![]() ![]() That’s because Wahoo actually depends on the routing provider to give the exact turn information. They just get details that a turn is upcoming. Right now, Wahoo BOLT/ELEMNT users don’t get road-specific turn by turn directions. As they are fundamental to what should be on any bike computer over $250, since that’s the baseline set today with the older Edge 520 Plus at $279. These last two bullets are frankly the most important points out of everything here. – On-Device Elevation – This will give elevation information for routes created on the app/unit (Mid-Late June 2019) – Strava Turn by Turn Navigation – This will automatically give turn by turn guidance for Strava downloaded routes (Late May 2019) ![]() In addition, there are two features that will not be present at launch, but will arrive down the road. – Redesigned out-front mount to support larger size of units – Added new app integration with MTB Project and Singletracks for pulling routes (requires phone) – Added ‘Route to Start’ using shortest possible route back to start of ride (used when you want to be done) – Added ability to retrace a route back to the starting point – Added ability to get back to route (aka ‘Back on Track’) – Added ‘Get me started’, which gets you to the starting point of your ride (used pre-ride) – Added ambient light sensor (adjusts display settings automatically) – New color 2.7” (68.6mm) screen, flush with top of unit, not reflective Thus everything below assumes that as the baseline. So feature-wise, everything from those past units is there, and it retains the LED’s of the larger format ELEMNT (side and top). Both units share the same firmware, with the only differences being the extra LED strip and screen size. For this I’m using the existing BOLT/ELEMNT as the reference point. It’s best to start out with what’s new in the unit. I start off with the core 8 new things, and then transition to about 8 or so minutes of showing all the features in one big user interface extravaganza: Looking for the complete run-down of what’s new in the Wahoo ROAM, alongside a full hands-on walk through? Then scroll no further than the below video. If you find this review useful, and want to support this site, hit up the links at the end of the post. Once I’m done with it here in the next few days it goes back to Wahoo like everything else. First off, as usual, I was sent a media/PR loaner of the new Wahoo ROAM back in mid-March, and have been using it (and providing feedback) since. Though you know what, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself a bit. And at $379 for the ROAM, it better be fantastic. Today, people expect at the $299 price point to have routing and on-device navigation. And that’s before we even consider last week’s Edge 530 ($299), and Edge 830 ($399) units from Garmin. Garmin released their Edge 520 Plus with full routing at $279, and Sigma topped out the higher end with their ROX 12. In those two years there’s new entrants from the highly vibrant display and deep navigational features of the Hammerhead Karoo at $399. It just gave you an arrow in the general direction of your track and said ‘good luck’.Īnd to be fair, that works fine for lots of people – even including myself from time to time.īut the competition has stepped up. Additionally, it couldn’t re-route on streets if you got off-track. Meaning that you had to pre-load courses for any sorts of navigation tasks. While both the BOLT and the earlier ELEMNT did contain maps, they weren’t fully routable maps. It’s been a shade over two years since Wahoo released the black and white screen BOLT (officially known as the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT), and in that time the product has received numerous firmware updates adding a pile of new features. Unfortunately, it’s also far deeper than that. And if there’s any overarching theme of today, it’s going to be a complete misunderstanding of that value prop. Be it deciding whether that stale bagel at Starbucks is worth the apparent premium for being convenient to where you picked up your coffee, or as complex as deciding on a new bike computer. You’re constantly balancing the value prop for a given thing you’re contemplating purchasing. Just as it is for any number of decisions you make daily any time you open your wallet. See, the thing is, when I review products – price is an important piece of the equation. And unfortunately, today is one of those days. Sometimes, I don’t quite know how to start a product review. ![]()
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