Strava Elevation Gain: Understanding, Correcting, and Optimizing Your Activity Data

How do I edit elevation gain on Strava?

To edit elevation gain on Strava, you primarily utilize the "Correct Elevation" feature, accessible via the Strava website, which allows the platform to re-process your activity's elevation data using its more accurate global basemap, overriding your device's original recording.

Understanding Strava's Elevation Data

Accurate elevation data is crucial for understanding the physiological demands of your training, assessing performance, and comparing efforts over time. Before we delve into how to adjust it, it's important to understand how Strava processes elevation.

• GPS vs. Barometric Altimeter:
  • GPS-based elevation: Most GPS devices estimate elevation based on satellite signals. However, GPS altitude data can be prone to significant inaccuracies due to atmospheric conditions, satellite signal quality, and the inherent limitations of vertical positioning (horizontal accuracy is generally much better than vertical).
  • Barometric Altimeter: High-end GPS watches and cycling computers often include a barometric altimeter. This sensor measures atmospheric pressure changes, which are then converted into elevation changes. Barometric altimeters are generally much more accurate for measuring changes in elevation (e.g., total ascent/descent) over the course of an activity, provided they are properly calibrated and not heavily affected by extreme weather shifts.
• Strava's Basemap: Strava maintains a comprehensive global basemap of terrain, which includes highly accurate elevation data. When you upload an activity, Strava automatically attempts to match your GPS trace to this basemap, especially if your device lacks a barometric altimeter or if the recorded elevation data appears inconsistent. This serves as a default correction mechanism.

The "Correct Elevation" Feature: Your Primary Tool

The "Correct Elevation" feature is Strava's built-in tool designed to enhance the accuracy of your activity's elevation data. It's not a manual input field where you can type a number, but rather a re-processing function.

• What it Does: This feature instructs Strava to disregard your device's original elevation data and instead calculate the total elevation gain and loss by tracing your activity's GPS path against its precise global elevation basemap. This often results in a more reliable and standardized elevation figure.
• When to Use It:
  • Inaccurate Device Readings: If your GPS device, particularly one without a barometric altimeter, reports unusually high, low, or erratic elevation gain for a known route.
  • Missing Elevation Data: If your activity was recorded by a device that did not capture elevation data at all, or if the data was corrupted during upload.
  • Consistency Across Activities/Devices: To standardize elevation data, especially when comparing performance across different devices or routes, ensuring a more consistent baseline.
• How to Access (Web Platform Recommended): The "Correct Elevation" feature is most reliably accessed and managed via the Strava website on a desktop or laptop, offering the most control and visual confirmation.
  1. Step 1: Navigate to Your Activity: Log into your Strava account on a web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari).
  2. Step 2: Open the Specific Activity: From your dashboard or profile, click on the activity you wish to modify.
  3. Step 3: Access Edit Options: On the left side of the activity page, locate the wrench icon (or the three-dot menu, depending on the interface version) and click it. This will reveal a dropdown menu of activity options.
  4. Step 4: Select "Correct Elevation": From the dropdown menu, choose "Correct Elevation."
  5. Step 5: Process and Review: Strava will then re-process the activity's elevation data. This process is usually quick, and the updated elevation gain will be displayed immediately.
• Reverting the Correction: If you find that the "Correct Elevation" feature did not improve the data, or if you prefer to revert to your device's original recording, you can simply click the "Correct Elevation" option again. It functions as a toggle, allowing you to switch between Strava's basemap data and your device's original data.

Limitations of Direct Manual Editing

It is critical for athletes and coaches to understand that Strava does not offer a function to manually type in a specific numerical value for elevation gain. The platform's design prioritizes data integrity and consistency across its vast user base.

• No Direct Numerical Input: You cannot directly input a custom elevation gain number into an activity on Strava. The system is designed to either use your device's data or its own basemap data.
• Focus on Algorithmic Correction: Strava's approach to elevation adjustment is centered on algorithmic correction using robust geographical data, rather than allowing arbitrary user modifications that could compromise the integrity of leaderboards, segments, and personal records.

Implications of Elevation Adjustments

Adjusting or correcting elevation data has several important implications for your training analysis and Strava experience.

• Training Metrics: Accurate elevation data is foundational for calculating metrics like Vertical Ascent Rate (VAM) for cycling, or for understanding the true physiological load of a run or ride. Incorrect elevation can lead to misinterpretations of effort, progress, and performance.
• Segments and Leaderboards: Strava segments often rely heavily on elevation data. Correcting elevation can impact your position on segment leaderboards, particularly for climbing segments. Strava's system aims to standardize data for fair competition.
• Personal Records (PRs): If you've set a PR on a climbing segment or for total elevation gain, correcting the elevation data can potentially alter these records, ensuring they reflect the most accurate topographical information available.

Best Practices for Accurate Elevation Data Capture

To minimize the need for post-activity elevation correction, implement these best practices:

• Utilize Barometric Altimeters: Whenever possible, use a GPS device equipped with a barometric altimeter. These sensors generally provide the most accurate elevation gain data for individual activities.
• Regular Device Calibration: If your device has a barometric altimeter, ensure it is regularly calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions. Some devices auto-calibrate via GPS or known elevation points.
• Maintain Clear GPS Signal: When recording an activity, ensure your device has a clear and consistent GPS signal. Running or cycling through dense urban areas, deep canyons, or heavy tree cover can degrade GPS accuracy, including elevation data.
• Post-Activity Review: Make it a habit to review your activity data shortly after uploading. If you notice significant discrepancies in elevation, that's your cue to use the "Correct Elevation" feature.

Conclusion: Optimizing Your Training Data

While Strava does not permit direct manual input of elevation gain, its "Correct Elevation" feature provides a powerful and accessible tool for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of your training data. By understanding the nuances of elevation data capture and utilizing Strava's built-in correction mechanisms, you can ensure your activity metrics are as precise as possible, leading to more informed training decisions and a truer reflection of your athletic endeavors. Always prioritize accurate data capture at the source (your device) to minimize the need for post-activity adjustments.