strava-cycling-coach_skill

Overview

This skill tracks and analyzes cycling performance by connecting to the Strava API. It monitors new rides automatically, extracts power and heart rate metrics, and summarizes training load and fitness trends to help guide training decisions.

How this skill works

The skill authenticates with Strava via OAuth, fetches activity data, and runs analyses on power, heart rate, segments, and training load. It can run on a schedule to detect new rides, produce performance summaries, and deliver notifications (for example via Telegram). Configuration is stored in a simple config file for frequency and notification preferences.

When to use it

• After completing a ride to get an automated performance summary.
• When reviewing fitness trends over weeks or months to guide training adjustments.
• To analyze specific workouts for power, heart rate zones, and intensity.
• When you want automated alerts about new rides or PRs via messaging integrations.
• To compare recent rides against personal bests and recent training history.

Best practices

• Create a Strava API application and keep Client ID/Secret secure.
• Authorize once via OAuth and store tokens in the config location.
• Run automatic monitoring on a reliable host (cron or persistent service).
• Provide accurate FTP and zone settings for more meaningful power and intensity calculations.
• Regularly back up your config and review notification destinations to avoid missed alerts.

Example use cases

• Daily cron job checks for new rides and sends a Telegram summary with power and HR highlights.
• Analyze a hard interval session to extract normalized power, variability index, and estimated TSS.
• Review 90-day fitness progression to detect improvements or plateaus and adjust volume.
• Fetch a specific activity to inspect segment efforts and confirm PRs or notable efforts.
• Compare yesterday’s ride to the last ten rides to evaluate recovery and training load changes.