Tableau is the most popular tool for visualizing large data sets. The biggest plus is that by clicking on individual data points you can drill down into all the related data. This makes it really easy to see overall trends and then focus in on points of interest. Tableau lets you see the woods AND the trees.

The great thing about Tableau software is that it doesn't require any technical or programming skills to use it. Although it’s a little overwhelming when you first get started there are plenty of resources to help you learn, There are links at the bottom of this page.

The other great thing about Tableau software is that they have built a Data connector for Strava that makes it REALLY easy to get your Strava Data into Tableau.

The last great thing is that all this is absolutely Free!

If you would like to learn how to use Tableau take our online course here...

What you need to visualize your Strava data with Tableau

  • Tableau Desktop.
  • Tableau Public Cloud Account.
  • Tableau Strava Web Data Connector (WDC).

Tableau Desktop

Tableau Desktop is where you connect to Strava and build your charts and dashboards.

Visualizations you make in Strava Desktop are saved and shared on the Tableau Public cloud.

Tableau Public Cloud

Tableau Public is where you save and share your visualizations which can be viewed and accessed by anyone. From here you can also embed them in your website or social media account.

There is no privacy to the files saved to the cloud. This is great for most people, but if you want or need to keep your data private you’ll need a paid version of Tableau.

The Strava Web Data Connector (WDC) For Tableau

A group of sports-crazy Tableau developers have built a connector that makes it really easy to get your Strava data into Tableau.

You get all the data available from the Strava API in four tables (That’s a LOT of data).

Club Activities: Details of activities by any clubs I have joined.

My Activities: One row for each activity, including activity type, distance, and elapsed time.

My GPS Streams: One row for each activity second, including the latitude, the longitude, and heart rate.

My Photos: One row by photo, including the Photo URL, latitude, and longitude.

Common Calculations have been done by the Tableau Connector

The Strava WDC development team have pre-calculated the measures that we use most, all in different units. This saves a lot of work in Tableau.

  • Distance in m, km, mile.
  • Time in s, min, hours.
  • Speed in km/h, miles/h, m/s.

How to Connect your Strava Data to Tableau

You can connect your Strava Data to Tableau in just three steps:

1: From your Tableau Desktop app, navigate to and open a “Web Data Connector.”

To do this start a new visualization (Book) and click the Tableau icon in the top left corner of the screen, this takes you to the connect screen.

Below the Server Menu on the left hand side click on more and then select Web Data Connector.

2: In the pop-up window that appears, enter the Strava WDC URL and hit return:
https://lab-connectors.tableau.com/strava/strava/2/strava.html

3: Log in with your Strava credentials and after a few seconds the Strava data will be automatically imported into Tableau, you are ready to start visualizing.

I’ve shared a quick viz of my rides with you so you can see how it works.

This is really basic and I’ll jazz it up as I get the time.

On the Dashboard click a datapoint to filter the other charts, click off the data to reset the chart or hit the reset button.

Use the tabs at the top to see the individual charts.

Here are some useful links for you, Happy visualizing!

Get Tableau Public Desktop Here

(You will be prompted to set up a Cloud account when you first save a viz).

You can learn how to use Tableau on the Tableau Website

View my Viz on Tableau Public

My Very Basic Strava Data Viz