Create Strava MCP

Automated setup tool for integrating Strava data with Claude Desktop via Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Quick Start

The Python equivalent of npx is pipx. Install and run:

# Install pipx if you don't have it
pip install pipx

# Run the setup tool (installs temporarily and executes)
pipx run create-strava-mcp

Or install globally:

# Install globally
pipx install create-strava-mcp

# Run anytime
create-strava-mcp

Or use pip + python -m:

# Install and run directly
pip install create-strava-mcp
python -m create-strava-mcp

What This Tool Does

1. Downloads the Strava MCP: Clones the Python repository to your local machine
2. Sets up Python Environment: Creates a virtual environment and installs dependencies
3. Guides Strava API Setup: Walks you through creating a Strava API application
4. Handles Authentication: Manages the OAuth flow to get your tokens
5. Data Sync: Downloads your initial Strava activity data to a local SQLite database
6. Claude Integration: Automatically updates your Claude Desktop config file
7. Optional Restart: Can restart Claude Desktop to activate the MCP immediately
8. Ready to Use: After setup, Claude will have access to your Strava data

Strava API Application Setup

The "One App for Everybody" Approach

You need to create ONE Strava API application that all users will authenticate through:

1. Register Your App (you do this once):

   • Go to Strava API Settings
   • Click "Create App"
   • Fill in the details:
     • Application Name: "Strava MCP" (or your preferred name)
     • Category: Choose appropriate category
     • Website: http://localhost
     • Authorization Callback Domain: localhost
   • Click "Create"

2. Share Your App Credentials:

   • You'll get a Client ID and Client Secret
   • Users will use your Client ID and Client Secret
   • Each user gets their own personal Access Token and Refresh Token

3. User Authentication Flow:

   • Users run the setup tool with your app credentials
   • They authenticate through your Strava app
   • They get their own personal tokens
   • Their data stays private to them

Authentication Flow Details

Your Strava App (Client ID + Secret)
         ↓
User runs setup tool → Browser opens → User logs into Strava
         ↓
User authorizes YOUR app → Gets personal tokens → Stored locally
         ↓
MCP uses user's personal tokens → Accesses only their data

Manual Installation

If you prefer manual setup:

# Clone your Strava MCP repository
git clone https://github.com/your-username/strava-mcp.git
cd strava-mcp

# Create virtual environment
python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Set up environment
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your Strava app credentials

# Run authentication and initial sync
python strava-sync.py

# Add to Claude config manually (see Configuration section)

Configuration

The tool automatically updates your Claude Desktop config file:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Linux: ~/.config/claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Example configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "strava-mcp": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["/path/to/strava-mcp/strava-mcp.py"],
      "env": {
        "STRAVA_CLIENT_ID": "your_client_id",
        "STRAVA_CLIENT_SECRET": "your_client_secret", 
        "STRAVA_REFRESH_TOKEN": "users_personal_refresh_token",
        "STRAVA_DB_PATH": "/path/to/strava_data.db"
      }
    }
  }
}

For Developers: Publishing Your Setup Tool

1. Package Structure

create-strava-mcp/
├── setup_strava_mcp.py    # Main setup script
├── pyproject.toml         # Modern Python packaging
├── setup.py              # Alternative setup file
├── README.md             # This file
└── requirements.txt      # Dependencies (none for setup tool)

2. Update Configuration

In setup_strava_mcp.py, update:

# Replace with your actual Strava MCP repository
repo_url = "https://github.com/your-username/strava-mcp.git"

3. Publish to PyPI

# Build the package
python -m pip install build
python -m build

# Upload to PyPI
python -m pip install twine
python -m twine upload dist/*

4. Test Installation

# Test with pipx
pipx run create-strava-mcp

# Or test with pip
pip install create-strava-mcp
create-strava-mcp

Usage After Setup

Once set up, you can ask Claude questions about your Strava data:

• "Show me my recent running activities"
• "What's my average pace this month?"
• "Compare my performance to last year"
• "Generate a training summary"
• "Which bike have I used the most this year?"

Maintenance Commands

# Update your Strava data
cd /path/to/strava-mcp
source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
python strava-sync.py

# Check MCP status
# (View Claude Desktop logs)

Troubleshooting

Setup Issues

1. Python not found: Install Python 3.8+ from python.org
2. Git not found: Install Git from git-scm.com
3. Permission errors: Run with appropriate permissions or choose a different install directory
4. Virtual environment issues: Ensure you have venv module: python -m pip install virtualenv

Strava API Issues

1. Invalid credentials: Double-check your Client ID and Client Secret from Strava
2. Authorization failed: Ensure your Strava app has the correct callback domain (localhost)
3. Token expired: The MCP automatically refreshes tokens, but you can manually re-run strava-sync.py
4. Rate limiting: Strava has API limits; wait a few minutes if you hit them

Claude Integration Issues

1. MCP not appearing: Restart Claude Desktop completely
2. Connection errors: Check that file paths in the config are correct
3. Python not found: Ensure the Python path in Claude config points to your virtual environment
4. Data not loading: Run python strava-sync.py in the MCP directory

Token Security

• Your App Credentials: Keep Client ID and Client Secret secure but they can be shared with users
• User Tokens: Each user's Access Token and Refresh Token are personal and should stay private
• Local Storage: All tokens are stored locally on the user's machine, never sent to you

Uninstalling

To remove the Strava MCP:

1. Delete the installation directory (shown during setup)
2. Remove the "strava-mcp" entry from your Claude Desktop config file
3. Restart Claude Desktop

Alternative to pipx

If users don't want to install pipx, they can also use:

# Direct pip install and run
pip install create-strava-mcp
python -c "import setup_strava_mcp; setup_strava_mcp.main()"

# Or install and use entry point
pip install create-strava-mcp
create-strava-mcp

Support

If you encounter issues:

1. Check the troubleshooting section above
2. Check Claude Desktop logs for MCP errors
3. Re-run python strava-sync.py to refresh data
4. Create an issue on the GitHub repository

Contributing

Contributions welcome! Please see the main repository for guidelines.

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.