Garmin/Strava question

[Arlingtonrider]

I can’t use my office computer for Garmin Edge downloads to Strava and am wondering if anyone else has found a way to download morning rides from their Garmin using a smartphone. I’ve had to wait until I get home. I just got a new phone and am wondering if it could be useful that way. How are you all doing it?

[off2ride]

Dload the Garmin Communicator on your work PC if it allows you. Switch OS’s for compatibility with GC. Once it’s dloaded, then you can upload rides from your device to the PC via USB wire. The newer Garmin’s use Bluetooth which is nicer.

[Arlingtonrider]

That’s the problem. I can’t download anything to the work computer. I just found out that I don’t have Bluetooth either.

It’s not a big deal, but I was just curious if I could get my rides downloaded sooner. Thanks anyway.

[Arlingtonrider]

I just found a USB to micro USB adapter on Amazon.com that might allow me to do it — the new phone has a micro USB port. Still learning about what I have here and how it works.

[jabberwocky]

I don’t believe that Garmins devices can be connected to anything but a computer through USB. They don’t make android or ios drivers for their devices. The newer ones (510 and 810) can connect through bluetooth, but even there I don’t think they can upload to anything aside from Garmins connect site (i.e. no mobile upload to strava).

[guga31bb]

You don’t need to download anything — connect garmin, open strava.com, Upload Activity, From File, Choose Files. Navigate to Garmin Edge Garmin Activites –> select everythere there.

[vvill]

Yeah, what jabberwocky said – I’m pretty sure you need a computer to pull from the Garmin. If you can’t use your work computer then your own laptop and a wireless connection could do it, but that’s a bit much just for a .FIT file.

If you can’t wait, you could use the Strava app on your phone to record the ride, and then when you upload your actual Garmin ride data, delete the phone-app-recorded ride. But then you’d lose all the kudos/comments, etc.

[Arlingtonrider]

That’s exactly how I do it from home. I’ll check with our IT people.

Thanks too for the earlier post above about no android or ios drivers. That makes sense.

Again – not a big deal. Even if I can’t do it because of rules regarding our office devices, you’ve helped me understand all this a little better.

[consularrider]

Darn gumint computer rules.

[jabberwocky]

Actually, my info may be outdated; a quick perusal online says that there may be ways to do it, but it doesn’t look like any are officially supported. I saw people talking about using jailbroken ios devices and certain apps on android and getting it to work. I’d start with a search for your specific model of Edge and then your mobile operating system and see what turns up.

I went through a similar process a in 2012 when I went MTBing in Colorado. I only took my ipad and wanted to be able to upload from my Edge 800 while there. I searched but was unable to find anything that worked and ended up just uploading everything when I got back.

[americancyclo]

might want to check this out: http://www.sportablet.com/mobile-garmin-uploader.html

I know that some samsung devices support USB drives, and there is other info on that page that says some gamins may draw too much power, or take up to 30 seconds to be recognized.

let us know if you pursue this route! I’d be more than happy to test with my Edge 800 and Moto X if anyone has that cable lying around.

also, DC Rainmaker: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/06/garmin-ipad-android-surface.html

[TwoWheelsDC]

You could just use the Strava app for you phone for the ride in, assuming you have a smartphone.

[KS1G]

We have similar rules – connecting personal-owned electronics to the company network or company PCs is a big no-no. If you have an Edge that uses USB to transfer data, have a phone or tablet that can send files to the internet, and if the device can mount the Garmin as a USB storage device (you may need what is called an OTG cable, software on the phone or tablet, and may need root access on the device), you can upload the file to strava, or email it to your self (assuming strava is accessible from the work system). Other than solving the technical challenge, I have more valuable/valued things to do with my time and I wait till I get home.

If you are that much in need of immediate data transfers, something like the 510 or 810 that have bluetooth connectivity to phones may be a solution. I’d rather spend the money on other bike bling.

[Arlingtonrider]

This question was really much more a matter of curiosity than for any real need. I’m embarrassed to admit that I just got my first smartphone and am so amazed by all that it can do, that I wondered if it could easily download from a Garmin to Strava too. I thought that other people might be routinely using their phones to do that.

The posts above were educational, and I appreciate all the answers and thinking that went into them even though I don’t plan to pursue this. It was also good to be reminded that I could record the ride using the Strava app itself if I ever wanted to. Thanks, everyone.

[Author]

Posts