I am totally obsessed with my ride data. I can’t get on a bike without a computer that records my speed, elevation, cadence, heart rate….. It is a sickness but I have come to accept it.  And until recently that bike computer has been a Garmin Edge 510. The Garmin devices are ubiquitous – everyone has them and it has even become a generic term “my Garmin.” All that data makes me happy.

But that Garmin device made me mighty unhappy too. It only works some of the time. Garmin tech support is lousy, always saying it isn’t a problem with their device or their website or their software. The most common problem is Bluetooth connectivity. It is supposed to sync with my phone and upload the data automagically. And sometimes it does, but more often it doesn’t. Then I go through a complicated unpairing and re-pairing with the phone. Sometimes it takes multiple tries to get the thing to pair. If I call Garmin for support it is always “a problem with your phone, not our device.”  Even when I tell them I have this same problem with every phone I have owned they stand firm claiming a  “problem with your phone.” Sometimes I’ll be riding along and for no reason the phone and GPS get disconnected and then for some equally mysterious reason it will reconnect on its own. It is not just me, not my phone, not just the Garmin Edge 510 unit I have, I know other cyclists with the same issues.

Until recently there was no alternative to Garmin to collect that data. But now they have competition and Garmin should be scared. I have seen the future and Wahoo it is great!  I finally made the jump away from Garmin to the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and it is wonderful.  It connects with all the Garmin brand sensors I already have and it quickly and reliably pairs with my phone and automatically uploads to Strava and other services. It is easy to set up using the associated Wahoo phone app. It even connects to my home WiFI system for updates.

I was worried about making the switch until I read the in-depth and very positive review in dcrainmaker.com  So I jumped and after using it I jumped for joy. Get Lost Garmin! I am done with you. While the Elemnt Bolt is smaller the screen is about the same size and is easier to read. I have not yet been in the rain with it, so that test will have to wait.

The only drawback I have found is that it doesn’t fit in the Garmin handlebar mount. It looks like it might, but it is not the same. So I designed an adapter to be 3D printed so the Wahoo can be mounted on the Garmin mount.  I have posted the files so anyone with access to a 3D printer can make it. It is on Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2822633 and if you are the tinkering type I have even posted the design on Tinkercad.com https://www.tinkercad.com/things/fT8ayZXszFT-wahoo-to-garmin-adapter#/

Strangely, the Elemnt Bolt is not available on Amazon, but REI has it…. and probably your local bike shop can order it. It is just $250 to liberate yourself from Garmin. Get happy, get lost Garmin!