I bought a Fenix 5X plus about 18 months ago and I love it. Primarily because no bike computer had music integration, but the watch allowed me to sync playlist to it. Along with the Xert data fields, live tracking, Garmin Pay, and Strava Live.
I have a Forerunner 745 for similar reasons, and I like only having a single device to track my cycling, running, walks, and most any other activity I do.
*User-friendly, easy to use for my **Latest.Bike** . I love the function of choosing where I want to go on my phone and synchronizing effortlessly onto my GPS.*
Thanks for the good content! Three additional points to consider from my experience (if you ONLY have a watch and no bike computer): 1) you are more distracted when checking HR and power on your watch because it’s not directly in front of you (can be dangerous in the city) 2) HR doesn’t work properly during winter 🥶 when you wear a thermo shirt with two jackets. 3) you can’t check the display of the watch during winter rides when it’s buried under all the clothes 😭 (☃️ seems no problem in Australia but where I live 🇨🇭)
I put the watch on my bars and wear a heart rate strap. There is a Garmin watch support for round bars or you can just buckle it on aero bars. I use it like that summer and winter.
I’m a Garmin man - I have their GPS and radar on my boat. Head unit on my bike. And I was about to buy a Venu as a smart/fitness watch - but now I’m considering the Rival. Great review 🤙🏼
@@CamNicholls yah it’s one of the major perks and reasons I don’t see myself moving out of FL, maybe not even Miami. Plus we’ve got amazing weather and pretty smooth asphalt. Only problem is the wild drivers and lack of elevation - but we get to climb bridges so that’s kinda fun 🤙🏼
I don’t have a Wahoo watch, so I tried my iPhone, and found ‘Cycle Tracking’. For a guy, I’m not sure how tracking my menstrual cycle is going to help me.
I recently bought a Karoo 2 which has some awesome features...navigation is next level and side loading android apps is brilliant (audiobooks for them long rides)...what's this got to do with wahoo? Easy. Every time I have done an indoor training session or even outdoor training sessions that really matter. I grab the roam. Why because it just works. It's bloody reliable. I even have a Garmin edge 830 , still go to the roam. I have kickrs, again they just work, reliable and solid. These watches are the same. They just work and are reliable. I don't think I'll purchase one as I don't wear watches a lot so not sure I'll benifit from it a lot. End of the day anyone says they need a new cycling computer, "buy a wahoo roam or bolt, piece of piss to set up and it'll never let you down". Wahoo are killing it and I hope they succeed once they finally do their speedplay power metre. I'll preorder for sure.
Recommend looking at HR data from HR strap vs wrist watch. I'm using Garmin products and have noticed a difference in peak HR values. The HR strap is definitely more accurate.
It's a huge hate for me. I found the Garmin Fenix 6s read true at rest but like 40bpm under when at heart rate threshold. Oddly enough around that same time I stopped using watches o_O
The only thing keeping me with Garmin is the climb pro feature. Really useful when riding new routes with lots of climbs and also when hiking on high mountains (with the Fenix 6). Can’t wait for Wahoo to do something similar, so I can switch.
Cam this is spot on. Im a cyclist and bought the rival knowing its flaws (i.e. you need to record all activities on it for it to show on the watch face weekly tally - so sadly no zwift or even sufferfest app pulls!) however knowing that i still bought it - why - well for all the reasons you mentioned! I am hoping that soon they will show data from other sources so i can track all activities and daily calories etc so if you are ever on the phone to them.... let them know we need this! - great vid as always
Good looking affordable watch. If I hadn't just bought a Garmin Fenix 6 I would certainly consider it. I actually broadcast my heartrate to my phone using the Wahoo fitness app which I use for cycling 👍
It's a great looking watch. Here's hoping they start to add in performance metrics -- loan, recovery, etc. I love how easy it was to set up, I love the way it looks, and I love the broadcast feature to my Bolt. But it needs more "smart" features, to be sure.
Great review Cam! I’m a bit surprised that sport watches aren’t more popular with cyclists. I recently got a Gamin watch (I was looking at the rival, but it wasn’t available in Australia yet), and it’s been great for recording my workouts. I look forward to seeing what wahoo brings out in their future watches. I’m very keen on their user friendly UI.
I use a Garmin Forerunner 245 Music as my bike computer, with a heart rate strap. I have it attached to the bars of my bike with a watch holder, that way I can use it for navigation,
Would you consider an updated review? I think Wahoo has updated the Rival a few times. I bought it for 99$USD on Black Friday because I was curious about the sleep tracking capabilities.
Been using the Element Bolt for a few years now and they are robust. Had a couple of spills (as every cyclist will at some point!) and still going strong. Been looking for a decent smart watch to replace my Samsung Galaxy and it looks like I might just have found it. Thanks for the review.
Although not in the same category, if Apple hadn’t made the iWatch, I’d be all over the Rival... its impressive equipment and given Wahoo’s ease of use and regular updates, it would be a good investment... and I agree... wearing that chest strap can be annoying at times... great review!! 🍻
I've been using my Garmin 920XT Multisport watch for cycling for five trouble free years other than replacing the strap. Before that I used it for surfski paddling. I just wrap it around my stem, never found the need for a bike computer as it has all the functions I need, oh yeah it does step count too if I wanted to use it for that. I dread the day it fails because I just don't think I'll find anything better to replace it with.
My only thing with the optical heart rate is this: yesterday I did a heart rate test with my Wahoo Tickr, but I was also wearing my Garmin Forerunner 45. The Tickr said my max heart rate was up around 190 but my watch said it was around 120 bpm, that’s extremely inaccurate and while I can’t speak to the accuracy of the Rival I do know that it may be better to not use your watch heart rate at all because it can be very misleading.
Optical wrist HRT readings are dodgy as hell. I've tried umpteen devices and wrist based reading are often well over it well under for both BPM and pressure.
I like Wahoo; I'm a Bolt owner. BUT! The fact that Wahoo Rival doesn't have an NFC payment system is the deal changer. And I never buy Wahoo Rival because of this reason.
I've got a garmin fenix 5x plus. I use it every day for stats, including pulse ox due to sleep apnoea. Ive found this more accurate, reliable, accessible and data friendly than any bike computer i have used. Ive had a 510, 520, cateye cordless, sigma cordless and a giant neostrack and my watch uploads to all devices and apps faster than any bike computer. These days my bike computer is used as a backup and live speed display whilst all usable and viewable data comes from the garmin watch.
The watch is nicely build and the GPS and HRM are very accurate, but for the price at launch there were a lot of features missing that made it hard to justify the price, like no sleep tracking, recovery analysis or training load. I know Wahoo has been improving it over time, but those things should've been there from the start to compete for the price, are some of those actually present already?
See DC Rainmaker’s review.....this watch is a beta version at best sporting out of date functionality. I have a Wahoo Bolt that I used for years but frankly the overall Garmin eco system is vastly superior. My Garmin 935 eats the Rival for breakfast and it was released years ago. Sorry Cam, your reviews are beginning to sound like infomercials rather than real reviews. DC is respected for a reason, unbiased reviews
Yes, I saw DC Rainmakers review. He know's his stuff and has the expertise with watches. I soon realised my expertise with watches was marginal, so I stuck with cycling specific. The intension was not to be an infomercial, probably an indication that I am out of my depth with watch reviews. First and last time I think.
I like the look of wahoo products the watch and computers. But they don't have anything about them which are world's better. I plan to move accross when my current Garmin's fail. Forunner 935 still going strong though.
Good topic. Aspects to think over is the overall environment , there are the products (watch,computers...), the software UX and insight. How this complete or improve your ability to train. In other word, assessing the watch is no very useful ( this to any watch and channel - not this review specifically) , how to you get the best out of it all. My comment comes from the will to everyone to develop their product, their training platform and sir forth. While I would want not to have to have headaches between Zwift/trainer road / Garmin / saris.....and just have smooth data capability with Machine learning based on my personal development....perhaps I just need coffee.....keep the great work!
Sweet watch and when you consider what you pay for a fashion watch it's pretty cheap. I have a Garmin Fenix it's ok but it drops out intermittently so I can't rely on it soley.
Wahoo is way better than Garmin but by no means are Wahoo products perfect (Kickr for example..). My Roam has got some historical ride data issues and some blue tooth device connectivity issues recently with my tickr x and speed sensor. In saying that these issues are far and few between, Customer support is very good but sometimes they cannot figure things out. But I would buy Wahoo devices any day over Garmin, this watch is intriguing... I'm not a triathlete so I think my apple watch will do everything i need... but i like some it's features which you've pointed out.
I am looking a watch for fiitness, I have to say a realy like the wahoo brand, I already have a Wahoo GPS, HR sensor and a Kikcr core, but the watch is not suficiente enough. There is no availed some questions as stress, sleep controle and recovery with I think is important for me as a fitness complement
love my Wahoo Bolt bike computer .. I use a heart rate strap ... AND i keep them charged ! ... So to be honest i dont see any real value in having the watch ... If i was running and swimming it might be a different story.
I’m a owner of wahoo products and I see a lot of potential on the watch. My only concern is that I hate iPhone and idk if it’s compatible with the ecosystem. For example. When I go on a ride on my bike my wahoo computer is linked to fitness which means it will load all the data to the app and count my calories and everything else. I love my Apple Watch but sometimes I hate to be wearing it all the time wishing to have something different. Here comes wahoo with this watch which seems amazing! I just wonder how well will it work with Apple ecosystem
I think you get way more features with garmin watches at a similar price point. Garmin has had the Multisport function for a long time but you need to press a button Iirc. I sold my watch when I started to cycle more and checking the wrist during a ride is a yikes from me
I bought this watch, after 4 replacements the swim pool function never worked. So got money back, and went back to garmin, and i really didnt want to. Shame i love the elemnt and now have bolt bike computers. There are some serious QC issues, spoke with other owners who like the run functions, but dont care the swim doesnt function corectly. Overall, the watch was easy to use, except i needed pool functions. The support answers were glib, and useless. Maybe will wait for V2
I like tech, and I like no nonsense reviews. Well done Cam..... You can call Wednesday VCN (Vlog. Cam Nichols). Then expect a call from gcn's legal team. 😂
Less interested in electronics and why you should spend a substantial amount on something that is a backup in case your head unit goes down. More on cycling please!
If they gave you this watch to keep for free then this is a sponsored video. This does not mean your review will be not honest, but let’s be clear on what this is.
Can, great video. I think it looks amazing- the watch that is. I think if I had $400USD to waist I’d buy one on the looks primarily and then enjoy some of the cool tech. I do not own one of these myself and I like you I love Wahoo. However, I’m more interested in the Whoop strap and the possibility for improving my training and more importantly my recovery. Do you happen to have one of these?
Can you use the watch like you would your biking computer? Does it partner with all the wahoo sensors? I ask because I have a wahoo computer for my road bike and would like to either purchase another computer for my mtb or the watch. I would like the watch as I have broken items on the handlebar in the past. Does anyone know if it can be paired to wahoo sensors including the heart rate monitor?
I use Wahoo Elemnt Rival sports watch for about 4 months and I like it. It perfectly cooperates with my Wahoo Elemnt Roam and I use both devices for cycling. The only watch for hiking, table tennis and other sports. I have also Apple Watch Series 6 but it has a different usage for me. Rival lasts more on GPS, can broadcast HR and it is more robust. Sometimes I wear both watches. Luckily I have two arms. :) Because I am "gadget lover" I also thinking about some Garmin watches but they are expensive (Fenix 6x PRO or Tactix) and should be replaced soon by a new line Fenix 7. Rival is much "simple" for me.
Interesting stuff. Given your promotion of the device and the unreliability of wrist hr devices what testing for this device have you/will you do compared to chest strap ??
If a company sends you their product without any costs for you, it is a sponsored video mate. The sponsored payment is the price of the product, if you're allowed to keep it.
Is a four year lifetime for the Element reasonable? If it's waterproof then it should really last longer. Is it bricked at the moment or turns on but buggy?
Can you get wahoo to make a bike radar like Garmin knowing when cars are coming is the only reason I still use Garmin love my kickr and would Change would love to set watts on erg mode for training
Have you experienced any substantial differences in the climbing data when using the rival & roam togther for the same workout. The climbing data on my rival is "ridiculously" out. I have tested this out on multiple activities using a garmin forerunner 235, garmin edge 530, Wahoo bolt & the Wahoo Roam at the sametime. There are some acceptable small differences (+/- 2%) as you would expect between the devices but the rival is always at least 5x times different in total climbing stats compared to the other mentioned devices. I am on my 2nd replacement device & the same calculation was evident on the first rival. I dont believe todays Wahoo firmware update 1.38.41 addresses this but I would be interetesed to know if you have compared the roam v rival data on the same workout ?
I have the same issue. I received a replacement watch and it's the same story. Wahoo is asking me again to mail it back so they can send me a third one. But I expect the same issue will occur. Not only the difference in elevation gain, but also the starting elevation is sometimes ridiculous. The other day it showed I started at 15 mts below sea level, when according to elevation maps of my neighbourhood I am at about 46 mts above sea level. I can sea the water in the distance from my window!! HR readings are also dodgy. Works better when I wear the watch as far away as possible from my wrist bone, as indicated in the user manual.
The only reason to buy the Rival is you want Wahoo to someday maybe make a watch that can Rival Garmin. There is zero factor in that watch that some other watch doesn't do better.
Ouch 600 bucks. Bit steep for a watch. Only to be used for cycling or Tri’s. If it was a smart watch as well. Then yeah I would look at it. Then again I have not worn a watch for 9 years. I just Siri for the time.
I have a special type of hate for Garmin. The was came into being with a motorbike GPS. I just asked: what is the best -> I want that. Turned out to be a total piece of shit. The hardware was top-notch. But the user interface was terrible. Most of the "best features" are implemented in such a way that it is simply not worth the effort. Every once in a while I will take a look at that crap again....still sucks.
