Anyone using the new Wahoo Ace head unit?

[Rob Hawks]

I use a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt v2 right now and am content with the device. However, a few factors are motivating me to consider something new. The biggest thing is that I'm finding it harder to read the screens unless I zoom in. The Bolt's screens allow for 9 user selected data points, but fewer will show if you zoom in. My distance vision is not a problem but reading is. I have tried bifocals and just can not adjust to those. Bifocals make both types of vision worse for me, so not a solution.

The Ace has a much larger screen and the display seems more readable.

I've watched some reviews of the product. The reviews seem muted so far. DCRainmaker feels the product was rushed to market unnecessarily. Road.cc had a somewhat mocking tone to their review, in particular suggesting at one point no one needs 30 hours of battery life (Wahoo claim) and that it must be a product pitched to blind people. 

I do have some questions for anyone that has the unit and is using it. Did you find the unit was too big to fit on your current mount? I recently installed a Cane Creek head unit/light mount which I think is longer than previous mounts. If you have the Wahoo Ace, do you have trouble with out-front mounts?

If you have this new bike computer, what downsides have you found that might make you regret your choice?

LMK

rob hawks

[Iwan Barankay]

Why not simply get an additional Wahoo Elemnt Bolt v2 and use both of them, each zoomed into different fields.

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[ken jessett]

I am struggling to find a device I can actually read, does anyone have any further input into this discussion? 

Some time ago, Mark Thomas told me he uses a regular cell phone (much bigger screen) with embedded RWGPS routes as a stand alone routing device; and the organizer of the Endless Flat 1200 told me today that only GPS devices are allowed on the ride. so, is there anything new to help those of us who's eyesight is not optimum? Currently I use cue sheets attached to my aerobars -  which work well, but maybe not the best for night riding.

[Julien]

I used a cell phone with rwgps for many years, and got used to listen for audio cues that way. A few downsides, first is the battery, this require charging the phone somewhat often. It can be mitigated by downloading the route onto the phone before the ride, and also using airplane mode. Second minor issue, going relatively fast downhill or in windy condition makes it harder to hear any cues. A turn, or control for that matter, could easily be missed. Fortunately, the app and phone will notify afterward (perhaps not for control).

Recently I switched to a garmin 1040. Although my short eyesight isn't great and I normally need prescription glasses, I can actually read the various metrics without them. the map and direction when approaching a turn are also clear enough. But I can't read the text cue very well. In addition, I also tried a pair of bifocal glasses (check tifosi), with a standard +2 so without prescription, and can now read anything. I believe they make them up to 2.5, again without any rx. I find the bifocal area small enough that it's not bothering for long range, and spot on for reading the garmin. They're also relatively inexpensive compared with other sunglasses options.

Between those 2, navigating has been quite comfortable. I wish there were more choices for bifocal sunglasses (without prescription) particularly tailored for cycling.

[Bill Gobie]

On Thu, Mar 27, 2025 at 12:07 PM ken jessett <kenje...@gmail.com> wrote:

... the organizer of the Endless Flat 1200 told me today that only GPS devices are allowed on the ride. 

That ain't what the ride info states: 

All riders must have some sort of navigation device but riders are encouraged to carry a cue-sheet hard-copy or soft-copy for emergency situation.

A gps-enabled phone is a gps device. Requiring a dedicated gps device, presumably on the belief they are more reliable than a phone app, is preposterous given the known problems with Garmins and Wahoos. It also imposes an unnecessary expense.

Bill

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[Rob Hawks]

I can begin to answer my own original questions, because I went ahead and purchased the Wahoo Ace.

Advantages:

crisp display of much larger screen

much longer run time

audio navigation queues

Disadvantages:

larger unit size means it doesn't fit with some mounts

Much heavier (but only 8 grams heavier than my cell phone)

cost

Shrug options:

electronic bell. Works better when I'm not wearing gloves. Not easy to operate on a bumpy road

wind sensor. I've never used the data provided

touch screen. Unit still uses buttons for some actions. 

I can display and very easily read 9 different data points on one screen. On the Bolt v2, I can display 3 and those are still a little hard for me to read. The display on the Ace is waaaayyyy better.

Paging between displays on the Bolt gets tiresome because you can only scroll in one direction.

The first two disadvantages I listed are understandable because the longer battery life comes from a larger battery and the vastly improved screen display needs a bigger screen.

I mitigated the cost disadvantage when I used REI dividends.

Overall, I am quite satisfied with the unit. It solved the problems I was hoping it would. I'm looking forward to not having to worry about recharging a gps unit on 300 and 400km brevets.

rob hawks

[Gardner Duvall]

Thanks, Rob, that is useful information.

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[Jack Nicholson]

Rob,

Glad you brought up touch screen, because I’m curious: in the rain I’m frequently wiping the droplets off my Bolt just so I can read the screen…what happens to the data displayed if this is a touch screen.

It’s for this reason I’m still with the Bolt.

Jack

On Mar 28, 2025, at 7:18 AM, Gardner Duvall <gardner...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Rob Hawks]

I haven't investigated if there is any setting to change that would affect the sensitivity of the touch screen. I have had the opportunity to use the device on a rainy ride though and inadvertently changing screens was not an issue. It may be that the improved visibility/display may have reduced the frequency of needing to wipe the screen off. More data will firm up that impression.

As for the button vs. touch screen operation, in some cases you have both options anyway. So far I’ve not had any issue with the touch screen becoming an issue rather than a working feature.

Rob Hawks

[Megan Bilodeau]

Just popping in to offer my thoughts on the Karoo Hammerhead. It's pretty great--easy to read, and has a "rain lock" feature that turns off the touch screen and activates the buttons on the side instead. I love it for mapping, and the previous issue--battery life has been significantly improved. 

--Meg