Segment Analysis
The Segment Analysis tool helps you understand your activity performance by breaking it down into smaller segments based on distance, time, or auto-detected laps.
Overview
This analysis-only tool displays statistics for each segment of your route, including:
- Distance and duration
- Average speed
- Average power, cadence, and heart rate (when available)
- Elevation gain and loss
Segmentation Modes
Distance-Based Segments
Break your route into equal distance intervals:
- Default is 5 km segments
- Customize from 0.1 km to 100 km
- Toggle between km and mi units
- The final segment may be shorter than the threshold
Example: A 23 km ride with 5 km segments creates 5 segments (5, 5, 5, 5, 3 km).
Time-Based Segments
Break your route into equal time intervals:
- Default is 5 minutes
- Customize from 1 to 120 minutes
- Requires time data in your file
- Disabled if no timestamps are available
Example: A 45-minute run with 10-minute segments creates 5 segments (10, 10, 10, 10, 5 min).
Auto-Detect Laps
Automatically finds repeated laps in your track:
- Detects when you return within 50 meters of the start
- Requires at least 300 meters traveled before detecting a new lap
- Marks the final partial segment as "incomplete" if you didn't finish at the start
- Works best for circular routes (running tracks, park loops)
Understanding the Stats Table
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Seg | Segment number with color badge |
| Distance | Total distance for the segment |
| Time | Duration (if time data available) |
| Avg Speed | Average speed in km/h or mph |
| Avg Power | Average power in watts (if available) |
| Avg Cadence | Average cadence in rpm (if available) |
| Avg HR | Average heart rate in bpm (if available) |
| Elev +/- | Elevation gain/loss in meters |
Visualization
Color-Coded Route
Each segment is drawn in a different color:
- Green, Blue, Orange, Purple, Teal, Pink (repeating)
- Switch between canvas and map views
- Start marker is green, end marker is red
Elevation Chart
The elevation profile shows the same segment colors, making it easy to see how terrain varies across segments.
Comparison Chart
Toggle to chart view to see a multi-line chart comparing metrics across segments:
- Speed (green line)
- Power (orange line)
- Heart Rate (red line)
- Cadence (purple line)
Each metric has its own Y-axis for proper scaling.
Interactivity
Hover Synchronization
When you hover over a table row:
- The corresponding segment highlights on the route preview
- The elevation chart shows a highlight range
Click to Zoom
Click on any table row to zoom the map and elevation chart to that specific segment.
Tips
Remove Still Time First
For accurate speed calculations, use the Remove Still Time tool before running Segment Analysis. Stops and pauses inflate your segment times and reduce calculated speeds.
Choosing Segment Size
- Short segments (1-2 km): Better for interval training, track workouts
- Medium segments (5 km): Good for general analysis, comparing effort
- Long segments (10+ km): Useful for endurance activities, marathon pacing
Lap Detection Tips
Auto-detect works best when:
- Your route is a complete loop (or multiple loops)
- You start and end at the same location
- The GPS track is clean without major drift
For out-and-back routes, use distance or time-based segmentation instead.
Data Requirements
| Feature | Requires |
|---|---|
| Distance segments | GPS coordinates (lat/lon) |
| Time segments | Timestamps |
| Average speed | GPS coordinates + timestamps |
| Power stats | Power meter data |
| Cadence stats | Cadence sensor data |
| Heart rate stats | Heart rate monitor data |
| Elevation stats | Elevation data (GPS or barometric) |
Example Use Cases
- Track Workout Analysis: Set 400m segments to analyze lap times
- Race Pacing: Use 5km segments to see how pace changed during a marathon
- Interval Training: Use time segments matching your work intervals
- Velodrome Sessions: Auto-detect laps on circular tracks
- Progressive Run: Compare early vs late segments to see fatigue