Elevation gain doesn’t come from the same source everywhere. The planner calculates it from a terrain map, the ride screen from the altitude measured by your phone, and the activity page recalculates it on our servers once the ride is saved. Strava and Garmin have their own methods. Differences between these numbers are therefore normal.
Why the numbers differ #
- The planner’s elevation gain is an estimate: the terrain map gives the altitude of the ground, not of the road. In a tunnel or on a viaduct, the planner may count elevation that doesn’t exist.
- The activity page’s elevation gain, recalculated from all the recorded points, may differ slightly from the one you saw while riding. This is the one that counts for your stats.
- Two devices on the same ride rarely give the same elevation gain to the meter. Compare your rides with each other on the same device instead.
Improving accuracy (PRO) #
Two settings are in Other › User Preferences, under Ride:
- Altitude correction replaces the measured altitude with the terrain altitude at the end of the ride. This is the option to turn on with an iPhone, and with an Android phone that has no barometer.
- Barometric altitude (Android only) uses the phone’s barometer. It’s more accurate, but turn it off if the altitude becomes erratic. When it’s on, altitude correction is no longer offered.
These settings apply to your next rides, not to activities already saved.
