Wahoo ELEMNT Ace (on Specialized E-Bikes)

[Jeremy McCreary]

Wait, you ride to Siberia for your vodka?? That's real brand loyalty!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Wait, you ride to Siberia for your vodka?? That's real brand loyalty!

Moscow and several other interesting areas including Palestine on the way!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Jeremy McCreary: Fancy a ride to La Jolla, a couple of photos there then back? Just 50 miles round trip
(Watching "The Lincoln Lawyer" season 4 on Netflix)

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

@Jeremy McCreary: Fancy a ride to La Jolla, a couple of photos there then back? Just 50 miles round trip

Excellent suggestion! I've ridden the 42 mi round trip to the Torrey Pines area of north La Jolla on my SL 1. Fantastic coast ride!

But have yet to make it down to the west end of the La Jolla Peninsula near downtown. Bike infrastructure gaps have been putting me off so far, but maybe there's a safer route I've overlooked.

(Watching "The Lincoln Lawyer" season 4 on Netflix)

It's out now? Really enjoyed seasons 1-3, so we'll definitely be watching.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It's out now? Really enjoyed seasons 1-3, so we'll definitely be watching.

It is, and it is lovely!

Episode 4.

Bike infrastructure gaps have been putting me off so far, but maybe there's a safer route I've overlooked.

I can send you a GPX of what Komoot thinks is a safe route

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Jeremy McCreary:
From Carlsbad to La Jolla (20 miles of cycleways one way!)
You can download this GPX and send it to your ACE.
Or, just use the Wahoo's routing features

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

@Jeremy McCreary:
From Carlsbad to La Jolla (20 miles of cycleways one way!)
You can download this GPX and send it to your ACE.
Or, just use the Wahoo's routing features

View attachment 205606

Thanks! l'll scout that route with satellite view to see what the bike infrastructure looks like. It's the horrible traffic on that final westbound segment into downtown La Jolla that worries me.

 

[Aushiker]

Do you know the address?

1. Open your Wahoo app
2. Click Explore at the bottom
3. Click My saved locations
4. Click the big "+" icon in the top right corner
5. In the Search field, type the place name (mine would be Fregata Kawiarnia -- a place name -- or Międzynarodowa 65, Warsaw -- a street address)
6. Select the address from the list then click the Add button
7. "Name this location?" - enter any name you like (mine would be just Fregata). Confirm the location name
8. Now, go back to your Saved Locations. Click your Saved Place. "Share location to ELEMNT?". Click Navigate.
9. (If you don't know the address, you can tap on the map in the app).

The route would be transferred to your connected Wahoo device.
Personally, I prefer using Komoot to plan the routes (these are transferred automatically or semi-automatically to a connected Wahoo device). However, Wahoo provides its own navigation though.

Wahoo has had its own navigation since Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 1 in 2017

Thanks for the directions on the app. I did look at the app but missed that completely. I notice that the app maps show street names, which is helpful. Interestingly, I entered the name of a country town in Western Australia, and it returned suggestions in India. This is despite it showing my location on the map. I think it needs further work. Yes I did find it by being more specific with name and the state, but still.

As for my Garmin, my most recent model was the Garmin Edge 1030, but the previous Edge 1000 also allows routing to an address or POI directly from the GPS unit. This is the same as with the Garmin motorcycle GPS, the Zumo models. I have never used the Garmin app for any routing (other than transferring pre-planned rides to the GPS). I cannot recall if my earlier models had such a feature.

Anyway, this instance, I fired up my phone and used Ride With GPS, but really, I do not believe that this should be necessary with a GPS unit. I would hate to be in a situation where I need to rely on a phone without coverage.

 

[Aushiker]

Garmin is not any better in this respect Honestly, I could not find a way to be taken to a specific address on my Garmin 540, even on the Garmin Connect app! (As everything in Garmin, it must be a well hidden feature). All I could do was tapping on the map in Garmin Connect and sending the created route to the device.

However, having several destinations created in Wahoo app you get them on the device under the "Route to..." option. Route to... "Home" is my favourite!

It is also possible to make Saved Locations on the device. See the next post.

As I noted in my earlier reply, at least with the Edge 1000 and onwards, routing to POI, localities and addresses directly in the GPS unit is possible and I have done it at times. I have never used my phone. Maybe this is limited to the higher-end models in the range.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

As I noted in my earlier reply, at least with the Edge 1000 and onwards, routing to POI, localities and addresses directly in the GPS unit is possible and I have done it at times. I have never used my phone. Maybe this is limited to the higher-end models in the range.

Please explain how it is done, step by step. It is never too late for me to learn!
P.S. While Wahoo 3 has become similar to Garmin, Wahoo has always been a phone controlled device. Garmin has learnt the lesson and now you can -- for instance -- configure your Garmin from the smartphone: only now, after so many years!

 

[Aushiker]

Please explain how it is done, step by step. It is never too late for me to learn!
P.S. While Wahoo 3 has become similar to Garmin, Wahoo has always been a phone controlled device. Garmin has learnt the lesson and now you can -- for instance -- configure your Garmin from the smartphone: only now, after so many years!

My most recent experience is with the Garmin Edge 1030. The manual, page 25 outlines the navigate to a location feature.

 

[Aushiker]

I simulated my phone not having cell coverage (set it to flight mode) and attempted to add a location to my saved locations in the Wahoo app. It failed, which suggests this feature requires cell coverage. From my perspective as a bikepacker/tourer, who is often out of range, this is not ideal. One should be able to rely on a GPS unit using a simple search function, aka Garmin Edge, IMO.

As a backup, I have now set up Locus Maps and OsmAnd for offline mapping on the phone (I should have done this anyway, but being a relatively new phone, I had overlooked it).

 

[Aushiker]

Wahoo support has suggested another option using Apple/Google maps. I am not familiar with Apple Maps, but at least with Google it is easy to save offline maps. See https://support.wahoofitness.com/hc...a-location-from-Apple-or-Google-Maps-apps-ACE.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I simulated my phone not having cell coverage (set it to flight mode) and attempted to add a location to my saved locations in the Wahoo app. It failed, which suggests this feature requires cell coverage. From my perspective as a bikepacker/tourer, who is often out of range, this is not ideal. One should be able to rely on a GPS unit using a simple search function, aka Garmin Edge, IMO.

Wahoo ACE is totally autonomous for "Select location on map" or "Saved locations" (where you select a location by tapping on the device map). As long as the GPX fix is available, you can navigate to the location shown on the map or to one of Saved Locations or to a Saved Location created by tapping on the device map. No, ACE cannot search for a street address using the device only.

As a backup, I have now set up Locus Maps and OsmAnd for offline mapping on the phone (I should have done this anyway, but being a relatively new phone, I had overlooked it).

As a Komoot Premium user, I would download offline maps to Komoot, do the route planning there, saved the new Route there. The Komoot route would be automatically sent to ACE by Bluetooth (of course, that would not work in the Airplane Mode but would work without any mobile network coverage).

Wahoo support has suggested another option using Apple/Google maps. I am not familiar with Apple Maps, but at least with Google it is easy to save offline maps. See https://support.wahoofitness.com/hc...a-location-from-Apple-or-Google-Maps-apps-ACE.

That would require mobile network coverage though?

 

[Aushiker]

Wahoo ACE is totally autonomous for "Select location on map" or "Saved locations" (where you select a location by tapping on the device map). As long as the GPX fix is available, you can navigate to the location shown on the map or to one of Saved Locations or to a Saved Location created by tapping on the device map. No, ACE cannot search for a street address using the device only.

Please see my comment posted previously. Your response does not change that experience. One you do not have to incur with at least some Garmin models, including the Wahoo Ace's direct competitors, the 1030, 1040 and 1050. Heck, you can even do this on the Hammerhead Karoo 3.

That Wahoo support's suggestion to use Apple/Google maps speaks volumes IMO.

As a Komoot Premium user, I would download offline maps to Komoot, do the route planning there, saved the new Route there. The Komoot route would be automatically sent to ACE by Bluetooth (of course, that would not work in the Airplane Mode but would work without any mobile network coverage).

I am glad that works for you. I am not a Komoot premium member and will not pay money to a company like Bending Spoons, but hey, each to their own. That said I am more than happy being a premium member of Ride With GPS, so I will stick with them for at least the remainder of 2026.

That would require mobile network coverage though?

Google Maps lets you download map areas for offline use. So I have, for example, downloaded maps for the areas that I will be bikepacking this year. They stay active on the phone for ~ a year and can be updated at any time.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I am glad that works for you. I am not a Komoot premium member and will not pay money to a company like Bending Spoons, but hey, each to their own. That said I am more than happy being a premium member of Ride With GPS, so I will stick with them for at least the remainder of 2026.

You can do exactly the same with RWGPS as I can do with Komoot.

Wahoo 2 had a way more navigational options than the 3. I think the missing features will come in future software updates.

 

[Aushiker]

You can do exactly the same with RWGPS as I can do with Komoot.

Komoot Premium features versus Ride With GPS Premium features. Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I am glad that works for you. I am not a Komoot premium member and will not pay money to a company like Bending Spoons, but hey, each to their own. That said I am more than happy being a premium member of Ride With GPS, so I will stick with them for at least the remainder of 2026.

Bending Spoons are a scourge on humanity. Right cnuts. They just bought Vimeo and promptly sacked everybody.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Komoot Premium features versus Ride With GPS Premium features. Thanks, but no thanks.

The most interesting difference between these two system is you pay a one-time flat fee for Komoot Regions and you never need the Premium for almost all Komoot features, PC or smartphone. While you need a subscription for RWGPS to even plan your route on the smartphone. That is why almost everybody in Poland uses Komoot.

The other major difference is RWGPS has no clue whether you ride a road, gravel or mountain bike. Komoot makes a principal difference between these bike types and produces different routes from A to B based on the terrain. (If you force a route through wrong surfaces, Komoot will tell you what surfaces and exactly where). Moreover, I can see a substantial development in Komoot since the ownership change. No new development under the old owner could be seen for several years!

RWGPS or Komoot is a personal choice. Both work with Wahoo the same way. I have been an RWGPS subscriber for quite a long time, so I know a thing or two.

Regarding the YT video: Was the Route Planner anything new to you, Andrew?

 

[Aushiker]

The most interesting difference between these two system is you pay a one-time flat fee for Komoot Regions and you never need the Premium for almost all Komoot features, PC or smartphone. While you need a subscription for RWGPS to even plan your route on the smartphone. That is why almost everybody in Poland uses Komoot.

Well, if that is one's use case, then that is fine.

As for paying for an app, that is a personal choice. Personally, I do not see the value in Komoot (nor will my ethics allow me to pay Bending Spoons), but I appreciate that it is a different choice for you. I am not interested in judging you or anyone for that choice; I am just interested in sharing information for informed choices.


As to map types:

To further assist with route planning, premium users have access to layers that, shock horror, include unpaved cycling routes. Again, the help files can provide more details. Advanced map layers are also coming to the mobile app as of 25 October 2025 for free and premium users

The other major difference is RWGPS has no clue whether you ride a road, gravel or mountain bike.

That is not true, Stefan. You can choose the road surface, paved or unpaved, if you want to use the auto route feature. You can even use the layer's feature to show "unpaved cycling."

Secondly, my point with the video was to hopefully show the other features regarding route planning, but I should have checked whether those features were up to date. My bad. The features as of today include the following: These may not be all exclusive, but are just the features available:

[1] Ability to reverse a route that has been planned.
[2] You can plan a route to be an out-and-back. I have never used this feature, so not sure if it addresses a known issue with earlier Garmin when navigating such routes.
[3] Duplicate a route.
[4] Split a route. Real handy if you are planning an overall route and then want to split it into, say, day sections.
[5] You can trace a route.
[6] You can delete a section of the route. This is something I use a lot and find really handy, as I do not have to re-plan the remainder of the route to change a section.
[7] You can flatten a route.
[8] Change the route colour or sections after you have planned it.
[9] You can crop the route.
[10] Change surface
[11] Heatmaps, which in my case also show Audax Australia Cycling Club heatmaps.

RWGPS or Komoot is a personal choice. Both work with Wahoo the same way. I have been an RWGPS subscriber for quite a long time, so I know a thing or two.

That is great for you. I do not care if you are a Komoot user and prefer it over the alternatives. It is an app, after all; it is not the end of the world if you prefer one over another.

BTW, I have experience with Komoot and carefully evaluated it for my usage before deciding to stay with RWGPS. Of course, other use cases vary, and Komoot may work for them, as it does for you. I just hope I can provide information that helps others make informed choices.