Wahoo Elemnt Bolt

flight147z

I'm looking to buy one of these, but I have a query. What is the difference in functionality when using the speed sensor? I understand that the unit will record speed using GPS without the sensor connected - is speed more accurate with the sensor or something? It seems like duplicate functionality and as there is the option to buy a bundle with a HRM, Cadence sensor and speed sensor and save a little money I am potentially keen on that.

Has anyone used a Bolt with and without this sensor?

bendertherobot

flight147z wrote:

I'm looking to buy one of these, but I have a query. What is the difference in functionality when using the speed sensor? I understand that the unit will record speed using GPS without the sensor connected - is speed more accurate with the sensor or something? It seems like duplicate functionality and as there is the option to buy a bundle with a HRM, Cadence sensor and speed sensor and save a little money I am potentially keen on that.

Has anyone used a Bolt with and without this sensor?

It's fine without it. In theory, in some poor GPS areas, a sensor could provide better accuracy. Unless you ride off road in the woods a lot, don't sweat it.

flight147z

bendertherobot wrote:

flight147z wrote:

I'm looking to buy one of these, but I have a query. What is the difference in functionality when using the speed sensor? I understand that the unit will record speed using GPS without the sensor connected - is speed more accurate with the sensor or something? It seems like duplicate functionality and as there is the option to buy a bundle with a HRM, Cadence sensor and speed sensor and save a little money I am potentially keen on that.

Has anyone used a Bolt with and without this sensor?

It's fine without it. In theory, in some poor GPS areas, a sensor could provide better accuracy. Unless you ride off road in the woods a lot, don't sweat it.

Sounds sensible - does it improve the auto pause at all though? If I want cadence and HRM I think it's essentially "free" too

Wilf Roberts

The main advantage is that you can use it for turbo or roller sessions. But it probably also eradicates some of the odd readings you get when satellite coverage is patchy.

figbat

What they said. I have the speed sensor on my road front wheel but tonight used the Bolt on my MTB with just GPS speed. I was impressed how quickly it auto paused and resumed using GPS. I really only have the speed sensor because I got the bundle, with HRM and cadence sensor, but as I have it I thought I'd use it. I probably should put the speed sensor on the MTB wheel as I do get the odd GPS glitch in heavy tree cover.

flight147z

figbat wrote:

What they said. I have the speed sensor on my road front wheel but tonight used the Bolt on my MTB with just GPS speed. I was impressed how quickly it auto paused and resumed using GPS. I really only have the speed sensor because I got the bundle, with HRM and cadence sensor, but as I have it I thought I'd use it. I probably should put the speed sensor on the MTB wheel as I do get the odd GPS glitch in heavy tree cover.

Strava on my phone is awful for auto-pause - it waits a good ten seconds to stop recording every time I stop! Perhaps just having dedicated GPS will be an improvement then without the extra sensor

bendertherobot

Auto pause on the Bolt is quite excellent.

flight147z

bendertherobot wrote:

Auto pause on the Bolt is quite excellent.

Perhaps £200 is worth it to increase my average speed then

StillGoing

flight147z wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

flight147z wrote:

I'm looking to buy one of these, but I have a query. What is the difference in functionality when using the speed sensor? I understand that the unit will record speed using GPS without the sensor connected - is speed more accurate with the sensor or something? It seems like duplicate functionality and as there is the option to buy a bundle with a HRM, Cadence sensor and speed sensor and save a little money I am potentially keen on that.

Has anyone used a Bolt with and without this sensor?

It's fine without it. In theory, in some poor GPS areas, a sensor could provide better accuracy. Unless you ride off road in the woods a lot, don't sweat it.

Sounds sensible - does it improve the auto pause at all though? If I want cadence and HRM I think it's essentially "free" too

You'll need a cadence and hear rate sensor, so no, it isn't free.

flight147z

Bought it with no sensors. Auto-pause is very fast, definitely didn't need the speed sensor as have had no problems with GPS speed

slowandsteady1

Will a Garmin hrm work with the Wahoo?

germcevoy

slowandsteady1 wrote:

Will a Garmin hrm work with the Wahoo?

Yes

slowandsteady1

Germcevoy wrote:

slowandsteady1 wrote:

Will a Garmin hrm work with the Wahoo?

Yes

And can you get a mount for a bike with an integrated bar/stem? They type that fixes with 2 screws beolw the bar.

I've had a look and all I can see is the is the standard bar mount.

PK1

With a speed sensor auto pause is slow to respond, without it is fine. If I use a garmin 1000 and a bolt on the same ride with the sensor my avg speed was always less on the bolt and the same without the sensor. I have now ditched the sensor.

When uploaded to strava however, the stats are the same (strava does it's own auto pause)

mrpbennett

flight147z wrote:

Bought it with no sensors. Auto-pause is very fast, definitely didn't need the speed sensor as have had no problems with GPS speed

How well does the auto pause functionality work? I was reading this:

https://support.wahoofitness.com/hc/en- ... tness-App-

Is this just the app outside of the bolt. I have a garmin 820, and I'm a RCC member so considering hiring a element for the day to see the difference. As garmin isnt the most easiest thing to use as in navigation (settings) and the app is pretty crap

plus i get 20% off Wahoo products.

StillGoing

Auto pause is bang on with the ELEMNT series.

the_jackalcp

I'd like to use my Garmin GSC 10 for speed however despite being able to register it on the bolt the unit still uses the GPS when I'm riding. If I spin the wheel in the garage it uses the sensor so definitely working and picking it up

Any ideas why this is and how to switch it over?

figbat

Out of interest, how do you know it is using GPS rather than the sensor?

the_jackalcp

Because under tree cover the speed fluctuates considerably and when descending it is recording unachievable spikes in speeds. My speed sensor has never produced such fluctuations and I believe this kind of behaviour is a pattern of patchy satellite coverage.

More than happy to be told I'm wrong.

mfin

The Jackalcp wrote:

Because under tree cover the speed fluctuates considerably and when descending it is recording unachievable spikes in speeds. My speed sensor has never produced such fluctuations and I believe this kind of behaviour is a pattern of patchy satellite coverage.

What a pain. That's a good reason not to buy a Wahoo if it can't be fixed in a setting somewhere.

sniper68

Never had issues with speed spiking under tree cover with either Edge 820 or Bolt.I've used my Bolt in Wharncliffe Woods and Whinlatter Forest and never lost GPS signal.In fact the only unit I've ever had issues with was a Garmin Edge 200 in Sherwood Forest.

StillGoing

mfin wrote:

The Jackalcp wrote:

Because under tree cover the speed fluctuates considerably and when descending it is recording unachievable spikes in speeds. My speed sensor has never produced such fluctuations and I believe this kind of behaviour is a pattern of patchy satellite coverage.

What a pain. That's a good reason not to buy a Wahoo if it can't be fixed in a setting somewhere.

You can disable GPS in the settings. I've never had cause to disable it though.

mfin

philthy3 wrote:

mfin wrote:

The Jackalcp wrote:

Because under tree cover the speed fluctuates considerably and when descending it is recording unachievable spikes in speeds. My speed sensor has never produced such fluctuations and I believe this kind of behaviour is a pattern of patchy satellite coverage.

What a pain. That's a good reason not to buy a Wahoo if it can't be fixed in a setting somewhere.

You can disable GPS in the settings. I've never had cause to disable it though.

Yeah but then it isn't going to track and record the ride is it.

It is odd because the point in a speed sensor is for more accurate and responsive speed readings, stopping the problems of tree cover at the same time.

The GPS off setting is usually just to confirm the riding is being done on a turbo I always thought.

figbat

Interesting. I use the speed sensor on my road bike but haven’t really thought about if it is working or not. I tend to find that the auto pause starts and stops quicker with the sensor, suggesting it is doing something.

I assume the wheel circumference is set up correctly?

StillGoing

mfin wrote:

philthy3 wrote:

mfin wrote:

The Jackalcp wrote:

Because under tree cover the speed fluctuates considerably and when descending it is recording unachievable spikes in speeds. My speed sensor has never produced such fluctuations and I believe this kind of behaviour is a pattern of patchy satellite coverage.

What a pain. That's a good reason not to buy a Wahoo if it can't be fixed in a setting somewhere.

You can disable GPS in the settings. I've never had cause to disable it though.

Yeah but then it isn't going to track and record the ride is it.

It is odd because the point in a speed sensor is for more accurate and responsive speed readings, stopping the problems of tree cover at the same time.

The GPS off setting is usually just to confirm the riding is being done on a turbo I always thought.

As I said, I've never had cause to turn it off and it isn't something that is being moaned about on the Wahoo help forum other than owners wanting to know how to turn it off for indoor sessions. Sounds more like one owner who is maybe doing something wrong or has a faulty unit.

the_jackalcp

figbat wrote:

Interesting. I use the speed sensor on my road bike but haven’t really thought about if it is working or not. I tend to find that the auto pause starts and stops quicker with the sensor, suggesting it is doing something.

I assume the wheel circumference is set up correctly?

To the best of my knowledge it is all set up properly, I have simply followed the wahoo instructions.

The auto pause is interesting. I'd never really thought about it as it always seemed approximately the same as my previous 520, which used the same speed sensor. Last night I was stationary at some lights and the auto pause didn't engage for at least 10 seconds. The magnet was no where near the sensor so logically the GPS was wandering and that the speed sensor was doing nothing.

I have ticket open with wahoo so will update with any info but happy to hear any further ideas/solutions in the meantime.

mfin

I was going to say has the magnet fallen off since the sensor was paired but it sounds like you've looked.

the_jackalcp

mfin wrote:

I was going to say has the magnet fallen off since the sensor was paired but it sounds like you've looked.

Good thought but no.

When I have issues like this I become hypersensitive to things out of the ordinary so am constantly checking stuff, trying things etc.

the_jackalcp

figbat wrote:

Interesting. I use the speed sensor on my road bike but haven’t really thought about if it is working or not. I tend to find that the auto pause starts and stops quicker with the sensor, suggesting it is doing something.

I assume the wheel circumference is set up correctly?

So I heard back from wahoo pretty quickly and they also suggested the wheel circumference setting. A factory reset later, the number reinputted and the wahoo is taking speed from the sensor. Not sure what happened but at least it's up and running.

Thanks for you time and thoughts