I love my Bolt, Like you I just switched from my Garmin 1040 and have not once looked back.

@@scugno i also have 1040 and those features make me sick i just want simple computer how its going with bolt v2 im about to sell it this week to get bolt v2

Good! It's probably going to do really well for you, you shouldn't have any regrets

How’s it going so far? Any regrets? I’m contemplating buying one😩

@@thisgustin it is great, i didn't have too much time with it since winter came where i'm at but the few weeks i used it, it worked great. i like that you can sync up your workout and send it out to multiple different apps at once after a ride

This is way better than garmin for sure.

@@skyekingdom9346 how is the routing , if you go the wrong way and such

Yeah you really wouldn't have had a functional version two until just about within the last month. Have experienced a lot of crashing freezing and general unreliability. I certainly hope that they can improve it with software because if they can't that means that they made the actual processing power lower than the original which seems like a crazy thing to do. Hopefully it gets turned around. It's definitely not a bad device as a standalone thing but once you start comparing it to other stuff that exists in the world that's when it gets more frustrating

I just returned the "sale priced" Roam I thought would be better than my gen 1 Bolt. It actually was pretty unusable for any riding due to excess lag. The maps were pretty and the display was nice, but it was slow. If the new Bolt is not as responsive as the old one, I'd be interested in hearing. I use my Bolt to help me parse my riding efforts much more than as a mapping device. It was useful to have multiple color display, too...but the data needs to be real-time, not 5 seconds old. So be aware. Wahoo did accept my return, but before I roll that cash over to a V2 Bolt I'm wanting some assurance that it's not going to lag more than my current beat-up 4yr old bolt. Good point on the UBC C plug, too. That there may be a deal breaker for me. I have to be able to keep the devices charged without 'special' cords and plugs in every location, be it moto, home, car, van, RV or the wife's vehicle s. Thanks for the video... I'm of the school of "look at it as it is" not caring what it should be..I probably have functions on my current Bolt that I never bothered to learn. I wanted a basic gps and it's been great...but I got spoiled seeing that Roam's pretty display and bright LEDs..

Well I can't talk about design if I can't take a good critique, so I appreciate that! Ultimately you're not wrong; compared to a lot of other devices out there, I do think it's pretty good. I think I tried to capture that in the beginning and conclusion. I think a lot of my frustration stems from this feeling that, other than mapping, I don't feel like these devices really do much more than my old Cateye Wireless from a decade ago. They're much more expensive, but functionally, still just data displays. Heck, Wahoo didn't even build out any integration between their sports watch and their Element; you can't go for a ride and have that training stress including in your watch's weekly totals. It’s things like that that just seem lacking; their software just doesn’t feel very mature to me. It’s like, they’ve built out the bare minimums and called it good. You’re very right though, minimal cognitive load is very important, and the color screen / data prioritization of the Bolt does that well. I really like the way. I can zoom into fields I care about. Color is nice because I can see at a glance or in the periphery where I’m at without even ‘looking.’ Overall, I do still prefer Wahoo to Garmin. And that’s what I tried to capture at the beginning: If you’re looking for a reliable (ish, once they nail down the firmware), easy to use device for displaying info and some nav, this is a solid one. But I always appreciate feedback on how to be more clear. :)

@@JustinDoesTriathlon thanks for the reply and all very reasonable points! This is obviously getting way off topic but I did find the modernism/postmodernism stuff interesting - so you know any good references (online) that are good “idiots guides” on these to read up on??

Yeah if you need navigation definitely consider it. If not, 🤷‍♂️

Thanks Tobias! I try. No point reading specs at you. :)

I'd begrudingly say this one, as long as you're aware of the software quirks and want navigation.

I started riding bike from last year so I tried to select from few devices choice. I bought bolt 2 and still figure out how’s work and it’s frustrating the same issue as map guiding, third party mapping another thing. At home when I turn on the device it’s showing 4 km away from my real address 😢😂 I have to figure out many years to go or I will try something else 👀

Happy to help! It does a few things. It makes a beep, displays an arrow on screen, and uses the top LEDs to indicate direction. The auditory alerts themselves and alone do not tell you the direction to turn. I think a different sound for left or right would be a nice little feature.

I wonder if it's early hardware with lots of device to device variability? I don't think you'd like my buttons very much. 😬

@@JustinDoesTriathlon Yeah, I bet you're right. Probably manufacturing issues.

Thanks Dan. There's enough prattle on the internet as is. :)

Happy to help! So that's a Felt IA, and that's Felt's integrated bar designed just for that bike. So sadly, I can't be much help. :( I know there are some third party aero bar options that will attach to a standard stem, like the Zipp Vuka Aero, but be ready to pay big $$$. And with the Madone's aero handlebars, you're not gonna be able to do clip on aerobars. If your Madone has a standard round stem clamp (vs fully integrates,) something like the Vuka Aero could work. It's a tricky one though.

is setting up sensors really that hard?

@@Se0what No, it's not hard. However it adds time to an already low-value activity - to simply reestablish functionality I already have. I don't particularly like re-pairing BT devices when I get a new phone, either. However in this case, it's not particularly critical or secure - it's just cadence, wheel, hr sensors. Again, on 3 bikes. Why not incorporate the sensor IDs into a migration routine? I imagine that some people have more than 3 bikes... Have fun with that.

I appreciate that! I try to make my reviews like I'd tell a friend my opinion. Completely understand the 'hard to justify.' I do personally care a lot about nav, so I could justify the 1 to the Color version, but without that, ehhhh. And completely agree, phone screen and maps is great! If I was doing bike touring or anything like that, that's actually exactly what I'd do.

Just one remark : the smartphone screen sucks if it’s sunny (mine at least) or in forrest where the light changes often, too much reflexion on it, I’m forced to stare at it too long to see where I’m supposed to go (but I admit that I don’t use vocal guidance).

That's the thing I like about the Bolt V1, it's easy to set up, there's no unnecessary extra features, the LCD display is easy to read at a glance, I almost never need to look at the map. The worst bit about Wahoo is their need for their computers to connect to Wi-Fi, this creates unnecessary effort at the end of a ride as the device won't simply connect and sync without first having the Elemnt app open on the phone, with the phone connected to the device via Bluetooth, and waiting until it connects to wi-fi to sync the data, and a ride doesn't always end at a place where there's predictable wi-fi which creates even more faff. I like the Garmin Edge 130 more, similarly it has a good display , reasonably easy to set up, and the thing I really like about the Garmin is that it just syncs at the end of the ride, I don't have to do anything, or think about anything, I don't even need wi-fi, it does it through the phone's Bluetooth automatically, the data is on Strava before I get a chance to take my cycling shoes off. Of course mapping is not the strong point on either of these devices, but I don't need it to be.

@@m1mbz it's hit and miss with me. A lot of times it will automatically upload to Strava, but sometimes I do have to pair manually. I have my phone anyway so it isn't a big deal. Using a phone for setup was actually something I liked given how difficult Garmin devices were to setup by comparison. It was just a lot more user friendly and straightforward and I didn't need to click through a bunch of menus on the device itself just to turn off the beeping on each button press. As for WiFi, the only time I need WiFi is for updating the software or maps. I tend to just use my phone's hotspot feature for this and it works out well. I'm mainly in areas with good cell service so it isn't really an issue unless I'm traveling and even then it's usually not an issue.

Appreciate it. Yeah, people have lower expectations than I think they should

I really wish they all talked to each other too. Why doesn't the Rival watch know how much I've biked when I use an elemnt? It should.

Interesting! I wonder if (either of us) has a unit that's got early production hiccups. I can't say I've noticed any loudness difference between one and two, but it wouldn't surprise me at all.

That's tough... Honestly probably still the Bolt for most people, or the Garmin 530 if you care a lot about navigation. Karoo looks interesting but I don't have enough hands on with them to have an opinion. Just at large, I think a lot of these devices really don't perform super well for what they cost. I'd actually also say that if someone asked me what to get, I'd also really consider recommending them something like a Cateye Wireless depending on their needs. Do we all really need GPS and power dynamics and HR tracking for every ride? Maybe, maybe not. You can save a lot of money if you just want to see how far you went and how fast you got there. Something to consider.

An argument could be made either way. Lots of people use and like both. I'd go based on two big factors: How much you plan to really use navigation / routing, and how you feel about the Garmin or Wahoo interfaces. The v2 Bolt adds a LOT of capability re: routing/nav, but Garmin is still the high level winner here. Their POI and route options are still just more mature. If you are doing a lot of premade routes (and sticking to them,) or you don't ride in new areas that often, less important. Next, the Garmin vs. Wahoo interface. For non-quaintifiable reasons, I just prefer the Wahoo interface. I don't like how Garmin organizes things, and the 'page' interface of Wahoo just makes sense in my mind. At this point, both of these devices *can* do almost everything we reasonably need, so what you think you'd like using better is an important fact.

@@JustinDoesTriathlon thanx for the input bro. I've been really trying to figure out which one is best for me. The info definitely helped thank you man. I guess I'm still trying to weight in on whether dealing with Garmins interface or wahoos. Wahoo looks easier to use while garmin looks a bit more technical but I'm not trying to let that scare me. Trying to prep up for future races.

I don't know if it's too late, but I hate my Garmin 830. Garmin's routing has tried to take me through private property, through fences, and up ridiculously unnecessary climbs. It has no clue how to deal with road closures or detours. The touchscreen is almost impossible to use in the rain. Putting in multiple routes for a bike tour is really hard unless you use a physical USB cable attached to a laptop. Right before the last organized ride I went on, the Edge updated the map and verified that it was successfully installed. Of course when I started the ride, I found there were no maps installed at all and it only gave me a breadcrumb trail to follow. Oh, and when I was planning a bike trip in Scotland, I found out that I'd have to buy new maps from Garmin because my unit only comes with the North American map. Don't get the Garmin 830.

Happy to help! :)

I haven't had outright crashing since the first month or two of ownership (when it was crashing about once every 90 min, brutal.) The update they put out a few weeks ago did speed it up, but it's not at what I would call 'very good.' It still lags. Improved, though.

Great points . I don’t get why people feel they need to be “connected” to social media all the time. Your on a bike, enjoy the scenery, turn off your connection to the word a bit. You’ll enjoy your ride much better.

Theoretically I agree. On practice, on 5 hour rides, it's helpful for people to get ahold. Facebook messenger is howany people, including my wife and I, communicate.

what's your point? why do you compare them with smartphones?

This was done before that. It's definitely improved, but still not what I would call seamless, especially if I want to make a quick change at speed, etc. That sorta seems to be the Wahoo MO at this point: Give them a year of software updates to sort out their releases.

Ugh bummer 😔

I'd go Bolt. I like the way Wahoo interface works more than I like Garmin. There's definitely some personal preference in there, but broadly, I prefer Wahoo.

@@JustinDoesTriathlon thanks for the response. The only feature holding me back from buying a Bolt unit is probably the smart notification. Me and my friends frequently use Facebook messenger when communicating during a ride so I'm quite disappointed with Bolt. 😔

@@onel810 YEP, that's a big annoyance of mine too. If you really need those notifications, Wahoo can't help you. They do SMS, but yep, no FB messenger. :(

You never know when postmodernism will sneak up and accidentally describe your world. :)

Thanks! Spot on agree. Either they can't do better or they're holding it back, and neither of those are good.

Maybe? But it's higher battery than the first version

Nice to hear from you, hope all is well! :)

Nothing earthshattering. Hammerhead has a lot of potential to innovate with their Karoo / Android based platform, but I'm still waiting to see it full come to the surface.

@@JustinDoesTriathlon Thank you. I can't wait for Hammerhead to move forward enough, so I just bought a Bolt V2. You were right, it is basically a Bolt V1.

@@kingofcrunk4237 Same. Being on Android isn't a panacea, but they've got huge potential if they can pull it off. I hope they do; it's good for everyone.

@@JustinDoesTriathlon I agree, that could / should open up the world for them if they have the money to pay the programmers and engineers to create everything.

You modernist you 👍

@@JustinDoesTriathlon 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Just out of curiosity why would receiving notifications from facebook messenger be something of a concern? Do every other head unit has that feature & if so is it mainly for cycling purposes or do folks just like to have that added option?

The v2 bolt fits the v1 mount

@@paulmiddlemass6465 sort of... with a fugly gap that looks ridiculous and makes a mockery of all their aero claims. There just wasn't any reason to change the mount, I can't fathom why they did.

Yes, it does now. Recent software update.

Definitely true. I wish the screen was a bit larger too, but the zooming of the metrics helps. That doesn't help with the navigation though

Well that sucks.👎

:D

Hey there, nope, no street names on the general map. 👎

Element Bolt 2. It's fine.

@@JustinDoesTriathlon Based on your scathing review I was going to tell my friend to return the Bolt 2 bundle he found on sale for $299 last week. Glad I found your comment before busting his bubble.

Thank you, I greatly appreciate that! This one is polarizing, haha. Some people love the format, others hate it. Oh well, that's just me. :)

I've just bought the Bolt and I can say a USB-A to USB-C cable (not the one provided by Wahoo) *does* charge the device. A USB-C to USB-C connected to a PD port doesn't charge the Bolt.

It's crazy

If you're happy, that's what matters.

how long is the lag?

Generally 2 unless you wanted a larger screen.

@@JustinDoesTriathlon That was a quick reply :). Thanks mate.

Yuuuuuup it's a bad combination. 😕

More worse than Garmin Edge 530? Those buttons are shameful for such an expensive device.

Wahoo if you want to see the display. ;-)

I appreciate that! Happy to help. :)

Basketball thing just didn't pan out. 🤣

Oh I don't think they'd like me as a PM/PO very much. 😅

@@JustinDoesTriathlon What they'd LIKE vs what they'd NEED may be the thin line to cross for them to deliver outstanding value. Chocolate/Brocoli!

I would say so on the speed front. It's better than it was in this video, but a lot of the major complaints still remain. They added a Summit feature which attempts to auto alert for upcoming climbs. It works *okay.* A lot of times I'll be halfway into a climb before it starts, etc. And other times, it alerts me of a climb that's practically just a large bump. But overall, the speed issues are improved mostly.

I've had that happen and it's super annoying.

Because that's how people get ahold of me.

I'm on the Roam V2 now (after the unit in this video took an accidental trip off my car roof and onto the freeway.) It's marginally better but I still am generally very unimpressed for ~450 some dollars. I keep wanting Hammerhead to come out with something amazing.

I don't, but I might make one sometime. It's very custom to me and what I like seeing, though. The power screens are basically 3, 5, and 30s power, heartrate, and distance so I know where I'm at. I don't care about speed very much because I can't directly affect it

Absolutely, this is a great idea. I'll look into adding better captioning. Currently I just let the UKposts auto transcribe do it, but I know that it isn't perfect, especially on technical content. I'll make sure to improve that in the future. :)

@@JustinDoesTriathlon The auto transcribe works surprisingly well. It just isn't available on this video.

Thanks for responding by the way!

@@ajwilliams7757 That's strange! Thanks for pointing that out. I don't know why it didn't auto transcribe that, and YT doesn't indicate it on my end either. Still, I'll make a point to check for that in the future. In the meantime, I generated auto captions in my editor and just attached them to the video. It indicates it'll take a few hours, but they should get on there. I'll come back this evening and double check/try to fix if not. Sorry about that! :) Edit: Looks like they're working now! 🎊

@@JustinDoesTriathlon Thank you so much! That really made my day.

It's a good question. Actually, I left the Wahoo that's in this video on the roof of my car after a ride, and it fell off on the freeway. Faced with the real challenge of "What do I buy now," the answer was: A Wahoo Roam. I have a complicated relationship with all of these devices. I deeply dislike the Garmin interface. I don't think it's objectively bad, but I deeply dislike it. Hammerhead has a very, very high potential, but my encouters with it have felt... underbaked. Wahoo, *eventuallllllly,* will get their product to a reliable status. The Roam is now very quick to use, and its an improvement over the Bolt IMO. I still think it's crazy that we're paying near on 500 for such basic features. My Coros Pace 2 and 3s do far, far more, in a much smaller and higher quality package, for less than half the cost. So, basicaly: No, I can't say I'm wildly impressed with the Roam, but for me, it's still the best option.

Thank you for the very insightful and opinionated answer. Like it that way. I will get the Roam v2 and just get real active on their support site /roadmap requests @@JustinDoesTriathlon