Amid recent discussions surrounding Strava and Garmin, much of the conversation has trended negative. In an effort to shift the tone, I’d like to share some constructive ideas for how Strava could evolve by 2026—focusing on practical, achievable updates rather than impossible requests. Recent improvements like the power skills and race predictions feature, along with the new route designer, have been welcome additions, but there’s still ample opportunity for innovation.
One suggestion is the introduction of seasonal personal records (PRs), which would accommodate athletes recovering from injuries, those whose performance varies by season, or individuals who take time off during winter. Splitting the year into two segments—such as April to September and October to March—could make tracking progress more meaningful. Similarly, yearly King of the Mountain (KOM) titles could reinvigorate competition on popular segments, offering a fresh challenge without competing against all-time records. Another idea is to prominently display achievements like KOMs, Top 10 finishes, and Local Legend status directly on user profiles, similar to military-style badges, alongside data such as FTP, to make profiles more informative at a glance.
Additionally, bringing the full suite of website features—such as adjusting distance, accessing Flybys, downloading GPX files, and viewing climb categories—to the mobile app would create a more cohesive experience. Cleaning up leaderboards, reintroducing Strava merchandise tied to challenges, and drawing inspiration from tools like the Sauce browser extension could further enhance the platform. Finally, fostering closer community engagement by having Strava team members participate in discussions and restoring greater freedom with the API would help rebuild trust and collaboration. After all, it’s our data, and these changes could make Strava even better for its dedicated users.