Strava Gives Avid Cyclists the Power to Share, Compare and Compete On-the-Go

SAN FRANCISCO, March 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Strava (www.strava.com), creator of powerful Web and mobile apps for avid athletes, today announced its first mobile application for the iPhone. The Strava iPhone app, free and available now on iTunes, is the first fitness app to analyze a cyclist's data, sending comparative results on climbs and sprints back to the user on their iPhone.

"We're excited to be launching our first mobile app," said Michael Horvath, CEO of Strava. "This will put the Strava experience for cyclists within reach of millions more people who have an iPhone in their pocket. It's the coolest location-based app for avid cyclists who are looking to share, compare and compete while on-the-go."

GPS use by avid athletes is projected to grow by over 10 million people over the next five years and much of this growth will come from the use of smart phones as GPS recording devices. However, until today, current GPS-based offerings for both motivation and entertainment have failed to meet the unique needs of avid athletes who want more than simple route maps and summary stats. The Strava iPhone app changes the game by delivering comparative results on a rider's performance back to the app.

"We developed the Strava app to go beyond other fitness apps available for the iPhone today," said Mark Shaw, Head of Engineering at Strava. "Of course it can accurately capture a track, upload it automatically to your Strava account and show you the stats you would expect from a GPS app. But beyond that, our app brings the Strava experience of comparing and competing directly to your phone. Cyclists get instant feedback -- comparative results on their climbs and sprints while they are out on the road. And, this is just the start -- we have big plans for the future of our mobile apps."

Among dozens of riders who have been testing the Strava iPhone app in beta is multi-time U.S. National Cyclocross Champion, Tim Johnson. "The Strava iPhone app is simply in a class by itself," says Johnson. "I don't always have my GPS with me, but my iPhone is always in my pocket. It couldn't be simpler to log your rides and then see how you did on specific climbs and sprints compared to your friends."

The Strava app uses the iPhone's geo-location technology to identify a user's route, accurately tracking and capturing their climbs and sprints while on-the-go. Previously, Strava athletes would have needed either a dedicated GPS device, which require internet connectivity and a laptop to upload data, or a third-party smart phone app. Now, athletes can easily and seamlessly upload their workouts and races to their Strava account, bringing social fitness, powered by Strava, to millions more avid athletes.

Strava provides an easy-to-use GPS-based solution for avid athletes, who now represent nearly 25 percent of all U.S. households. Strava uses unique segmentation technology to provide a range of comparison and competition data, enabling athletes to track milestones and compete with themselves and others to improve performance and enhance their enjoyment of their sport. In twelve months since launch, the company has grown more than ten-fold through simple word-of-mouth.

Go to www.strava.com to find out more about Strava, the new app and to follow up-to-date news on professional cyclists.

About Strava

Strava feeds the avid athlete. Building powerful online and mobile software, Strava lets some of the most enthusiastic athletes in the world experience social fitness – sharing, comparing and competing with each other's personal fitness data, on-line and via mobile apps. Strava Velo focuses on the needs of avid cyclists with unique features including automatic climb identification and categorization, virtual climb competitions, and member-created on-line races. It makes cycling a social web experience.

Contact:
Meri Morris
Atomic PR for strava.com
[email protected]
(415) 963-9614

SOURCE Strava, Inc.