After the infamous Reddit leak, the rumour mill started buzzing with excitement: a bike computer with a wind sensor? The new Wahoo ACE comes with a touchscreen, a larger display, and brings a breath of fresh air to the ELEMNT product-range. But does it stir up a storm of innovation, or is it just a gentle breeze? We had the chance to test and review the Wahoo ACE it ahead of its official launch!
Bike computers have long outgrown their status as a nice-to-have accessory – they’re now the digital cockpit, the command centre for modern cyclists. With sensors for heart rate, power, and cadence, they allow us to track rides in meticulous detail and to analyse the data afterwards. The new Wahoo ELEMNT ACE takes this concept a step further and makes it visible: bigger, heavier, and, for the first time in Wahoo’s history, featuring a touchscreen. It’s packed with everything a cyclist could wish for. Despite the big changes, Wahoo stick to their proven three-button control and focus on clear navigation – even with voice prompts!
With the ACE, Wahoo are venturing into the territory of true smartphone replacements for the handlebars – a concept Garmin explore with the Edge 1050 and Hammerhead with the third generation of the Karoo. However, the ACE takes a different approach: no solar panels, no Android system, but instead a unique feature – an integrated wind sensor that measures real-time aerodynamic drag. Add Wahoo’s app integration to the revamped user interface, and say goodbye to the old ELEMNT app.
Given that there’s nothing more frustrating than getting stranded mid-ride in the woods with frozen navigation, Wahoo prioritised battery life, clarity, and performance while developing the ACE. The aim was to create a system that combines functionality and reliability, one that cyclists can depend on in every situation.
Facts and data about the Wahoo ELEMNT ACE
- Dimensions 125 x 70 x 20 mm
- Weight 208 g
- Display-Size 3,8”
- Battery Life up tp 30 hours
- Water and Dust Resistance IPX7 Rating
- Connectivity BLE, ANT+, WiFi, USB-C
- Additional Feature Wahoo Wind-Dynamics
- Internal Storage 64 GB
What is the Wahoo ELEMNT ACE capable of?
The new Wahoo ELEMNT ACE comes with countless upgrades that set it apart from its predecessors. The 3.8-inch TFT display takes centre stage, featuring significantly higher resolution, touch functionality, richer colours with improved contrast, and automatic backlighting. This makes it highly readable and allows it to adapt to the environment with light and dark modes. However, the vibrant display demands more power than the 64-colour LCD screen of its predecessor. The ACE’s bigger size makes it impossible to overlook, with dimensions akin to an iPhone 16 – albeit three times thicker. The weight has also more than doubled compared to its smaller sibling, the ROAM V2. While some fans might miss the LED strip found on earlier models, users benefit from slimmer bezels, which allow for a larger map display. Even with the expanded map view, there’s still room to display two data fields above it. For the first time, Wahoo incorporated a touchscreen into their bike computer, while retaining the classic three-button control, which remains reliable in the rain and also works with gloves.
Wahoo stepped up their navigation game too: the new map layout now displays detailed street names, points of interest (POIs), and Strava segments directly on the map. Voice prompts further simplify navigation, allowing riders to keep their eyes on the road – although this feature was not available in German at the time of this test. A generous 64 GB internal storage provides ample space for high-detail map data and the information generated by the new wind sensor.
The standout feature of the Wahoo ELEMNT ACE is the integrated wind sensor, which measures wind speed in real time and combines it with power data to calculate “Wahoo Wind Dynamics.” By capturing relative wind resistance and comparing it with the rider’s speed and additional sensor data, it determines the effects of headwinds and tailwinds. Using the Wahoo app, riders can analyse post-ride insights, gaining a clearer understanding of wind influence and their positioning within a group. While the sensor provides fascinating insights, it doesn’t replace a wind tunnel and currently lacks CdA (aerodynamic drag coefficient) analysis capabilities, which are crucial for optimising aerodynamics. The device also introduces new metrics, “Wind Boost” and “Wind Drag,” effectively quantifying the rider’s personal wind experience and offering a fresh perspective on performance dynamics.
Do you need the Wahoo ELEMNT ACE?
Yes, the ELEMNT ACE is an exciting option for tech enthusiasts, Wahooligans, and anyone looking for a bike computer that goes beyond the basics. The operation is as intuitive as you’d expect from Wahoo: clear menus, well-organised data fields, and the combination of a touchscreen and button controls make it a practical addition to your handlebars for everyday training. The 3.8-inch display is bright, spacious, and remains easy to read even in sunlight. This makes maps and navigation data particularly clear and easy to follow, adding to the ACE’s appeal as a feature-packed cycling companion.
The most obvious highlight is the integrated wind sensor. It indicates when you’re riding in a slipstream and helps beginner road cyclists understand its effects within a group. For more ambitious riders, it provides insights into the dynamics of headwinds and drafting, offering an additional layer of post-ride analysis to better understand the impact of power output. However, deeper aerodynamic analyses, such as optimising riding position or calculating a CDA value, are not yet included but could potentially be added through future updates. The wind sensor introduces an innovative feature with significant potential to Wahoo’s line-up, one that could deliver truly useful data via software enhancements. Like the CORE sensor, its full value is only realised if the user knows how to interpret and apply the data effectively. Until then, the wind sensor remains a nice extra, primarily appealing to tech-savvy riders who enjoy diving into performance data.
Due to its size and weight, the ACE is too bulky for small stem mounts and narrow triathlon extensions. It’s understandable that Wahoo opted not to include the optional mounting bolt — after all, the ELEMNT ACE alone can help a superlight bike like the SCOTT Addict RC reach the 6.8 kg UCI weight limit. If you value size, user-friendly operation, and modern features, the ACE might be worth taking a closer look. It’s not as compact as a traditional bike computer, nor does it match the flexibility of a smartphone. However, Wahoo struck an intriguing middle ground with the ACE, showcasing their expertise through their most powerful bike computer to date. For fans of innovative cycling tech, it’s certainly a hot recommendation.
Would we buy the Wahoo ELEMNT ACE?
Yes and no. For just under € 600, you’ll get a big touchscreen display, improved navigation and controls, and an innovative wind sensor that could appeal to aero-focused road cyclists. However, due to its size and weight, the ACE is less versatile than its smaller siblings and too bulky for compact mounts or narrow triathlon extensions. Unlike Garmin’s Edge 1050 and the new Coros DURA, Wahoo opted against a solar panel in favour of the wind sensor. Despite this, it still offers an impressive battery life of up to 30 hours and is € 150 cheaper than the Garmin 1050. That said, for ambitious athletes seeking deeper aero data analysis or a lightweight, sleek setup, the bulky ELEMNT ACE isn’t the best choice. It also falls short for those chasing the fastest setup, as the integrated wind sensor currently lacks the accompanying data analysis tools to deliver meaningful aerodynamic insights. For data-driven cyclists and tech enthusiasts, however, the ELEMNT ACE is an exciting gadget with modern features and Wahoo’s trademark, intuitive interface.
Tops
- First-time and innovative integration of a wind sensor
- Clear and easy-to-read map display
- Intuitive menu navigation
Flops
- Limited versatility due to size and weight
- Software still plagued by teething issues at launch
Find out more on wahoo-fitness.com.
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Words & Photos: Jan Fock
