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Hi Strava Community,

I recently went on my first ride with Nova, my new e-bike. It marked a meaningful step in my journey with dystonia, a neurological condition that’s reshaped how I move through the world. Cycling has always been part of my identity, and transitioning to an e-bike wasn’t giving up, it was choosing to keep going.

But when I got home and checked my Strava stats, I noticed something that genuinely hurt: the miles weren’t counted. Not toward my annual mileage. Not toward my lifetime totals. Not toward the story I’ve been building with every ride.

I understand the need to separate e-bike rides from segments and leaderboards. That distinction protects competitive integrity. But excluding e-bike miles from all ride statistics feels like erasure. For those of us riding with adaptive needs, whether due to disability, aging, injury, or simply a new way of moving, it’s not about competition. It’s about being seen. It’s about honoring the effort it takes to keep showing up.

I know I’m not alone. Many riders use e-bikes to stay connected to the sport they love. We’re not asking for trophies. We’re asking to be counted.

I’d love to hear from others in the community:

  • Have you felt this gap in your stats?
  • What would it mean to you to see your e-bike miles included in your total ride history?
  • How can we advocate together for an opt-in feature that honors every kind of rider?

Strava, if you're listening: this is a small change that would make a big difference.

Thanks for reading and for riding with heart.

Hi ​@irongirlsandy , it’s not the same as all ride statistic/goals including ebikes, but you can set a goal for ebike rides and a goal for “all sports”. And you have an extra statistic for ebikes.

I understand the concern around people abusing e-bike stats, but there is definitely an ableist tone to e-bike stats not showing up on total ride miles for the year. I can think of 5 people in my community alone off the top of my head who rely on e-bikes to participate in cycling events within the community because of physical limitations caused by physical disabilities.
Maybe an option for people to submit a request to be an exception to this rule would be appropriate? 

Excellent post. 

I hear your dismay, and I truly believe Strava is taking the wrong stance here. What they lack is vision — the understanding that sooner or later, many of today’s road cyclists may find themselves turning to e-bikes too, whether due to age, injury, or just the changing appeal of cycling.

We’re already seeing more and more traditional road bikes quietly equipped with batteries and motors. So in the end, Strava risks excluding the very riders it’s trying to protect.

It’s never easy to please everyone — I see people calling every day to turn our local cycleway back into a railway, yet across the country, cycling numbers continue to grow. The future of cycling is broader and more inclusive than ever.

Strava should embrace e-bike riders, not set them aside. Create fair rules, yes, but don’t separate us from the story we’re all part of. After all, the ride still matters — no matter what powers it.

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