To many cyclists, especially road racers and triathletes, the ability to measure aerodynamic drag is the holy grail of data. The drag created by the body is one of the largest determinants of performance in these sports. And Wahoo brings relative aerodynamic drag measurements to the handlebar.
Wahoo’s air pressure sensor is a category first and is, by far, the standout feature of the ELEMNT Ace. The new release has many improvements over the brand’s past and popular bike computers, but we will focus on the Wahoo Wind Dynamics (WWD), as it clearly separates it from all other current models.
In short: The Wahoo ELEMNT Ace is a bike computer with an air-pressure sensor that helps riders maximize their aerodynamic efficiency. Beyond that, it’s a top-tier product that will compete with the best bike computers available.
Compare the Wahoo ELEMNT ACE with the competition in our guide to the best bike computers.
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Industry-first measurement and analysis of air pressure and its effects on groundspeed -
Wide display area makes navigation easier -
Doesn’t lack in any feature or measurement -
Touchscreen, physical buttons, and Wahoo firmware makes menu navigation much easier than Garmin
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Large form factor -
Heavy for a high-end bike computer -
New air pressure data set/calibration/analysis most likely needs refinement in the short-term
How Wahoo Wind Dynamics Works
The ability to measure air pressure doesn’t matter if it doesn’t provide actionable information. Wahoo distilled what could be an overwhelming data set to simple-to-use scores.
Forward-Facing Air Pressure Sensor and Simple Scoring
A front-facing port on the Wahoo ELEMNT Ace houses an air pressure sensor that collects data in real time. This data is converted to an AeroBoost or AeroDrag score. AeroBoost occurs when a relative tailwind assists groundspeed, and AeroDrag occurs when a relative headwind hampers groundspeed.
The AeroBoost and AeroDrag scores are super-simplistic compared to wind tunnel data. Still, at an MSRP of $600, the ELEMNT Ace is a relative bargain compared to other devices that measure similar things. No, it didn’t give me watts saved or a direct measurement of aerodynamic drag. But it did deliver an easy-to-grasp quantifying metric about my relative slipperiness in the air.
Post-ride, the Wahoo app uses the WWD to provide analysis to better understand wind speed and how it impacts performance. This allows the cyclist to be better educated about following attempts at gaining free speed.
At the time of writing, I only have a few road rides’ worth of WWD data at my disposal. It was super-interesting to me as a former road racer and current Master’s athlete trying to keep up with the youngsters.
Aerodynamic gains are “free” speed, as the increase in performance doesn’t come at the cost of physical work. I consider aero gains as a hedge against the natural decline in aerobic capacities that come with age that maybe younger cyclists overlook.
Actionable Data
The Wahoo ELEMNT Ace, even with its simplistic data output, did provide actionable information.
The WWD made it apparent that certain gross body positions created more drag than others, some of which were surprising. For example, getting my upper body and head lower stopped producing gains past a certain point. I surmised it was because getting aggressively low forced my arms further laterally to maintain leverage on the bars, taking them out of the “wind shadow” of my upper body and head.
Another equally important change I could make using WWD is optimizing my position within a group relative to other riders and wind direction. Having a real-time relative AirDrag or AirBoost score could again aid in finding “free” speed. I didn’t get to ride in a group in the short period I had the ELEMNT Ace before this launch, but it’s the next thing I want to try.
Having this constant reminder to maintain favorable WWD metrics could be just as beneficial to my performance as tweaking my training or lifestyle to ferret out marginal gains.
Of course, the wind resistance data is only usable in real time when the wind conditions are relatively stable, especially when riding solo. This was the case for the few rides I did before the launch.
Other Wahoo ELEMNT Ace Improvements
The wind sensor is the show-stopper, but Wahoo added other features and tech to make the ELEMNT Ace its top-tier bike computer.
Large Touchscreen
The TFT screen is significantly larger than any prior Wahoo bike computer. Wahoo claims it’s also the largest current screen on any model from any brand. Indeed, I thought the new Garmin 1050 had a large screen, but the ELEMNT Ace is much wider at 3.8″ diagonally and with a 3:2 aspect ratio.
This screen is also Wahoo’s first touchscreen. Although I’ve always found the Wahoo menus more enjoyable to navigate than anything Garmin has produced, the touchscreen, combined with three tactile buttons, made the ELEMNT Ace even easier to use. The menus are logical and involve much less digging through submenus than on other units. I didn’t once feel like I needed to reference any instructions during the setup or during use.
Wahoo coats the screen with anti-glare and anti-reflective coatings, and I found it easy to read in almost all conditions. The touchscreen was also responsive when it was wet or when my finger was super-sweaty.
Turn-by-Turn Voice Navigation
Another significantly different feature of the Wahoo ELEMNT Ace is its voice navigation. Similar to driving a car using Google or Apple Maps, voice-guided turns and notifications are said to reduce the dependency on looking at the screen.
I thought this would be super-beneficial when traversing challenging sections on an unknown route. It’s great not to have to look down at speed when traction is scarce and the terrain is rough. I’ve experienced this when charging ahead of someone who knows the trail when I didn’t; the verbal cues allowed me to focus my attention on things that keep me upright and maintain my speed and momentum.
I didn’t get to ride in an area that I at least had some familiarity with, but I’m excited to try voice navigation the next time I’m barreling down to an unknown fork in the road, and I need to concentrate on what my tires are doing.
Digital Bike Bell
Wahoo installed a digital bike bell on the ELEMNT Ace. Garmin did the same with the 1050, and at first, I thought it was just a novelty. But I’ve found these digital bells super-handy when using the same gravel trails as runners.
All other main features, connectivity, app, and other technology were on par with other high-end bike computers that I’ve been testing recently.
Initial Dings
There were a few negative aspects of the Wahoo ELEMNT Ace that revolved around its size. It’s larger than the Garmin 1050, which I thought was huge when I started using it. The ELEMNT Ace is substantially wider and thicker than the 1050.
First, anyone interested in air pressure while riding is most likely concerned with bike weight. I’m a recovering weight weenie, and when I held the ELEMNT Ace in my hand, and it obviously weighed much more than my iPhone, I thought, “I don’t know, man. I do so many things to save grams here and there on my road race bike; this is too much.”
At a verified 208 g, it outweighs the former heavyweight champ, the Garmin 1050, by almost 50 g. To a road racer who dons aero socks, this could be concerning.
The relatively massive dimensions of 4.9″ x 2.75″ x 0.78″ meant that most of my computer mounts were too short. The bottom of the ELEMNT Ace hit the bars on every mount I had, even the ones that fit the already tall Garmin 1050. Luckily, Wahoo includes a high-quality, aluminum clamp-style mount.
Finally, the large size made me fear for the ELEMNT Ace should I crash. It’s just a larger target to hit when the bike goes flying.
First Look Conclusions on the Wahoo ELEMNT Ace
When I first heard of the possible wind sensor on the new Wahoo bike computer, I thought it would be gimmicky. I didn’t understand how something that measures air pressure could provide any useful data when it had to be housed in a singular, relatively small package. I didn’t think that technology existed based on other pilot tube-based accessories that are much more cumbersome, complicated, and costly.
But Wahoo created an air pressure-sensing bike computer that, during this initial first-look review, proved to provide just enough information, at a seemingly adequate resolution and accuracy to guide changes to improve aerodynamic performance. All for a price that is $100 less than the top-tier Garmin 1050, which has no such capability.
And, similar to all the recent bike computer and outdoor smartwatch releases, firmware and software updates come frequently and quickly. Who knows where the wind sensor and WWD will lead?
For now, it did provide useful and actionable data, and it’s a fine bike computer otherwise. Yes, it’s big, it’s heavy, but does it matter that much when you are training? I think the data it provides now and could provide in the future is well worth the extra 50-75 g. And I’m such a weight weenie.
