# Strava profile picture API

> Strava lookups at avatarsapi.com/strava/<handle> are currently failing. Handle format and status.

Put a Strava Handle in the URL and the response is the profile picture as image bytes, ready for an `<img src>`. avatarapi fetches it from Strava, checks it is a real image, and caches it at the edge.

```html
<img src="https://avatarsapi.com/strava/9" alt="">
```

## What goes in the URL

`https://avatarsapi.com/strava/<handle>`

The numeric athlete id from `strava.com/athletes/<id>`.

**Currently failing.** Strava lookups are failing right now while we fix this Source. Ship a fallback.

Percent-encode the Handle if it contains a `/`, a space, or other reserved characters.

## Options

- `?size=16..1000` sets the square size in pixels (default 400): `https://avatarsapi.com/strava/9?size=64`
- `?json` returns the resolved image URL instead of the bytes:

```json
{ "version": 1, "data": { "url": "https://…", "source": "strava", "kind": "username" } }
```

Starter Projects can also set `?ttl=1h..28d` for the cache lifetime (default 7 days).

## When there is no picture

If the account does not exist or has no profile picture, the response is a 404 with a JSON body whose `code` is `ENOTFOUND`. That makes `onerror` a reliable fallback:

```html
<img
  src="https://avatarsapi.com/strava/9"
  onerror="this.onerror=null; this.src='/default-avatar.svg'"
  alt="">
```

`EUPSTREAM` (502) means Strava itself failed or changed; it is usually transient. All codes are in the [error table](https://avatarsapi.com/docs#errors).

## Related

- [Substack profile picture API](/platforms/substack)
- [Telegram profile picture API](/platforms/telegram)
- [Thingiverse profile picture API](/platforms/thingiverse)
- [Threads profile picture API](/platforms/threads)
- [All 67 platforms](/platforms/)