Introducing the Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT BOLT

by Brian Mullin on March 15, 2017

 

The ELEMNT BOLT is the first fully aerodynamic GPS bike computer on the market, yet is still stock full of Wahoo’s excellent features that made the ELEMNT an incredible unit. Wahoo went back to the drawing board and used the features of the regular ELEMNT, compacted and lightened it and decreased the price.

Wahoo hired aerodynamics engineer Dimitris Katsanis to design a bike computer that supposedly helps reduce drag by 50%, which equates to a savings of 12.6 seconds over a 40km TT with an average speed of 21mph. The BOLT integrates with its mount and its shape, and low profile buttons provide a highly aerodynamic system built to be on the front of the bike.

Equipped with Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ dual-band technology, ELEMNT BOLT pairs seamlessly with all of your cycling sensors. It works with their free ELEMNT companion app which allows you to set up your data fields, customize profiles, track performance, and share ride data effortlessly – no more confusing menus! Plus, programmable LED QuickLook Indicators provide a quick way to see if you’re on pace with important performance metrics like speed, heart rate, and power. Designed for performance and engineered for simplicity – the ELEMNT BOLT GPS Bike Computer helps make every second count.

Features:

  • Strava Live Segments: Fully integrates with Strava Live Segments to give you accurate progress status and the Final Push to beat your goals.
  • Take Me Anywhere: Using the ELEMNT Companion App, enter a destination, address, or point of interest and to generate a route optimized for cycling, complete with turn-by-turn navigation cues on demand, and send the route to the ELEMNT BOLT via Bluetooth.
  • Turn-By-Turn Navigation with Ride with GPS and Komoot: Build a route in Ride with GPS or Komoot and get pop up and LED notifications on screen.
  • Best Bike Split Course and Race Plan: Fully integrates with Best Bike Split to display your target power, speed and time until your next cue. Once your race plan is on the ELEMNT BOLT you can control your KICKR or SNAP indoor bike trainer to ride your race in advance.
  • Electronic Shifting Integration: Displays a visual and numerical indication of what front and rear gears you are in as well as how much gear shifting battery remains. Works with Shimano Di2, SRAM eTAP, FSA WE, and Campagnolo EPS.
  • Muscle Oxygen Sensor Integration: Displays saturated and total hemoglobin metrics for your workout or lap. Works with BSXInsight and Moxy Muscle Oxygen Sensors.
  • Text & Phone Alerts: ELEMNT BOLT provides on-screen and LED notifications for calls, texts, and e-mails.
  • Quicklook Indicators: Programmable LED indicators provide a quick way to see if you’re on pace with important performance metrics like speed, heart rate and power.
  • Live Track: Look for fellow Wahooligans to meet up with nearby or friends and family can remotely track long rides.
  • E-mail Integration: Send routes via e-mail directly to the ELEMNT BOLT from a smartphone with just a tap.
  • Two Mounting Options: ELEMNT BOLT comes with two sturdy and secure mounts; an aerodynamic out-front mount and stem mount.

Compared to its brethren the BOLT has a smaller screen (2.2″ vs. 2.7″), weighs 40 grams less and only has a top set of LED, and the data field count drops from 11 to 9.

SPECIFICATIONS ELEMNT ELEMNT BOLT
Screen Size 2.7 in (68.6 mm) 2.2 in (55.9 mm)
Weight 3.5 oz (99.2 grams) 2.1 oz (60 grams)
Battery Life Rechargable (Up to 17 hours) Rechargable (Up to 15 hours)
Waterproof Rating IPX7 (Waterproof up to 5 ft) IPX7 (Waterproof up to 5 ft)
Mounts Included Out front, TT, Stem Integrated out front and Stem
Altimeter Yes Yes
LED Lights 2 rows 1 row
CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth Sensors HR, Speed, Cadence and Power HR, Speed, Cadence and Power
ANT+ Sensors HR, Speed, Cadence, Power, Electronic Shifting Systems, Muscle Oxygen HR, Speed, Cadence, Power, Electronic Shifting Systems, Muscle Oxygen
Wi-Fi Yes Yes
Phone Compatibility iPhone and Android iPhone and Android
GPS Yes Yes


Press Release

Atlanta, GA (March, 14, 2017)— Wahoo Fitness, the leader in workout apps and connected fitness devices, has just released ELEMNT BOLT, the latest model in its growing lineup of powerful, yet easy-to-use bike computers. Addressing the unique needs of the performance-driven rider, ELEMNT BOLT pairs the ELEMNT’s groundbreaking ease of use and powerful performance with a form factor designed to blend as seamlessly with your bike as it does with your training and racing.

Addressing the unique needs of the performance-driven rider, ELEMNT BOLT pairs the ELEMNT’s groundbreaking ease of use and powerful performance with a form factor designed to blend as seamlessly with your bike as it does with your training and racing.

With the introduction of the ELEMNT, Wahoo reinvented how users interact with their bike computer. Leveraging a powerful companion app to simplify setup and customization, they threw out the rulebook governing the cycling computer user experience up until then. Pairing a unique software approach with innovative hardware solutions, Wahoo also introduced game-changing features such as ‘Perfect View’ zoom and its ‘Quicklook’ LED Indicators.

After reinventing the GPS computer just a year ago, Wahoo didn’t rest there. While the ELEMNT took an innovative look at how a cyclist interacts with their computer and data, with the ELEMNT BOLT, Wahoo has redirected its focus onto how the computer interacts with its environment. Collaborating with world-renowned cycling aerodynamics expert Dimitris Katsanis, the same designer behind British Cycling’s revolutionary track bike that debuted at the 2002 Olympics and components of Bradley Wiggins’ 2015 Hour Record, Wahoo Fitness set out to design a bike computer that helped improve your performance, not just record it, while retaining the acclaimed user experience introduced with the ELEMNT.

Introducing ELEMNT BOLT: the first GPS cycling computer and mount developed as an integrated system in order to drastically reduce drag. When tested against leading competitors, the ELEMNT BOLT system was shown to reduce air resistance by over 50%. Putting that advantage into numbers, over the course of a 40-kilometer time trial, a rider traveling at 21 miles-per-hour will save 12.6 seconds over a rider using a leading GPS bike computer competitor.

“In recent years the sport of cycling has put a premium on the study of aerodynamics and gaining a mechanical advantage wherever possible. Knowing this, it was Wahoo’s primary goal to create a computer that improved results on the bike, not hinder them. The only way to do this was to think about the end result and work backwards from there. This led us to design the computer and the mount as one; an integrated aerodynamic package. All gains needed to be achieved while also improving the user experience, the core Wahoo promise to its customers. This forced an iterative design and testing process which resulted in the innovative ELEMNT BOLT system,” said Katsanis.

“It seemed silly that professional riders spend hours in the wind tunnel trying to reduce every watt of drag possible on their equipment setup, but until now, no one has focused on the computer design and how it affected performance. Instead, everyone seemed to be perfectly happy settling with the status quo,” said Chip Hawkins, Wahoo Fitness CEO. “We designed the ELEMNT BOLT to provide riders with all of the data they need to perform at their best, while also improving their results.”

ELEMNT BOLT utilizes a high-contrast 2.2-inch display as well as the QuickLook LEDs introduced on the ELEMNT to allow riders easy, at-a-glance access to pertinent ride data as well as call, text and email notifications. ELEMNT BOLT is equipped with WiFi for over the air updates and both ANT+ and Bluetooth allowing it to connect to sensors of all kinds, as well as most popular electronic shifting systems. As with the Wahoo ELEMNT, all data fields and page configurations can be customized via the ELEMNT companion

As with the Wahoo ELEMNT, all data fields and page configurations can be customized via the ELEMNT companion app available for both iOS and Android. The app also automates the pairing process for fast, frustration-free setup and personalization.

Pre-loaded with maps from around the world, the ELEMNT BOLT also seamlessly integrates with popular cycling platforms like Strava Live Segments, Best Bike Split Race Plans, and Ride With GPS.

ELEMNT BOLT retails for $249.99 and is currently available for purchase from wahoofitness.com as well as other leading bike dealers.

 

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