Wahoo ELEMNT vs. Garmin EDGE (as E-Bike GPS Displays)

I gotta have cadence and 3s power. I've ridden so long with it. The four screens plus the Mode on the Kiox have all the data that I need from the bike. I just wish it were on one 10-screen Garmin display.

This is my first e-bike. I have no regrets.
 
Ras, to save me 21 minutes of life please tell me what the e-bike in question is and whether Coospo can recognise the SL Range Extender.

Thank you!
No idea if it can see the RE. I don't own a bike computer myself. As I said, several people have recommended/reviewed the Coospo recently. So thought I'd mention it for EBR readers as an alternative to Wahoo/Garmin & supply one owner/Youtuber's review who no doubt has tested it fairly well. He rides an Orbea gain, so I was aware he had an ebike not an ordinary bike. He gives a good honest review.
 
Lots of MTBers downgrade whatever Bosch computer comes with the bike to the Purion 200. Which is similar to the Steps 7000 display my eMTB came with (super minimal, clamps to the bar just to the right of the stem). My only complaint with the Shimano display is it only shows battery as 5 bars (instead of a granular percentage) which I hate. Connecting to the Garmin is necessary to actually get a battery percentage. I would probably be fine with a Purion 200/400; the only data I care about is assist mode and battery percentage. But I would definitely prefer to just have the data on the Garmin since I'll have that anyway, and its nice to have it recorded in the .fit file.
Yes the Shimano interface sucks. No elevation either and very clunky with the two apps instead of a combined single app like Spesh. Plus turning on the app you have to have the bike power off, then on, or visa versa always forget which. Interesting that Garmin gives accurate battery, thats useful.
 
Must be me but I'm really not that interested in a million stats on a ride. I just want to get outside and explore. I don't race anymore, I'm not trying to break any records so the Strava bros stuff is of zero interest. Gradient and elevation are interesting to see when a hill feels tough. My Ordnance Survey map app is great for exploring and finding hidden byways, if in doubt I stop and check it. I'll also run the new Spesh app (after MC died) for mileage and elevation on the SL and if on an ordinary bike I'll often run the Spesh Ride app. On the Cairn with the EP6 I've given up on running the Shimano app & just use Ride or nothing at all.
 
I don't own a bike computer myself.
How do you determine the speed of your Vado SL? Do you have a Mastermind TCU? Or, do you use the TCD?

I have eventually watched the recommended video. The man is not using the E-Bike GPS computer features with his bike. If I could understand what he said, Coospo had no maps but the "breadcrumb" navigation (am I right Coospo has no maps?) There are many similar bike computers that are inexpensive: Bryton, Sigma, IGP etc. In the heavyweight class, there are only three players: Garmin, Wahoo and Hammerhead. Good maps are pretty expensive, hence the high price in that class.

I have watched a video on the recent Wahoo Bolt 3 and Roam 3. No reason to upgrade from Roam 2 for me. I don't need the touchscreen, voice turn directions or Activity Profiles. A new user would benefit from version 3. I need to mention even the v1 was pretty good if not the Micro-USB and too little internal memory. However, v1 cannot do the Summit (an advanced climbing assistant) while v 2 and 3 can do it.

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Wahoo Roam 2 on my Vado SL in my everyday life.
 
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Must be me but I'm really not that interested in a million stats on a ride. I just want to get outside and explore. I don't race anymore, I'm not trying to break any records so the Strava bros stuff is of zero interest. Gradient and elevation are interesting to see when a hill feels tough. My Ordnance Survey map app is great for exploring and finding hidden byways, if in doubt I stop and check it. I'll also run the new Spesh app (after MC died) for mileage and elevation on the SL and if on an ordinary bike I'll often run the Spesh Ride app. On the Cairn with the EP6 I've given up on running the Shimano app & just use Ride or nothing at all.

I do like having some stats after the ride. I sometimes go back and look at old routes (I even have sporttracks 3 installed so I can pull up rides from before I started tracking on Strava ~mid 2010). There are times where I'm planning a ride and want to look at a route some friends and I did 10 years ago and its nice to be able to pull it up. On the ebike its very useful to track how much battery I've used on previous rides using different assist levels before to have an idea of whether I should bring my second battery/extender/both. Being able to do route planning ahead of time and follow routes is nice.

But I'm not really too worried about tons of stats while actually out riding.
 
How do you determine the speed of your Vado SL? Do you have a Mastermind TCU? Or, do you use the TCD?

When I'm cycling? I don't. Phone in pocket or handlebar bag, nothing to interrupt the ride. Find screens distracting and in ordinary life I'm staring at my damn phone far too much. As I said if I get lost I will stop and check map on phone. Might then check Spesh app for mileage if I'm on the SL or Ride if on another bike. I don't need to see my speed.
The new Cairn has a Shimano handlebar display and I find I'm playing with the thing far too much!
 
I do like having some stats after the ride. I sometimes go back and look at old routes (I even have sporttracks 3 installed so I can pull up rides from before I started tracking on Strava ~mid 2010). There are times where I'm planning a ride and want to look at a route some friends and I did 10 years ago and its nice to be able to pull it up. On the ebike its very useful to track how much battery I've used on previous rides using different assist levels before to have an idea of whether I should bring my second battery/extender/both. Being able to do route planning ahead of time and follow routes is nice.

But I'm not really too worried about tons of stats while actually out riding.
That info was all stored in Mission Control and I assume the new Spesh app; distance, max speed, map, elevation and so on so I didn't need a bike computer and yes I like occasionally looking back at rides and comparing to recent ones. But I just don't have much need while I'm out riding. As long as I remember to hit start on the Spesh app or Spesh Ride etc so info is there when I get home. Don't think Spesh stores battery use per ride? So yeah that would be handy to have.

Speaking of which, did someone say the new spesh app gives proper accurate reading of total battery and not just say 100% like Mission Control used to? After 4 and a half years I'd like to know how it's really doing.
 
I have eventually watched the recommended video. The man is not using the E-Bike GPS computer features with his bike

He's an interesting bloke, classic roadie, more interested in stats about himself I'd say rather than the ebike features. He built a homemade range extender for his Gain as he found the Mahle ones were not great. Has had heart issues so very interested in heart monitors for obvious reasons. Does fantastic videos of himself exploring the backroads & mountains of Catalonia, including snippets of local history with old mountain villages, castles and Spanish civil war sites. Occasionally Orbea and BH send him new bikes to test which is fascinating to see. That top of the range BH iAerolight Pro was a stunning very light mid drive road bike.
 
I gotta have cadence and 3s power. I've ridden so long with it.
Is "3s power" rider power averaged over the last 3 seconds?

Curious as to how you put that info to use in the saddle?

Unlike you, I'm a so-so recreational rider with no interest in racing or formal training. But I've always paid close attention to my cadence meter. The power meter built into my Vado SL 5.0 is my first, and now I'm hooked on that, too.

For me, the combined power and cadence readout feeds a keen interest in cycling physics and a casual interest in my own performance. The power's often a spur to work a little harder but sometimes just a vanity thing: Hey, I'm putting out 300W! How long can I keep it up?

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The SL's display is on this page about 90% of the time. By all accounts, the rider power numbers tend to be 5-10% too high, but that's close enough for my purposes.

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Toggle to this main page now and then — mainly just to check the battery or the time but sometimes to see what speed I'm getting for the leg power invested.
 
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Not sure how accurate this is, but here's some info I get with my Garmin Edge 530 on my 2021 Giant Stance E+2. This makes its way into Strava...

 
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Not sure how accurate this is
Dave, it looks your leg input "includes zeroes" in the stats. Perhaps there is a way in Garmin system to set it to not include the time you are coasting? (Just a guess). My 540 gave me my leg power of order of 78 W, which is similar to Wahoo! (Similar values on Trance E+ and Vado SL).

Is "3s power" rider power averaged over the last 3 seconds?
Yes it is. It is probably the same value you are getting on your Mastermind. (I hope Stompandgo will come with a practical information). If it comes to me, it is the most practical parameter I can choose from the available ones for power both in Wahoo and Garmin.
 
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He built a homemade range extender for his Gain as he found the Mahle ones were not great.
For one, Mahle x35 and x20 have no ANT+ (no hub drive has). I could see him installing a cadence meter on his crankarm, a step in the right direction. Now, Garmin 130+ is a low priced option for a traditional cyclist. I'm even not sure whether it handles the e-bike part of the business!

Just to explain myself: I am a data geek and bought my first Vado for the data in the first place (Mission Control). What a disappointment to get a BLOKS e-bike... no connectivity. Fortunately Specialized has upgraded my Vado on warranty. Since then, I have only bought data capable e-bikes (Specialized and Giant).
 
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Dave, it looks your leg input "includes zeroes" in the stats. Perhaps there is a way in Garmin system to set it to not include the time you are coasting? (Just a guess). My 540 gave me my leg power of order of 78 W, which is similar to Wahoo! (Similar values on Trance E+ and Vado SL).


Yes it is. It is probably the same value you are getting on your Mastermind. (I hope Stompandgo will come with a practical information). If it comes to me, it is the most practical parameter I can choose from the available ones for power both in Wahoo and Garmin.
3s power is indeed averaged over 3 seconds, every 3 seconds. Instantaneous power (usually every 0.1 second or less) is mainly relevant to racers when training or racing events where peak power is a measure of training results and will help set training goals for the future. A good example would be a sprinter who wants to know their "jump power", or the first 1/4 stroke to start the sprint. It may only be able to be held for a fraction of a second, but it can win races, and you can train for it, mainly with weights. 3s power is important for sustained efforts measured in seconds or minutes. Beyond that, the gold standard for rider power is FTP, or Functional Threshold Power. The time metric for FTP is 60 minutes.

The three main metrics for training on the bike are power, heart rate, and RPE (Relative Perceived Exertion). RPE is, "how do I feel right now while I'm expending this effort"? Heart rate is a lagging indicator, by at least 10 seconds or more, and RPE can be as well. Power is instantaneous, and averaged over 3 seconds can be pretty accurate.

The average power metric depends on what's measuring it, but it usually is measured in minutes. On my Kiox, it seems like 3 minutes or so. I use that along with RPE and HR to gauge fitness after a ride.

I hope this helps.
 
3s power is indeed averaged over 3 seconds, every 3 seconds. Instantaneous power (usually every 0.1 second or less) is mainly relevant to racers when training or racing events where peak power is a measure of training results and will help set training goals for the future. A good example would be a sprinter who wants to know their "jump power", or the first 1/4 stroke to start the sprint. It may only be able to be held for a fraction of a second, but it can win races, and you can train for it, mainly with weights. 3s power is important for sustained efforts measured in seconds or minutes. Beyond that, the gold standard for rider power is FTP, or Functional Threshold Power. The time metric for FTP is 60 minutes.

The three main metrics for training on the bike are power, heart rate, and RPE (Relative Perceived Exertion). RPE is, "how do I feel right now while I'm expending this effort"? Heart rate is a lagging indicator, by at least 10 seconds or more, and RPE can be as well. Power is instantaneous, and averaged over 3 seconds can be pretty accurate.

The average power metric depends on what's measuring it, but it usually is measured in minutes. On my Kiox, it seems like 3 minutes or so. I use that along with RPE and HR to gauge fitness after a ride.

I hope this helps.
Thanks, very helpful. And what do you actually do with that 3s power data while riding?

Just asking to see if I can get more out of my own power data short of formal training. No plans for an HR monitor.
 
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That info was all stored in Mission Control and I assume the new Spesh app; distance, max speed, map, elevation and so on so I didn't need a bike computer and yes I like occasionally looking back at rides and comparing to recent ones. But I just don't have much need while I'm out riding. As long as I remember to hit start on the Spesh app or Spesh Ride etc so info is there when I get home. Don't think Spesh stores battery use per ride? So yeah that would be handy to have.

Speaking of which, did someone say the new spesh app gives proper accurate reading of total battery and not just say 100% like Mission Control used to? After 4 and a half years I'd like to know how it's really doing.
As seen by the latest (black-icon) Specialized app, today's lazy neighborhood ride with wife on my SL 1 5.0 with Mastermind TCU...

Complete custom riding screen, just before hitting Finish:
Screenshot_20250509_170012_Specialized.jpg


Resulting ride report, top to bottom:
Screenshot_20250509_172005_Specialized.jpg
Screenshot_20250509_172057_Specialized.jpg
Screenshot_20250509_172127_Specialized.jpg

Note "Battery used" field above. Seems pretty accurate to me.

Page opened by the "View All Data" button, top to bottom:
Screenshot_20250509_172535_Specialized.jpg
Screenshot_20250509_172611_Specialized.jpg
Screenshot_20250509_172637_Specialized.jpg

All of this data can be exported directly from the Specialized app to RideWithGPS for further analysis. *

Page opened by the "Analyze Your Ride" button:
Screenshot_20250509_172302_Specialized.jpg


* Ride data transfers in a .FIT file. The import to RideWithGPS is usually seamless, but 3 days ago, the Android RideWithGPS app developed a bug that chokes on direct .FIT imports.

Fortunately, there's a pretty easy workaround: The Specialized app has an option to export the .FIT file to an email. Just address it to "[email protected]" and send. (Guessing that the email's "from" address will have to match the email address of record in your RideWithGPS account.) The ride shows up on the RideWithGPS app's home page within a minute.
 
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Thank you @stompandgo!
For me, HR cannot be used as I am on a Beta-blocker medication if you know what I mean :) (A beta-blocker controls your heart rate).
Well you can, when associated with your power and RPE. You may never hit your maximum heart rate because of the drug, but you should hit some "ceiling level" when your effort becomes a little uncomfortable. You may hit that point every time you ride, and it may never increase with fitness, but it's still there if you choose to use it.
 
Thanks, very helpful. And what do you actually do with that 3s power data while riding?

Just asking to see if I can get more out of my own power data short of formal training. No plans for an HR monitor.
Again, it's one metric out of three that tell me how I am doing at any given moment. When I was training and racing 6 days/week, it was very important. If I was supposed to stay in zone 2, that correlates to an average power number that I had to stay under. If I was doing interval training, 3s power would tell me if my 200% (2x FTP) intervals were at 200%.

For me now, it's about getting fitness back. I ride a lot of the same roads under similar, but not exactly the same (not indoor) conditions. If I'm going on a 1 mile stretch on a false flat up that I did the week before at 150w, and I'm doing it today at 170w, at the same assist level, and my RPE and HR are similar or less, then my fitness may be improving. So I watch it, to correlate how I'm feeling. The e-bike adds another dimension with the assist. On my early rides, I rode on Eco (Mode 1) on the way out, until I got tired, then increased to Sport (Mode 2) for the rest of the ride. On my last ride, I rode in Off (Mode 0) for five miles, then Eco to the terminus and part way back, before increasing to Sport, partly to increase speed so that I could return before 5pm. It was more of a workout. My goal is to ride to ride to Provincetown and back on one charge this summer. That's the extent of my "training".
 
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