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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

#71

Post by ck2 »

I've always wondered how "segment matching" algorithm works

Is it just brute force checking every gps lat/long point in an activity to see if any path numbers are "close" to any segment lat/long start point? And then if so, to additionally match an end-point, and then if so see how many points inbetween match?

Seems like a heck of a db query, math ranges? Are the gps point normalized somehow to accelerate the process or just stored as original floating point and let the db engine do the heavy work?

adding: oooh it's right in the patent, figure 9+

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

#72

Post by ipaddr »

cgomez wrote: post #16

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?

I worked for a company who did this many years ago.

Create new formula for performance. Hire respected thought leaders. Convert users to your way of measuring new performance.

Use the fact that the big guys don't use this measurement as your ad copy. If they add support for it that will generate a certain status for you which can make your brand.

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

#73

Post by site-packages1 »

Strava Premium user for almost a decade now. Thought I was in the know, but absolutely shocked at how many competitors their appear to be based on comments! I've already signed up for a couple. Though I will happily continue to pay for Strava as long as they don't get purchased by Google or fizzle out or something for the reasons others have outlined and would be redundant if I repeated.

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

#75

Post by outericky »

tomglynch wrote: post #66
outericky wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 bu…

I've come across your site before - I think you might need to rebrand though, your name is more likely to imply a car workshop tracker than cycling workout planning

Ah, cool. yeah, maybe :D Thanks.

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

#76

Post by JeremyNT »

thallada wrote: post #52
karamanolev wrote: post #21

I'm an avid cyclist and I pay for Strava premium. I really like a lot of the things Strava offers and also have a lot of dislikes. I've thought about making a competing product and also offering it for free or at least much cheaper. It sounds easy at first, but there is so much Strava does. When you go in depth, no wonder Strava is an actual company and not 3 geeks and their spare time. For serious athletes, Strava o…

Garmin has an integration with Strava to automatically sync activities: https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/articles/216918057-Garmi... This is how I record all of my activities to Strava. There's no need for an external sync service.

If you have a Garmin, you actually have a lot of the features Strava offers through Garmin's free service. I don't think you even need a Garmin device to use it if you upload your data manually.

Maybe serious athletes and socialites rely on some specific Strava only functionality, but I find the Garmin service has pretty much completely replaced Strava in my own usage.

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

#77

Post by pmontra »

I hoped to see a self hosted backend to send my GPX files to at the end of a ride. Does anybody know if there is anything like that? I don't need an app. I'm recording with OSMAnd+ and I don't need anything more than that. I'd be OK with uploading the files manually.

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

#78

Post by switchbak »

jerlam wrote: post #44

The ability to create segments and compare them across rides is probably the easy part. The hard parts that Strava has already solved are: 1. Segment creation - over the decade+ that Strava has existed, people have eventually created enough segments to cover most riding areas. Most people won't be interested enough to create segments - Garmin has had segments for years and I don't see a single segment created on any…

For MTB, trail forks is far and away the leading source of quality trail (segment?) Data.

They do some ride recording, but maybe getting bought by Outside and integrating with trail forks would be an exit move here.

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

#79

Post by samename »

eckza wrote: post #56
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…

> key differentiators From browsing comments, nobody on HN rides downhill. Which makes sense. A solid year of no concussions from some forced time off (hey titanium rods, what's up) and I'm a better programmer than I've ever been. But anyway. Strava won't track downhill runs as separate from the lift ride. Everyone agrees that this sucks. Nobody has made a move at a solution (as far as I know). If MTBX has solved thi…

How are you tracking? Bike computer and smart watches should be able to differentiate these well enough. You can also remove datapoints after uploading rides to strava.

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

#80

Post by DrPhish »

jasoneisen wrote: post #58

I have long wanted to see a competitor in this space, however I always assumed Strava’s patent [0] on segments was the reason why one could never exist. Have you thought about how you would defend yourself in a patent infringement suit? [0] Defining and matching segments https://patents.google.com/patent/US9116922B2/en

I didn't realize there was a patent underpinning Strava. I guess that brings some context to why they've managed to rule this space for so long. Sure seems like a weak-sauce patent tho.

I have had an idea kicking around for a long time to democratize segments via openstreetmap data, as it seems like a silly category of data for a single corporation to have locked up. They really rustled my jimmies when they reduced the views of leaderboards created with user submitted data.

I guess everyone has until 2031 to figure this out unless they want to have some kind of silly patent fight

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