Just as a super quick weekend PSA, Wahoo has released a firmware update to address the back-to-the-past time issue that started a week ago, reverting the time back nearly 20 years. That in turn rendered those units mostly useless, due to GPS disconnect and other issues. This impacted BOLT1, ROAM1, and original ELEMNT units. It did not impact any other newer units/devices.
Today’s firmware update is available for BOLT1 & ROAM1; however, the original ELEMNT unit’s firmware is still in testing. Downloading this update will not fix any dorked-up files from the past week, but will ensure the units get back to normal for future rides.
Here’s Wahoo’s full post/details:
Firmware Update:
Update – Aug 23, 6:49 PM ET: We continue to apply all resources to resolve the GPS time issue for all first generation ELEMNT computers. We have now released the fix for BOLT 1 and ROAM 1 computers via firmware update that should resolve the issue going forward* for those models. A firmware update for original ELEMNT computers is currently in development.
The updated firmware versions for ROAM 1 and BOLT 1 are as follows:
ROAM 1 – WR24 – 17055
BOLT 1 – WB17 – 17055
To receive the fix for future rides*, please ensure that your computer is connected to a viable Wi-Fi network and complete a standard firmware update. For more detail on these processes and basic troubleshooting, please review the articles below:
- Connect an ELEMNT computer to Wi-Fi
- Update firmware on an ELEMNT, BOLT 1, or ROAM 1
- Charge an ELEMNT GPS computer
* The firmware update will not change or recover any rides completed between August 17 and when it is updated. For information on recovering or changing ride dates, see Retrieve / change ride files from ELEMNT, BOLT 1, or ROAM 1 from August 2025
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Long time original element user here and I’m kind of on the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” line of thinking, so have never upgraded the unit. That said, there has never been a better time to tempt old users in to an upgrade.
Make me an offer Wahoo where I can send you my old unit for recycling with a tasty discount off of an upgrade, as an apology for the inconvenience, and you can take my money…
I’m in an identical position. Have hung on using the ELEMNT v1 because it is simply and it works. All I need is data logging and I like the LED read out to give indication of zones I don’t need maps, live segments, summit etc.
Therefore slightly frustrated I have to wait again for an update.
But… give me a vouche or rebate for 50-75 euro for my old V1 and I’ll buy a Roam V3 tomorrow.
Help us loyal users out Wahoo!
I am a day one release ELEMNT owner, and my 2016 unit works just fine. The buttons on the side are very hard to push and I inquired on buying a new case/buttons for it early this year. Sonny at Wahoo said “No, but there is a link to our new Ace”. They were unhelpful with any sort of support. Hopefully an update comes out for it.
I would happily take a discount on a new one (20%?) but I can assure you that will not happen, ever.
Frustrated here in the Pyrenees as i have the original Elemnt too. Also have a bolt in the UK and both do everything i need. Original one still gives me nine hours of battery life so no need to change it.
Wahoo have always given me the best customer service so i can’t complain but support on these older units surely needs to follow swiftly!
I have updated my unit and the date is fixed however the gps sync must be off as it keeps pausing rides
I have the Bolt V1 WB15. No firmware updates out yet. Should I be concerned?
No – fire up the app and let it update. It will come up to WB17. At least, that’s how it was for me.
You are right! I tried again this morning and there was an updated. All good.
If you’re not getting an update and expecting one, I am pretty sure the update process only works if you are wifi connected. Check you’ve got a wifi connection, and if you’re still not seeing the update appear automatically, click the power button, go down to the System menu and select check for updates.
What’s changed?
If update process fails, mine said 0% then stopped. Delete maps to free memory and try again.
Between Sunday August 17th and Saturday evening August 23rd, Wahoo was able to rebuild a major Firmware update on their Version 1 devices.
That’s a pretty remarkable turnaround and definitely took overnight shifts to make it happen. That being said, I expect a flood of V1 Elemnts and ROAMs to enter Facebook marketplace and online listings as it’s probably time to upgrade our hardware. Wahoo doesn’t have a buy back market unlike cellphones and other tech.
Elemnt owner since 2017, still no update.
Looks like ROAM and Bolt received their fix, but still nothing for the Elemnt.
Hope they’ll fix it soon, ’cause it is unusable right now.
Now released.
If the update process fails, try deleting maps to free up memory then try it again.
I’ve applied the fix update yesterday (1.6 Go free space).
Now GPS is running ok, but it needs 3 to 5 min to allow speed reading, whereas in the past, it only took 15-30 sec.
Is my unit faulty ?
Why didn’t you mention the update to the appearance of the new maps for WAHOO?
Bolt V1 updated successfully – took a while to get the app and unit to play nicely. Went for a biggish ride yesterday – 2 errors experienced – Heartcast lost HRM at the first autopause and never got it back. Also the calories stopped at 477, much less than expected for 110km with 2km of vertical ascent.
I have a polar V650, ancient, I know. The ride last Tuesday and today didn’t get saved. So there’s other units out there with that problem
Time to upgrade I guess…
Ok, I can confirm:
If you go under settings and disable “use gps time” the V650 saves rides in the present time again. I tried with one, synced with the computer and it uploaded to polar flow and strava as “today”.
Hope that helps someone!
Anyone thinking they built a GPS bug to sell newer computers? I bought a V3 because my Bolt V1 suddenly did not measure distance and thus speed any longer.
No company would create such a self-inflicted wound. Makes no sense, given they still had to make a patch anyway, and then tell people to wait for the patch, whereby people would be angry and go off and buy competitors.
Exactly. Especially given how old these devices are. You have to figure everyone still running a v1 Wahoo unit is thinking about upgrading. I’ll probably start shopping as soon as the next generation Garmin units come out and this snafu will invariably color my thinking as I do so. If they hadn’t treated it as urgently as they did, it would flat out have eliminated them from consideration.
Here’s what happened to my Wahoo Element after the update…It got fried. They offered me a 15% discount after I submitted a claim. Not acceptable.
It looks like you hit it with a hammer. How did the software update cause the screen to become damaged?
Well there I was setting off on a 10 day trip to the International Tandem Rally in Barchem NL, using my trusty Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and it started losing GPS signal and recording partially on day 1 (74/100 km). Navigation was hopeless and by day 2 it was completely not working. Thank goodness for Komoot, RWGPS and cycle.travel etc and mobile phones/battery banks. However, now having had that bad experience, I’m now imagining a future without Wahoo. Shame as I’ve really enjoyed this unit, but if it can do this, why on earth would I buy another.
Great to have my Wahoo back up and running, thanks for keeping us posted on the issue and fix. Are Wahoo dropping a PROMO code for effected users, it would be great to take a look at a new Wahoo with the climb feature or try Wahoo System
The update they rolled out DID NOT fix the problem.
Looks like the update fixes date problem but device (Bolt v1) is terribly slow to find satellites every time I turn it on.
Also – for what is worth – and for some reason I doubt they will update a 6-9 year old device range – albeit the software fix should be trivial: the new GRX 827 Di2 (and I assume the M9250 and M8250 mountain bike derailleurs are NOT supported on the Bold v1 / Roam v1 devices.
They do work with the Garmin x30 range (I set it up on an older 530 device) but does not recognize the cassette size – but that’s easily fixed in the cusom screen.
That bring us to the phylosophical question – what is the practical life of such an electronic device? And what financial investment should one make for it. There is no residual value (trade-ins), there is no software update after a few years (I have a drawer full of Fenix 5s and 6s, Edge 530/1030s, Garmin Bolt and Roam v1 etc). There is no rhyme or reason why they should be discarded but planned obsolescence.
There aren’t really many new interesting features on bike gps’s in the last 10 years. There was climb pro, but not much else is coming to mind (and even that is not helpful if you don’t live near a place with climbs). I think bike gps’s should last a long long time.
Gonna add to my comment above:
So – I launched a support ticket. Got the standard – we’re gonna look into it.
This month’s firmware release addresses (according to Wahoo) just the Varia and Wahoo radar support.
However… the support of GRX827 is unofficially implemented. It still shows up as a 2×12 system, but the gear selection is adequate. Shows the battery level (remember this is the first true wireless system for Shimano) both the rear derailleur battery and the shifters’ batteries.
It’s still clearly a work in progress – but it is commendable that there is some support even in the older generation devices. I assume they will polish the Shimano 1×12 support and they will release it officially (I.e. in proper release notes) in the months to follow.
So – I appreciate the Wahoo support.