WAHOO ELEMENT BOLT

WEIGHT 61.4g SIZE 73mmx48mmx20mm SCREEN SIZE 45mmx34mm

SCREEN TYPE Mono LCD IN THE BOX 1 x bar mount, 1 x out front mount, micro USB cable WATERPROOF IPX7 MEMORY Not specified BATTERY LIFE (CLAIMED) 15 hours

The Bolt is simple to set-up via smartphone (IOS or Android): download the app, scan the units QR code and go. It syncs with your phone, downloads updates and connects to sensors (Bluetooth Low Energy and Ant+) straightaway. Customisation is in the app, which allows you to create custom pages (with nine fields).

You can plan routes, or set a destination and the app works it out. Annoyingly, you can’t edit created routes and you can only select an indoor or outdoor ride type, rather than road, mountain or gravel. For more accurate routes, Strava or Komoot files work when uploaded.

Ride options also include a myriad training options including FTP

tests, climbing, mixed and sprint sessions all created with Team Ineos. GPS pick up is good, between 47 and 55 seconds.

Much is made of the aerodynamics, claiming it to have 50 per cent less drag than Garmin’s old 520, even going so far as to boast a 1.5w saving (or 12.6 seconds at 21mph for 40km).

The integration of the chunky head unit into the mount with its flush-angled front looks good. The mount has a secondary screw that permanently fixes it to the unit, the reason being so that Wahoosponsored teams can include the mount and computer during bike weigh-ins as it’s fixed.

It’s clever to let the app/smartphone app/smart do most of the hard work, but it does mean you rely on having Wi-Fi and your phone for moving data back and forth.

It’s a brilliant unit to track your performance. For navigation, it’s just okay. The monochrome display is fine riding in the countryside but in urban areas the maps are a mess of lines. It can be a little slow to redraw maps and on occasion we were left with diagonal blank spaces where a road should be.

The screen has a backlight, which helps visibility in poor light, but it does affect power. Run time is a claimed 15 hours, we got around 12-13 hours using it on a bike with gear, power and notifications switched on.

A niggle with the screen is that when riding in the rain the screen tends to pool water as it's inset from the case. It also has an app-programmable bank of LED ‘quick look’ indicators providing a quick way to check on goals for speed, cadence, power and more – a smart idea that boosts the Bolt as a serious training/racing unit.

It’s fully compatible with most smart trainers and offers Zwift compatibility, too.

WE SAY... Top marks on performance and d it comes at a greatprice

£199.99

It's clever to let the app do most of the hard work but it does mean relying on having Wi-Fi