Equilab determines the distance trainings by continuously collecting GPS data from your mobile device while you're riding. Sometimes, the distances tracked may differ slightly from those stated on trail markers, maps, or other apps.
Some of the most common rasons for such differences include the following:
- How much time you spend standing still
- Whether you rode exclusively or partially indoors (Equilab tries to collect GPS data even when a roof is blocking the signal)
- How much 'smoothing' occurs to the path (Equilab aims for smoother paths than most other apps, which more accurately represents the distance you travelled).
Regarding the last point: raw locations that get reported from your phone's GPS are never perfectly accurate (i.e., not on the path you actually rode). For this reason, Equilab (and other tracking apps) try to filter out these inaccurate data points before showing your final path. Each app has its own specific algorithm for determining which data points are filtered out — i.e., how much 'smoothing' occurs. While every app aims to make its tracking as accurate as possible, the distances can sometimes vary by 15%.
This topic is commonly debated regarding distances, and is called the coastline paradox. You can see an image illustrating the 'smoothing' on this webpage, by comparing the blue line (smoothed segment) to the orange line (the raw data recorded by your phone).
Many other apps choose to provide distances that are longer than reality because it makes their users feel like they are travelling further and faster. Equilab avoids inflating such distances and aims to provide the most accurate estimate possible.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at support@equilabapp.com. We're always here to help.
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