The ride and run app Strava has launched a new private messaging feature, along with group chats, which will enable users to communicate with each other on the app.
The group chat feature will also be useful for organising group activities, with Strava saying it was launching the feature because its research showed athletes naturally exercised together and performed better together.
Strava has said the messaging feature will only allow users message those they already follow. And if you prefer total privacy, or you simply do not want to receive messages on Strava, you can turn off the feature.
"The introduction of messaging marks an exciting milestone for Strava,” Zipporah Allen, Strava’s chief business officer, said. “This highly anticipated feature adds depth to what makes Strava special - a global community rooted in authentic connections.
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"It also underscores our unwavering dedication to continually prioritise the athlete experience and what we are building for them."
The messaging feature will be open to all users - paid and unpaid - and will likely be used by cyclists to share routes, arrange activities and to join the group messaging function.
"Athletes on Strava can customise the messaging feature based on their desired experience on the platform," Strava said. "For example, athletes can set their preferences on who can invite them to a Group Message or who can Message them directly.
"Settings will be automatically set based on an athlete’s profile visibility but can be adjusted to receive messages to and from ‘following,’ ‘mutuals,’ or ‘no one,’ under settings in the Strava app."
Next year Strava messaging will be expanded with new tools that allow clubs to message and for photos to be uploaded or more general conversations to be held.
