Minimum Segment length ?

[Ian]

I noticed that someone recently asked that the minimum length of mountain bike Segments be decreased and the post was quickly archived by an admin on the basis that reverting Strava changes could not be discussed.

I have some sympathy for the poster - I was also somewhat frustrated by the recent increase in minimum length of bike Segments from 300m to 500m.  In my area there has been some good competition over Segments about 400 to 450m in length but such Segments can no longer be created or edited (the change happened as I was working on a new Segment of about 450m - it now finishes closer to a T junction than I would like but editing is no longer possible).

I don't remember seeing any requests from Strava users for such a change in the previous Strava Support forums so I wonder if someone at Strava could give some background to their reasons for making the change and their methodologies for determining minimum Segment lengths for each Activity type ?  Clearly measurement accuracy is a factor on shorter Segments, but even on a 300m bike Segment the accuracy should be within a couple of % which seems OK.

[StravaBlows]

Because Strava is crap. It is simply a matter of data storage, there is no technical reason that prevents the creation of sub 500m (1640ft)segments.
They choose not to allow it. The same way they choose to allow anyone to mark a segment “hazardous”. 
Many users have on going battles recreating segments because of the “safety and paranoia police”. 

[4ndrew]

Strava left previously created segments as is but new segments can't be created shorter than new limit.

[Norden]

What is the minimum length of a run segment? Can subscribers create segments shorter than regular users?

[m986]

Is there a workaround for this? For example, if I have a 400m trail that I want to create a segment for, if I ride 300m, turn around and ride 100m back up the trail, then turn around and finish the trail, in theory I've covered 600m and the start and end points are where I want them to be.

If I then just ride the 400m trail, will Strava record the time OK without me doing the reverse bit? Obviously the average time will be wrong, but apart from that would this work?

[paul_83uk]

did you ever try this? Did it work?

[Peps]

Did you try it?Does it work?

[4ndrew]

I guess that it’s mostly driven by cost-saving initiative but come on! I understand that limit for road, but for MTB — no! Please, allow to create short segments for paid customers only or omg, charge for short segments)) but it should not be just impossible

[StilPhone]

Intersting - this is over a year old and still no comment from Strava themselves - do they not realise that we are their PAYING customers. I'm going to share this to get as much visibility and traction as we can.

[StravaBlows]

I will not be renewing my subscription. Member since 2013. The allowance of any moron to mark "hazardous" any segment and not time downhill segments are two other major issues. Their opinions should be kept to themselves.

Arrogant executive management and VCs do not listen to the serious riders, they solely want to extract profit and then sell off to another set of VCs. Which means butchering a product / service to appeal to the lowest common denominator and gain market denomination.

[MakeStravaGreat]

Why are we now paying for Strava yet getting features taken away? This is ridiculous. Minimum length should be 100m at the least. My local mtb trail network consists of about 20 trails all under 500m in length. Its really disappointing that i cant make segments on them. Surly u can bring this feature back Strava. This is a huge reason why me and my friends use strava. So we can vs each other.. now we cant even do tha