As a gadgetry minimalist, I was initially skeptical of the Wahoo Elemnt. Wahoo touts the Elemnt as the most connected bike computer on the market. It has on-board GPS, and ANT+, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity let it talk to most heart rate, cadence, and power sensors. It wirelessly syncs with programs such as Strava and TrainingPeaks, and setup takes place almost entirely on your iPhone or Android. But I was wary of how difficult it might be to set it up and get it going.
True, initial configuration took a couple of extra steps, including downloading the free Wahoo Fitness app and inputting various credentials. But then all that connectivity started to pay off. Setting up my displays using my phone was faster than scrolling through menus on a tiny screen. Once set up, the Elemnt was very intuitive—for example, I could simply zoom in and out to increase or hide data fields.
Like other computers, the Elemnt has turn-by-turn navigation, but I found it far easier to activate than Garmin’s, which can require a long list of steps, depending on the model. On the Elemnt, it took less than five minutes to figure out how to download a GPS file, copy it to Ride With GPS, and wirelessly sync it to my Elemnt. The oversize screen displays a detailed bread-crumb map as well as text directions. And in some remote areas, I’ve had fewer hiccups (such as confusion at intersections) than friends running the same course on their Garmin. Navigation freed me to explore several new routes among the spiderweb of meandering country roads surrounding my home.
Other fun or convenient features: I can preview incoming messages and calls, and when I’m on a Strava segment, I can race my PR, the KOM/QOM, or a designated Strava frenemy. The firmware auto-updates each time I sync to my phone. And my phone reminds me when I need to recharge my Elemnt.
Speaking of battery life, it’s respectable (best case is 17 hours, says Wahoo). With navigation, power and heart rate monitoring on, mine has gone for more than 10 hours with juice to spare.
Ultimately, the Elemnt performs similar functions to its competitors. But it’s so easy to use, you don’t have to be a tech geek to take advantage of them. And once you do, it becomes more than a head unit that records your data—it makes your riding more fun.
Copyright © 2016 Rodale Inc.