May 29, 2025 • 21 mins
A chat based on the5krunner's Roam 3 Review
Resources & Links:
- Buy one: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/bike-computers/elemnt-roam-buy?rfsn=1864709.553abe271
- Detailed written review: https://the5krunner.com/2025/05/28/wahoo-roam-3-review/
- Main Channel: https://the5krunner.com
My other channels: https://linktr.ee/the5krunner
—Credits: Content in this episode was generated using AI tools (NotebookLM) based on original content from @the5krunner, and other sources as cited.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
All right, let's unpack this. We've got a stack of sources
here, specifically a really detailed review from the 5K
Runner, and of course, the official Wahoo product page.
We're diving deep into the latest Wahoo Element Rome Three
GPS bike computer. Right.
And for anyone trying to stay ontop of the, you know, best tech
for the rides or maybe just wondering if it's finally time
(00:23):
to upgrade that old unit. Well, navigating the specs, the
reviews, the marketing, yeah, itcan feel like trying to follow a
complex route without a map. Really.
Absolutely. It's a lot, especially if you're
already like in the Wahoo world.Maybe you're still writing a
Rome one, or perhaps even one ofthose original element computers
you've had for years. Yeah, those original ones.
(00:43):
So our mission today is basically to cut through all
that noise, pull out the most important Nuggets, especially if
you are that existing Wahoo writer thinking maybe it's time
for an upgrade. And the 5K runner review,
they're a triathlete and runner normally, but here they really
put on their cycling tech hat and they specifically state
they're focusing more on existing Wahoo owners who are
(01:05):
considering that upgrade path. Perfect.
That's exactly our angle. So let's jump right in.
What do these sources tell us about this Room 3?
And you know, does it really hitthat sweet spot if you're coming
from an older Wahoo unit? Well, the 5K Runner review gets
pretty straight to it. They say the Rome 3 is and I'm
(01:25):
quoting here, new in almost every way behind the scenes.
OK, so lots of internal changes.Yeah, but critically, they add,
it feels reassuringly similar for people, upgrading that
balance seems key to their assessment.
It's not a totally alien device,right?
Familiarity is important. And what's their final verdict?
Pretty clear. Very clear.
They state Rome V3 should be thefirst to consider if you are
(01:47):
upgrading from an older element.Can't get much more direct than
that. OK, Strong recommendation then
And do both sources, the review and Wahoo kind of agree on the
core promise here? Yeah, they seem aligned.
Both talk about balancing navigation, reliability,
usability and performance. Wahoo says it supports every
ride decision you make, intuitively and engagingly,
(02:07):
keeping you focused on the road ahead.
Right, the classic Wahoo simplicity promise, but with
more power. OK, let's get into the
specifics. The hardware.
What are the stand out upgrades compared to say that Rome one or
the original element? The display is usually the first
thing people notice. It usually is.
(02:28):
The Wahoo page highlights a large 2.8 inch high contrast
display. Now the 5K Runner review adds
some important context for upgraders.
OK, they point out, it's only a tiny bit bigger than the Rome
2's 2.7 inches, and while Wahoo makes a big deal about it being
58% larger than the original Rome one.
Which sounds huge. Right, but the reviewer felt
(02:50):
that size difference in practisewas hardly noticeable and the
actually usable screen area feltpretty similar to them.
OK, so maybe the physical size increase isn't the main story
there. Where is the big difference for
someone coming off of Rome 1 then?
OK, this is where it gets interesting.
The massive leap, especially forRome 1 owners, is the tech
behind the screen. You're going from an 8 colour
MIP display. Which is pretty basic, right?
(03:12):
Yeah, I think functional but limited colours, you're jumping
to a 16,000,000 colour TFT touchscreen.
Whoa, OK, 16,000,000 colours. That's smartphone territory
almost. What does that mean visually?
Exactly. It means, according to the
reviewer, much more colour, depth and beauty on the maps.
Everything just it's richer, more detailed.
They found the display overall capable and generally very good
(03:35):
for readability outside. And it's a touchscreen now,
which the Rome one wasn't. Correct touchscreen capability
alongside the usual buttons. The reviewer does know it's
transflective which is good. Uses ambient light well
outdoors, so you don't always need the backlight saving
battery, but indoors you'll needthat backlight.
On makes sense and the touch functions pinch and zoom on
(03:56):
maps. Yep, they said pinch and zoom
worked well on the map screen. Wahoo also mentions anti
reflective coatings to help withglare.
OK display sounds like a definite significant upgrade,
particularly for Rome 1 users seeing real colour maps for the
first time. What about battery life?
Always a big one. Wahoo's claiming up to 25 hours.
That's a solid jump from the Rome One's official 17 Hours.
(04:18):
That's a good bump. How did it hold up in testing?
The reviewers real world tests using auto backlight and other
typical features landed them somewhere between 15 and 20
hours. They admit it's hard to
perfectly verify Max claims because usage varies so much.
Sure, depends what you're doing.Exactly, but interestingly they
did a sort of extreme test, stationary features disabled and
(04:39):
got an amazing 49 hours. Wow, 49 hours.
Yeah, not a real world scenario,but it shows the underlying
battery capacity is definitely there.
They specifically mentioned older wahoos just didn't have
this kind of stamina. That's good to know.
The potential is there for ultrastuff.
OK, another pain point on older units memory.
How's the Rome Three looking? Massive improvement.
(05:00):
The reviewer's comparison chart details this.
It's gone up to 64 Gilby. It's 64?
Seriously, from just 4 Gilabits on the Rome one?
Yep, 4 gigs to 64. It's a night and day difference
for a Rome 1 user. That means you can basically
store maps for the whole world, plus tonnes of routes workouts.
You just don't have to think about storage space anymore.
(05:21):
That's huge, especially for people who travel or ride in
lots of different areas. OK, Simler thing, but welcome I
bet the charging port. Finally, it's USBC, upgraded
from the old micro USB on the Rome one.
The reviewer confirms this in their comparison.
Much easier one less cable type to worry about.
(05:41):
Definitely modern standard. OK, let's talk GPS getting good
signal. It mentions dual band GNSS.
Both sources highlight that yes,dual band GNSS for Rome 1
owners. That's an upgrade from single
band. What does dual band actually
give you in practise? Basically, it means the device
can connect to more satellites on different frequencies
(06:01):
simultaneously. The reviewers tests show this
offers a slight advantage for cyclists seeking higher levels
of positional accuracy in many environments.
Better tracking, especially in places where the signal might
get blocked or reflected, like cities or dense forests.
So potentially fewer weird trackjumps are getting lost under
trees. That's the idea, though they did
(06:22):
know performance still varied a bit in really dense woodland,
but overall it's an improvement for challenging conditions.
Any other little physical designchanges worth mentioning?
Things that just make it nicer to use day-to-day.
The reviewer said there were twonumerous small details to
mention, but they picked out things like an improved mounting
lug, how it clicks into the mound, a Ted or hole, slightly
(06:43):
more angled sides, a flatter bottom which aarently works
better with some third party mounts.
Oh, that's handy. Yeah, and an improved cover for
the UBC port, lower Rofile side buttons and they actually
removed the Wahoo branding from the front face late cleaner
look. Wahoo's site also mentions a
stronger out front mount comes with it.
(07:03):
OK, those sound like nice refinements.
Let's switch over to the software side and new features.
You mentioned the touch screen. How does that actually change
how you interact with the device?
Well, it's now a main way to interact along with the buttons
you're used to. The reviewer found it works
great when it's dry. Easy map panning, zooming,
tapping options. There's always a but with touch
(07:23):
screens and cycling. Right, pretty much they found it
off and had no response when wet, rain or sweaty fingers
could be an issue and sometimes,maybe paradoxically, it could be
too responsive when you were trying not to touch it, maybe
brushing it accidentally. OK, so useful in the dry, maybe
frustrating in the wet. That seems to be the gist, but
(07:44):
they did conclude that even for users who primarily stick to
buttons, having the touch screenfor occasional use like map
zooming is an excellent addition.
Fair enough. What about audio?
That's totally new for a Rome, isn't it?
Built in speaker. It is big change.
It is a built in speaker for things like audible turn alerts,
actual voice prompts, not just beeps, and also a digital bell.
(08:06):
Voice directions? How well does that work?
The reviewer found them clear and well implemented.
They said it worked well and wasa definite improvement over the
old fashioned beep you get on the current Bolt 3 for instance.
OK, talking directions sound useful.
What about this digital bell? How's that function?
You double tap the screen to activate it and it's apparently
loud enough. But it has some quirks.
(08:27):
Like what? Well, it's disabled on certain
screens, like the map or menu pages.
On those screens, you have to tap the bottom centre of the
screen instead. The reviewer found this
confusing. Why not just have the double tap
work everywhere? Yeah, consistency seems key
there. Any other issues with the bell?
Yes, and this could be a big onefor some writers.
(08:48):
The reviewer flagged it as a significant omission.
You can't assign the bell function to ADI to shifter
button. Oh really?
So you can't just flick A shifter button to ring the bell.
Nope, and the reviewer was pretty blunt saying they won't
use the digital bell without that capability because you
know, reaching up to double tap the screen isn't always ideal
(09:09):
when you need to signal quickly.I can see that that seems like
an oversight for writers with electronic shifting.
What else does the speaker do? It also handles audio alerts for
other things, status changes, sensor connections, workout
queues, segment alerts, phone notifications.
Some of these have customizationoptions and separate volume
controls. OK, moving on to maps, we know
(09:29):
they look prettier with the 16,000,000 colours.
What else is new functionally? Besides the colours, which again
the reviewer called prettier butmaybe slightly less readable
than Garmin's maps, the big functional change is toggle able
map layers. Layers you can turn on and off.
What kind of info? Things like street names,
Strava, live segments overlaid, and summit segments.
(09:53):
Those are the climb previews shown as Gradient Chevron's
right on the map. You can turn these on or off to
customise your view. That sounds really useful for
decluttering or adding detail when needed.
Yeah, and they're also builtin map layer OIS.
Oints of interest, though, you can't edit those.
Plus, you can now use saved locations from your Wahoo
account or create specific points in the new companion app
(10:15):
to navigate too quickly using the device's onboard map
intelligence for routing. More ways to handle navigation
points? Good.
What's this ready to ride dashboard they mentioned?
Yes, both sources talk about this.
It's basically a new screen thatappears when you first turn the
Roam 3 on for a ride. Gives you a quick overview,
confirms your selected ride profile, cheques if a route or
(10:38):
workout is loaded, shows connected sensors and confirms
they're transmitting data, all before you hit the start button.
Like a little. Pre ride checklist.
Exactly. The reviewer called it a great
way to start a ride with neat details, Peace of Mind that
everything's set up correctly. Makes sense.
And there are new activity profiles or bike profiles.
What are those? Yeah, these let you create
(10:59):
custom setups for different types of riding.
So you could have a race profilewith specific data fields and
minimal alerts, a training profile with different fields
and maybe workout integration. A navigation profile.
Focus on the map you saved your preferred data, screens, sensors
and alert settings for each. How useful did their reviewer
find those? They were a bit ambivalent,
calling them either mad or magnificent depending on your
(11:22):
needs. They personally used it to
create a race IE profile so theysaw the value but maybe not
essential for everyone. You set these up in the new
Wahoo app. And one small detail they noted
about profiles. Yeah, a little quirk.
Auto lap can only be set to a whole number distance, like 1
kilometre or one mile. They wondered if older Wahoos
(11:43):
allowed partial distances like .5 kilometre laps.
Minor thing, but they noticed it.
Interesting little detail. OK, what about the persistent
status bar replacing the old LE DS on the side of the original
element? To some degree, yes.
Instead of the flashing side LE DS, you get a thin bar across
the top of the screen. It shows things like the current
(12:04):
page name, time, connection icons, app, Wi-Fi, GPS signal,
device battery level and little directional Chevron's when
navigating. And it changes colour.
Yes, it can change colour for alerts like turning red or
orange if a paired radar detectsan approaching car.
Kind of like the old LE DS but integrated into the screen.
Got it. And Speaking of apps, you
mentioned a new Wahoo app is needed.
(12:25):
Correct. The Rome Three along with the
newer Bolt 3 and the Ace watch requires the new Wahoo app.
You can't use the old Element companion app that Rome One or
original Element users have. So upgrading the hardware means
upgrading the app on your phone too.
Is setup still easy? Seems like it setup involves
scanning AQR code displayed on the Rome Three screen using the
(12:46):
new A retty standard these days.The new A is also where you do
configuration customization, manage sensors after the first
pairing and as mentioned, createGPS points Pois on the map to
sync over OK. And finally, hardware wise,
sensor compatibility, what can it connect to?
It supports all the standard stuff you'd expect, heart rate
(13:06):
monitors, power metres, speed, cadence sensors using both
Bluetooth BLE and anti plus egg.And more advanced things.
Yes, it also supports some novelsensors the reviewer mentioned,
like the core body temperature sensor, radar units and smart
lights and electronic shifting systems.
Shimano DI to synchroshift and SRAM AXS are specifically
(13:27):
mentioned. It can display the DI to gear
chart visually. Sounds pretty comprehensive.
Any complaints about sensor handling?
The reviewer did have a few frustrations. 1 you can't force
the device to prefer BLE over any Plus, or vice versa if a
sensor supports both. 2 You can't just temporarily disable a
sensor, you have to fully unpairit.
That could be annoying if you have multiple bikes or sensors,
(13:48):
yeah. And 3rd, specifically relating
back to that Bell issue, limitations on how much you can
customise or remap the DI top buttons within the Wahoo system
itself. OK, so lots of upgrades, but
also a few quirks noted. Now this brings us to this sweet
spot idea. The 5K Runner review, while
positive about the Rome 3 as an upgrade, did point out areas
(14:12):
where Wahoo still lags behind competitors, especially Garmin.
What are those key differences an upgrader should be aware of?
Right, this is important context.
The biggest one consistently mentioned is Wahoo's lack of an
open App Store or ecosystem likeGarmin's Connect IQ, often
shortened to CIQ. So no way for 3rd party
developers to easily create and distribute apps or data fields
(14:35):
that run directly on the Wahoo device itself.
Exactly, Wahoo doesn't have thatopen cohesive infrastructure.
As the reviewer put it. This could mean that new
innovative sensors are niche accessories, might get garment
support first, or maybe not cometo Wahoo at all.
The reviewer tested a body position sensor, for example,
that just wasn't compatible. OK, that's a potential
limitation if you like experimenting with niche tech or
(14:57):
specific third party data integrations.
What else is missing compared to, say, a Garment Edge?
Data fields and metrics. Wahoo still doesn't integrate
weather data directly. Things like wind direction,
strength forecasts or time untilrain showing U on your screen.
No builtin weather. That's suprising.
(15:17):
Yeah, it seems like a common request.
Also missing are the advanced Physiology metrics that Garmin
heavily promotes. Training readiness, stamina
tracking, detailed load analysis, recovery time
suggestions, that sort of thing.Wahoo basically offloads those
abilities to third party apps like Training Peaks or Strava.
So Wahoo focuses on collecting the ride data but leaves the
(15:38):
deeper physiological analysis toother platforms.
Pretty much. The reviewer felt these
calculations are straightforwardenough that Wahoo could probably
implement them, and suggested their absence likely cost Wahoo
sales to data hungry athletes. Interesting strategic
difference. Any other quirks mentioned even
with the upgrades displayer buttons?
Minor things, perhaps. Despite the nice new colour
(16:01):
screen, the reviewer still felt Garmin's maps might be slightly
more readable in some situations, even if Wahoos are
prettier. And as we discussed, the
touchscreen isn't great when wetand they felt the physical
buttons need improvement in their responsiveness and tactile
feel. A bit mushy perhaps?
OK. And the overall software
experience simply or more complex?
(16:23):
This was an interesting point. The reviewer found the new menu
structure and settings options on the Rome Three a tad more
complex than the Rome 2 Bolt 2 Iknew and loved in the past.
So while it offers more features, it might come at the
cost of some of that absolute dead simple navigation Wahoo was
famous for initially. That's a really key point, that
potential trade off between features and simplicity.
(16:44):
How did the 5K runner ultimatelyframe the Wahoo versus Garmin
comparison considering this new Rome 3?
Their core conclusion stayed pretty consistent with past
views. Wahoo, including this new Rome 3
is generally simpler to set up and use.
Significantly simplifies, feels far more usable day-to-day, and
in their personal experience hasbeen more reliable than Garmin
(17:06):
Edge devices. But Garmin has.
Garmin offers slightly more features, often of limited use,
according to the reviewer. And the really big difference
remains that Connect IQ, App Store and Garmin's much broader
ecosystem covering multiple sports, Wellness, tracking,
smartwatches, etcetera. OK, that comparison helps
clarify the choice, so let's bring it all back home for the
listener. If you're sitting there with
(17:28):
your trusty old Rome One, or maybe even an original element,
who is this Rome Three really best for based on everything
we've just discussed? Well, if you fundamentally like
the Wahoo way of doing things that focus on usability,
reliable core functions, and you're just ready for a big jump
in hardware capabilities, then the Rome 3 looks like a really
strong candidate. You're getting that much much
(17:48):
better display colour, touch capability, significantly
improved battery life, way more memory.
So no more map juggling, the convenience of USBC charging,
and potentially more accurate GPS tracking with dual band.
Those are all big, tangible improvements over your old
device. Absolutely, and features like
the audible turn prompts, the richer maps with layers that
(18:11):
ready to ride dashboard check. These are all nice quality of
life upgrades to the 5K runner review really nails it for you.
Calling it familiar better. It keeps the essence of Wahoo
but modernises the tech underneath.
But it's not necessarily a slam dunk for everyone, right?
You need to weigh the butts. Exactly.
You have to consider what you don't get.
If you are someone who really relies on third party apps
(18:33):
directly on your computer via anApp Store, or you desperately
want integrated weather forecasts on your screen, or you
love digging into advanced recovery and training load
metrics on the device itself, well, the Rome 3 and Wahoo in
general probably isn't going to satisfy those specific needs.
You'd need to look elsewhere or rely on other apps after your
ride. And be aware of those specific
(18:54):
Rome 3 quirks. The reviewer mentioned the
touchscreen and the wet and thatlimitation with the DI 2 button
control for the digital bell, which could be a deal breaker if
that's a feature you'd use a lot.
Right. And if you're comparing within
the new Wahoo lineup itself, maybe thinking Rome 3 versus
Bolt 3, the Rome 3 is positionedas the choice if you prioritise
(19:16):
that larger screen, the slightlylonger battery life, and you
want the touch screen and the speaker for audio prompts.
Whereas the Bolt 3 might still appeal if you prefer a smaller
device, absolutely want button only interaction, and maybe
value that ultimate simplicity even if it means sacrificing the
speaker and touch. That seems to be the trade off
within their current range. Yeah, the Bolt 3 has fewer
(19:37):
features than the Rome Three or the new ACE Watch.
So wrapping it up for that Rome one or original Element user,
the sources suggest the Rome 3 is a really compelling upgrade.
It feels familiar but brings substantial technical
improvements, provided those missing advanced features or the
specific interaction quirks aren't critical deal Breakers
for how you personally ride and use your computer.
(19:59):
Well summarised, it seems like asolid evolution for the loyal
Wahoo user base. So there we have it.
We've looked at how the Wahoo Rome Three stacks up, drawing on
that detailed 5K renter review and Wahoo's official info.
It's definitely a clear step up from older Element devices,
especially the Rome one, bringing those big hardware
improvements while trying to keep that Wahoo ease of use.
(20:21):
And it's out now, listed at 399 lbs under £99 or $449.99 US.
But you know, there's that interesting thread we touched on
from the reviewer. They noted the new software,
while powerful, felt maybe slightly more complex than the
older generations they loved. Yeah.
And this brings a fascinating question for you, the listener,
to think about. As these cycling computers
(20:41):
inevitably pack in more features, more connect
abilities, touch screens, audio,deeper integrations, can they
truly hold on to that core simplicity that Wahoo in
particular built its reputation on?
Or is there always going to be abit of a tradeoff?
Do more features inherently meana bit more complexity?
A steeper learning curve maybe? And how much does the lack of
certain things like that open App Store or the advanced
(21:03):
Physiology metrics really impactyour actual ride experience
day-to-day? Especially if the core
navigation and training featuresare, as the reviewer put it,
already expansive and excellent.Definitely something to Mull
over as you think about your next piece of gear, or maybe
just appreciate the ride you're about to go on with the tech you
already have.
All right, let's unpack this. We've got a stack of sources
here, specifically a really detailed review from the 5K
Runner, and of course, the official Wahoo product page.
We're diving deep into the latest Wahoo Element Rome Three
GPS bike computer. Right.
And for anyone trying to stay ontop of the, you know, best tech
for the rides or maybe just wondering if it's finally time
(00:23):
to upgrade that old unit. Well, navigating the specs, the
reviews, the marketing, yeah, itcan feel like trying to follow a
complex route without a map. Really.
Absolutely. It's a lot, especially if you're
already like in the Wahoo world.Maybe you're still writing a
Rome one, or perhaps even one ofthose original element computers
you've had for years. Yeah, those original ones.
(00:43):
So our mission today is basically to cut through all
that noise, pull out the most important Nuggets, especially if
you are that existing Wahoo writer thinking maybe it's time
for an upgrade. And the 5K runner review,
they're a triathlete and runner normally, but here they really
put on their cycling tech hat and they specifically state
they're focusing more on existing Wahoo owners who are
(01:05):
considering that upgrade path. Perfect.
That's exactly our angle. So let's jump right in.
What do these sources tell us about this Room 3?
And you know, does it really hitthat sweet spot if you're coming
from an older Wahoo unit? Well, the 5K Runner review gets
pretty straight to it. They say the Rome 3 is and I'm
(01:25):
quoting here, new in almost every way behind the scenes.
OK, so lots of internal changes.Yeah, but critically, they add,
it feels reassuringly similar for people, upgrading that
balance seems key to their assessment.
It's not a totally alien device,right?
Familiarity is important. And what's their final verdict?
Pretty clear. Very clear.
They state Rome V3 should be thefirst to consider if you are
(01:47):
upgrading from an older element.Can't get much more direct than
that. OK, Strong recommendation then
And do both sources, the review and Wahoo kind of agree on the
core promise here? Yeah, they seem aligned.
Both talk about balancing navigation, reliability,
usability and performance. Wahoo says it supports every
ride decision you make, intuitively and engagingly,
(02:07):
keeping you focused on the road ahead.
Right, the classic Wahoo simplicity promise, but with
more power. OK, let's get into the
specifics. The hardware.
What are the stand out upgrades compared to say that Rome one or
the original element? The display is usually the first
thing people notice. It usually is.
(02:28):
The Wahoo page highlights a large 2.8 inch high contrast
display. Now the 5K Runner review adds
some important context for upgraders.
OK, they point out, it's only a tiny bit bigger than the Rome
2's 2.7 inches, and while Wahoo makes a big deal about it being
58% larger than the original Rome one.
Which sounds huge. Right, but the reviewer felt
(02:50):
that size difference in practisewas hardly noticeable and the
actually usable screen area feltpretty similar to them.
OK, so maybe the physical size increase isn't the main story
there. Where is the big difference for
someone coming off of Rome 1 then?
OK, this is where it gets interesting.
The massive leap, especially forRome 1 owners, is the tech
behind the screen. You're going from an 8 colour
MIP display. Which is pretty basic, right?
(03:12):
Yeah, I think functional but limited colours, you're jumping
to a 16,000,000 colour TFT touchscreen.
Whoa, OK, 16,000,000 colours. That's smartphone territory
almost. What does that mean visually?
Exactly. It means, according to the
reviewer, much more colour, depth and beauty on the maps.
Everything just it's richer, more detailed.
They found the display overall capable and generally very good
(03:35):
for readability outside. And it's a touchscreen now,
which the Rome one wasn't. Correct touchscreen capability
alongside the usual buttons. The reviewer does know it's
transflective which is good. Uses ambient light well
outdoors, so you don't always need the backlight saving
battery, but indoors you'll needthat backlight.
On makes sense and the touch functions pinch and zoom on
(03:56):
maps. Yep, they said pinch and zoom
worked well on the map screen. Wahoo also mentions anti
reflective coatings to help withglare.
OK display sounds like a definite significant upgrade,
particularly for Rome 1 users seeing real colour maps for the
first time. What about battery life?
Always a big one. Wahoo's claiming up to 25 hours.
That's a solid jump from the Rome One's official 17 Hours.
(04:18):
That's a good bump. How did it hold up in testing?
The reviewers real world tests using auto backlight and other
typical features landed them somewhere between 15 and 20
hours. They admit it's hard to
perfectly verify Max claims because usage varies so much.
Sure, depends what you're doing.Exactly, but interestingly they
did a sort of extreme test, stationary features disabled and
(04:39):
got an amazing 49 hours. Wow, 49 hours.
Yeah, not a real world scenario,but it shows the underlying
battery capacity is definitely there.
They specifically mentioned older wahoos just didn't have
this kind of stamina. That's good to know.
The potential is there for ultrastuff.
OK, another pain point on older units memory.
How's the Rome Three looking? Massive improvement.
(05:00):
The reviewer's comparison chart details this.
It's gone up to 64 Gilby. It's 64?
Seriously, from just 4 Gilabits on the Rome one?
Yep, 4 gigs to 64. It's a night and day difference
for a Rome 1 user. That means you can basically
store maps for the whole world, plus tonnes of routes workouts.
You just don't have to think about storage space anymore.
(05:21):
That's huge, especially for people who travel or ride in
lots of different areas. OK, Simler thing, but welcome I
bet the charging port. Finally, it's USBC, upgraded
from the old micro USB on the Rome one.
The reviewer confirms this in their comparison.
Much easier one less cable type to worry about.
(05:41):
Definitely modern standard. OK, let's talk GPS getting good
signal. It mentions dual band GNSS.
Both sources highlight that yes,dual band GNSS for Rome 1
owners. That's an upgrade from single
band. What does dual band actually
give you in practise? Basically, it means the device
can connect to more satellites on different frequencies
(06:01):
simultaneously. The reviewers tests show this
offers a slight advantage for cyclists seeking higher levels
of positional accuracy in many environments.
Better tracking, especially in places where the signal might
get blocked or reflected, like cities or dense forests.
So potentially fewer weird trackjumps are getting lost under
trees. That's the idea, though they did
(06:22):
know performance still varied a bit in really dense woodland,
but overall it's an improvement for challenging conditions.
Any other little physical designchanges worth mentioning?
Things that just make it nicer to use day-to-day.
The reviewer said there were twonumerous small details to
mention, but they picked out things like an improved mounting
lug, how it clicks into the mound, a Ted or hole, slightly
(06:43):
more angled sides, a flatter bottom which aarently works
better with some third party mounts.
Oh, that's handy. Yeah, and an improved cover for
the UBC port, lower Rofile side buttons and they actually
removed the Wahoo branding from the front face late cleaner
look. Wahoo's site also mentions a
stronger out front mount comes with it.
(07:03):
OK, those sound like nice refinements.
Let's switch over to the software side and new features.
You mentioned the touch screen. How does that actually change
how you interact with the device?
Well, it's now a main way to interact along with the buttons
you're used to. The reviewer found it works
great when it's dry. Easy map panning, zooming,
tapping options. There's always a but with touch
(07:23):
screens and cycling. Right, pretty much they found it
off and had no response when wet, rain or sweaty fingers
could be an issue and sometimes,maybe paradoxically, it could be
too responsive when you were trying not to touch it, maybe
brushing it accidentally. OK, so useful in the dry, maybe
frustrating in the wet. That seems to be the gist, but
(07:44):
they did conclude that even for users who primarily stick to
buttons, having the touch screenfor occasional use like map
zooming is an excellent addition.
Fair enough. What about audio?
That's totally new for a Rome, isn't it?
Built in speaker. It is big change.
It is a built in speaker for things like audible turn alerts,
actual voice prompts, not just beeps, and also a digital bell.
(08:06):
Voice directions? How well does that work?
The reviewer found them clear and well implemented.
They said it worked well and wasa definite improvement over the
old fashioned beep you get on the current Bolt 3 for instance.
OK, talking directions sound useful.
What about this digital bell? How's that function?
You double tap the screen to activate it and it's apparently
loud enough. But it has some quirks.
(08:27):
Like what? Well, it's disabled on certain
screens, like the map or menu pages.
On those screens, you have to tap the bottom centre of the
screen instead. The reviewer found this
confusing. Why not just have the double tap
work everywhere? Yeah, consistency seems key
there. Any other issues with the bell?
Yes, and this could be a big onefor some writers.
(08:48):
The reviewer flagged it as a significant omission.
You can't assign the bell function to ADI to shifter
button. Oh really?
So you can't just flick A shifter button to ring the bell.
Nope, and the reviewer was pretty blunt saying they won't
use the digital bell without that capability because you
know, reaching up to double tap the screen isn't always ideal
(09:09):
when you need to signal quickly.I can see that that seems like
an oversight for writers with electronic shifting.
What else does the speaker do? It also handles audio alerts for
other things, status changes, sensor connections, workout
queues, segment alerts, phone notifications.
Some of these have customizationoptions and separate volume
controls. OK, moving on to maps, we know
(09:29):
they look prettier with the 16,000,000 colours.
What else is new functionally? Besides the colours, which again
the reviewer called prettier butmaybe slightly less readable
than Garmin's maps, the big functional change is toggle able
map layers. Layers you can turn on and off.
What kind of info? Things like street names,
Strava, live segments overlaid, and summit segments.
(09:53):
Those are the climb previews shown as Gradient Chevron's
right on the map. You can turn these on or off to
customise your view. That sounds really useful for
decluttering or adding detail when needed.
Yeah, and they're also builtin map layer OIS.
Oints of interest, though, you can't edit those.
Plus, you can now use saved locations from your Wahoo
account or create specific points in the new companion app
(10:15):
to navigate too quickly using the device's onboard map
intelligence for routing. More ways to handle navigation
points? Good.
What's this ready to ride dashboard they mentioned?
Yes, both sources talk about this.
It's basically a new screen thatappears when you first turn the
Roam 3 on for a ride. Gives you a quick overview,
confirms your selected ride profile, cheques if a route or
(10:38):
workout is loaded, shows connected sensors and confirms
they're transmitting data, all before you hit the start button.
Like a little. Pre ride checklist.
Exactly. The reviewer called it a great
way to start a ride with neat details, Peace of Mind that
everything's set up correctly. Makes sense.
And there are new activity profiles or bike profiles.
What are those? Yeah, these let you create
(10:59):
custom setups for different types of riding.
So you could have a race profilewith specific data fields and
minimal alerts, a training profile with different fields
and maybe workout integration. A navigation profile.
Focus on the map you saved your preferred data, screens, sensors
and alert settings for each. How useful did their reviewer
find those? They were a bit ambivalent,
calling them either mad or magnificent depending on your
(11:22):
needs. They personally used it to
create a race IE profile so theysaw the value but maybe not
essential for everyone. You set these up in the new
Wahoo app. And one small detail they noted
about profiles. Yeah, a little quirk.
Auto lap can only be set to a whole number distance, like 1
kilometre or one mile. They wondered if older Wahoos
(11:43):
allowed partial distances like .5 kilometre laps.
Minor thing, but they noticed it.
Interesting little detail. OK, what about the persistent
status bar replacing the old LE DS on the side of the original
element? To some degree, yes.
Instead of the flashing side LE DS, you get a thin bar across
the top of the screen. It shows things like the current
(12:04):
page name, time, connection icons, app, Wi-Fi, GPS signal,
device battery level and little directional Chevron's when
navigating. And it changes colour.
Yes, it can change colour for alerts like turning red or
orange if a paired radar detectsan approaching car.
Kind of like the old LE DS but integrated into the screen.
Got it. And Speaking of apps, you
mentioned a new Wahoo app is needed.
(12:25):
Correct. The Rome Three along with the
newer Bolt 3 and the Ace watch requires the new Wahoo app.
You can't use the old Element companion app that Rome One or
original Element users have. So upgrading the hardware means
upgrading the app on your phone too.
Is setup still easy? Seems like it setup involves
scanning AQR code displayed on the Rome Three screen using the
(12:46):
new A retty standard these days.The new A is also where you do
configuration customization, manage sensors after the first
pairing and as mentioned, createGPS points Pois on the map to
sync over OK. And finally, hardware wise,
sensor compatibility, what can it connect to?
It supports all the standard stuff you'd expect, heart rate
(13:06):
monitors, power metres, speed, cadence sensors using both
Bluetooth BLE and anti plus egg.And more advanced things.
Yes, it also supports some novelsensors the reviewer mentioned,
like the core body temperature sensor, radar units and smart
lights and electronic shifting systems.
Shimano DI to synchroshift and SRAM AXS are specifically
(13:27):
mentioned. It can display the DI to gear
chart visually. Sounds pretty comprehensive.
Any complaints about sensor handling?
The reviewer did have a few frustrations. 1 you can't force
the device to prefer BLE over any Plus, or vice versa if a
sensor supports both. 2 You can't just temporarily disable a
sensor, you have to fully unpairit.
That could be annoying if you have multiple bikes or sensors,
(13:48):
yeah. And 3rd, specifically relating
back to that Bell issue, limitations on how much you can
customise or remap the DI top buttons within the Wahoo system
itself. OK, so lots of upgrades, but
also a few quirks noted. Now this brings us to this sweet
spot idea. The 5K Runner review, while
positive about the Rome 3 as an upgrade, did point out areas
(14:12):
where Wahoo still lags behind competitors, especially Garmin.
What are those key differences an upgrader should be aware of?
Right, this is important context.
The biggest one consistently mentioned is Wahoo's lack of an
open App Store or ecosystem likeGarmin's Connect IQ, often
shortened to CIQ. So no way for 3rd party
developers to easily create and distribute apps or data fields
(14:35):
that run directly on the Wahoo device itself.
Exactly, Wahoo doesn't have thatopen cohesive infrastructure.
As the reviewer put it. This could mean that new
innovative sensors are niche accessories, might get garment
support first, or maybe not cometo Wahoo at all.
The reviewer tested a body position sensor, for example,
that just wasn't compatible. OK, that's a potential
limitation if you like experimenting with niche tech or
(14:57):
specific third party data integrations.
What else is missing compared to, say, a Garment Edge?
Data fields and metrics. Wahoo still doesn't integrate
weather data directly. Things like wind direction,
strength forecasts or time untilrain showing U on your screen.
No builtin weather. That's suprising.
(15:17):
Yeah, it seems like a common request.
Also missing are the advanced Physiology metrics that Garmin
heavily promotes. Training readiness, stamina
tracking, detailed load analysis, recovery time
suggestions, that sort of thing.Wahoo basically offloads those
abilities to third party apps like Training Peaks or Strava.
So Wahoo focuses on collecting the ride data but leaves the
(15:38):
deeper physiological analysis toother platforms.
Pretty much. The reviewer felt these
calculations are straightforwardenough that Wahoo could probably
implement them, and suggested their absence likely cost Wahoo
sales to data hungry athletes. Interesting strategic
difference. Any other quirks mentioned even
with the upgrades displayer buttons?
Minor things, perhaps. Despite the nice new colour
(16:01):
screen, the reviewer still felt Garmin's maps might be slightly
more readable in some situations, even if Wahoos are
prettier. And as we discussed, the
touchscreen isn't great when wetand they felt the physical
buttons need improvement in their responsiveness and tactile
feel. A bit mushy perhaps?
OK. And the overall software
experience simply or more complex?
(16:23):
This was an interesting point. The reviewer found the new menu
structure and settings options on the Rome Three a tad more
complex than the Rome 2 Bolt 2 Iknew and loved in the past.
So while it offers more features, it might come at the
cost of some of that absolute dead simple navigation Wahoo was
famous for initially. That's a really key point, that
potential trade off between features and simplicity.
(16:44):
How did the 5K runner ultimatelyframe the Wahoo versus Garmin
comparison considering this new Rome 3?
Their core conclusion stayed pretty consistent with past
views. Wahoo, including this new Rome 3
is generally simpler to set up and use.
Significantly simplifies, feels far more usable day-to-day, and
in their personal experience hasbeen more reliable than Garmin
(17:06):
Edge devices. But Garmin has.
Garmin offers slightly more features, often of limited use,
according to the reviewer. And the really big difference
remains that Connect IQ, App Store and Garmin's much broader
ecosystem covering multiple sports, Wellness, tracking,
smartwatches, etcetera. OK, that comparison helps
clarify the choice, so let's bring it all back home for the
listener. If you're sitting there with
(17:28):
your trusty old Rome One, or maybe even an original element,
who is this Rome Three really best for based on everything
we've just discussed? Well, if you fundamentally like
the Wahoo way of doing things that focus on usability,
reliable core functions, and you're just ready for a big jump
in hardware capabilities, then the Rome 3 looks like a really
strong candidate. You're getting that much much
(17:48):
better display colour, touch capability, significantly
improved battery life, way more memory.
So no more map juggling, the convenience of USBC charging,
and potentially more accurate GPS tracking with dual band.
Those are all big, tangible improvements over your old
device. Absolutely, and features like
the audible turn prompts, the richer maps with layers that
(18:11):
ready to ride dashboard check. These are all nice quality of
life upgrades to the 5K runner review really nails it for you.
Calling it familiar better. It keeps the essence of Wahoo
but modernises the tech underneath.
But it's not necessarily a slam dunk for everyone, right?
You need to weigh the butts. Exactly.
You have to consider what you don't get.
If you are someone who really relies on third party apps
(18:33):
directly on your computer via anApp Store, or you desperately
want integrated weather forecasts on your screen, or you
love digging into advanced recovery and training load
metrics on the device itself, well, the Rome 3 and Wahoo in
general probably isn't going to satisfy those specific needs.
You'd need to look elsewhere or rely on other apps after your
ride. And be aware of those specific
(18:54):
Rome 3 quirks. The reviewer mentioned the
touchscreen and the wet and thatlimitation with the DI 2 button
control for the digital bell, which could be a deal breaker if
that's a feature you'd use a lot.
Right. And if you're comparing within
the new Wahoo lineup itself, maybe thinking Rome 3 versus
Bolt 3, the Rome 3 is positionedas the choice if you prioritise
(19:16):
that larger screen, the slightlylonger battery life, and you
want the touch screen and the speaker for audio prompts.
Whereas the Bolt 3 might still appeal if you prefer a smaller
device, absolutely want button only interaction, and maybe
value that ultimate simplicity even if it means sacrificing the
speaker and touch. That seems to be the trade off
within their current range. Yeah, the Bolt 3 has fewer
(19:37):
features than the Rome Three or the new ACE Watch.
So wrapping it up for that Rome one or original Element user,
the sources suggest the Rome 3 is a really compelling upgrade.
It feels familiar but brings substantial technical
improvements, provided those missing advanced features or the
specific interaction quirks aren't critical deal Breakers
for how you personally ride and use your computer.
(19:59):
Well summarised, it seems like asolid evolution for the loyal
Wahoo user base. So there we have it.
We've looked at how the Wahoo Rome Three stacks up, drawing on
that detailed 5K renter review and Wahoo's official info.
It's definitely a clear step up from older Element devices,
especially the Rome one, bringing those big hardware
improvements while trying to keep that Wahoo ease of use.
(20:21):
And it's out now, listed at 399 lbs under £99 or $449.99 US.
But you know, there's that interesting thread we touched on
from the reviewer. They noted the new software,
while powerful, felt maybe slightly more complex than the
older generations they loved. Yeah.
And this brings a fascinating question for you, the listener,
to think about. As these cycling computers
(20:41):
inevitably pack in more features, more connect
abilities, touch screens, audio,deeper integrations, can they
truly hold on to that core simplicity that Wahoo in
particular built its reputation on?
Or is there always going to be abit of a tradeoff?
Do more features inherently meana bit more complexity?
A steeper learning curve maybe? And how much does the lack of
certain things like that open App Store or the advanced
(21:03):
Physiology metrics really impactyour actual ride experience
day-to-day? Especially if the core
navigation and training featuresare, as the reviewer put it,
already expansive and excellent.Definitely something to Mull
over as you think about your next piece of gear, or maybe
just appreciate the ride you're about to go on with the tech you
already have.
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