YOU MUST KNOW FIRST:
Different platforms will handle embedded distance differently. Strava, for example, will recalculate distance embedded in TCX files. Distance cannot be embedded in GPX files, so distance will ALWAYS be recalculated by all platforms if you export as GPX from GOTOES. Garmin Connect generally trusts the distance in TCX files. All platforms should display the distance embedded in FIT files, so FIT is your best export option from GOTOES. Note that Strava may still tweak your FIT file distance according to this hierarchy. Strava claims on this page that you can "Revert Distance" if it is calculated incorrectly by them to the values in your GOTOES FIT export.
The 4 Ways to Embed Distance
• (Do Not Embed Distance) :
My tool does not send any distance information to Strava. If this is the case, Strava does their own calculation for distance. If it is an outdoor workout with a GPS track, this ought to give you a reasonably close distance. If it is an indoor workout with no Latitude / Longitude, you will get a distance of zero on Strava!
• (Calculate Distance) :
You can have my tool calculate the distance between each track point, and add up the total. If you try to do this on an indoor workout, you will get a distance of ZERO on Strava! This option is available for FIT, TCX, and GPX imports that have position tracepoints (latitude/longitude). The calculated distance will show in FIT or TCX exports, but not if you export from my tool as GPX. My tool calculates the distance between each and every point in your file. This may not be exactly the same number as what you saw on your GPS screen when you hit save. This is because your GPS is trying to be "smart" about how it adds up distance, and it tries to ignore GPS drift or time when you're not moving. My tool ignores drift and just adds it all up. This option will likely result in the highest total distance.
• (Use Existing Embedded Distance) :
How to change the distance to match X+Y so that it equals Z... This method USUALLY Works. Here are the requirements to get it to work:
- Import only TXC or FIT files. This cannot be done with GPX files because your input file doesn't have any distance saved.
- Export as TCX or FIT. Distance is not stored in GPX files, so if you send Strava a GPX file, they will be forced to re-calculate the distance using points.
- Select the "Use Embedded Distance" option. If you use the distances that were included in your original FIT or TCX files, my tool will simply add those numbers together and send them to Strava if you export as TCX or FIT.
• (Override Total Distance) :
This feature only works with FIT exports, and therefore is only available to Donors, . If you decide to override the total distance, Select "Calculate Distance" ONLY if your file has trackpoints. The distance between each point will be calculated, but then my tool will apply an adjustment factor to each point to achieve your desired total distance. If none of your files have trackpoints (like if they were from an indoor workout), then you MUST select "Use Existing Embedded Distance". If you select "Do Not Embed Distance," the override feature will not work.
- Here are the different methods I'm discussing in this post. Depending on which items you select or your export type selected (FIT, TCX, GPX), Strava may choose to override and recalculate distance.
