Climb detection feature no longer requires a loaded route on Bolt and Roam bike computers
Wahoo has updated Summit Freeride so the navigation feature automatically warns you of approaching climbs and displays relevant data as you ascend.
Previously, the climb detection and preview functionality worked on Wahoo Edge bike computers when users were following a pre-loaded route. Now it’ll work on any ride, regardless of whether you are following a route.
The software update brings Wahoo’s climbing tool up to speed with many of the best bike computers.
Hammerhead’s Climber feature was the first to preview hills without needing a route, launching on the Karoo 2 in 2022.
More recently, Garmin introduced on-the-fly climb detection via ClimbPro 2.0 on its new Edge 540 and 840 computers.
How does Summit Freeride work?
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Wahoo says Summit Freeride harnesses the pre-installed map and elevation data on its Elemnt Bolt and Elemnt Roam computers. It scans the road ahead to anticipate and notify the rider of upcoming climbs.
Once a climb is detected, Summit Freeride adds it to the device’s upcoming climb list. On the map page, chevrons will indicate the climb’s position and steepness.
During ascents, the software displays the remaining elevation, gradient, time, and distance to the summit.
The climb profile is broken down into coloured-coded, 10m sections with darker shades indicating steeper gradients. Wahoo says this should help users to better pace their climbing efforts.
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The fitness brand claims that Summit Freeride will recalculate if a rider turns off a climb, onto a different road, and continues ascending.
Wahoo says Summit Freeride’s minimum criteria for a climb is 400m long at an average gradient of three per cent, or 250m long with an average incline of seven per cent.
Users can configure the categories of climbs they want to see in the Elemnt app.
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It is also possible to sort climbs by difficulty during a ride. Wahoo claims this will help riders hold back something for tough hills to come.
The incoming climb alert will come up even when riders are locked into another data screen, such as the workout or map screen, according to the brand.
Summit Freeride is available to use now on the latest versions of the Elemnt Roam and Elemnt Bolt.