strava on my S8 recording. At the end of the day there was a 100 meter elevation difference between the two. 673 m on the Bolt, 784 on Strava on the phone. Is the Bolt broken or the Strava records too bogus/too high? What I'm trying to say is, is the Bolt elevation recording mostly reliable according to your experience? Thanks!
Elevation is tricky. It’s never going to be the same. Even from two of the same devices. I suspect the S8 is using evaluation from the map, and the Bolt from an altimeter.
Interesting comparison, I often see a lot of variation in data from group rides riding side by side with people. Also, do you use Autopause often ? Just wondering whether this can explain it sometimes. I don't use Autopause and rely on data uploaded to strava to do it's magic.
I use auto-pause, yep.
Interesting vid
I’ve been using stabs on an iPhone for some time while riding with a mate who uses a garmin that he then loads to strata. On hilly rides he always shows more height gain than I do by about a third. Seemingly the opposite to what you found with the wahoo.
Hi Shane great video mate, do you think spending extra cash on the Wahoo Roam is going to be a lot more efficient than the already wahoo bolt. I don’t own either but undecided on which to get
Yeah, the ROAM is a whole new world for mapping/navigation. It the map smarts on the unit to route/re-route/etc.
I also chose the Element Bolt over my Iphone running Strava. In between I used the Wahoo fitness app which I felt is better than Strava and gave me access to the heartrate and cadence without a premium membership to Strava. Anyone know why the max speeds and average speed are a little different when the Bolt uploads to Strava? Nice video.
I used the App for a couple years. Had no problems except if you don't have an iPhone you will struggle to find a holder for the phone. And the screen went black with inactivity which was annoying. That was with my Samsung. I then got an OPPO and it failed to record my hardest and best ride ever. It was heart breaking. The App just doesn't work with an OPPO. I now have an elemnt bolt.
The strava app works well with my OPPO R9
Anthony Afif wish mine did. It failed to record my longest and hardest ride.
Anthony Afif mines an OPPO selfie phone.
Thanks for sharing. I almost bought an Oppo for a bike computer. Bought a Bolt instead.
Try using Samsung s health app and you will get a much bigger difference, find my bike speedo very close to my strava result
Nice vid. Which oakly "type" is this and what kind of helmet are you wearing?
+Wesley Wuyts Radar. Evade. 👍🏼
minor question about the battery life, was the iPhone also being used as your listen device too. Noticed earbuds.
You give the win to the Bolt, but if money is tight you have a phone and don't have the Bolt is it worth it to just run with the Strava.
The phone being on 4G would be the primary drain. Airplane mode helps. And sure, it's a solution if you don't have anything else.