Overview
The Virtual GPS booster generates a synthetic GPS route for indoor activities that have no location data. Treadmill runs, indoor cycling sessions, and gym workouts can all receive a visual map by tracing a real-world route near your location. This gives otherwise map-less activities a route preview on destination platforms.
Configuration
Location (location)
Your default location, used as the starting point for generating the route. You can set a city or address, and the route will be generated in that area.
Distance Matching (distance_matching)
When enabled (default: true), the generated route matches the activity's recorded distance. A 5km treadmill run gets a 5km route on the map. When disabled, a standard-length loop route is generated.
Data Requirements
- Works with any activity that has no GPS data
- If GPS data already exists, this booster is skipped (it does not overwrite existing routes)
- Distance data is used for distance matching when available
How Content Appears
On Strava
Strava displays the generated route as a map on the activity. The activity appears to have been done outdoors with the generated route. Note: Strava may flag suspicious GPS data if the route doesn't match the activity type expectations.
On Showcase
The route map image appears on the Showcase page as if it were a real outdoor route.
Tier & Access
The Virtual GPS booster is available on the Hobbyist (free) tier.
Common Issues
Route appears in wrong location — Check your configured Location setting. If not set, the route defaults to a generic area. Update your location in the booster configuration.
Route distance doesn't match activity distance — Ensure Distance Matching is enabled. Without it, a standard loop is generated regardless of actual activity distance.
Route overwrites real GPS — The booster is designed to skip activities that already have GPS data. If you're seeing unexpected behavior, check whether the source is correctly providing GPS coordinates.
Dependencies
- No integration dependencies
- Optional: Location setting for route placement