My week with Strava Live Segments: Comments, Criticisms

I've been using Strava Live Segments for about a week now on a Garmin 520.

Whilst there is a bit to like about the functionality, I get the feeling that one of the following occured with respect to integration between Garmin and Strava.

• Garmin has only reluctantly provided access to its platform to Strava;
• Strava didn't really scope this out properly; or
• They both didn't think about it.

This is made obvious by the shortcomings of the functionality. Subsequently, there are some non-trivial problems with Strava Live Segments.

To give you an idea of the problems, here's a chat I had with my mate Chris. Be aware we have a tendency to over dramatise things. We're also extremely discerning. And good looking.

me: Strava Live Segs. HATE
Sent at 9:41 AM on Monday
Christopher: hardly works on 510
stopped using it
only comes up as a ‘virtual partner'
doesn't tell you time differences
doesn't auto flick back to the main screen
page
it's shit
Sent at 9:45 AM on Monday
me: Where is the KOM alert? It's just PR? It should say you need to push out this # of watts/kg or watts or speed. I used it on a KOM I used to have and pushed pretty hard and got to within 40s of my super fit time but would have appreciated W/kg or speed. “You are 300m behind” doesn't tell me what I need to know.
Sent at 9:46 AM on Monday
me: I will do a review of it….”this clearly shows what happens when hardware mfr who happens to have a site that is playing second fiddle to the web service doesn't do integration properly/ what this shows is two things: garmin needs to fully embrace strava's clear domination of this space, or, strava needs to start making hardware.”
Christopher: yes…. yes please do
Strava needs to make a device
surely they could crowd fund it if they needed to
Sent at 9:48 AM on Monday
me: and then there's a KOD I used to have but all the big blokes I ride with now have it (plus I need a 53×11 for it as I spin out) and I cannot go faster than 1min 52 without a tail wind (KOM is 1:51) and on Sunday I smashed it and it was telling me I was 1s ahead of another guy on 1:52 and I beat him to the bottom and then it turns out the finish was in the wrong spot. then i checked the stats and a bunch of semi pros/NRS riders got it down to 1'37” (HIGHLY dubious without car / motorpace think I will flag it) and they didn't even show up. AND it starts and finishes in the wrong spot, often by 100m
i.e. pov. allow me to castigate it.
What else?
Doesn't show you KOM, only PR, doesn't show speed/power doesn't start in right spot, often doesn't show the right training partner, screen doesn't change (have you tried changing it?)
Also screen shots: you take them with the lap button so that starts Laps, USELESS if you are actually training based on efforts i.e. 3 x 12mins and want to snap shot mid effort
Sent at 9:51 AM on Monday
Christopher: yeah, can't think of anything else right now
me: ON the time differences – the 520 tells you: distance and time.
Sent at 9:54 AM on Monday
Christopher: that's a vast improvement on the 510
which is basically pointless, shit, and annoying
me: Can you send me a screeny next time?
Do you have the latest firmware?
Sent at 9:55 AM on Monday
Christopher: yeah i do
i can
Sent at 9:57 AM on Monday
me: that'd be handy
coz not everyone will update to a 520 or 1000 for the live segs.
Sent at 10:01 AM on Monday

So, what's to like about Strava Live Segments?

1. The idea is great. When I first started using Stava 4 years ago I said that they needed to work out a way of popping live data onto your Garmin to incentivise you to beat PRs or KOMs. (I am glad Strava finally listened—you're welcomed cycling world.)
2. The visual cues are pretty clear with a warning of an impending segment, then a “Go!”. You're also made very aware of how far behind you are with a big red screen. I found being ahead didn't give me a nice green screen and that made me 🙁 .

What's not to like?

1. It's very fiddly to set up: below you'll find a video I made about that.
2. It sometimes doesn't tell you the KOM time, just your PR. On an initial ride I seemed to have the KOM show up as the time to beat but upon checking local times, the KOM was another 5 or 6 people higher up. Bizarre. I then clearly had a KOM pop up as my training partner today. Inconsistency betrays poor design.
3. The start and finish cues are often 50-200m out. In my experience, this means you'll already be on an ascent when the starter's gun goes. Not useful.
4. The screen doesn't change back to telemetry: it maintains a focus on the segment. This is ok if you're close to the PR or KOM, but if you set a KOM years ago and you've now got a 7 month old baby boy and your riding has dropped off…well you don't want to see your younger, fitter self spiral away up a mountain (see below).
5. The comparison screen should be able to be configured to display the requisite watts/kg or speed or whatever that you need to do to either beat your PR or KOM. Here's how it could look.
6. The implementation across compatible Garmin devices needs harmonisation.

How I'd improve Strava Live Segments

In addition to addressing the above, I'd also look to build some audio cues.

It's makes sense for the Strava or Garmin app on your smartphone to be screaming “FASTER, FASTER! SCHNELL, SCHNELL liddle fatty!” or “5WATTS/KG NEEDED” or “23KM/H NEEDED! Stop eating so many doughnuts and ride more fatty!”

Apart from that change, and fixing the other shortcomings, I can't think of anything else to improve it at this stage (though it's likely Dear Readers will point something out, or I'll think of something in the future).

Strava Live Segments: summary

Strava Live Segments is a great idea, but needs serious improvements in order to address the shortcomings I've identified, namely 1, 2, 3 and 5 in particular.

More broadly, the integration team at Garmin needs some high level directive to work closer with Strava (in case they're not), or the two teams need to think about this from a user's perspective.

Or, more ideally, Strava needs to get into the hardware space to make this truly useful.

At the moment it has some use, but until the utility improves, it's a little gimmicky.

Should you upgrade your Garmin just to get Strava Live Segments

No.

I understand that most newer Garmin devices (anything except the 500 or 2xx basically) will get common firmware to enable Strava Live Segments. But, there are still a lot of 500s out there, which begs the question: should Garmin 500 owners upgrade?

The Garmin 500 is an excellent device, and unless you feel like spending money on gadgets for a lark in order to get functionality like this, I'd stick with your trusty 500.

If however, you need a new Garmin, then getting Strava Live Segments is a nice to have, not a need to have.

Serious cyclists don't train with Strava—they leave Strava to the school kids. In that case, a Garmin 500 is perfectly fine.

However, if you need a new Garmin, please use one of the affiliate links below or in the sidebar. These affiliate links pay us a little pocket change to help keep the lights on.