Strava phone app modifies Apple watch data

unless you install some strava app on the watch itself, then the watch just sync with the health app on the iphone, and has no idea which other apps sync with apple health , and the watch has no idea where the iphone health data originates from.

you can stop the strava app from sync'ing with apple health and it will stop happening

You will want to ask Stravia support to explain the discrepancies, as it is the data displays within the Stravia app you are questioning.

Yes exactly!

I had no map uploaded when I started using watch for workouts because there were three different types of settings for everything to work together, so I was wondering if there is anything I might have missed.

However, I reached out to Strava and their ai assistant said they usually update the distance/elevation data because they use different metrics. Which is dumb imo. But apparently I got all the settings correct and they do it deliberately 🤦🏼‍♀️

evava14 wrote:

Hi! I noticed Strava phone app modifies my Apple watch workout data upon upload. I use the fitness app on the watch but when I upload workout, the distance and elevation are often different compared to what the actual apple workout (which is correct). Is there a way to work this out?

The only way is to contact Strava to find out what it changes, how it changes it and why.

I do outdoors cycling workouts and I have a Garmin bike computer that measures the same things that the Apple Watch measures (except the Garmin does not measure heart rate). The Apple Watch and Garmin agree closely for workout time, distance traveled, average speed, splits times, elevation gained and lost and real time elevation information. The Garmin and Apple Watch do differ for what is reported for calories consumed. I don't care about the calories but explored that a little to understand any differences and found that calorie differences could be explained by (a) weight of bike is factored into the Garmin calculated exertion but not for the Apple Watch (Apple Watch only knows about my body weight); (b) calories are higher when basal metabolism is added in to the exercise-only calories exerted; (c) Apple Watch factors in the measured heart rate into calorie expenditure, while my Garmin bike computer does not know what my heart rate was so can't factor it in. All of (a), (b), (c) can make a difference for calories. Calories are not something I care about or am keeping track of, but I do see differences there due to those three factors. I weigh about 165 pounds and my bike is about 21 pounds so not including the mass of the bike does change the calories calculated, especially on hilly and mountainous rides, which I do a lot of.

The Garmin data are uploaded to a Garmin site, not unlike the way Strava does it. Except my Garmin data all match my Apple Watch data (except for calories, where the differences are understood and come from known things).

Apparently, from what I have read about how Strava works, Strava (which I do not use, personally), reinterprets the GPS data from your device (Apple Watch or iPhone I presume) and resorts the workout into workout (moving) time and paused time (not moving) based on what it sees in the GPS data. So if Strava sees the GPS location not changing, it may categorize that as a "pause" in the workout and thus shorten the moving (workout) time since it believes you were stationary then. Or, if you were actually stationary (workout was paused) but the GPS shows some motion, which might not be real since it could be just GPS "noise" due to GPS satellites rising/setting or blockage from trees, buildings, etc., then Strava might recategorize some of your stationary (workout paused) time as workout (moving) time. Either way, the average speed and distance can be changed by what Strava does. This would of course also change calories. And it might also change the elevation gain -- note that elevation is the noisiest of all the position components measured by GPS and this can result in elevation apparently changing even when you are stationary, or vice versa. These "recalculations" done by Strava can result in discrepancies between the Apple Watch and iPhone data and what Strava places into its data base.

Personally, I don't like the idea of Strava changing the original data in this way. I also don't use Strava and would not trust it because of the way it "adjusts" the original data.

hismusicnme wrote:

The same thing is happening to me, so I’m here for the comments to see if there’s a resolution

What did Stravia support say about this?

Hi! Im not sure I understand, also not sure if you understood my issue. The Strava app has an option of importing the apple workout and its data. It doesn’t happen automatically, it waits for me to upload the ones I choose. The pic attached is the apple workout. Next one is import in strava - strava itself has no data apart from what gets imported, so why is it different… that being said, this might be more of Strava than Apple watch issue, but I saw similar topics here as well.



So your concern is that the Apple data is believed correct, and the Stravia app import or data display of that Apple data is not?

The same thing is happening to me, so I’m here for the comments to see if there’s a resolution

I can’t speak for OP but the same exact thing is happening to me and I am expecting that when I have Strava import my Apple Health workout data, it should copy it not modify it.

Hi, this is very helpful, thank you!

I use Strava as more of a "social network" for friends with similar hobbies, but this feature/flaw is definitely something I will be rating negatively.