if you switch to Modern can you still use Strava as when I switched to Garmin Express a couple of months ago it would not link/ download automatically activities to Strava and I had to disconnect Garmin Express to use Strava again, I think this was on purpose to get people out of Strava, is this still the same?
What Garmin device are you using? How did Garmin Express prevent you from uploading to Strava? Garmin Express does not prevent me from uploading to RunKeeper from my Edge 800 or my Fenix, and I just signed up to Strava and it allows manual uploads, so it doesn't prevent me from doing that, either. So are you using one of the ANT+ syncing devices?
This was a couple of months ago and I had switched off the Ant Agent as advised I believe. I cotacted garmin and had no reply and contacted Strava who advised Garmin express was not compatable with Strava. As I said this was when Garmin express first became an option, After last time Iam reluctant to upload Garmin express unless this has definitely been resolved as a hassle that took up running time! I note that you say you have signed up to strava and it allows Manual uploads, yes that was what I had to do instead of it uploading automatically which is what I want uploading runs manually is a hassle.
Garmin Express has nothing to do with Strava, so clearly they were wrong to tell you it wasn't compatible. Some people have reported that installing Garmin Express removes Garmin's Communicator Plugin. That didn't happen to me, but if it does, it's just bad installer design on Garmin's part. Anyway, Communicator Plugin is still available (they just recently updated it) and can be downloaded and reinstalled. It has nothing to do with Express, either.
I plugged in my Edge 800 today and logged into Strava and it got the most recent 5 activities using Garmin's Communicator Plugin. Express took care of the upload to Garmin Connect as usual. So clearly Express doesn't prevent one from using Strava.
Upgrading from Ant Agent to Express changed the location that fit files are cached in Windows and this absolutely did break Strava's direct Device upload option. I suspect this will be easy for them to fix once all of these Garmin Express changes shake out...provided Garmin plays fair. I have been able to perform Manual uploads of the .fit files though I'm sure this introduces some friction to the process for a wide number of users. I hope this is not a deliberate attempt to sabotage Strava though I am suspicious given how many of the features in the new Modern interface are direct copies of Strava features.
Yeah, I'm aware of the problems that people with ANT+ syncing devices are having. (Fortunately, I don't have any of those devices.) Have you tried what in Unix/Linux is called a symbolic link and on OS X an alias? (I don't know what the Windows-speak is). Move the old location out of the way, and link the new folder to the old folder. Essentially you're trying to make Strava see the new files in the old location. That's what I'd do if faced with that problem rather than wait for Strava to fix it. It might work, and may restore your old functionality.
If you want automatic but are willing to wait, DC Rainmaker posted an article on a few sites that can send Garmin Connect activities to other sites, including Strava. I've been using Syncmetrics, and since I don't really care about Strava at the moment I've set Syncmetrics to automatically send activities from GC to Strava. I've been using Syncmetrics to get my Withings weight data to GC, and there's some delay, but it's otherwise reliable.
Have you tried what in Unix/Linux is called a symbolic link and on OS X an alias? (I don't know what the Windows-speak is).
On windows you'd want to create a directory junction. Assuming your windows username is Owner and you have a Garmin 910XT with device ID 3846516826, the following commands would move the old Garmin folder to a backup location, and then make a directory junction.
Thanks for the info. I do have mine working via a junction and have also had success using Tapiriik as a 3rd party sync app. I really shouldn't have to do either. What irritates me is that Garmin has broken a working process deliberately, seemingly to try and obtain developer fees or selectively lock out 3rd party sites like Strava. I could understand this if the 3rd party site was obtaining MY data directly from the Garmin Connect site. But that wasn't the case here. Garmin needs to remember that MY data belongs to ME.
From the Garmin Connect sticky post to Developers:
"We are limiting our developer scope to strengthen strategic partnerships.
An administration fee maybe applicable to some developers."
