Activity Types and importing?

1

Trying to figure out the best way to do this…

I have a Garmin Forerunner 235.

When I start an activity on the 235, I have but 4 options:

  1. Run
  2. Run Indoor
  3. Bike
  4. Other

I’ve been using “Run”, even on walks, as that’s the only type that CS imports. It’s my understanding that CS also imports “Walk” and “Hike”, and I’d like to use “Walk” when I do… But I can’t (it’s not a FR235 option).

What I’d like to do is use the “Other” option on the FR235, when I walk, and change “Other” to “Walk”, either in the Garmin Connect app, xor the Strava app, but I don’t know how to get the change made before the data gets picked by CS.

Or… Will CS still pick up the activity even after I change the activity? I just thought of that, after typing all the stuff below. My initial thought was CS would see the activity number, know it passed on it (i.e. !run || !walk || !hike), and not pick it up, even if it is changed. But maybe it will? I will try a short experiment, but with the way things have been processing lately, fear the wait for results would be too long.

I also don’t know if I change the activity in just the Garmin app, if it will re-propagate to Strava? And then to CS? Part 2 of the experiment.

I have seen the: Pause/Stop sync toggle idea, and think that would work, but at the moment, it’s just an idea. I’ll post a link to this post there as well.

So, any ideas on how I can go for a “walk”, have the Garmin/Strava activity type accurate, and get the data picked up by CityStrides?

I have also thought about changing the activity after it’s imported & processed by CS, but by then my Strava connections have seen my very slow “run”, and the actual type is now moot. As an FYI, I do get descriptive on my activities, often referencing CityStride’s and/or the URL, especially when I’m gathering nodes.

Thank you for reading, and any ideas. My Garmin is relatively new to me, and CityStrides has made it even more fun than I imagined it would be. I knew the idea of repetitively running the same places, over and over, would get old. Now I have reason not to!

Cheers, Eric

2

I am going to reply to myself, as after reading most of this thread, Reserved upload slots for Subscribers?, think I understand something else…

“Strava sends me alerts (webhooks) every time someone saves an activity in Strava”

So does a Strava activity edit generate a new alert? Maybe only certain types of edits? Yes to activity type (“Sport” pulldown) no to “Shoes”?

If this is the case, I wouldn’t have to do anything. Start an “Other”, and change to “Walk” (in the app xor web). Will try as an experiment (when Strava backlog subsides).

3

I’m going to reply to myself, again, as apparently there are apps in the IQ Store that will do this.

First one I tried, Any Activity, was not intuitive. After deleting, then reading more, I re-loaded and figured out how to use it (FYI Holding UP is menu in the app. This lets you change the activity to, well, anything!). Might keep it, as it will let me record a “kayaking” activity! Now to see if I can find “tandem bicycle.”

So now I’m trying Simple Walk, by jim_m_58. Jim also has a couple hiking related apps too, but I’m going to start with the walking app. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Eric

PS. Thank you to “Just_one_more_street” for this suggestion!

4

The Simple Walk app is working very well. Perfect for logging a walk, and not having to edit the activity type…

But I normally still have to edit the activity (in Strava) to set my shoes. This is true for runs and walks. After doing this, I do have an identical entry in the queue. I thought I read there’s a way to delete it, but I can’t seem to find it!

If we can get off of Strava, this might work well, as I don’t really track my gear (bikes & shoes) at Garmin, only Strava. So once the activity is in Garmin, I don’t really touch it. So no extra Strava notification for the edit.