Privacy Protocol
At The Tread Index, we believe in privacy by design. We do not track you across the web, we do not sell your data, and we process sensitive health information locally on your device whenever possible.
1. Information We Collect
We minimize data collection to what is strictly necessary for the site's functionality.
Usage Data
We use privacy-friendly analytics (PostHog) to understand which reviews are popular. This data is aggregated and anonymized. We do not use Google Analytics.
Local Preferences
We store your "Dark Mode" preference and "Comparison List" in your browser's local storage. This data never leaves your device.
2. Strava Integration (Voluntary)
If you choose to connect your Strava account for personalized recommendations, we access the following specific data points via the Strava API:
- 4-Week Average Mileage
- Average Pace (YTD)
- Run Frequency
We do NOT read your map data, ride data, or private activity titles.
3. Data Storage & Retention
We do not save your Strava data to our database. When you sync with Strava, your stats are fetched and stored only in your browser's Local Storage.
- Your data resides on your device, not our servers.
- We implement an automatic expiration policy: local data is cleared automatically after 7 days.
- You can clear this immediately by clicking "Re-sync" or clearing your browser cache.
4. Strava Data & AI Processing
To provide personalized treadmill recommendations, we use Artificial Intelligence (Google Gemini). However, we adhere to a strict Privacy-First / Anonymization Protocol to comply with Strava API policies:
Local Processing
We calculate your runner classification (e.g., "High Volume Runner") locally on our server using deterministic logic.
Anonymization
We DO NOT send your specific mileage, pace, or user ID to the AI model.
AI Input
The AI only receives the generic classification (e.g., "This is a casual jogger") to generate the text explanation for why a treadmill matches that profile.
5. Affiliate Disclosure
The Tread Index participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. This does not affect our editorial independence or the AI's recommendations.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our privacy practices or data processing: