Speed sensor in 2026? DT Swiss and Wahoo think it still makes sense

DT Swiss and Wahoo have joined forces to present the DT Swiss TRACKR SPEED by Wahoo, a new speed sensor specifically designed to integrate into the rear hubs of the Swiss brand. A compact and practically invisible solution that revives a type of device that was essential for years, now adapted to current standards, with ANT+, Bluetooth, and a rechargeable battery.

DT Swiss TRACKR SPEED by Wahoo: precision when GPS disappears

Before GPS became the standard for recording any bike ride, sensors installed on the wheels were practically essential for knowing speed and distance. Now DT Swiss revives this concept in collaboration with Wahoo, but with a much more refined integration.

The new TRACKR SPEED installs directly onto the rear hub and uses the rotation of the wheel to calculate speed. This way, it does not depend on satellite coverage and can continue providing information when the cyclist goes through a tunnel, rides through a very dense forest, or enters a deep valley where GPS reception may degrade or temporarily disappear.

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The main difference compared to the usual speed sensors attached to the hub with rubber bands or clamps is precisely in its integration. DT Swiss has developed specific versions for its SPLINE and DICUT hubs, ensuring that the device fits the shapes of the hub itself and is visually much less noticeable.

Its main features are:

• Weight: from 23 g
• Connectivity: ANT+ and Bluetooth (BLE)
• Battery life: up to 94 hours
• Battery: rechargeable
• Charging: USB-C via magnetic connection
• Compatibility: smartphones, smartwatches, and bike computers
• Specific versions for DT Swiss SPLINE and DICUT hubs
• Recommended price: from 59 euros

The power supply also represents an interesting difference compared to many traditional sensors. Instead of using a replaceable button cell, the TRACKR SPEED incorporates a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 94 hours of operation. To charge it, a cable with a magnetic connection powered via USB-C is used.

A speed sensor in 2026, does it still make sense?

It is striking that DT Swiss and Wahoo present in 2026 an independent speed sensor and, moreover, target it towards an advanced cyclist.

This type of sensor was hugely popular years ago and is still used, but the evolution of bike computers has changed its role significantly. The vast majority of amateur cyclists currently use the GPS from their Garmin, Coros, Wahoo, Hammerhead, smartphone, or smartwatch to record speed and distance without needing to install any additional sensor on the bike.

The improvement of satellite positioning systems and the receivers built into modern bike computers has made it so that, for conventional use, adding a specific speed sensor has ceased to be a necessity.

That does not mean it has completely lost its utility. The TRACKR SPEED aims to cover precisely the situations where GPS still has limitations. In tunnels, areas tightly enclosed by mountains, or places with abundant vegetation, the signal can degrade and cause errors or interruptions in recording.

By directly measuring the wheel rotations, the sensor can maintain speed information regardless of GPS reception. And connected via ANT+ or Bluetooth, it can transmit that data directly to the device used to record the activity.

DT Swiss and Wahoo, therefore, present an updated proposal for this sensor, but at a time when for most cyclists, GPS is already sufficient.

The DT Swiss TRACKR SPEED by Wahoo will be available from 59 euros, with specific versions for DT Swiss SPLINE and DICUT hubs.