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Wahoo’s new Elemnt joins growing GPS bicycle computer market

Wahoo’s new Elemnt GPS computer aims to “streamline the user experience and drastically simplify the setup process”

The GPS cycle computer market, once dominated by Garmin, is starting to heat up this year with a lot more choice. The latest is Wahoo’s brand new Elemnt, a new GPS enabled cycling computer that will cost £279.99 and aims to “streamline the user experience and drastically simplify the setup process” by using a smartphone app to configure the computer along with full compatibility with third-party platforms like Strava and MapMyRide.

The Elemnt, the company’s first dedicated cycle computer, features ANT+, Bluetooth Smart and WiFi. That means it can be synced to a smartphone companion app which is claimed to make it really easy to configure the cycle computer and personalise the computer, and also ensures it’s compatible with a host of heart rate, cadence and power sensors. Of course it’s fully compatible with the company’s own Kickr indoor trainers.

- Cycle computers — everything you need to know

On its large DayBright screen is a customisable dataset that can provide all the key ride metrics like speed, distance and elevation, as well as route navigation and phone call, text and email notifications. An interesting feature is the ability to be able to track fellow riders’ locations in real-time, perhaps providing the ability to outsmart them even if you can’t out ride them?

A novel feature is the QuickLook LED. If you use a computer, you know how distracting/dangerous it can be to look down at your computer while cycling, so Wahoo has added a strip of LEDs alongside the edge of the screen. This should make it possible to quickly glance down at the computer and get an indication of how fast or how you're riding, much like gear change indicators on an F1 steering wheel. They’re fully customisable so can be used to indicate speed, heart rate, power or turn-by-turn navigation cues. We like the sound of this feature and look forward to seeing how it actually works in the real-world.

- Review: Wahoo Kickr trainer

The Elemnt doesn’t tie you into its own platform. Instead it allows full integration with third-party apps like Strava and RideWith GPS, which is an obvious appeal if you’re dedicated to one of those systems. The computer will be able to pull in routes direct from those websites, so planning routes and getting them onto the cycle computer should be a doddle, and you’re not tied into a fixed way of doing it.

“Using a bike computer shouldn’t be the hardest part of your ride,” said Chip Hawkins, CEO of Wahoo Fitness. “We saw a need for a well-designed GPS-enabled cycling computer that simplified the riding experience rather than complicated it. We solved that need with the ELEMNT.”

Previously Wahoo has offered the smartphone-powered RFLKT+ bicycle computer, but this new Elemnt doesn't rely on a smartphone to operate.

- Best cheap GPS cycling computers

The new Wahoo Elemnt will cost £279.99 when it hits the shops later this year. We’ll hopefully get to review one before then. www.wahoofitness.com.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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4 comments

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frankierae | 9 years ago
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I'd have to agree about Garmin ambling along without much competition. With the massive uptake of mobile computing, fast low powered CPUs and power efficient touch screens are cheap and easily sourced. Yet any one who has a Garmin knows how slow they are to recalculate routes or even switch screens (not to mention the clunky UI and expensive map updates!).
Compared to even a cheap smartphone the difference is night and day. So it's disappointing to say the least with their premium price tag (much higher than a cheap smartphone I must say)

I bought the 810C a couple of years ago because it was the best around at the time, but it's always performed very slowly and I can't wait to replace it. I hear Sony have something in the pipeline too... Hear hear to competiton!

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50kcommute | 9 years ago
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Does someone want to tell them they've miss-spelt Element?

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kil0ran | 9 years ago
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RFLKT+ is excellent and potentially a better option if you've got a smartphone to hand. Big plus is the battery life and size. This looks much chunkier (I would say too big for many stems) and battery life will be key. Like the LED feature, very useful for heart rate zone training I would imagine.

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only1redders | 9 years ago
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Hmmmm, interesting. Competition is good. Garmin have been ambling along effectively unchallenged in the GPS computer market for too long. Look forward to seeing a review

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