Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT Computer - Review

Jun 25, 2016 at 15:25
by Mike Levy  
Wahoo ELEMNT computer review test


Wahoo Fitness' new ELEMNT cycling computer puts an emphasis on simplicity and ease of use but aims to do so without sacrificing anything in the way of metrics or adaptability. The GPS-enabled ELEMNT offers all the usual functions that you'd expect to see on a high-end computer, including current, average, and maximum speed, distance covered, calories burned, feet climbed and elevation gained per minute, ride time, and a few others. Its mapping function makes sense for road riders, while a neat live-tracking feature can even show you where other ELEMNT riders are relevant to you.

Wahoo ELEMNT
Need to see incoming text messages while out on a ride for some reason? That sucks, but you can have those text messages sent to the computer's screen so you don't need to look at your phone, or even set it up to show watt figures while using Wahoo's KICKR indoor trainer.

Wahoo is working on another trick that they hope to implement soon: the ability to control a GoPro camera by using the computer's buttons. You'll be able to power the camera on or off, change settings and modes, and even check battery life, all from a dedicated page on the computer, something that could be pretty handy if the GoPro is on the top of your helmet. Expect this update to go live later in 2016.


ELEMNT Details

• GPS cycling computer
• Non-touch, backlit screen LCD display
• ANT+, Bluetooth, WiFi connectivity
• Barometric altimeter
• Compatible w/ STRAVA and other apps
• Battery life: 17 hours (claimed)
• Micro-USB charging port/cable
• Included mounts: stem, out-front, aero
• Size: 2.3'' x 3.5'' x 0.8''
• Weight: 3.5 oz
• MSRP: $329.99 USD



Features

The ELEMNT offers a lot of features and setup options, some of which will make more sense for a roadie than a mountain biker. Below is a brief run-through of what it has on tap, but you can see them all by visiting the Wahoo Fitness website.

The ELEMNT should be easy to use thanks to its "quick zoom" feature that allows riders to easily change the stats shown by simply zooming in or out on the screen through pressing the buttons on the side of the computer head. The more you zoom in, the less you see and zooming out will obviously show more info. Only want to look at your speed, distance, and ride time? Zoom way in. Want to look at everything from speed, calories burned and the number of feet you've climbed per minute? Just zoom further out.


Wahoo ELEMNT computer review test
Three large buttons on the front of the ELEMNT let you look at your ride history, start and stop the computer, or switch between pages.
Wahoo ELEMNT computer review test
The two buttons on the computer's right side allow the rider to zoom out or in on the display to show more or less information.


Riders use their iPhone to customize the ELEMNT's display, with the changes happening in real-time as you make them. This requires pairing your phone by scanning the QR code that comes up on the ELEMNT's screen - once it's paired you can do things like set up a power page that shows relevant stats you might want to see in one place. A workout page would show you things like calories burned and watt numbers, or you can pull up the live tracking page that shows you where other ELEMNT users are. You can have up to ten custom pages.

You can also upload maps to pre-route your planned ride, with bright LEDs on the side of the computer acting as indicators that tell you where to go and when to make a turn, although this is a function that's probably of more interest to our skinny tire cousins.


Interbike 2015
LED indicators on the side and top of the computer can act as directional route aids or tell you if you're in your target zone for speed, watts or a number of other metrics.
Interbike 2015
Pair your iPhone with the ELEMNT by simply scanning the QR code, thereby allowing you to make display changes on your phone and have them take effect in real-time on the computer.


Those same LEDs can also be configured as display indicators that let you know if you're above, below or in your desired zone, and all of the info from your ride can be automatically pushed via WiFi to whatever app you use to keep track of your rides. And kinda like a Tesla, the ELEMNT will even update itself to the newest spec from Wahoo when it's hooked up to WiFi, something that it did all on its own while I had it in my workshop. The singularity might be closer than we think, but at least our cycling computers will be up to date.


Performance

I have a love/hate relationship with cycling computers that's probably more hate than love, mostly because a clever border collie has a much better understanding of electronics than I do. I'm simply terrible at this kind of stuff, which probably makes me the ideal guy to see if Wahoo's claims about the ELEMNT being easy to set up and use are actually true. And they are - getting the ELEMNT up and running proved to be an easy job that no one should have any trouble with. The iPhone app pairing system makes the job easy, and I had everything to my liking after only a few minutes of tinkering.


Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT
You can configure your own custom heart rate zones during setup.
Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT
Up to ten custom pages can be created, and you can scroll between them using the two buttons on the right side of the computer.


I didn't plan on spending much time looking at the ELEMNT's screen while riding - being a mountain biker, I'd rather look where I'm going - so I went with a pretty simple display that included a few things I'm interested in: ride time, time of day, distance traveled, elevation gained, and current elevation. The computer does insist on ten different metrics on the home screen, however, so I ended up also having the current temperature, grade, and average, current, and max speed. Ten items on the screen may sound like Wahoo packed it in tight, but the crisp and high-contrast display makes everything easy to read.


Wahoo ELEMNT computer review test
The ELEMNT's standard screen. Don't want to look at all of those numbers? Zooming in shows less information.
Wahoo ELEMNT computer review test
A simpler display.


Because I'm most interested in climbing stats (yes, I'm that guy), I liked the simpler climbing page that's accessed by pushing the 'page' button. It shows grade, total feet climbed and descended, feet gained per minute, and my current speed. Pushing the page button again took me to the mapping function (neat, but useless for my needs), and pushing it a third time goes to a super basic display that shows time of day, distance traveled, feet climbed, and total ride time. You can create up to ten custom pages to show power, gear selection, etc.

To the left of the page button, the center 'start' button is pretty self-explanatory, and the 'hist' button on the far left shows, you guessed it, data from your past rides. While all that might sound complicated, it's extremely simple to set up and, more importantly, make use of while out on the trail.

Wahoo ELEMNT computer review test

I attached the ELEMNT to my handlebar via the rubber-backed twist-lock stem-mount as the out-front setup would put the computer in harm's way, and also used the same mount to attach it to my bike's top tube. Both locations worked well, and the mount, which is very similar but not identical to what other computers use, is solid and refused to let the ELEMNT rattle loose.

It does attach via zip-ties rather than O-rings, however, which is more solid, but it also means that it's a bit of a pain in the ass to swap it between bikes. For this reason, I'd probably buy a spare mount if I was using the ELEMNT with more than one bike.
Wahoo ELEMNT computer review test
The twist-lock mount is solid and never let go of the computer.

With large, tactile buttons and an easy to read screen, the ELEMNT is quite simple to use. It's not something that I'm going to be looking at while moving quickly on singletrack, of course, but switching between the screens while pedaling up a climb isn't out of the question. Its GPS also locks on quickly, and it never dropped the connection, even in places where my older Garmin would often lose touch. Rain and mud had zero effect on the computer, and I even left it on my bike during a few post-ride pressure washings. I'm pretty sure that Wahoo would frown on that, but the blasts of water did nothing to the ELEMNT.

I did get annoyed with the ELEMNT's auto-pause feature that activates itself when the rider's speed dips down to a near standstill. It's never going to be an issue for a roadie, but some of the steeper, more technical climbs in my 'hood force a rider to basically come to a stop on a handful of occasions. That causes the computer to issue a beep when it auto-pauses because it thinks I've stopped even though I haven't. It then takes five or six seconds for the computer to auto-start.

The seventeen hours of claimed battery life didn't really pan out, either, with it running for a bit more than ten hours before calling it quits. Things like the backlight and the auto-updating feature will certainly affect battery life, so it could last a bit longer for some riders. It also didn't want to jump onto my WiFi every now and then, but it would eventually find it.


Pinkbike’s Take:
bigquotesWahoo knows that ELEMNT is probably not going to be on a downhiller or freerider's wishlist, but it does make sense for anyone who's a bit of a data hound. There are other GPS computers out there, both smaller and larger, and less expensive and pricier, but it's the ELEMNT's easy setup and intuitive layout that I believe makes it worth checking out. After all, if I can figure out how to use it in only a few minutes of tinkering, you won't have a problem. - Mike Levy



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Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

38 Comments
  • 33 4
 I can do a lot or riding and drink a lot of beer for 329$
  • 8 1
 You could always just... like... ride your bike until you're tired, and then go do it all over again in a day or two when you have the time.
  • 7 2
 I love their hrm but sort of can't imagine using this. I have a deal with myself that the strava stays in my pack for later. Riding is for being outside, breathing fresh air and pushing myself, not for screens.
  • 4 0
 Im with you. I have no interest in how high, how far or how fast. I know ive ridden high, my body tells me how far I have gone and fast is irrelevent as its terrain dependent. Its the size of my grin that is my trip computer.
  • 1 0
 i agree but consider this; Bryton cycling computers. I got one for 45 euro, about 60-65 USD. Has gps and tracks you. Small and tidy. No info bombardment from the stem, adjusted to basic info: current speed, distance passed, time. Smile
  • 2 1
 I have been using this computer for 3 months now. I'm on my trail bike just as much as my road bike. I have a mount on both bikes. If you don't ride with a computer then you can't gauge your progress/ fitness. Strava rocks on trails and on the road it's kind of addictive and a great way to log rides and beat your personal best. On Saturday's I do long 100Km group rides and download the route to the GPS with no problems. Highly recommended for serious cyclist looking to up their game.
  • 4 0
 (Serious question, not being skeptical) Do you believe a serious cyclist needs to be able to have all this data visible during the ride? I do have a watch that logs stuff (Suunto Ambit) and I can check it afterwards, but I have no desire to have everything constantly visible. I may look at it occasionally if I'm lost (though most of the time that'd be in the kayak), if I want to see whether I've got time for another lap or detour and it may guide me through an interval training (but that'll be mostly running, never cycling). Even the heart rate data I leave for the software to analyze afterwards. What would I do with it when riding? If I'm climbing steep and long, it is going to go in the red eventually, no matter what I was planning to do. The trail dictates so much that it is near impossible to stick to a plan.

My point is that I see no advantage of this over something around my wrist. I do see some major disadvantages. It looks pretty exposed, being so big and on the handlebar. Usually after a minor crash you just move on and find small things to fix as you go, somethings rubs, something rattles. But if you find out this device is broken and/or missing, it is going to make for a disappointment considering the investment.

Strava might be nice for people who find inspiration in it, but personally I believe mountainbike trails can be so different from day to day and even vary throughout the day that it doesn't make much sense competitively. I agree knowing there is a clock ticking can pace you, but that clock can be anything. It could be Strava, but a simple stopwatch (possibly built into your watch) can do the same thing. As long as it beeps when you start.
  • 6 4
 @vinay: yes a serious cyclist will use data metrics to improve and become better, faster and stronger. I will remind you of that when i dust you on the trails. Relax buddy whatever gets your ass in the saddle and off the couch is money well spent!
  • 3 0
 @smithtree: Thanks but no need to dust me. Read my post instead. My watch does record data (and I could connect a few pods to gather more if I'd be interested in, for instance, cadence or would like to gather speed and distance data from wheel rotation instead of GPS data). My question wasn't about whether it makes sense to gather data, it was more about how important to be constantly able to check it during the ride. After the ride I suppose it doesn't matter much whether the data has been recorded by a wrist based or handlebar based device.
  • 2 0
 @vinay: monitoring your stats in realtime becomes really valuable when incorporating a heart rate monitor and/or power meter. You can see your actual effort level. Every serious cyclist trains this way, even DH pros. It's not for everyone, but if you want to be faster, that's your ticket.
  • 3 0
 @sevensixtwo: Thanks. It is still a bit of a can of worms to me. To see something is one, to interpret is another. Both rest as well as max heart rate vary from day to day hence so do the training zones. I hardly ever measure my MRP, usually jump straight out for a cold shower or because one of the kids woke up. Same for max, no idea how to measure that properly without some proper testing. I could have a lab test done but that'd still only count for that day, that time. It is fairly safe to stick to that, but it is still an approximate that doesn't take into account variations due to progress, illness or being knackered because of a ride. I do heart rate based interval trainings when running (trail) or on the bicycle trainer (Tacx Bushido). In these cases I can easily push harder or take it easier and stick to a plan somewhat. The Bushido also measures power output and such. But other activities (MUni, mtb, kayak...) just require me to adapt to the conditions. If you need to pedal against the stream, you'll just have to work harder or you're not coming home. If you need to burst over an obstacle on the mtb or MUni, you'll have to, same if you have to be delicate. The heart rate monitor doesn't tell the full story, especially as the heart reacts with a lag. I can't measure power when riding the mtb outside and even if I did, it still wouldn't show the effort put into pumping the bike for instance. I honestly wouldn't know what to do with seeing my hrm and power data real time under these conditions.

So let me get straight that I definitely see advantages in viewing training data real time for some types of training (like running or indoor cycling). But I think for mountainbike riding it doesn't apply to such an extend. The variations in terrain (how smooth it is rolling as well as wind conditions) make speed and distance data useless, the effort that goes into actions other than turning the pedals (but pumping, jumping etc) won't be picked up by a power meter. And due to the lag in heart rate what is being measured doesn't relate directly to what you're doing. The heart doesn't react real time to what you're doing (people who use optical sensors have an even bigger lag, but that's due to the measurements) so there is no point seeing it real time either. At least not for fast changing conditions I have when riding mtb or MUni. That said, I know there are people who ride their bikes sat down on more gradual terrain and don't move their bike around so much. Nearly all effort goes through the legs and they can go faster or slower to stay within the intended zones. In such cases indeed a power meter and hrm with real time feedback could be just as good (or better) than what I'm doing on the indoor training or when running.
  • 2 1
 This review left out the feature that has me targeting this for a bike computer.
the maps and ability to upload routes. Also the led's on the top let you know when you are off route (I have seen reviews and road videos with that). I would like to test that on trails. Basically I just need to be able to look at a trial intersection what way i should take, not looking for telling me to turn etc....

I have a race coming up that is more an unsupported adventure than anything and GPS with maps are basically required. Route markings can get removed or fall down on this course and it goes through some areas of spider web trails through actual good tech riding.
  • 3 2
 "You can also upload maps to pre-route your planned ride, with bright LEDs on the side of the computer acting as indicators that tell you where to go and when to make a turn, although this is a function that's probably of more interest to our skinny tire cousins."
  • 1 4
 Mike quotes his own article assuming you didn't read it and by doing so leaves it as vague as it was. I think he basically meant to say that he could have left his comment about tyre width out and the feature telling when to make a turn could be of interest to you (as a mountainbike rider) as well.

I personally have no experience with this particular device but I've got the Suunto Ambit 2s watch which can plot the planned trail with your relative position and direction. So that is without a map but it works sufficiently well if you also look ahead. I think the lights on this particular device are only going to make sense if it also knows the trails, not just the official roads. And I doubt this is the case honestly. But you'll probably be fine without.
  • 1 0
 I think a garmon 810 or 1000 might be what you're after, it can show you a proper topo map on screen as well as the trail. I use mine when I travel and am exploring new trails.
  • 4 0
 Maybe if it could tell me how high I just jumped or calculate my gnar factor...
  • 3 0
 Ya but, can it tell me how many beers I've earned? Cuz my garmin DOES!!! apps.garmin.com/en-IE/apps/98adff14-43f0-4ffa-919b-1fe50f35b073
  • 1 1
 The ELEMNT is awsome for mountainbiking. Trailmaps are preloaded on it so when I get to a trailhead I just switch to the map page and there it is. No getting lost or having to stop and fumble with my phone and hope the map loads. Plus I can see the route I have taken so I can get back to the start. Here is a pic of the map at the Bear Creek trailhead in Ellijay, GA. drive.google.com/file/d/0B2V32XJQuqzvbDhnWjZKZjVCem8/view?usp=sharing
  • 2 0
 I got one as soon as they became available in Canada. It's been great, the only hold ups have been on account of my rapidly deteriorating 5 year old iPhone.
  • 2 0
 Hi Mike, is the mounting compatible with garmin mount? Sorry if i missed it in the article.
  • 3 0
 No, it's a bit different. I think you could make it work if you filed it a bit, though.
  • 4 0
 @mikelevy: I've seen a tip from the site DCRainmaker, you don't need to file it. Just need to insert top bit first, twist it a bit, and it should be able to go in. Or so the guy claimed.
  • 1 2
 The ELEMNT is awesome for mountain biking. It has maps pre-loaded on the computer and when I get to the trail head the maps are just there. Here is a pic of the map at the Bear Creek trailhead in Ellijay, GA. drive.google.com/file/d/0B2V32XJQuqzvbDhnWjZKZjVCem8/view?usp=sharing
  • 3 0
 I don't need to put numbers to how slow and outta shape I'm in.
  • 4 0
 Hella Dentist accessory.
  • 1 1
 That would be an expensive crash!!! "Hey, you on the ground... here is your fee.... $330. And here is what's left of your computer thing"
  • 1 0
 I can see a lot of mountain bikers just putting it in a pocket or backpack for that reason.
  • 1 0
 it is very durable. Mine has already had its fair share of hits both on the the road and the trail. A few scratches but I can still see the screen just fine and it works perfectly fine.
  • 1 0
 @jpv6578: and the mount resisted the crash? Good!!! I though it would explode to bits on the first hit.
  • 2 0
 It's got an option for metric, so it's like future proof.
  • 1 0
 Does it have any integration for di2 drivetrains, Bluetooth droppers, or e-bikes?
  • 1 0
 i put one of these things on my dirt bike it work ok
  • 3 3
 Wow, roadies have skin thinner than their Lycra.
  • 1 2
 strava when? :v
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