Strava Segments: How to Edit, Best Practices, and Troubleshooting

How do you edit a segment on Strava?

Editing a Strava segment involves accessing your created segment through the Strava website, navigating to the edit function, and precisely adjusting its start and end points to refine its boundaries and ensure accurate performance tracking across your activities.

Understanding Strava Segments

Strava segments are predefined sections of road or trail, created by users, that allow athletes to compare their performance over time and against others. These digital racetracks are fundamental to the Strava experience, providing a competitive and motivational layer to outdoor activities. They enable you to track personal records (PRs), compete for King/Queen of the Mountain (KOM/QOM) or Course Record (CR) titles, and monitor progress on specific routes.

Why is editing a segment important? While segments are powerful tools, their accuracy is paramount. An inaccurately defined segment can lead to:

• Incorrect performance data: Your PRs or KOM attempts might not truly reflect your effort if the segment starts or ends too early/late.
• Missed matches: Activities might fail to match a segment even when you clearly covered the route.
• Frustration: Inconsistent data undermines the value of using Strava for performance analysis. Editing allows you to refine these boundaries, ensuring the data you collect is meaningful and precise.

Key Considerations Before Editing

Before you begin the editing process, it's crucial to understand a few limitations and prerequisites:

• Segment Ownership: Only the original creator of a Strava segment has the authority to edit it. If a segment was created by another user, you cannot modify its boundaries or details. Your only option would be to create a new, more accurate segment yourself.
• Platform Restriction: Segment editing is exclusively performed on the Strava website (strava.com) via a web browser. This functionality is not available on the Strava mobile application.
• Impact of Edits: Any changes you make to a segment's boundaries will retroactively apply to all past activities that have matched that segment, and will affect all future matches. This ensures consistency in your data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Editing a Strava Segment

Follow these detailed steps to accurately edit a segment you have created on Strava:

Accessing Your Segments

1. Log In: Open your web browser and navigate to Strava.com. Log in to your account using your credentials.
2. Navigate to My Segments: Hover your mouse over your profile picture (usually in the top right corner of the screen). From the dropdown menu, select "My Segments."
3. Find Your Created Segments: On the "My Segments" page, click on the "Created" tab. This will display a list of all segments you have personally created.
4. Select the Segment: Locate the specific segment you wish to edit from the list and click on its name to open its dedicated page.

Initiating the Edit Process

1. Locate the Actions Menu: On the segment's individual page, look for the "Actions" dropdown menu. This is typically found near the top right of the page, often below the segment's name and details.
2. Select "Edit Segment": From the "Actions" dropdown menu, choose the "Edit Segment" option. This will open the segment editing interface.

Adjusting Segment Boundaries

1. Map Interface: You will be presented with a map showing the segment's path. The segment's start point will be marked with a green circle and the end point with a red circle.
2. Drag Markers for Precision: Click and drag the green (start) and red (end) markers along the underlying activity trace (the grey line representing the original activity used to create the segment).
   • Zoom In: Use the zoom controls on the map (or your mouse's scroll wheel) to zoom in closely. This is critical for achieving high precision in setting the exact start and end points.
   • Preview Changes: As you adjust the markers, the segment's displayed distance and elevation profile will update in real-time, allowing you to see the impact of your changes.
3. Refine the Path: Ensure the markers are placed precisely where the segment should legitimately begin and end, avoiding any extraneous turns, stops, or detours that might have been part of the original activity but are not part of the intended segment challenge.

Saving Your Changes

1. Confirm Edits: Once you are satisfied with the new start and end points, review the segment's details to ensure they accurately reflect your intended changes.
2. Save: Click the "Save" button. This button is usually located at the bottom or top right of the editing interface.
3. Confirmation: Strava will process your changes. You may receive a confirmation message. The segment will now be updated, and all past and future activities will be re-analyzed against the new boundaries.

What You Can and Cannot Edit

Understanding the scope of segment editing is important:

• You CAN Edit:
  • Start and End Points: Precisely adjust the beginning and end of the segment along the original activity's path.
  • Segment Name: Change the descriptive title of the segment.
  • Segment Type: Modify whether it's a "Run" or "Ride" segment, if applicable.
  • Visibility: Toggle between public (visible to all) and private (visible only to you).
• You CANNOT Edit:
  • The Underlying GPS Trace: You cannot alter the actual route or path of the segment itself, only where it begins and ends along the original activity's recording. If the underlying route is fundamentally flawed, you would need to create a new segment from a better activity.
  • Segments Created by Others: As mentioned, only the original creator can make edits.

Best Practices for Segment Creation and Editing

To maximize the utility and integrity of your Strava segments, consider these best practices:

• Prioritize Precision: Always zoom in fully when setting segment boundaries. A few meters can significantly impact times, especially on short or fast segments.
• Choose Natural Landmarks: Select clear, unambiguous start and end points that are easily identifiable, such as road intersections, distinct signs, bridges, or trail markers. This consistency helps ensure fair comparisons.
• Avoid Excessive Overlap: While some overlap is natural, try to create distinct segments. Too many highly similar segments in the same area can clutter the map and dilute the competitive experience.
• Descriptive Naming: Use clear and concise names that accurately describe the segment's location and characteristics (e.g., "Park Loop Sprint - Clockwise," "Hill Climb to Summit View").
• Regular Review: Periodically check your created segments. As routes change or as you gain more experience with Strava, you might identify opportunities for refinement.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• "Edit Segment" Option is Missing:
  • Check Ownership: Confirm you are the creator of the segment.
  • Check Platform: Ensure you are using the Strava website, not the mobile app.
  • Refresh Page: Sometimes a simple page refresh can resolve minor display issues.
• Difficulty with Precision:
  • Zoom In More: Maximize the map zoom.
  • Consider Re-creation: If the original activity's GPS trace is very messy or imprecise, it might be more effective to create an entirely new segment from a cleaner activity recording.
• Activities Not Matching Segment:
  • Verify Boundaries: Double-check that your segment's start and end points are accurate and that the segment path closely matches the route you're taking. Even minor deviations in GPS data can prevent a match.
  • GPS Quality: Poor GPS recording on an activity can sometimes prevent it from matching even a perfectly defined segment.

Conclusion: Optimizing Your Strava Experience

Editing Strava segments is a straightforward yet powerful way to enhance the accuracy and utility of your training data. By taking the time to precisely define your segments, you ensure that your personal records are truly reflective of your performance and that your competitive efforts are measured on a level playing field. This meticulous approach to data integrity not only improves your individual training analysis but also contributes to a more accurate and engaging experience for the entire Strava community.