8,153
edits
Changes
no edit summary
Stryd provides an array of different metrics, which vary both in accuracy and usefulness.
* '''Pace and Distance'''. My testing has shown that the Stryd is stunningly accurate in its measurement of distance. It's the only [[Footpod]] that is accurate enough that it doesn't require calibration, something that greatly improves its usability. If you look at [[GPS Accuracy| my testing of distance accuracy]] you'll see that the Stryd is right at the top of the chart, and is far more accurate than any GPS device I've tested. This accuracy is also reflected in its measurement of current running pace. I think that this feature alone makes the Stryd good value for money. (Stryd doesn't use or provide GPS data, it uses accelerometers. Depending on the watch, the data from Stryd can be combined with the Watch's GPS data so that Stryd gives distance and pace, and the watch's GPS can be used for navigation.)
* '''Elevation. '''I suspect that Stryd is providing remarkably accurate elevation information. Due to limitations on data export I've not been able to perform any statistical evaluation, but anecdotally the data looks really good. Obviously, the Stryd cannot provide any absolute altitude information, but it does seem to be able to measure relative changes far better than either GPS or barometric altimeter's. At the moment, this information is not as directly usable as I'd like, as it's only available in real time via their, not their watch integration. If you use the Connect IQ data field, it will record elevation as a custom data track, and it is possible to copy this to the standard elevation track using plugins to Sport Tracks.
* '''Running Power'''. As I talk about in my page on [[Running Power Meters]], I believe that they are a flawed concept, but if you understand the limitations they can still be useful. So, Stryd it does not actually measure running power, but attempts to estimate what the power would be based on the things it can measure. My assumption is that it is mostly using pace and elevation change, possibly along with [[Cadence]] or Ground Contact Time. As discussed in the section below on the testing running power, I have found that the Stryd seems to give a reasonable estimate of relative intensity for flat and uphill running, but seems to underestimate relative intensity on the downhill sections. I've found that with some testing to understand the limitations, I've been able to use Stryd to more effectively pace myself on hilly runs. My approach is to keep my Stryd power estimate constant between level ground and uphill sections, which means I'm much slower going uphill. If Stryd gave a better power estimate downhill I could use it for downhill pacing, and hopefully they'll improve their estimate soon.
* '''Form Power.''' Stryd describing this metric as the "running in place power", but it's unclear what that really means more if it has any value. They suggest that a decrease in this value represents improved [[Running Economy]], but there is nothing to back that up.
** Occasionally I'll find the watch won't detect the Stryd at the start of the run. In those situations, I have to go into settings, sensors, Stryd, and select "connect", which time the watch connects fine and the connection persists when I go back to start the activity.
** Note there are credible reports that the Fenix 5 and 5S (but not the 5X) have Ant+ connectivity issues. I'd recommend connecting them as Bluetooth Footpods, which means you will not get the Connect IQ support.
* [[Polar V800]], [[Polar M400]], [[Polar M430]]** Pair as a normal footpod. Settings -> General Settings -> Pair and Sync -> Pair Other Device-> select Stryd. Then go to Settings -> Sports profiles -> Running -> Stride Sensor. Calibration=manual, factor = 1.0, sensor for speed=Stride Sensor.
** Remember this is using Bluetooth, so if you have a problem it might be because the Stryd is still linked to your phone.
** You can set the M400 /M430/V800 to give distance and pace from footpod, while recording GPS tracks. The menu just says "speed source" but it sets distance as well. The menu talks about "stride sensor" as that's what the Polar footpod is called. ** There's no smoothing of pace in the M400 so it's these watches are nicely responsive. ** You For the M400/M430 you have to choose between cadence and power display, and as this is Bluetooth, you get 210 watts displayed as a cadence of 21. ** This feature may get removed in the future. There's no cycling power supportin the M400/M430, or other native power pod support.** For the V800 there is native support for Stryd as a power device. You don't need to pair Stryd as two separate devices (foot pod & power pod), just pair once.
* [[Garmin 920XT]], [[Garmin Vivoactive]], [[Garmin Vivoactive HR]], [[Garmin 235]]
** Pair as a normal footpod.
** Set the "Foot Pod Speed" to "Always On". I expected this to just provided pace from Stryd, but it actually does distance as well. The GPS track is recorded normally and navigation functions are enabled.
** You have to choose between cadence and power display. (Power-in-cadence requires the iOS Stryd app and this feature may be removed in the future.)
* [[Suunto Ambit3]](all models), [[Suunto Ambit2| Suunto Ambit2 R]]
** Pair as a normal footpod (don't pair as a bike power pod if you're using a higher end Ambit).
** You have to ensure that the sports mode you're using is set to use a footpod. If you don't see the Ambit3 search for a footpod when you start the exercise, you need to change the configuration on the Suunto web site. (I've tested the Ambit3 Run/Ambit2 R versions.)
** The Ambit3 & Ambit2 both do quite a bit of smoothing of pace information, so it's not quite as quick to respond as other some other watches.
** With the higher end Ambit 2/3 (above "Run" models) you can use the Stryd in bike mode and get the power estimate that way. However, I strongly believe that accurate pace and distance is vastly more useful than an estimate of power, so even the higher end watches should be used in run mode with power in cadence.
* Ambit2/Ambit2 Sport
** These two watches can support Stryd as both power pod and foot pod at the same time. (You can't do this with the higher end Ambit3 watches as the Bluetooth protocol only allows one connection.)
** Pair as a normal footpod then pair again as a bike power pod.
** You have to ensure that the sports mode you're using is set to use a footpod and the power pod. If you don't see the search for a footpod and/or power pod when you start the exercise, you need to change the configuration on the Suunto web site.
** If a footpod is found, the Ambit2 will get pace and distance from the footpod and override the GPS data. As above, you can use the Ambit2 in the lowest GPS accuracy mode to extend battery life while getting accurate pace & distance from Stryd.
** The Ambit2 does quite a bit of smoothing of pace information, so it's not quite as quick to respond as other some other watches.
* [[Suunto Spartan Ultra]]
** The pairing of Stryd to the SSU is tricky. It seems that if you pair as a footpod, then pair as a power pod you can get power in outdoor mode (but not distance/pace) and distance/pace in indoor/treadmill mode. If you just pair as a footpod, you can get pace/distance information with GPS enabled.
* [[Polar V800]]. Stryd only pairs as a bike power pod, not a footpod, so you can't get it to work in running modes. You can get power from Stryd, but only in cycling modes. Even in indoor cycling mode there's no pace data from Stryd. (There's [https://twitter.com/PolarGlobal/status/846714305429032960 a tweet from the Polar Global] Twitter account on March 28<sup>th</sup> saying "Good news to share: STRYD support is coming to V800 but I'm afraid we can't share any timeline yet" in reply to a question on Stryd support in running mode.)
* [[Leikr]]. I could not get the Stryd to work with the Leikr.
* Smartphone apps. The Strava app won't take pace/distance from Stryd.
==Bluetooth or Ant+==
Stryd supports both Bluetooth and Ant+, and both work well. Bluetooth has the limitation that you can only have one receiver talking to Stryd at a time, so you can't have it linked to two different watches simultaneously, or to a watch and your smart phone at the same time. (I have had occasions where the Stryd has stayed linked to my smart phone, so I've had to turn off Bluetooth on my phone to allow Stryd to link to a watch.) With Ant+ you can have as many watches linked simultaneously, and it's possible to have Stryd linked to both one Bluetooth watch and several Ant+ watches at the same time. If you're using Garmin [[Connect IQ]], you can have Stryd work as both a standard Footpod and connected via the Connect IQ data field.