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Show HN: I am building a free version of Strava

mtbx.bike

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Re: Show HN: I am building a free version of Strava

#11

Post by imoverclocked »

dewey wrote: post #4

It looks like a cool project but I'd not describe it as a "free Strava" as the most common features of Strava are free and the value of it is the community. Getting motivated by seeing your friends finish activities seems to be the biggest selling point (apart from supporting a lot of different sports, not specifically mountain biking) of Strava.

I agree.

Also, Strava has spent expertise around topics like privacy and safety and made opinionated design decisions based on those. Have you considered your take on these topics? eg: Can someone make a random segment somewhere and find all the people who bike there?

Re: Show HN: I am building a free version of Strava

#14

Post by TrueGeek »

exabrial wrote: post #5

nice!!! I honestly think the next thing to do would build a decent app to replace a bike GPS... there is nothing special about a head unit other than the ANT+ radio (which is superior to BLE in a lot of ways). The only one that comes close is shimano's e-tube ride, but they abandoned the app before adding critical features like GPX import. Everything else I can find is bloatware or is just really awkward to use.

I disagree. The bike computer is more rugged and I’m much more comfortable mounting it on handlebars. It’s a better size then even my iPhone Mini. As the other commented said, the battery life is much better then a phone, and it’s trivial to hook up to a dyno hub. (I’ve run a Wahoo head unit over multi day rides many times)

Plus, it keeps my phone free for photography.

Re: Show HN: I am building a free version of Strava

#15

Post by iSloth »

exabrial wrote: post #5

nice!!! I honestly think the next thing to do would build a decent app to replace a bike GPS... there is nothing special about a head unit other than the ANT+ radio (which is superior to BLE in a lot of ways). The only one that comes close is shimano's e-tube ride, but they abandoned the app before adding critical features like GPX import. Everything else I can find is bloatware or is just really awkward to use.

Have you tried wahoo’s GPS range, I love my bolt

Re: Show HN: I am building a free version of Strava

#16

Post by cgomez »

How will you make a business out of this or support its ongoing development?

Strava has a fairly robust free product and the nominal monthly cost for their premium service seems worth it to those more serious and want the extras. I guess I'm not seeing what you're addressing?

Re: Show HN: I am building a free version of Strava

#17

Post by nightski »

c0nsumer wrote: post #7
exabrial wrote: post #5

nice!!! I honestly think the next thing to do would build a decent app to replace a bike GPS... there is nothing special about a head unit other than the ANT+ radio (which is superior to BLE in a lot of ways). The only one that comes close is shimano's e-tube ride, but they abandoned the app before adding critical features like GPX import. Everything else I can find is bloatware or is just really awkward to use.

The other very special things are battery life and durability. It's going to be very hard to get a phone to both work screen-on for 12+ hours (or even 5-6) running the GPS on high res mode, readable in direct bright sunlight, and robust enough to be fine during most bike (and mountain bike) crashes. They also generally offer either a touchscreen that works properly with gloves on and when wet, or has physical buttons…

The battery life is a big item for me. I use a Wahoo Element bolt and love it. It does everything I need, lasts all day, and the best part is my phone is not being drained in case I need it.

Re: Show HN: I am building a free version of Strava

#18

Post by michaelje »

What are the key differentiators to get me to use this over Strava where people already are? A quick look and some MTB specific metrics like hangtime?

A killer feature for Strava (or anyone in the social activity game) would be allowing me to setup social rides with my followers/friends. For example, I plan on doing this loop at 8am Saturday - and anyone who follows can hit ‘+1’ and let me know I’ll join. Where I live, everyone does similar road rides, but won’t coordinate times which would be a great social opportunity.

There’s no messaging or ability to setup casual rides - and if community is a key pillar for them, it’s a huge way to move further up the activity stack to planning activities (which they already have some basic functionality for mapping and planning routes for yourself).

As another poster mentioned, there are privacy considerations but make it opt in and if implemented well would be a killer feature to lock in community as a pillar (and moat). I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. FB is trying to do this with community on WhatsApp. Someone please eat their lunch. Anyone.

Re: Show HN: I am building a free version of Strava

#20

Post by outericky »

michaelje wrote: post #18

What are the key differentiators to get me to use this over Strava where people already are? A quick look and some MTB specific metrics like hangtime? A killer feature for Strava (or anyone in the social activity game) would be allowing me to setup social rides with my followers/friends. For example, I plan on doing this loop at 8am Saturday - and anyone who follows can hit ‘+1’ and let me know I’ll join. Where I liv…

I started a https://www.mygeargarage.com

Initially it was for tracking all sorts of gear you use in your activities (because strava only tracks bike or shoes). I then added workouts, and challenges (but then strava added custom challenges...).

My workout component allows you to share the url with friends and they can RSVP, you can add the route and stuff. But I don't have a ton of social features, mainly because I built this for myself and somehow organically it has grown to a few hundred users. I'm not really looking to grow it... but it does everything I need and others seem to find it useful...

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