A week after owners of first-generation Wahoo cycling computers started reporting significant issues with their devices, the tech brand has released a firmware fix for its Bolt 1 and Roam 1 models, which it says “should resolve” the issues that saw the computers reset to 2006.
However, a firmware update for Wahoo’s original Elemnt computers remains in development, the company telling customers that it is continuing to apply “all resources” to fix the ongoing data and ride recording problems.
Earlier this month, hundreds of cyclists took to online forums to reports issues with their first-generation Wahoo Elemnt, Bolt, and Roam computers, some seeing the wrong date of activities, others missing parts of their ride or not able to record at all.
Last Monday, Wahoo first acknowledged the problem, telling customers that it “fully understands the root cause of the issue” and was “working around the clock on a fix so that users of these devices can continue enjoying riding with them again”.
There was a certain irony in Wahoo’s assertion that it was “working around the clock”, considering the issue revolved around the devices resetting to the year 2006, because the older computers use a “limited 10-bit system to track GPS time”.
As one reply on a Wahoo forum speculated, “GPS time is counted in ‘weeks’ starting from January 1980, but the counter is only 10 bits long, so it rolls over every 1024 weeks (~19.7 years).”
They continued: “If a device’s firmware doesn’t handle that correctly, it can suddenly ‘think’ it’s back in 2006 (1024 weeks before today). Because the device thinks it’s 1st Jan 2006 it’s struggling to lock on to the GPS satellites”.
That explains why some users’ rides were dated 1 January 2006, while others reported being unable to use their computers at all or missing sections of their rides.
Other owners of the brand’s first-generation computers reported dodgy GPS data, such as rides in England being tracked to Ireland, Scotland, and other even more far away locations, as well as the aforementioned date and time inaccuracies. In some cases, users said their devices had become completely unusable.
The problem appears to have been widespread, affecting hundreds, if not thousands, of Wahoo’s customers.
While most of last week passed with no major update from Wahoo, as it worked to resolve the problems, at the weekend the brand confirmed it had identified a firmware solution that would undergo testing before being rolled out to customers.
“Thank you for your continued patience as we work to resolve the GPS time issue on ELEMNT, BOLT 1, and ROAM 1 computers,” Wahoo said on Friday evening. “We know how frustrating this has been, and we truly appreciate your understanding.
“We have identified a firmware solution and will be testing it thoroughly this weekend to ensure it’s completely stable. We expect the testing to take at least three days.
“We will release the fix via a standard firmware update as soon as we have confirmed the solution. Our team is working hard to get you back on the road.”
And on Saturday, Wahoo issued another update confirming that the fix for the Bolt 1 and Roam 1 computers had been released, which it said “should” resolve the problems, as work continues to address the issues affecting its original Elemnt models.
“We continue to apply all resources to resolve the GPS time issue for all first generation ELEMNT computers,” a spokesperson said.
“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.”
Wahoo also noted that the firmware update will not change or recover any rides completed between 17 August and when the computer is updated.
3 thoughts on “Wahoo says new firmware fix “should resolve GPS time issue” after V1 Bolt and Roam bike computers reset to 2006 – as tech brand “continues to apply all resources” to sort Elemnt problems”
I wonder why they did not
I wonder why they did not offer an upgrade sweaener for their users?
i understand the units are way out of warranty but it is either software QA issue or built in obsolescence?
Even if only 20% or so, it would have provided so much good will for loyal customers and not cost a massive amount.
I can report that the update
I can report that the update does seem to have worked on my Bolt, well done Wahoo. It’s good to see that they worked to fix it rather than just shrugging and advising me to buy a new one!
As a software developer, I
As a software developer, I found it inconceivable they did not see this coming. As a product owner, I am impressed they bothered to fix the problem. As a cynic, I wonder if they knew this would happen and let it so they could look like heroes.