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TECH NEWS

Strava app stops supporting Bluetooth and ANT+ device pairing, and people aren't happy

You can no longer pair Bluetooth sensors with the Strava smartphone app

The Strava smartphone app will stop supporting Bluetooth and ANT+ device pairing from 28th October, as announced on an email sent out to its many users this week.

The reason Strava has dropped support of third-party devices like heart rate monitors, speed/cadence sensors and heart rate monitors is apparently due to Bluetooth pairing with some sensors directly to the app caused it to crash for millions of users.

- 6 reasons to use Strava

strava bluetooth

It does not effect you if you use a Garmin or Wahoo computer to record your ride and then upload to Strava. It’s all about people pairing devices to the Strava smartphone app using Bluetooth.

What does that mean if you want to sync Bluetooth sensors to your smartphone? Incredibly, rather than fix the problem, Strava recommends using another activity recording app and then uploading to Strava. That does not make it easier for users and clearly risks alienating loyal Strava customers.

Strava is still arguably the biggest online activity tracking website for cyclists, but this news has not been well received, with many complaining on social media.

Does this news impact you? We'd love to hear from you in the comments section below. 

And don't worry if you're miffed at Strava's decision, there are plenty of other good fitness tracking apps you can choose from. Here's a load for starters.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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28 comments

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srchar | 4 years ago
2 likes

Won't someone think of the people suffering with blue teeth?

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LastBoyScout | 4 years ago
0 likes

I've never paired any Bluetooth devices with Strava, but then if I go for a run, I use a Garmin watch with their own HRM and a tiny hand-held MP3 player that I can easily change tracks on - my phone is too much of a lump to run with.

For me, I'd be happy if they could keep the app constant - current iteration doesn't seem to allow me to select the bike when I store a ride and I have to go into the website and edit the activity  2

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purpaboo | 4 years ago
0 likes

Use https://www.endomondo.com/ app, and let https://tapiriik.com/ autosync your rides to Strava.

Tapiirik can push/pull from Garmin/RunKeeper/RidewithGPFS and loads of others too ...

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Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
4 likes

Good trolling effort but now slightly tired angle. To move your trolling forward in 2020 i think your work needs a new tack.

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Mybike replied to Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
2 likes
Rick_Rude wrote:

Good trolling effort but now slightly tired angle. To move your trolling forward in 2020 i think your work needs a new tack.

That could cost lots of money people already invited in ANT. Or Bluetooth device. And may not be ready to upgrade already. Plus I use my phone on my commuter bike not my bike computer

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CygnusX1 | 4 years ago
0 likes

MapMyRide / MapMyRun or Wahoo Fitness apps support both their own brand (MMR is now owned by UnderArmor) and 3rd party devices.

I've personally preferred Mapmyride over Strava any way, but use Strava as well as mates do.

IIRC the Wahoo app can upload to Strava and MMR as well.

Not that this affects me much as I have a couple of Garmin bike computers so only use phone apps to log when ive forgotten the Garmin or its battery has died.

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srchar | 4 years ago
6 likes

I have never heard anyone use the term "lame" to describe a disabled person, either respectfully or pejoratively. An animal, yes. A person, no.

How far do you want to go? Hamstrung, hobbled, crippled - all words which would be considered ableist according to your rulebook, but all used almost exclusively to describe things other than people.

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Dogless replied to srchar | 4 years ago
0 likes
srchar wrote:

I have never heard anyone use the term "lame" to describe a disabled person, either respectfully or pejoratively. An animal, yes. A person, no.

How far do you want to go? Hamstrung, hobbled, crippled - all words which would be considered ableist according to your rulebook, but all used almost exclusively to describe things other than people.

I wouldn't use the term crippled at all, in the same way I wouldn't describe something as 'crazy', or 'gay'. Just because it's not commonly understood to be offensive (yet), doesn't mean it isn't. A few years ago Chris Moyles got into bother for using 'gay' as a pejorative and some felt he had a legitimate argument; I can't see that happening now (thankfully).

A quick Google points you to things written by people who absolutely do find the term 'lame' offensive, including this one by a wheelchair user.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/05/13/lame-stand-u...

I'll defer to them on this matter.

Ultimately, it's a tiny change to your language (how often do you honestly say lame anyway), which doesn't inconvenience you in the slightest but which might just save someone distress.

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Rick_Rude replied to Dogless | 4 years ago
6 likes
dglsdms wrote:
srchar wrote:

I have never heard anyone use the term "lame" to describe a disabled person, either respectfully or pejoratively. An animal, yes. A person, no.

How far do you want to go? Hamstrung, hobbled, crippled - all words which would be considered ableist according to your rulebook, but all used almost exclusively to describe things other than people.

I wouldn't use the term crippled at all, in the same way I wouldn't describe something as 'crazy', or 'gay'. Just because it's not commonly understood to be offensive (yet), doesn't mean it isn't. A few years ago Chris Moyles got into bother for using 'gay' as a pejorative and some felt he had a legitimate argument; I can't see that happening now (thankfully).

A quick Google points you to things written by people who absolutely do find the term 'lame' offensive, including this one by a wheelchair user.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/05/13/lame-stand-u...

I'll defer to them on this matter.

Ultimately, it's a tiny change to your language (how often do you honestly say lame anyway), which doesn't inconvenience you in the slightest but which might just save someone distress.

When the apocalypse comes, people like you will die first, lost in a see of pronouns whilst the now lawless Audi drivers crush you under their wheels whilst shouting triggering words you can't report to the police.

All hail the new puritans and professionally offended.

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Dogless replied to Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
0 likes
Quote:

When the apocalypse comes, people like you will die first, lost in a see of pronouns whilst the now lawless Audi drivers crush you under their wheels whilst shouting triggering words you can't report to the police.

All hail the new puritans and professionally offended.

This just speaks volumes about how little prejudice some people face in their lives.

It's very easy to complain about people being 'professionally offended' when the words they're asking you to stop saying have never had any impact on your life. I've pointed you to an article in which someone explains how damaging certain words are to them, in a real sense, and your response is to claim that people are being oversensitive.

Let's just go back to the days of the black and white minstrels, Golliwogs and queer-bashing. People just need a thicker skin, right?

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Dogless | 4 years ago
0 likes

This is ableist language

 

"Lame decision by @Strava(link is external) today to drop support of Bluetooth devices."

 

I'm assuming you wouldn't publish tweets with homophobic, sexist or racist language.

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Organon replied to Dogless | 4 years ago
1 like
dglsdms wrote:

This is ableist language

 

"Lame decision by @Strava(link is external) today to drop support of Bluetooth devices."

 

I'm assuming you wouldn't publish tweets with homophobic, sexist or racist language.

It's fashion forward language. 

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arckuk | 4 years ago
0 likes

For the first time in about 10 years, I actually went for a run the weekend before last. I looked to pair my HRM with Strava (I think I'd tried out pairing ANT sensors from my bike a long time ago, which worked fine), and found I couldn't. What an embarrasment for Strava - I've been a fee paying user for 5 or 6 years, as I felt that although the extra benefits weren't hugely significant, they were a company I thought was providing a great service.

That was 5 years ago, but what has been introduced since then that has improved things? The app's functionality is very poor (I can't see my power curve, the analysis tab is a bit of a joke, they show the distance travelled this month including virtual rides, but not the week, all of which are opposite to the web site), and now has been further downgraded with the loss of sensor connectivity. The fitness monitoring is crap, and is far worse than provided by the Elevate (former stravistix) browser plugin. Veloviewer does hugely more interesting and novel things with the data than Strava seems able to be arsed with. Features such as gear monitoring and logging are abandoned when they show a bit of promise. The focus is now all on kudos, ads for commercial events, companies and sponsored challenges. I have never wanted to gift anyone a Strava subscription, but the button is there at the top right of every Strava page.

They have lost their way, and are likely to lose my paid subscription next year. I still use it daily, but it has atrophied. About the only thing they have going for them above a dozen similar products is a huge user base and segments. There is a gap in the market for something better than what Strava has become!

 

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Jetmans Dad | 4 years ago
1 like

Strikes me that their explanation could simply be code for ... we no longer want to dedicate the resources required to maintain this particular functionality at a time when other apps offer it, freeing up our developers to concentrate on other things. 

Whether that is a good or bad call on their part, time will tell. 

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khaostik | 4 years ago
1 like

I would say this decision makes sense so that it filters out the users that want a free ride and reduce the strava operation costs.

Who spends money on watches/computers is more likely to support Strava directly. The people behind the app actualy need to make a living... 

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Mark B replied to khaostik | 4 years ago
1 like
khaostik wrote:

I would say this decision makes sense so that it filters out the users that want a free ride and reduce the strava operation costs.

Who spends money on watches/computers is more likely to support Strava directly. The people behind the app actualy need to make a living... 

The main thing I am paying Strava for is the in-ride display. If I buy a bike computer, I won't need that any more, and so will stop paying Strava.

 

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shufflingb | 4 years ago
1 like

 At this point in history, there's one heck of a collection of random iPhone and Android, Bluetooth and Ant devices floating around.  Each according to revision level, software patch and manufacturer/vendor whim, with their own 'special' hardware and software capabilities and bugs. It's the type of dev matrix that'd chew through vast amounts of devs and money, and is still never going to work flawlessly.

For Strava to support everything it claimed to support and to do it to the satisfaction of its users is nigh on impossible and very, very expensive. They will be acutely aware of this and the trends (particularly with regards to increasing usage of devices like the Apple watch).

As far as I can tell, Strava is trying to stay in business while doing something that approximates to the "right thing" (tm) while not having a significant cash cow that they can milk to do it. I can see that for some people it's going to be annoying until wearables etc fill the gap. But personally, I'd rather they pruned out Bluetooth and Ant support if it means that Strava can keep going and avoid turning into yet another ad-slinger, privacy invading, personal data hole.

 

 

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srchar | 4 years ago
1 like

Strava have made some rather strange product decisions recently. I suspect they think they are too big to fail, but there's a slim chance they are in for a surprise.

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Boombang | 4 years ago
0 likes

Running and MTB are two clear use cases for me - where recording via a phone straight to Strava with HR data is ideal.

If running I have the phone for music and for MTB in case I have (yet another) big crash.  In both cases capturing HR data is beneficial for tracking pace, stress and progression, plus helps ID when I might be getting ill.

I can use a bike computer for both but it isn't ideal (especially running) plus have a phone on me anyhow.  I don't need super accuracy on GPS for either, running pace is slow and smothing tends to muddle end data a little and with MTB I am usually in the woods with intermittent GPS.

 

Is there another app that can record the data including HRM (using a phone with ANT+ preferably) and send it to Strava?

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philhubbard replied to Boombang | 4 years ago
0 likes
Boombang wrote:

Running and MTB are two clear use cases for me - where recording via a phone straight to Strava with HR data is ideal.

If running I have the phone for music and for MTB in case I have (yet another) big crash.  In both cases capturing HR data is beneficial for tracking pace, stress and progression, plus helps ID when I might be getting ill.

I can use a bike computer for both but it isn't ideal (especially runing) plus will have a phone on me anyhow.  I don't need super accuracy on GPS for either, running pace is slow and smothing tends to muddle end data a little and on MTB I am in the woods with intermittent GPS.

 

Is there another app that can record the data including HRM (using a phone with ANT+ preferably) and send it to Strava?

 

I think Runkeeper and Map my Ride do (or they used too) I moved to a Suunto watch in the end and all my tracking problems were sorted

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Philh68 replied to Boombang | 4 years ago
0 likes
Boombang wrote:

Running and MTB are two clear use cases for me - where recording via a phone straight to Strava with HR data is ideal.

Is there another app that can record the data including HRM (using a phone with ANT+ preferably) and send it to Strava?

Wahoo fitness app can, it’s one Strava suggest for recording indoor rides.

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FrankH replied to Philh68 | 4 years ago
0 likes
Philh68 wrote:
Boombang wrote:

Running and MTB are two clear use cases for me - where recording via a phone straight to Strava with HR data is ideal.

Is there another app that can record the data including HRM (using a phone with ANT+ preferably) and send it to Strava?

Wahoo fitness app can, it’s one Strava suggest for recording indoor rides.

Another vote for Wahoo Fitness although I use it because I have a Wahoo Rflkt and Wahoo's app is pretty much the only one that it works properly with.

Their support for discontinued products is poor. They broke the Rflkt functionality with one of their updates so I am stuck on an old  version. Version 1.12.15 from April last year is the newest version that works properly with Rflkt. (That's Android, I don't know whether or not it's the same for iPhones.)

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STATO | 4 years ago
2 likes

While road.cc is obviously cycling oriented the (obvious) comments about buying a cycle computer misses the point entirely.  STRAVA is a huge running app because people run with phones on them and often use it for music, and a lot of runners like to use a heart rate monitor.  Dropping that compatibility is a massive fail for STRAVA.  

For cycling anything like this that pushes users off STRAVA is a big loss for them, not just the personal user level, but their business in selling data for transport planning.

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Jackson | 4 years ago
0 likes

I was using the ANT+ with HR in the app to avoid (a) having to get a running watch and (b) having to have a wahoo mount and bring my wahoo round on my rusty commuter heap.

Just binning it seems like a strange workaround. Surely the developers could have added a Bluetooth/ANT+ mode switched off by default. Then if you want to use it you can risk it, and it doesn't crash the app for people who don't need it.

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number9dream | 4 years ago
0 likes

this just seems bizarre. Personally I've never had any issues with the app connecting regularly to HR and power via BLE and ANT+ so to switch it off for everyone seems disproportionate. I've just been checking to see whether maintaining summit membership is worth it and i dont think it is, so i'll be cancelling unless something changes. The website will remain very useful both for the social aspects and the connections with 3rd party apps like Stravini (for all the analysis capabilities) and veloviewer (likewise) so being able to use it would still be important. 

Would be useful to know what the alternatives are that can track an activity, including sensor (at least HR) data, and then still upload to strava?

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hawkinspeter replied to number9dream | 4 years ago
0 likes
number9dream wrote:

this just seems bizarre. Personally I've never had any issues with the app connecting regularly to HR and power via BLE and ANT+ so to switch it off for everyone seems disproportionate. I've just been checking to see whether maintaining summit membership is worth it and i dont think it is, so i'll be cancelling unless something changes. The website will remain very useful both for the social aspects and the connections with 3rd party apps like Stravini (for all the analysis capabilities) and veloviewer (likewise) so being able to use it would still be important. 

Would be useful to know what the alternatives are that can track an activity, including sensor (at least HR) data, and then still upload to strava?

It'll cost you money, but a cycle computer (e.g. Elemnt Bolt) is the answer.

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number9dream replied to hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
0 likes
hawkinspeter]<p>[quote=number9dream wrote:

t'll cost you money, but a cycle computer (e.g. Elemnt Bolt) is the answer.

Yeah I use a Garmin on the bike but I'm more thinking of runs where I have to carry a phone for tunes but dont want to carry a Garmin too. Also on those occasions where the Garmin dies it's helpful to switch on the phone strava app and splice the files together if you can also have HR and PM data. It's always worked perfectly.

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Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
1 like

All those people should stop crying and just use a decent bike computer and upload the ride if they're that serious about their training.

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