Strava: This Chrome extension adds even more detail for data-hungry cyclists

Are you a data-hungry cyclist? Strava not providing enough data already? Then you might be interested in StravistiX, an extension for Google’s Chrome web browser that takes data analysis to another level.

The long list of so-called improvements to Strava are listed at the bottom of this article, but the extension essentially allows you to go into much more detail when analysing a ride. Installing it provides loads more tables and graphs for dissecting power, speed, heart rate.

One of the highlights of the extension aims to make average speed more of a useful measurement of how fast/hard/epic a ride actually was. Stopping at junctions and traffic lights can really impact your average speed, so the StravistiX introduces Quartile measurements. This breaks down a ride into smaller segments and reveals the fastest 75% of the ride, and uses this to produce a more meaningful average speed.

As an example, on one ride, my average speed was 27.8km/h. The 75% Quartile Speed, however, was 32km/h. The bigger number sounds much better. Other useful stats displayed includes average climbing speed and time spent climbing. It can also show you your speed and power distribution in minutes, which is quite useful.

The extension allows segments to be exported as a virtual partner course and it can display your position on a segment as a percentage. The extension also integrates the popular VeloViewer into each activity. On the mapping side, the Strava Global Heat Map is integrated onto the map.

Aiming to be more accurate than Strava’s suffer score is TRIMP (Training Impluse) Score which calculates time spent in a heart rate zone to provide the training load/TRIMP (Training Impluse) Score which calculates time spent in a heart rate zone to provide the training load/

Installing the extension adds a new drop down menu to the top navigation bar in Strava. One feature that will appeal to KOM hunters is the Achievement Map. This shows all your KOMs on a zoomable map.

The extension is free to download and is being updated on a regular basis with more features in the pipeline. Get it now at http://thomaschampagne.github.io/stravistix/

Activity improvements

• Zone distribution through charts and tables of
• Speed/Pace: Quartiles, standard deviation, ...
• Cadence: Quartiles, Pedaling/freewheel time, Crank Revolutions
• Heart rate reserve: Quartiles, Training Impulse
• Power: Quartiles, Variability Index, Punch Factor, Weighted Watts/Kg
• Grade: Quartiles, Grade Profile, Times and percentages during climbs, flats and downhills
• Each zones for each data type is customizable in Stravisitix Options.
• TRIMP (Training Impulse) score. The TRIMP is a number calculated according to the time spent in heart zone, to determine the training load. ( http://fellrnr.com/wiki/TRIMP )
• TRIMP / Hour
• Ratio of activity: time moving over total time of an activity.
• Thoughness Score: global involvement score into in the activity. It represents your motivation into activity. This score is based on the ratio of activity, elevation, average speed, and distance. (Coming soon for running)
• Weighted power cycling
• Weighted power / kg in cycling
• Cycling variability index. This index shows activity smoothness in terms of effort Cycling intensity index or Punch Factor.This index indicates you were below or beyond of your current power capacity (Functionnal Power Threshold)
• Distance display for each bike in activities
• Choosing the type of default Google map
• Integration VeloViewer in each of your activities
• "FlyBy" integration: People who make sports with you.
• OpenStreetMap flipper. Available osm maps: Cycle, Landscape, Street, Os, Outdoors. Garmin TCX export.
• Weather for cycling activities

Segments improvements

• Exporting cycling segment effort as Virtual Partner course for your Garmin device or other compatible GPS. File format: .crs, .tcx, .gpx
• % rank in segments
• Nearby segments around watching segment.
• Default order in segments: All, Man, Woman, People I am, My results

Other cool things

• Integration KOM/CR map
• Integration of Heat Map Global Strava
• Hidden challenges or/and roads created in the Dashboard