View source for Strava

{{Short description|American fitness tracking app}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox software
| title = Strava
| name = Strava
| logo = Strava_Logo.svg
| logo size = 200
| screenshot = Strava cycling screenshot.png
| screenshot size = 350px
| screenshot alt =
| caption = An activity shown on the Strava website
| developer = Strava, Inc
| released = 2009
| latest release version <!-- List platforms that are still being officially developed by Strava --> = {{Multiple releases
|branch1 = Android
|version1 = 324.10
|date1 = {{Start date and age|2023|09|11}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Strava: Track Running, Cycling & Swimming APKs – APKMirror |url=https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/strava-inc/strava-running-and-cycling-gps/ |website=APKMirror}}</ref>
|branch2 = iOS
|version2 = 324.0.0
|date2 = {{Start date and age|2023|09|13}}<ref name="AppStore Strava">{{Cite web |title=Strava: Run, Ride, Swim |url=https://apps.apple.com/app/id426826309 |website=App Store |date=July 26, 2023 |language=en-us}}</ref>}}
| operating system = [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS 13]] or later, Web browser, [[WatchOS]], [[Wear OS]]
| size = 138.8 [[Megabyte|MB]] (iOS); 44.85 MB (Android)
| language count = 13
| language footnote = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Changing your language in the Strava App |url=https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/articles/216917337-Changing-your-language-in-the-Strava-App |access-date=November 10, 2018 |publisher=Strava}}</ref><ref name="AppStore Strava" />
| language = English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Latin America) and Traditional Chinese
| genre = [[Physical fitness|Fitness]]
| license = [[Proprietary (software)|Proprietary]]
| website = {{URL|strava.com/}}
}}
'''Strava''' is an American internet service for tracking [[physical exercise]] which incorporates [[social network]] features. It started out tracking mostly outdoor [[cycling]] and [[running]] activities using [[Global Positioning System]] (GPS) data, but now incorporates several dozen other exercise types, including indoor activities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Supported Activity Types on Strava |url=https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/articles/216919407-Supported-Activity-Types-on-Strava |access-date=November 10, 2018 |website=Strava Support |language=en-US}}</ref> Strava uses a [[freemium]] model with some features only available in the paid subscription plan. The service was founded in 2009 by Mark Gainey and Michael Horvath and is based in [[San Francisco]], California.
==Overview==
Strava records data for a user's activities, which can then be shared with the user's followers or shared publicly. If an activity is shared publicly, Strava automatically groups activities that occur at the same time and place (such as taking part in a [[marathon]], [[Cyclosportive|sportive]] or group [[Cycling|ride]]). An activity's recorded information may include a route summary, elevation (net and unidirectional), speed (average, minimum, maximum), timing (total and moving time), [[Cycling power meter|power]] and heart rate. Activities can be recorded using the mobile app or from devices manufactured by third parties like [[Garmin]], [[Google Fit]], [[Suunto]], and [[Wahoo Fitness|Wahoo]]. Activities can also be entered manually via the Strava website.
Strava Metro, a program marketed towards city planners, uses cycling data from Strava users in supported cities and regions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Peter |date=May 9, 2016 |title=City planners tap into wealth of cycling data from Strava tracking app |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/may/09/city-planners-cycling-data-strava-tracking-app |access-date=November 10, 2018 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MacMichael |first=Simon |date=May 7, 2014 |title=Strava moves into 'big data' – London & Glasgow already signed up to find out where cyclists ride |url=http://road.cc/content/news/118098-strava-moves-big-data-london-glasgow-already-signed-find-out-where-cyclists-ride |access-date=December 1, 2014 |website=Road.cc}}</ref>
== History ==
Strava, which means "strive" in [[Swedish language|Swedish]] (although spelled "sträva" in Swedish with an "ä"), was founded in 2009. Cofounders Michael Horvath and Mark Gainey first met in the 1980s as members of [[Harvard University]]'s [[Rowing (sport)|rowing crew]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=George |first=Rose |date=2020-01-14 |title=Kudos, leaderboards, QOMs: how fitness app Strava became a religion |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/jan/14/kudos-leaderboards-qoms-how-fitness-app-strava-became-a-religion |access-date=2023-02-05 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Initially popular with cyclists and eventually runners, by 2017 over 1 billion activities had been uploaded to the service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hichens |first=Liz |date=2017-05-24 |title=A Triathlete Just Uploaded Strava's One-Billionth Activity |url=https://www.triathlete.com/culture/news/strava-celebrates-one-billion-shares/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Triathlete |language=en}}</ref> By 2020, Strava had more than 50 million users and three billion activities had been uploaded.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Strava now has 50 million users |url=https://www.cyclist.co.uk/go/7730 |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Cyclist |date=February 11, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2020, at the height of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Strava made significant changes to its user terms. Some of the features that were previously free were only to be available with a paid-for subscription, and most new developments going forward would be available only to subscribers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Hannah |date=2020-06-30 |title=The Strava dilemma: Is it money well spent? |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/the-strava-dilemma-458194 |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=cyclingweekly.com |language=en}}</ref>
In March 2022, Strava stopped operating in [[Russia]] and [[Belarus]] because of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dress |first=Bradley |date=2022-03-11 |title=Strava ending service in Russia, Belarus |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/597956-strava-ending-service-in-russia-belarus |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en}}</ref>
In early 2023, Strava significantly raised subscription prices in many markets—some more than doubling.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Strava hikes monthly subscription price by more than 25 per cent |url=https://www.bikeradar.com/news/strava-hikes-monthly-subscription-cost-by-more-than-25-per-cent/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=BikeRadar |date=January 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Victoria |date=2023-01-13 |title=Strava knows its messy price hike is confusing |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/13/23553453/strava-subscription-increase-fitness |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> A month earlier, the company [[Layoff|laid off]] approximately 14% of its workforce.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-13 |title=Strava Lays Off Employees, Significantly Raises Prices |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a42436189/strava-layoffs-price-increases/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Runner's World |language=en-us}}</ref> The company's last venture capital funding was a $110 million Series F in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Etherington |first=Darrell |date=2020-11-16 |title=Strava raises $110 million, touts growth rate of 2 million new users per month in 2020 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/16/strava-raises-110-million-touts-growth-rate-of-2-million-new-users-per-month-in-2020/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2023 Strava also acquired Fatmap, a company focused on building high-resolution 3D maps used for outdoor activities, with a long-term goal to integrate Fatmap’s core platform into the Strava platform.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/01/24/strava-acquires-fatmap-a-3d-map-platform-for-the-great-outdoors/ |title=Strava acquires Fatmap, a 3D mapping platform for the great outdoors |date=January 24, 2023 |work=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Victoria |date=2023-01-24 |title=Strava will add high-res 3D maps for outdoor activities |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/24/23569090/strava-fatmap-acquisition-routes-outdoor-fitness |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>
In February 2023, founder and current CEO Michael Horvath announced that he would resign.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Vern Pitt |date=2023-02-13 |title=Strava starts race to find new CEO |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/products/strava-starts-race-to-find-new-ceo |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=cyclingweekly.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawers |first=Paul |date=2023-02-13 |title=Strava searches for new CEO with co-founder Michael Horvath departing for a second time |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/13/strava-searches-for-new-ceo-with-cofounder-michael-horvath-departing-for-a-second-time/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2023, Strava announced Michael Martin, former executive at Youtube, as the new CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-12 |title=Strava Finally Brings in a New CEO in 2024: Who Is Michael Martin? |url=https://www.bicycling.com/news/a46102875/strava-finally-brings-in-a-new-ceo-in-2024-who-is-michael-martin/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Bicycling |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawers |first=Paul |date=2023-12-11 |title=After year-long search, Strava appoints YouTube exec Michael Martin as new CEO |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/11/strava-ceo-google-youtube-michael-hogarth-martin/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Features and tools ==
Strava incorporates social media features which allow users to post their exercises to followers. Alongside a map of their exercise users can also post pictures and videos. Followers can then comment on posts and give 'kudos' in the form of a [[like button]].
Beacon is a feature that allows Strava users to share their location in real time with anyone they choose to, and nominate others as a safety contact for their workout. Other premium features include access to custom route-building tools and access to map segment leaderboards.
Strava maintains a system of leaderboards that show the most frequent runners or riders on a segment, as well as the fastest times by activity type. These fastest segment times (also known as KOMs/QOMs ([[King of the Mountains|King/Queen of the Mountain]]) for cycling segments, or CRs (Course Record) for running segments) have been widely criticized for including times by athletes banned for [[Doping in sport|doping]], as well as fake times logged by motorized vehicles and other forms of cheating such as biking on runs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paresh |first=Dave |title=Fitness app Strava faces an uproar over an elite cycling user linked to doping |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tn-strava-dopers-20160415-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=April 18, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-20 |title=Strava KOMS are being hijacked by motorbikers going as fast as 112mph |url=https://road.cc/content/news/strava-koms-are-being-hijacked-112mph-motorbikers-296049 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=road.cc |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Usborne |first=Simon |date=2016-06-01 |title=Dope and glory: the rise of cheating in amateur sport |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jun/01/dope-and-glory-the-rise-of-cheating-in-amateur-sport |access-date=2023-03-03 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In response, Strava released tools for users to report suspicious activities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 August 2022 |title=How to Report Cheating on Strava |url=https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/articles/206522304-How-to-Report-Cheating-on-Strava- |website=Strava Support}}</ref>
==Privacy concerns==
In November 2017, Strava published a "Global [[Heat map|Heatmap]]"—a "visualization of two years of trailing data from Strava's global network of athletes."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robb |first=Drew |date=April 4, 2018 |title=Building the Global Heatmap – strava-engineering |url=https://medium.com/strava-engineering/the-global-heatmap-now-6x-hotter-23fc01d301de |access-date=July 13, 2019 |website=Strava Engineering |language=en}}</ref> In January 2018, an [[Australian National University]] student studying international security discovered that this map had mapped military bases, including known U.S. bases in [[Syria]], and [[forward operating base]]s in [[Afghanistan]], and [[HMNB Clyde]]—a [[Royal Navy]] base that contains the United Kingdom's nuclear arsenal.<ref name="guardian-fitness-tracking-app-gives-away-location-of-secret-us-army-bases">{{Cite news |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=January 23, 2018 |title=Fitness tracking app gives away location of secret US army bases |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/28/fitness-tracking-app-gives-away-location-of-secret-us-army-bases |access-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018 |title=Fitness tracker highlights military bases |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42853072 |access-date=January 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 28, 2018 |title=Strava Endangering the Military Accidentally |language=en-US |work=Crash Security |url=https://crashsecurity.com/blog/2018/1/28/is-technology-putting-us-in-danger |access-date=May 21, 2018 |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522113443/https://crashsecurity.com/blog/2018/1/28/is-technology-putting-us-in-danger |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Liptak |first=Andrew |date=January 28, 2018 |title=Strava's fitness tracker heat map reveals the location of military bases |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/28/16942626/strava-fitness-tracker-heat-map-military-base-internet-of-things-geolocation |access-date=July 13, 2019 |website=The Verge}}</ref> The findings led to continued scrutiny over privacy issues associated with fitness services and other location-aware applications; Strava's CEO James Quarles stated that the company was "committed to working with military and government officials" on the issue, and would be reviewing its features and simplifying its privacy settings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Strava's fitness heatmaps are a 'potential catastrophe' |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/02/strava-s-fitness-heatmaps-are-a-potential-catastrophe/ |access-date=July 13, 2019 |website=Engadget |date=February 2, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Strava will focus on privacy awareness to address security issues |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/01/30/strava-will-focus-on-privacy-awareness-to-address-security-issue/ |access-date=July 13, 2019 |website=Engadget |date=January 30, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Although users can now opt out of having their data aggregated on the global heatmap, the original data that contains sensitive information has been archived on [[GitHub]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=January 29, 2018 |title=Strava suggests military users 'opt out' of heatmap as row deepens |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jan/29/strava-secret-army-base-locations-heatmap-public-users-military-ban |access-date=April 2, 2020 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Mathew |date=January 28, 2018 |title=Feel the Heat: Strava 'Big Data' Maps Sensitive Locations |url=https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/feel-heat-strava-big-data-maps-sensitive-locations-a-10620 |access-date=April 2, 2020 |website=www.bankinfosecurity.com |language=en}}</ref>
A separate security flaw was reported in June 2022 that allowed the identification and tracking of security personnel working at military bases in Israel. Distinct from the previous heatmap issue, this vulnerability relied on Strava's segments feature.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-21 |title=Strava app flaw revealed runs of Israeli officials at secret bases |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-61879383 |access-date=2022-06-22}}</ref>
In June 2023, a report claimed that Strava heat map data could be used to reveal the home addresses of highly active users in remote areas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Strava responds to alarming report suggesting that it could be used to track you down |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/strava-privacy-security-heatmap-data-b2357238.html |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
In August 2023, Strava was used to identify a [[Raleigh, North Carolina]] resident  as the alleged [[arson]]ist who lit a [[Election denial movement in the United States|”Trump won”]] lawn sign on fire.<ref>{{cite web |website=Cycling Weekly |first=  VERN |last=PITT
| url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/strava-used-to-identify-cyclist-who-burned-down-donald-trump-supporters-sign | title=Strava used to 'identify' cyclist who burned down Donald Trump supporter's sign | date=August 22, 2023 }}</ref>
In July 2024 runners for hire, colloquially known as "Strava jockeys",<ref name="Kiki">{{cite news |last1=Oon |first1=Amanda |last2=Siregar |first2=Kiki |title=Indonesia's 'Strava jockey' trend goes viral, but buying exercise achievements comes with potential pitfalls, say experts |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/indonesia-strava-jockey-trend-viral-running-4472421 |publisher=Channel News Asia |date=14 July 2024}}</ref> made headlines in [[Singapore]], offering to log into Strava under their clients ID and run an agreed upon distance in an agreed upon time, charging around 10.000 [[Indonesian rupiah]] per [[kilometer]]. Asked for comment, Strava spokesperson James Foster pointed out, that the use of such services and the sharing of login data would be a violation of Strava’s [[terms of service]] and could result in a ban from the platform.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://taz.de/Betrug-auf-Fitnessapp-Strava/!6022630/ | title=Joggen oder joggen lassen?| newspaper=Die Tageszeitung: Taz|lang=German | date=26 July 2024 | last1=Hansen| first1=Sven}}</ref>
In October 2024, an investigation by [[Le Monde]] revealed that the fitness-tracking app exposed the movements and locations of world leaders' security teams, including those of French President [[Emmanuel Macron]] and U.S. President [[Joe Biden]], raising serious concerns about potential security risks and the need for stricter guidelines on the use of such apps by security personnel.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-10-27 |title=Strava, the exercise app filled with security holes |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2024/10/27/strava-the-exercise-app-filled-with-security-holes_6730709_13.html |access-date=2024-11-03 |language=en}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.strava.com/heatmap Strava Heatmap]
{{Sports-tracking-apps}}
[[Category:GPS sports tracking applications]]
[[Category:Mobile software]]
[[Category:Companies based in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Fitness apps]]
[[Category:Proprietary cross-platform software]]
[[Category:2009 software]]
[[Category:American companies established in 2009]]
[[Category:2009 establishments in California]]