Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[spacemnspiff]

This is because I have never worked out how to include the device name in the file sent to Strava in a way that they would recognise it. I have tried many things over the years and Strava never seems to show it.

Coincidentally I told this to another user a few weeks ago and he has just emailed me to say that he has contacted Strava to see what format is required. I hope he has more luck with them than I have!

I contacted Strava and they gave me a canned response.

Thanks for writing in. We suggest reaching out to the company directly for any questions, Work OutDoors. To provide some context, we have a publicly available API that hundreds of external developers use to integrate with Strava data. These integrations are built and maintained by those 3rd party developers which means that any troubleshooting questions are better directed their way.

Sorry about that and good luck!

I was looking at the Strava documentation on their site. https://developers.strava.com/docs/reference/

This is what I found at the end of the following section under (does this not work for WO)

Get Activity (getActivityById)​

Returns the given activity that is owned by the authenticated athlete. Requires activity:read for Everyone and Followers activities. Requires activity:read_all for Only Me activities.
GET
/activities/{id}

} ],
"hide_from_home" : false,
"device_name" : "Garmin Edge 1030",
"embed_token" : "18e4615989b47dd4ff3dc711b0aa4502e4b311a9",
"segment_leaderboard_opt_out" : false,
"leaderboard_opt_out" : false
}

 

[Significant1]

I contacted Strava and they gave me a canned response.


I was looking at the Strava documentation on their site. https://developers.strava.com/docs/reference/

This is what I found at the end of the following section under (does this not work for WO)

Get Activity (getActivityById)​

Returns the given activity that is owned by the authenticated athlete. Requires activity:read for Everyone and Followers activities. Requires activity:read_all for Only Me activities.
GET
/activities/{id}

} ],
"hide_from_home" : false,
"device_name" : "Garmin Edge 1030",
"embed_token" : "18e4615989b47dd4ff3dc711b0aa4502e4b311a9",
"segment_leaderboard_opt_out" : false,
"leaderboard_opt_out" : false
}

I think it must be coded into TCX, FIT or GPX files sendt to Strava. See the Device Mapping section here:

Strava Developers

developers.strava.com

Strava maintains a database of devices for display on activities uploaded from them. If you manufacture a device and would like it mapped on Strava, the uploaded files simply need to follow one of the following requirements:

1. TCX: A unique device name in <Creator>.<Name>UNIQUE_DEVICE_NAME</Name>.</Creator>
2. FIT: A registered manufacturer & unique product, the manufacturer ID must be assigned to your company by ant+
3. GPX: A unique device name in <gpx version="1.1" creator="UNIQUE_DEVICE_NAME">

Request a device mapping by sending an email to api at strava dot com with the following:

• Subject “[Request] Device Mapping”
• A compliant sample file for each type of file you support
• Exact name of your company
• Exact name of device
• URI to device product page
• Official contact & support info
• Existence of a barometric altimeter in the device

 

[cfc]

I think it must be coded into TCX, FIT or GPX files sendt to Strava. See the Device Mapping section here:

Strava Developers

developers.strava.com

Strava maintains a database of devices for display on activities uploaded from them. If you manufacture a device and would like it mapped on Strava, the uploaded files simply need to follow one of the following requirements:

1. TCX: A unique device name in <Creator>.<Name>UNIQUE_DEVICE_NAME</Name>.</Creator>
2. FIT: A registered manufacturer & unique product, the manufacturer ID must be assigned to your company by ant+
3. GPX: A unique device name in <gpx version="1.1" creator="UNIQUE_DEVICE_NAME">

Request a device mapping by sending an email to api at strava dot com with the following:

• Subject “[Request] Device Mapping”
• A compliant sample file for each type of file you support
• Exact name of your company
• Exact name of device
• URI to device product page
• Official contact & support info
• Existence of a barometric altimeter in the device

Thanks for both those responses. I have looked into it again and run into the same problems as before. Basically I need to know the exact name of the device that Strava will recognise. I have tried various combinations such as "Apple Watch", "Apple Watch Series 4", "Apple Watch with barometer" etc, but Strava never recognises them.

I have also tried changing the format of the <Creator>.<Name> tags. WorkOutDoors currently just uses Creator so I assume they have changed things, but adding Name didn't help either. I also tried with and without the '.', because that looks odd.

I emailed that Strava API address (again) but just got an auto reply to look at their Google Groups user forums. So I searched them and saw a few people asking the same question without any answer. One guy a few years ago was wondering if the Apple Watch is actually in their list of devices.

So I think I will give up again. Sorry. I usually revisit it once a year and every time I look into it then I hit a brick wall. If I could find out the device name that Strava accepts then it would be very easy to change the code, but Strava don't make that easy.

 

[cfc]

I accidentally delete the workout inside the Apple fitness app…

Now I’m trying to resend the workout from Apple Watch to the iPhone but it doesn’t come back in Apple Fitness..

Is there a way to make it visible again?

Sorry - just seen this. The app uses Apple's workout system to run a workout, and that automatically saves the workout to Apple's Health system. The app also sends the workout data to the iPhone in a separate file. So if you delete the workout from the Health system then resending the file will not help.

However there is a way to reload the workout from the WorkOutDoors app. To do this export a GPX file for the workout from WorkOutDoors and the use the excellent HealthFit app to load that into Apple's Health system.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/healthfit/id1202650514?mt=8

HealthFit also offers automatic uploading to lots of workout systems and provides all sorts of nice analytics and features (gear tracking, fitness assessments, training loads, heat maps, photo maps etc).

 

[Significant1]

Thanks for both those responses. I have looked into it again and run into the same problems as before. Basically I need to know the exact name of the device that Strava will recognise. I have tried various combinations such as "Apple Watch", "Apple Watch Series 4", "Apple Watch with barometer" etc, but Strava never recognises them.

I have also tried changing the format of the <Creator>.<Name> tags. WorkOutDoors currently just uses Creator so I assume they have changed things, but adding Name didn't help either. I also tried with and without the '.', because that looks odd.

I emailed that Strava API address (again) but just got an auto reply to look at their Google Groups user forums. So I searched them and saw a few people asking the same question without any answer. One guy a few years ago was wondering if the Apple Watch is actually in their list of devices.

So I think I will give up again. Sorry. I usually revisit it once a year and every time I look into it then I hit a brick wall. If I could find out the device name that Strava accepts then it would be very easy to change the code, but Strava don't make that easy.

As I read it, you should Request getting WorkOutDoors registered as a Device. I can't see it matters what generation Apple Watch is used, since they all have barometric altimeter, but I am not a Strava user or know the technical details of WorkOutDoors.

 

[cfc]

As I read it, you should Request getting WorkOutDoors registered as a Device. I can't see it matters what generation Apple Watch is used, since they all have barometric altimeter, but I am not a Strava user or know the technical details of WorkOutDoors.

I guess I could but everyone who has asked about it so far has expected to see the device name rather than the app name.

 

[TheMixam]

Thanks for both those responses. I have looked into it again and run into the same problems as before. Basically I need to know the exact name of the device that Strava will recognise. I have tried various combinations such as "Apple Watch", "Apple Watch Series 4", "Apple Watch with barometer" etc, but Strava never recognises them.

I have also tried changing the format of the <Creator>.<Name> tags. WorkOutDoors currently just uses Creator so I assume they have changed things, but adding Name didn't help either. I also tried with and without the '.', because that looks odd.

I emailed that Strava API address (again) but just got an auto reply to look at their Google Groups user forums. So I searched them and saw a few people asking the same question without any answer. One guy a few years ago was wondering if the Apple Watch is actually in their list of devices.

So I think I will give up again. Sorry. I usually revisit it once a year and every time I look into it then I hit a brick wall. If I could find out the device name that Strava accepts then it would be very easy to change the code, but Strava don't make that easy.

Maybe the model names: A2291, A2292, ...?

 

[neil_cm17]

VO2max in Apple Health is really strange. Still can‘t see a pattern when it updates or not.
Suggest to use runalyze. What they calculate is transparent and reflects reality quite good in my experience.

V02max calculation in apple health makes no sense to me, both in the how often it updates and the value itself. Mine has gradually gone up to 60 which is way too high. I've also got a Coros pace 2 and that records a V02 max of 51.

 

[maurycyorlik]

Thanks for both those responses. I have looked into it again and run into the same problems as before. Basically I need to know the exact name of the device that Strava will recognise. I have tried various combinations such as "Apple Watch", "Apple Watch Series 4", "Apple Watch with barometer" etc, but Strava never recognises them.

Apple Watch is on Strava list. Just log a workout with Strava AW app. The name should be in the code or workout file, right?

 

[cfc]

Apple Watch is on Strava list. Just log a workout with Strava AW app. The name should be in the code or workout file, right?

I couldn't see how to export a TCX or GPX file from their app. It just sends a file to their systems without making it visible to the user. I think I tried from the website once but it didn't help.

If I could see an example TCX file generated by Strava then that would be great, because it would probably be a 1 minute code change. It may even be that the recent ability for the Strava app to sync from Apple's Health system may make this possible now. However I am extremely close to releasing a new beta and don't really want to spend too much time investigating this again and getting nowhere again. Sorry about that. I will look into it again when things are less busy.

 

[maurycyorlik]

I couldn't see how to export a TCX or GPX file from their app. It just sends a file to their systems without making it visible to the user. I think I tried from the website once but it didn't help.

If I could see an example TCX file generated by Strava then that would be great, because it would probably be a 1 minute code change. It may even be that the recent ability for the Strava app to sync from Apple's Health system may make this possible now. However I am extremely close to releasing a new beta and don't really want to spend too much time investigating this again and getting nowhere again. Sorry about that. I will look into it again when things are less busy.

Thes is the metadata from AW:
{"metadata":{"http_user_agent":"Strava Apple Watch 230.0.0 (29912)|iPhone|iPhone12,5|iOS|15.1|pl-PL|Watch6,4|watchOS|8.1","athlete_id":213xxxxx,”external_id”:”xxxxx”,”data_type":"json","application_id":1,"activity_type":"ride","start_date":"2021-12-01T07:20:47+00:00","timer_time":41,"elapsed_time":41,"min_accuracy":150,"distance_filter":3,"time_series_field":"time","workout_type":0,"commute":false,"prefer_perceived_exertion":null,"initial_battery_life":0.0,"final_battery_life":0.0,"trainer":true,"autopause_enabled":false,"prevent_autolock":true,"live_activity_id":0,"visibility":"only_me","override_distance":0},"data":[{"values":[[1638343288.50392,0]],"fields":["time","pause_type"]}]}

 

[cfc]

Thes is the metadata from AW:
{"metadata":{"http_user_agent":"Strava Apple Watch 230.0.0 (29912)|iPhone|iPhone12,5|iOS|15.1|pl-PL|Watch6,4|watchOS|8.1","athlete_id":213xxxxx,”external_id”:”xxxxx”,”data_type":"json","application_id":1,"activity_type":"ride","start_date":"2021-12-01T07:20:47+00:00","timer_time":41,"elapsed_time":41,"min_accuracy":150,"distance_filter":3,"time_series_field":"time","workout_type":0,"commute":false,"prefer_perceived_exertion":null,"initial_battery_life":0.0,"final_battery_life":0.0,"trainer":true,"autopause_enabled":false,"prevent_autolock":true,"live_activity_id":0,"visibility":"only_me","override_distance":0},"data":[{"values":[[1638343288.50392,0]],"fields":["time","pause_type"]}]}

Thanks but WorkOutDoors sends a TCX file to Strava, so it is the required contents of that which I would need to see.

 

[southpaw2five]

I have one question/feature request I think would be cool. Is there a way to display the upcoming elevation profile when you load a route on the watch? I tried to search the forum for this but there are a lot of comments to sift through. Not sure if it is possible the way the app is coded but thought I would ask. I believe there is a color code on the trail marker which is cool but didn't know if there could be a graph that could be displayed with the profile.

 

[cfc]

I have one question/feature request I think would be cool. Is there a way to display the upcoming elevation profile when you load a route on the watch? I tried to search the forum for this but there are a lot of comments to sift through. Not sure if it is possible the way the app is coded but thought I would ask. I believe there is a color code on the trail marker which is cool but didn't know if there could be a graph that could be displayed with the profile.

This is on my list of features to add, and is one of several features that will be possible when I improve the route functionality. At the moment routes are just visual, with warnings when you deviate from them.

In the future the app will have the concept of "following" the route, but at the moment it does not know where you are on the route and therefore cannot show that on a graph (or do many other things). It knows the nearest point on the route to your current location, which is fine for most routes, but not for routes which double back on themselves.

When I add the ability to follow then I will be able to include the elevation profile as well as metrics such as "remaining time/distance", "estimated time of arrival" etc. I will also be able to include turn-by-turn directions, although generating such directions would require paying for a server. I cannot afford this with the app's single payment business model, so my current plan is to only give directions if they are present in the GPX file loaded into the app.

At the moment these route improvements are joint top of my list for the version after next (along with support for the always on display).

 

[Bersercci]

Hi @cfc , as you know Apple Watch has occasional hard times to figure out your heart rate in the beginning of a run. I would say it can even pick up the running cadence as your HR until it figures out the true HR from its sensors. I get in about 50% of my runs a peak of 170+ bpm in the start until it settles to the 130+ within the first hundreds of meters.

This pretty much ok, but messes a bit with your long term statistics, VO2Max stuff etc.

Have you ever thought of having the option of predetermining the HR before the workout starts? Have maybe a longer countdown of 30 sec with HR detection enabled to do this, or have the app detect the HR while in the menus?

I would love the 30 sec countdown anyways to get your gear (sleeves, gloves, xc-ski poles) in order after fiddling with the watch.

Again, love the app and I'm an avid long time user of it. Absolutely the best app for Apple Watch!

 

[southpaw2five]

This is on my list of features to add, and is one of several features that will be possible when I improve the route functionality. At the moment routes are just visual, with warnings when you deviate from them.

In the future the app will have the concept of "following" the route, but at the moment it does not know where you are on the route and therefore cannot show that on a graph (or do many other things). It knows the nearest point on the route to your current location, which is fine for most routes, but not for routes which double back on themselves.

When I add the ability to follow then I will be able to include the elevation profile as well as metrics such as "remaining time/distance", "estimated time of arrival" etc. I will also be able to include turn-by-turn directions, although generating such directions would require paying for a server. I cannot afford this with the app's single payment business model, so my current plan is to only give directions if they are present in the GPX file loaded into the app.

At the moment these route improvements are joint top of my list for the version after next (along with support for the always on display).

Thank you for the descriptive reply. That sounds great. Looking forward to the next two updates as I also am planning to purchase a stryd as well.

 

[cfc]

Hi @cfc , as you know Apple Watch has occasional hard times to figure out your heart rate in the beginning of a run. I would say it can even pick up the running cadence as your HR until it figures out the true HR from its sensors. I get in about 50% of my runs a peak of 170+ bpm in the start until it settles to the 130+ within the first hundreds of meters.

This pretty much ok, but messes a bit with your long term statistics, VO2Max stuff etc.

Have you ever thought of having the option of predetermining the HR before the workout starts? Have maybe a longer countdown of 30 sec with HR detection enabled to do this, or have the app detect the HR while in the menus?

I would love the 30 sec countdown anyways to get your gear (sleeves, gloves, xc-ski poles) in order after fiddling with the watch.

Again, love the app and I'm an avid long time user of it. Absolutely the best app for Apple Watch!

I would love to get an HR lock before starting a workout but Apple do not allow it. A few years ago they said apps could apply for the ability to do it, but they never replied to my many requests. I eventually spoke to an Apple engineer who said that ability was not intended for workout apps, which is a shame.

One option is to start a dummy workout until you get a lock and then cancel that one and start the real workout. It’s not ideal but works for some people.

 

[sam3k]

One option is to start a dummy workout until you get a lock and then cancel that one and start the real workout. It’s not ideal but works for some people.

I guess there is no way to have a special 'dummy' workout that just displays your heart rate and GPS accuracy and that doesn't save your workout when you exit out of it?

 

[cfc]

I guess there is no way to have a special 'dummy' workout that just displays your heart rate and GPS accuracy and that doesn't save your workout when you exit out of it?

Unfortunately it has to be a workout for the watch to get a proper lock on the heart rate. In normal circumstances the watch checks your heart rate every few minutes, but during a workout then it is every few seconds. The app cannot control this: it just asks watchOS for heart rates. If the app asked for readings outside a workout then they would happen every few minutes and would not require the sensor to get a lock (unless the app had those privileges that Apple wouldn't give WorkOutDoors)

A few years ago I tried starting a dummy workout and not saving it, but this confused several other apps that were monitoring for workouts. For some reason they reacted to workouts that were not even saved. The problem may happen now even now if you manually create a dummy workout but at least you have control. If I made WorkOutDoors always start a dummy workout whenever someone views the main menu then I expect that Apple would reject the app. It is a hacky solution that I do not want to resort to.

 

[maurycyorlik]

I would love to get an HR lock before starting a workout but Apple do not allow it. A few years ago they said apps could apply for the ability to do it, but they never replied to my many requests.

Open an activity on “big start” screen, open HR app, wait for it to measure your HR, double press the crown to instantly get to WOD, tap start. For me that’s a 1-3 sec HR lock every time.

 

[cfc]

Open an activity on “big start” screen, open HR app, wait for it to measure your HR, double press the crown to instantly get to WOD, tap start. For me that’s a 1-3 sec HR lock every time.

Someone else mentioned something similar. My guess is that the Heart app uses a stronger green light than that used during a workout. Probably to save power when reading frequently for potentially many hours.

Another effect of this is that sometimes the HR sensor loses a lock during a workout but when the user tries the Heart app then that generates a reading and that reading also appears in WOD. Occasionally it can start the heart readings again but often it is just a one-off. My guess is that it is easier to use this method to get a lock at the start of a workout when your heart rate is much lower.

This actually reassures me that the app hasn't got some bug where it randomly stops displaying the readings that it receives, and that such problems are definitely sensor-related. It has no idea if the user is using the Heart app but will still show the readings that app generates.

 

[sam3k]

Open an activity on “big start” screen, open HR app, wait for it to measure your HR, double press the crown to instantly get to WOD, tap start. For me that’s a 1-3 sec HR lock every time.

Just tried something similar this morning. I left the heart app open while I walked the minute or so to the start of my run, then switched to WOD and started my activity. Seemed to work well, but it's only a single data point.

 

[cfc]

Just tried something similar this morning. I left the heart app open while I walked the minute or so to the start of my run, then switched to WOD and started my activity. Seemed to work well, but it's only a single data point.

That is the problem most people get when the sensor loses its lock during a workout. It sounds like it can help to get a lock at the start of a workout for some people, but unfortunately not for you.

My guess is that the stronger light gets a reading and for some people that helps to get a lock that continues when the light is not so bright. However other people such as yourself may need the brighter light during a workout.

However this is all guesswork.

 

[sam3k]

Sorry! That was a poor choice of words. I did get a full HR track right from the beginning of the workout to the end, many data points infact…

Instead of saying “it’s only a single data point”, what I should have said is, “it worked well today, but who knows if it will work properly next time”. The ”data point” in question was the whole workout, and not an individual HR measurement.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[cfc]

Sorry! That was a poor choice of words. I did get a full HR track right from the beginning of the workout to the end, many data points infact…

Instead of saying “it’s only a single data point”, what I should have said is, “it worked well today, but who knows if it will work properly next time”. The ”data point” in question was the whole workout, and not an individual HR measurement.

Hope that makes sense.

Unfortunately you are right that it can vary from one instance to another. This is why I recommend that anyone having problems with the watch heart sensor should use an external sensor instead. I rarely have to recommend it in Summer, but it is one of the most common complaints during the Winter. Wrist-based optical heart rate sensors are unreliable for some people when it gets colder.