Strava rides can be turned into music with Cycle Tracks
New service will turn your rides into music using your speed, altitude and distance data
If sitting back and viewing your average speed, distance and calories consumed after every ride doesn't quite provide enough satisfaction for your efforts, then a new service will turn your Strava data into music from today (Monday, January 18).
Every pedal stroke will now be like playing a finely-tuned instrument as the Cycle Tracks system, developed by hearing specialists Amplifon, turns your bike ride into a tune.
According to the system's makers, "Cycle Tracks is a tool that's capable of translating your performance data into bespoke music and visuals that match your ride".
From the provided promotional video, the music appears to be more electronic than a full-blown symphony using an orchestra. More Kraftwerk than LSO.
We look forward to seeing cyclists changing the pace of their rides, and climbing up and down hills just to craft music. How long will it be before someone manages to play 'happy birthday'? It's another aspect of Strava art to add to the mapped pictures of horses, dogs and elephants drawn out on a huge scale.
>>> Five of the best: Strava art
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
According to Amplifon, your ride data is imported into Cycle Tracks via Strava's application program interface (API).
"Long rides will result in longer music, fast rides result in faster music, and rides at higher altitudes will include higher pitches," the company said in a statement.
"Other additional elements are utilised in the music to reflect and enhance your ride experience. Breathing sounds speed up and slow down in time with your velocity, long synth notes rise and fall to reflect your altitude data and wind sounds increase as your velocity increases."
Listening back to the music generated by your ride, you should be able to identify changes in your speed and whether you are climbing a hill, or descending as the music changes.
More details can be found via the Amplifon website.
Previously, Amplifon have developed a system that adds ambient sounds to Google Streetview images: the Sound of Streetview.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
-
'We were talking about going to the Giro d'Italia': Jonas Vingegaard postpones Giro-Tour attempt - for now
The Danish two-time winner of the Tour de France is seeking to regain the yellow jersey in 2025
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Why are so many women cycling in the gym, but not outside?
Gender imbalance persists in outdoor cycling, but inside, it is a different story. Isobel Duxfield explores why
By Isobel Duxfield Published
-
Tadej Pogačar smashes the Strava KOM on the Coll de Rates
World Champion sets a time of 12:21 on the segment, beating Peter Øxenberg Hansen by 17 seconds
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Last-minute gifts cyclists will love: gift subscriptions to Strava, Ride with GPS and more are just a click away
From indoor training to Tour de France streaming and magazines, these gifts will keep your cyclist pedalling happily in 2025
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Amateur cyclist in talks with four WorldTour teams after Strava KOM heroics
Jack Burke says there's a 30% chance he'll ride at cycling's top level in 2025
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Amateur cyclist beats Sepp Kuss's time on Alpe d'Huez to take Strava KOM
Jack Burke hopes professional teams will offer him 'a chance to compete against the best'
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Strava blocks other apps from using leaderboard and segment data
Exercise tracking app says move will help maintain user privacy in the long term
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Amateur cyclist breaks Strava KOMs on Mortirolo and Stelvio, makes plea for pro contract
'Let's hope some kind of opportunity comes from this,' said Canadian Jack Burke, after taking the Mortirolo crown
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Strava says its new AI feature is 'not a novelty' - but I think it's pointless
It promises to help users understand stats more, although it has just left me feeling more confused
By Adam Becket Published