WAHOO ELEMNT ROAM

£349.99 Wahoo updates its flagship bike computer

Wahoo prides itself on creating products that don’t saturate the user with hundreds of often superfluous and never-used features. Cue one of the most useful updates to the latest Elemnt Roam – its subtle but effective dual-band GPS for more accurate navigation, achieved via tapping into the signals from more than one satellite. This is common in smartphones and we’ve seen it on the latest Garmin Fenix. It’s especially useful in wooded areas if you head off the beaten track.

The screen advancement’s more explicit, increasing from eight to 64 colours for a more vivid map. Again, though, Wahoo’s precise about applying these colours. For the most part, you’re presented with a monochrome backdrop. The colour schemes kick in for not only maps but also training zones. It’s something seen on the Elemnt Bolt V2 and on the new Summit Segments feature, too, where colours highlight the difficulty of an upcoming climb. It also calculates how long you have until the peak of the climb.

Like all Wahoos, it’s maximised by using its ecosystem of hardware and apps. Via the Roam you can control Wahoo KickR smart trainers when riding indoors, while accessing workouts via its Wahoo X app, albeit this is another monthly cost.

Naturally, it syncs to the company’s Elemnt Rival multisport watch if you have one. All the features are button activated, which we prefer, certainly with gloved hands during a cool winter. Battery life’s up to 17hrs, so plenty to complete an iron bike leg.

ukwahoofitness.com

84 %

VERDICT A thoughtful update over the original and still a decent option