Why doesn’t the elevation in Cadence match my real elevation?

Cadence reports elevation directly from your phone’s GPS chip. GPS uses a global model of the Earth called WGS84. Because the Earth isn’t a perfect sphere, this model doesn’t always match “sea level.” The difference between WGS84 and sea level can vary depending on where you are in the world, and it’s normal to see offsets of several meters.

For example, you might be standing at sea level, but GPS could still report a positive elevation value. This doesn’t mean your device is broken—just that GPS altitude is being measured against the ellipsoid model, not true sea level.

It’s also worth noting that GPS altitude is inherently less accurate than horizontal GPS position (latitude/longitude). Small variations in signal quality, atmospheric conditions, or the number of satellites in view can cause your elevation reading to jump around more than your location on the map.

What’s that mean for recording activities?

Metrics like total ascent and descent are still reliable, because they depend on changes in elevation over the course of your activity, not the absolute starting number. Even if the base elevation is offset, the ups and downs you record while riding or running will be measured consistently.

If you compare Cadence to other apps, you may notice different numbers. That’s because some apps apply extra correction layers—such as digital elevation models (DEM) or geoid adjustments—to convert GPS data into something closer to sea level. Cadence currently reports the raw GPS altitude from your device, without those corrections.