Wahoo brings professional sports physiology in real-time to its GPS with a simple update

The Wahoo cycle computers are set to make a significant leap in the type of data they can display during a ride. The American brand has announced a new firmware update for its Elemnt V3 range that will allow the integration of advanced physiological sensors and visualize real-time metrics such as body temperature, hydration status, sodium loss, or pulmonary ventilation directly on the GPS screen.

Wahoo turns its GPS into a physiology lab on wheels with an update that shows hydration, respiration, and temperature in real-time

The update will be available for current users of the Elemnt Bolt 3, Elemnt Roam 3, and Elemnt Ace models, without the need to purchase a new device. The goal is to provide cyclists with tools that were previously reserved for performance laboratories, professional teams, and high-performance centers.

From power meters to real-time physiology

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For years, cyclists have based much of their training on data such as power, heart rate, or speed. Now Wahoo wants to add a new layer of information focused on what happens inside the body while pedaling.

The update will allow the connection of four external sensors developed by specialized companies:

• Tymewear VitalPro: analysis of respiration and ventilation.
• CORE: monitoring of core body temperature.
• Flowbio: measurement of fluid and sodium loss.
• hDrop: real-time hydration and sweat analysis.

According to Wahoo, these integrations will allow for decision-making during training or competition instead of analyzing data after the activity is completed.

The brand claims that cyclists will be able to better manage aspects such as effort pace, hydration, body cooling, or energy expenditure while riding.

The sensor that Jonas Vingegaard uses to monitor his breathing

One of the most striking devices is the Tymewear VitalPro, a sensor that replaces the classic heart rate strap and is capable of measuring respiratory parameters with laboratory-level precision.

This system is already used by the Visma Lease a Bike team and by riders like Jonas Vingegaard.

In addition to respiratory rate, the sensor analyzes the volume of air moved in each breath, allowing for the identification of ventilatory thresholds and the construction of personalized training plans based on the athlete's individual physiological response.

Breathing is becoming one of the new benchmark metrics for advanced training, especially as it provides complementary information to power and heart rate.

Controlling body temperature to perform better in the heat

Another of the most relevant integrations is the CORE sensor, widely used in the professional peloton.

This device non-invasively measures core body temperature and allows for the assessment of the thermal stress level to which the body is subjected.

Heat management has become one of the major focuses of modern cycling. Teams like UAE Team Emirates-XRG or EF Education-EasyPost regularly use this type of technology to plan acclimatization training and optimize performance in extreme conditions.

With the new integration, users will be able to directly visualize thermal load indicators and heat zones while training or competing.

Flowbio and hDrop: how much you sweat and how many salts you lose

Hydration is another aspect that Wahoo wants to take to the next level.

Flowbio measures the amount of liquid and sodium that each cyclist loses through sweat using a small sensor that can be placed on the heart rate strap or on the arm.

Meanwhile, hDrop also analyzes parameters related to hydration and sweat composition in real-time.

The main advantage is that this data stops being information that is consulted after training and becomes a useful tool during exertion. The cyclist can know when they need to drink more, when they are losing too many electrolytes, or when they are at risk of dehydration.

Availability and compatible devices

The update will arrive in June for all users of the current generation of Wahoo cycle computers:

• Wahoo Elemnt Bolt 3 – €330
• Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3 – €450
• Wahoo Elemnt Ace – €480

The integration with CORE will begin to roll out from June 2, while support for Flowbio, hDrop, and Tymewear will gradually arrive over the coming weeks.