While many of us ride to get away from being constantly connected to our digital world, having a device on your bars which will help you get the most out of your free time has got to be a good thing hasn’t it? In the last six months Wahoo have launched three new models of bike computer, all of which have features which make them perfectly suited to our gravelly world. We thought we’d put together an overview of their range, so that you can see the details of each model.
Everything in the world of products, particularly tech, seems to grow bigger with each iteration – phones and cars are the two obvious examples, but in the gravel world too, the bigger-is-better mantra is pretty prevalent. You only have to look at the batch of gravel bikes to be launched so far this year to see that tyre volume is the latest area where what would have been considered the norm a few years has now been superseded by a new (and significantly) bigger standard.
When Wahoo launched their Element ACE bike computer in December 2024, every online comment or review seemed to focus on the size of the unit. While it’s true, the ACE, which measures 125x70x20mm, is significantly larger than previous Wahoo bike computers, it’s smaller than a typical smartphone - an iPhone 16Pro is 149.6x71.5x8.25mm and a Samsung Galaxy S25 is 162.8x77.6x8.2mm for example. Although the ACE takes up more space on your bike, the large, bright, full-colour touch screen is a real boon and means that a quick glance down should give you all the information you need, no matter how challenging the gravel trail is.
The recently announced Wahoo Element BOLT 3 and Element ROAM 3, in comparison, are definitely the smaller sibling of the ACE. The newly updated BOLT 3 (which will be available from May 6th and will cost £299.99) is the smallest of the trio. It’s a diminutive 83x47x24mm and weighs only 84g. The BOLT 3 comes with a 5.8cm full-colour high resolution display and offers a battery life of up to 20 hours. Wahoo describe the BOLT 3 as “compact, aerodynamic and built for speed.” Considering the size of the unit, Wahoo have managed to fit a lot in - dual-band GPS, built-in smart navigation, live-tracking, control of music & devices such as a GoPro camera and 32GB of internal memory.
The Wahoo Element ROAM 3 (which will also be available from May 6th and will cost £399.99) measures 96x53x24mm and weighs 109g. It offers a 7.1cm full-colour, high resolution, anti-glare screen, but this time it’s been upgraded to have touch screen functionality. The unit offers up to 25 hours of battery life and comes with a built-in audio speaker which allows for “audible turn-by-turn directions”. Wahoo describe the ROAM 3 as “powerful, robust and adventure ready.” The upgraded touch-screen means users can “Tap, pinch, zoom, swipe to interact with your ride like you do with your phone.” The ROAM 3 benefits from all of the features of the smaller BOLT 3, but has longer battery life, a bigger touch screen and a built-in memory capacity of 64GB.
Finally comes the big daddy – the Element ACE. This unit was released in December 2024 and is available to buy now, priced at £549.99. Although the unit is the largest of the three at 125x70x20mm and weighs in a 208g, it’s packed with features – a 9.7cm touch screen, 64GB of internal memory, up to 30 hours of battery life, audible turn-by-turn directions, dual-band GPS, built-in smart navigation and a digital bike bell! Although Wahoo are no longer promoting it quite as heavily, the ACE unit comes with one unique feature – a built-in wind sensor. This “front-facing air pressure sensor, enables cyclists to measure the effects of relative air resistance in real time. When coupled with bike speed ('regular' speed) data, the ACE can estimate the approximate speed impact of wind conditions (headwind, tailwind, or drafting benefit) and present a Wind zone – AirBoost, Neutral Air or AirDrag.”
Olly has had an Element ACE on loan from Wahoo since early 2025 and has taken it to 4000m in the Nepali Himalaya, through jungles in Sri Lanka and rattled it over the cobbles of Newcastle upon Tyne. After a few initial teething problems the unit has performed perfectly and the combination of large, bright display and super-long battery life has proved to be a winning one!
You can find out all the details of Wahoo’s bike computers (and their other products) on their website.