How to install Strava

ByMoises Campos
how-to-install-strava
Image by pasja1000 on Pixabay

Strava is somewhere in between being a social network and a fitness app. As well as connecting you with friends and fellow athletes, it also allows you to share your performance. But to do all of this, you first need to know all about how to install Strava.

Account settings

For install Strava On mobile, you need to download the free app from your device's official app shop (App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android devices). On the computer, it's even easier, just open your web browser and go to the Strava website.

After downloading the application on your phone or logging in from your computer, you can follow the necessary steps to set up your account just like any other online service. The procedure consists of the following:

  • The first thing is that you must choose to log in with your Facebook login, Google login or via email and a password.
  • You then need to accept the terms that appear before you start creating your Strava profile.
  • To do this, you must enter your first name, surname, date of birth and gender.
  • Once you have entered these details, a notification will be displayed asking if you wish to receive continuous information about the application and you must indicate whether you accept or not.
  • At this point, you will be presented with some rules that you should read in order to familiarise yourself with the application and then click on Continue.
  • Next, a message will be displayed asking if you want to try the paid version for free. If you do not want this, you must click on No, thank you.
  • From now on, you can start using Strava and the first thing that appears is the option to synchronise your contacts.
  • You will then be asked if you want to search for the friend who recommended you to use this tool.
  • At this point, a welcome message appears and you can start using Strava for your training.

It is recommended that you make sure you have a fully charged battery, sufficient memory space and your password in a safe place.

You can synchronise your contacts, but if for privacy reasons, you are concerned about allowing access to your account from external services, you have the option to search for other users from Strava by manual mode.

Personalisation of the profile

You can now access your settings from the top right corner of the application or by clicking on your profile on the website. In addition to adding your general personal details, it is recommended that you explore each tab on the left hand side.

From there it is possible to link to external accounts, such as other fitness applications (Garmin Connect, Fitbit and Wahoo) which connect to Strava in order to facilitate the synchronisation of travel data.

Privacy and security options

Among the variety of personalisation options you have when you buy a new product, you can install Strava, you need to carefully review the Data Permissions and Privacy Controls, which are subsections under Settings. Under Data Permissions, you will be able to choose whether to allow Strava to see personal health data that may be on your other devices.

Under Privacy Controls, you can configure the following:

  • Decide who can view your account and what they can see.
  • Create privacy zones, which are random dead zones where more confidential locations, such as your home or workplace, are hidden from your career map.
  • Decide not to include your running data in Strava's built-in heat maps, which have been the subject of controversy in the past.
  • Make a training log, where the platform keeps track in detail of all your activities, whether public or private.
  • Allow Strava to promote your activity to others, which is one of the app's strategies to increase social interaction on the platform.

Synchronise your devices and upload a journey

The connection to a device for install Strava must be carried out via the mobile application. To do so, the following procedure must be followed:

  • You must navigate to your settings.
  • Then go to the Link other services option.
  • Once there, select Connect a new device to Strava.
  • Now, you choose the manufacturer of your bike computer or GPS watch.
  • Finally you log in and the connection is ready.

Many of the device manufacturers have software that can work in conjunction with Strava on your phone. Garmin computers pair with the Garmin Connect app via Bluetooth, and in turn will sync to your account and upload new ride data automatically.

In case you don't have a tool to help you track, you have the option to add trip entries in manual mode via the plus sign in the toolbar. Alternatively, you can invest in a bike phone holder so that your smartphone works as a tracker using the Record function.