Today we’re excited to debut a new early access feature: an improved connection and syncing process for Wahoo head units!
This new early access feature allows Wahoo head units to send completed activities directly to TrainerRoad, so we get the most accurate data for your workouts and eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries. The new connection also improves the reliability and speed of sending planned TrainerRoad outside workouts to your Wahoo head units. And finally, it enables TrainerRoad compatibility with the new Wahoo ELEMNT ACE.
Enabling Early Access
You can try out the new Wahoo connection whether or not you currently have an active connection to Wahoo devices. The process is simple:
Log into TrainerRoad.com on the web and head to your Account Profile
Select “Early Access” from the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
That’s it! Your account is now connected with Wahoo. If your TrainerRoad account was already connected to Wahoo using the older connection, it will be updated to the new and improved version.
If you enable Early Access but don’t complete the connection process, you can finish it any time from the Activity Sync page in your Account Profile. You can also disconnect TrainerRoad and Wahoo from this page.
Sending and Receiving Workouts
Once you’ve enabled Early Access and established the updated connection between Wahoo and TrainerRoad, any future activities completed on your Wahoo head unit will automatically sync to TrainerRoad.
The process of sending TrainerRoad Outside workouts to your head unit to complete outside won’t change from what you’re used to now. Simply add a workout to your calendar, set it to Outside, and we’ll push it to your device when it’s time to train. You can also toggle an unscheduled workout to “Outside” and click “Push to Wahoo”. Then sync your head unit and the workout will be ready to go.
Providing Feedback
As with all Early Access features, the improved Wahoo connection is a work in progress, so we want to hear if you encounter any bugs, unexpected behaviors, or points of confusion. Let us know here in this thread!
Current Known Issues
Planned TrainerRoad outside workouts may show inaccurate TSS and IF values when previewed on some head units.
The Authorized Apps section of the Wahoo ELEMNT app may not accurately reflect the connection status of your Wahoo and TrainerRoad accounts once enabling Early Access. After you’ve enabled this connection, use the TrainerRoad Activity sync page to disconnect or make updates, not the ELEMNT app.
Non-cycling activities recorded on Wahoo devices and synced to TrainerRoad may be temporarily missing from your calendar or display incorrectly.
We will intelligently filter out the duplicate and only show one on your TrainerRoad calendar. We’ll prioritize using the data that comes directly from Wahoo, since it’s first-party and unmodified. But if you change your workout title on Strava, you’ll also see the updated title in TrainerRoad. On the workout details page you’ll see both services credited as the sources of the workout, as shown in the screenshot below.
May be jumping the gun with this question, but is there any difference in how a workout is handled by TR if it comes from Wahoo vs. Strava? That is, given the API stuff, will a workout coming from Strava be handled different for AI FTP and PL purposes, or in any other way?
Put another way, if I’m syncing my Wahoo activities via Strava is there a reason to change that? (Beyond a principled distaste for Strava?)
There are some subtle differences in the data that make it absolutely preferable for us to receive first-party files that haven’t been compressed or modified.
Notably, Wahoo does plan to eventually sunset support for the old connection. Once we iron out any kinks in Early Access, we’ll be strongly encouraging all athletes with Wahoo devices to move to this new version. Whether you intend to keep your Strava connection or not, I do recommend updating to keep your integration future-proof.
Strava definitely does ‘stuff’ to the Wahoo file data. The main way I’ve noticed this manifests is it reduces average speed and peak power numbers almost every time.
Sorry if a dumb question but: Do workouts synced to TR directly from Wahoo also end up on Strava if TR is connected to Strava? I know TR pushes TR workouts to Strava, but does it also push outdoor rides?
Trying to remove Strava as the syncing hub, but at least for now I still want to be able to use VeloViewer, so still want my workouts to end up on Strava. So does Wahoo—>TR—>Strava—>VV work?
Or do I need parallel Wahoo—>TR and Wahoo—>Strava?
Not a dumb question at all! The only activities we push to Strava are workouts completed within the TrainerRoad app. We don’t re-export any activity we receive that originated elsewhere. In the case you outlined, you’d want to keep Wahoo connected to Strava if you want Strava (and by extension, Veloviewer) to receive the rides completed on your Wahoo device.
Hey Bob! When we say Wahoo head unit, we’re referring to devices made by Wahoo that record GPS, power, and other data when you’re riding outside. A good example is the new Wahoo ELEMNT ACE which was just announced a week or two ago.
Regarding ANT+ and iPads, I spoke with our support team and this is a tough one. Unfortunately, depending on which model iPad you have it may be impossible. Apple’s hardware restrictions prevent any USB-C devices from acting as ANT+ adapters for newer devices. If you have an older iPad with a lightning connector it may be doable. Email our support team over at support@trainerroad.com and they can help you understand your options.
As long as it’s associated with the Wahoo account you use to establish the new connection, the RIVAL should work. And if it doesn’t, I want to hear about it!
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