Tracking program decisions

There comes a time in every persons training where they come to the realization that they have to commit to a format that will work for their situation, and I have reached this point recently.

I have been researching multiple platforms and checking sites, prices and features of membership to these various tracking sites. Being slightly on the poor side price is a huge consideration for me as much as I hate to admit it but that is reality at this point in life.

So far as I have noted multiple times I have been using Strava since I got back on the bike earlier this year, and I love it. Really intuitive features, good data tracking and the segment feature really makes it a stand out for pushing yourself just a bit more than you would otherwise. I want to add more data to the equation so I can visualize where I am making and losing power, so this led me to finding a hardware solution on my end that is also affordable for me.

My research has led me to a connection protocol known as ANT+, for those unfamiliar with what it does and how it works here is a link to thisisant which will get as technical as you may need it to be, I just know it works very well and from everything I have read it functions more efficiently than Bluetooth does. Whether this is true is really a bit moot but the final and most important reason is because most heart rate monitors, cadence, speed and power monitors are being built using ANT+ technology at this point while they are still working all the bugs out of the next implementation of Bluetooth...which has been slow in coming. ANT+ technology is available now, is affordable and will interface with my phone with the purchase of a dongle (Galaxy S3 user here). If I upgraded my phone it would be built in and just that much easier.

So here is where it leads me to a change of tracking programs. Strava, who again I have been very happy with, has made it clear they have no plans to incorporate ANT+ into their Android app but instead are working on a BTLE inclusion according to their comments here in on their forums. So whether it is with an adapter or native if you own an Android it will not interface...however they do interface if you are using an iPhone and a Wahoo dongle conveniently available through their website and not native to the iPhone.

This I find very frustrating as it limits options to either purchasing an iPhone (not gonna happen) or spending the money on a Garmin cycle computer plus sensors and manually upload ride files, when the simple answer is to buy the sensors and a dongle for far less, spend the savings on a premium subscription and get on with your ride.

So I have decided that is just what I shall do, but I will be making one more change and that is to migrate back over to Endomondo who has support built in for the ANT+ sensor data. I will lose a lot of data doing this but it is better sooner than later and since my account is still active I can look back and laugh at my old records I set on my mountain bike. 

I am set at this point to make my purchases and upgrade my account by the end of the month. I will also be looking at options (if any exist) to transport my rides from Strava to Endomondo although I am pretty sure it is not possible.

I did look at one other option that impressed me overall called IPbike which will track all the data from the sensors and compile on the phone for you to view, can be uploaded to multiple sites or you can create a custom program or site to manage from and even upload to existing sites. I like it and have it on my phone to play around with but not going to take the extra steps to upload the files into a tracking site, maybe down the road I will reconsider.

I realize this may come off as a bit of a rant or sour apples on my part to put this out there like this, and it kind of is I guess but I feel my money is better spent in a place that develops for users of a variety of technology and not just single platform users. If things change I may be back, but at that point I may be too invested in something else.

Comments are welcome especially if I missed something obvious in my research. I know that I only mentioned the currently most prominent two sites for tracking and that is mainly because they have the most to offer from what I have seen, but if I missed an awesome site to manage data from with a reasonable fee please mention it and I will take a look.

Until next time keep it rubber side down.