Interval Training - Upload to Strava

[cgray2017]

Hi, is there a way to sync interval training to strava? I have set my GPS on as I do it for sprint training.

[NellyG]

No I dont think there is. As far as I am aware only run is synced to Strava automatically

[Rich_Laue]

@cgray2017 and @NellyG bike rides also sync 

It might be possible to manually transfer the data following @LanuzaFitbit's instructions in this post. 

[NellyG]

@Rich_Laue Thanks. Didnt realise bike did too!

[DavideFitbit]

Hello @cgray2017, it's good to see you around in the forums. 

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the interval training with Strava, I actually haven't seen this activity being transferred to Strava, but I do know that runs and rides tracked with Strava will contribute to your all-day Fitbit stats.

The following types of activities are the ones that would not sync to Strava:

• Non-GPS activities 
• Previous activities that weren’t tracked by Strava.
• Duplicate activities—that is, if you already recorded an activity with Strava, a Fitbit activity that occurs at the same time won't sync.

However, I do recommend that you try the steps mentioned by @Rich_Laue previously to transfer data. You can find more information here as well. 

I hope this helps. 

[pupeno]

It would be great if you implemented syncing of interval timer to Strava.

[evillama]

Is this still not automatic, nor even possible?

Now seeing an error if I even try to download a TCX file to try to upload it to Strava:

[Rich_Laue]

@evillama if your reffering to intrrvals, your right in that this is not possible. 

[evillama]

Thanks. 

Can someone at Fitbit confirm if this is in the backlog? 

I'm trying to convince friends to buy these devices but they don't just run, they lift weights, do yoga, etc. and want a device that will upload these activities to Strava (like Garmin does). 

[Rich_Laue]

I don't know what Garmin uploads to Strava, are whether Garmin or Fitbit owns the API. Does Garmin upload to Strava, or does Strava download from Garmin. 

When it comes to Fitbit, Fitbit uploads to Strava, based on an agreement between Fitbit and Strava. 

[evillama]

Right...so regardless of how Garmin does it...Fitbit needs to update their agreement with Strava to improve the service.

[Rich_Laue]

Have you added your vote? 

Allow all workouts recorded with Fitbit to Strava ...

[evillama]

Thanks, just did. That thread is 3 years old...you'd think they would have addressed it by now.

[Rich_Laue]

This feature is between Strava and Fitbit, also Fitbit never promised that every suggestion would be implemented or possible. 

[t.parker]

@evillama  @Rich_Laue Fitbit uses exactly the same API to sync with Strava as competitors (and anyone who wants to sync any 3rdparty app with Strava, it's really not rocket science). For some reason, Fitbit decided not to support non-GPS activities. I really don't know why because Polar, Garmin or Suunto upload any kind of activities to Strava. My guess is that Fitbit cannot do that because there is nothing to upload (no TCX file produced for non-GPS activities) while competitors produce TCX or FIT files regardless, whether GPS is on or off. It's just a limitation created artificially by Fitbit and I don't think they are looking into changing that.

[evillama]

Also still doesn't explain why Interval runs with GPS enabled can't be uploaded? Is that a Fitbit issue or Strava's?

[t.parker]

It's an old Fitbit issue. The interval run doesn't seem to produce a TCX file( the bug that the message keeps saying that Fitbit is looking into it since 2018- doesn't seem to be fixed, despite looking into it for 2 nearly years). There is nothing to publish to Strava.

[Rich_Laue]

Hi @t.parker vocab you I post a link to the thread? 

I checked the known bugs and don't see intervals mentioned. 

Both Fitbit and Strava say intervals will not be transferred. 

[t.parker]

@Rich_Laue can you download TCX files from the interval workout when GPS is on? I remember seeing the banner about the issue when trying to download it. Maybe it has been fixed, I am not able to check that. Still, it is more problem of Fitbit than Strava. Strava cannot recognize intervals from splits - that's true. Yet it may show workouts with such:

This is from my interval run synced with different watch into Strava. 0.2km are rests (walk), 3 intervals based on distance, distance and time. Strava can't show details but can take data and show anything. It is Fitbit not sending anything to Strava. But If Fitbit says it cannot be done, then the only option is using different device of which manufacturer doesn't see such problem.

[t.parker]

@Rich_Laue the issue is still there:

Just tried to export TCX, see the same error as on a day of doing this workout (almost a year ago!). I don't know what list of known issues you were looking at but maybe this issue should be known, too 😉 After all, Fitbit is "looking into it".

With Strava, you can upload activities manually as long as you can provide TCX or FIT files. Even if Fitbit/Strava sync is not implemented properly, the user could upload the workout manually if only not this bug.

@evillama can you check if you see the same pink banner when you try to download TCX file? If TCX isn't generated, there will be no possibility of syncing with Strava.