Good day for me! My wife washed my bike computer (older Wahoo element bolt, black and white version) so she’s buying me a new one!. I am trying to decide between another Bolt, go with the Roam or switch to Garmin? When I look at the Garmin’s I get paralysis analysis and then go to the simplicity of Wahoo’s choice , big or small?
Any insight from the ST community?
Tyia
Dave
FYI - Wahoo releasing a new computer next week.
I just went from the older Wahoo Elemnt Bolt (v1) to the Garmin 840. I obviously spent some time setting it up, and it took 3-4 rides to properly get my head around the changes, but overall I’m happy that I did. I’ve no doubt the newer Bolt probably has the majority of the features that the Garmins do, but seeing as I also run with a Garmin watch and have the Garmin HR strap it seemed worthwhile to keep everything in the same eco-system.
What do you like about the Wahoo you had, and what things are you most interested in that you have seen in other devices?
Wahoo used to be renowned for its UI simplicity and innovative auto transition features. But others have caught up on those attributes. Wahoo’s weakness is screen size and clarity. But the next gen could catch up there. Garmin owns everyone in data analytics and sharing across devices. And Garmin’s current crop of displays is phenomenal, bested only by the Karoo. And Garmin perfected the touch screen interface in the 840 & 1050 which greatly improves the UI.
Does wahoo do live tracking and text alerts? Does it integrate well with a Garmin Varia? I haven’t looked at a wahoo computer in a long time but last I checked they couldn’t do live tracking or text alerts.
I have not used a Wahoo in a few years, but purely from memory:
It does do live tracking. Have been using that for years.
@davegibb26.2 What watch are you using? That is one thing to keep in mind. Echo system is everything at times.
My current computer serves my purpose minus turn by turn directions, it lets me know when I have missed a turn but not before it’s too late. Sometimes when it’s a busy area I do not notice it until 4-5 minutes later.
My biggest question is more about if you have gone from a smaller screen to a larger and was it worth it. Everything else about this computer is fine, I am just looking for size feedback more than anything.
You 100% want to go to a bigger size. The only reason anyone would want to keep a smaller size computer is if you a professional that is looking at grams… other then that… Get the bigger screen.
The other reason is fitting your bike computer to your bike.
Edge 1040/1050 doesn’t fit multiple Garmin mounts (they’re too short). It would look silly on an MTB stem, it wouldn’t fit between my arms on my Speedmax’s mono extension. 830/840 is the max I’d go with.
If you value great maps and turn-by turn, I would checkout the Karoo. If you value battery power look at the new Coros Dura. I really like my Karoo for its maps–I use it on roads, gravel and trails–but its battery isn’t that great. I just bought the Dura and the battery is super, but the maps kind of stink.
like @logella mentioned, if you like the wahoo bolt then hold out until December 3 to see if you like the new Wahoo, otherwise I really like my Garmin 1050 and use the Wahoo Roam on the TT bike (since its smaller)
If a computer like a 1050 or Hammerhead 3 will fit on your bike, it is glorious. I use a 1050 on my road bike, but the biggie won’t fit between my extensions on the tri bike, so I use an 840 there.