Strava’s New Route-Building Features Are Simply Amazing
Finally back on Strava after encountering a pesky bug last week, I spent the morning testing out a new feature for subscribers : a comprehensive mobile route builder. When it comes to creating routes, I’ve always preferred the simplicity of the free site onthegomap.com . Now, thanks to the convenience of this mobile route builder, Strava has won me over once again with its versatility .
The defining feature of Strava’s route builder is its ( sometimes controversial ) integration of community-sourced data. Using its famous heatmap feature, Strava automatically suggests routes based on the real-life routes of others in your chosen sport. That means your running route should follow popular running trails, while your cycling route should follow bike-friendly roads and paths that the community has vetted. Road bike routes prioritize paved paths, trail runs prioritize existing hiking trails, and so on. Community insights take the guesswork out of planning a route in unfamiliar areas. Here’s how to build the perfect route with a Strava subscription.
How to Use Strava’s Route Builder (and Why You Should)
With your Strava subscription ($11.99/month or $79.99/year), you’ll see two main ways to create routes in the app.
Point and Connect Method
The traditional approach allows users to click on specific locations on the map, and Strava automatically connects these points using community data. This method is especially useful when you want to visit specific landmarks or viewpoints along your route. You can place points far apart to see interesting routes suggested by the community, or place them close together for more precise route management.
The flexibility of editing extends to editing, too: waypoints can be moved, deleted, or added even after the original route has been completed. Users can tap on any existing waypoint to move it or delete it entirely, and Strava will automatically recalculate the connecting segments.
I experimented with a route I know inside and out: the Central Park Loop. In the screenshots above, I hovered over specific points along the route to get detailed information like elevation and surface type. Plus, the distance calculated matched my experience from running this route hundreds of times in the past.
Route drawing function
What really impresses me is Strava’s drawing feature, which lets you literally draw your desired route with your finger on the screen. This intuitive approach feels natural and immediate – just tap the pencil icon and draw where you want to go.
The magic happens when you lift your finger. Strava’s algorithm automatically links your sketch to the nearest suitable roads or trails, creating a clear and convenient route from your drawing. For cyclists, this means that the drawn line turns into a full-fledged route on the road, and for runners, it turns into sidewalks and running paths.
Here’s what it looks like in action: on the left is a screenshot of my drawing, on the right is the resulting route from Strava.
I love the idea of using this feature when I’m in a new place and have a general idea of where I’m going, but want the freedom to explore naturally. You can continue to add to the route you’ve drawn by tapping the pencil icon again and extending the path, building your adventure step by step.
Save your route for later
Once you’ve completed your route, be sure to save it under your name. I recommend downloading it for offline use, as I often run in areas with spotty cell coverage. The privacy settings allow you to decide whether to share your route with the community or keep it private. Even after saving, you can go back and continue to tweak it by moving waypoints or making changes based on new discoveries or changed settings.
More features for Strava subscribers
The new route builder is now available, and Strava will also be introducing more features next month.
Power Skills for Cyclists : This new tool (made possible by Strava’s recent acquisition of The Breakaway ) gives power meter users detailed information about their performance. You’ll see your personal bests for 12 different cycling intervals, identify your strengths and areas for improvement, and track your progress over time. Soon, you’ll also be able to compare your performance over the last 8 weeks to your all-time best to better understand how effective your training is.
Training zones for everyone : Cyclists and runners will now get a clear breakdown of the time they spend in different intensity zones (like the popular Zone 2) over weeks, months, or three-month periods. This takes the guesswork out of balancing intense training with recovery.
Fighting cheaters: Strava is working hard to keep its rankings honest. I previously covered how Strava uses AI to fight cheaters, removing over 4 million cheating activities from its rankings. Now comes the update we’ve all been waiting for: e-bike detection. Now, instead of e-bike workouts being mistakenly shown in the cycling and running rankings, they’ll only show up in the e-bike-specific rankings, where they belong.
Again, all of these updates are only available with a paid Strava subscription .