Strava different data from same cycling commute every day

[gvf]

So I have Fitbit integrated with Strava, I do the exact same bicycle commute every working day, but then in Fitbit I get different number of steps for each ride: 6089,7475, 11043, 6979,10143.

Is that an expected behaviour?

Moderator edit: Clarified subject

[LanuzaFitbit]

Welcome to the Forums @gvf. 

Thanks for bringing this up and sharing those details.

It is important that mention that not all information from Strava activities are synced over to Fitbit and so some of the details might change from Strava to Fitbit.

In addition to that, are you using your Fitbit at the same time that Strava was tracking your account? 

Let me know if you have any further questions.

[gvf]

Hi Lanuza,

thanks for getting back to me.

I’m not using Ftibit at the same time, just strava.

I understand details might change from strava to fitbit, but that should happen for every activity, so data in fitbit should be similar and consistent?

[LanuzaFitbit]

Hello @gvf.

Thanks for reaching back to me and for answering those questions. I apologize for the delay in my response.

While data should indeed be relatively similar if they are similar activities, it depends on how the information syncs from Strava to Fitbit. Given that Strava logs activities to Fitbit as if they had been logged manually, then some of the information is calculated by Fitbit based on the details provided by Strava. If the total distance or duration of an activity is different from another then that difference can lead to discrepancies such as the ones you are describing.

Are the activities relatively similar to each other or are there significant differences in duration or distance?

Look forward to your reply.

[gvf]

Hi Lanuza,

They are very much the same, these is the data from some rides:

6th March

Strava:

  evening: 13.48km, 48.59min

  morning: 13.41, 44.2min

Fitbit: 7709 steps, 5.89km

5th March

Strava:

  evening: 13.38km, 44:42min

  morning: 13.45km, 44.45min

Fitbit: 5248 steps, 4.01km

4th March

Strava:

  evening: 13.53, 45.5min

  morning: 13.38km, 41.59min

Fitbit: 8260 steps, 6.32km

As you can see, Strava data is almost identical from ride to ride, whereas Fitbit is all over the place.

[KateFitbit]

@gvf I took a peek at your account, the steps are not coming from Strava's bike ride. You are accumulating steps from Mobile Track, which is using your phone sensors to track steps and reports that to the Fitbit app. For more information on how it works,see this article. 

[gvf]

Hi Kate,

You have probably checked the latest data, not the dates I posted.

I was adviced by fitbit support to revoke access to Fitbit from Strava and re-enable it, well, since then, Strava and Fitbit are not syncing, that's why you just see steps. If you check the data from the dates I posted you'll see it comes from Strava.

Before I wasn't getting consistent data between Strava and Fitbit, now I'm not getting any data at all.

[KateFitbit]

@gvf I definitely checked the dates you posted, if you look through step graph on those days you can see steps are accumulating throughout the day. Those steps were tracked by Mobile Track. If you look at your activity log, you will see that under your rides N/A for steps on your bike ride. It does look like you are connected to Strava. Has Strava tracked any rides since 3/6?

If you want to accumulate steps again, ensure that Mobile Track is enabled. 

[gvf]

Ok, so then the link between Fitbit and Strava has never worked, thanks for pointing that out.

Going to check with Strava then.

Thanks