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review
£39.99
VERDICT:
Simple, light and easy way to add cadence data to your cycling
Weight:
8g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
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Light, compact and easy to fit, the Wahoo RPM Cadence Sensor is an easy add-on for any cyclist wanting to be able to monitor their pedalling rate.
The RPM uses an accelerometer which means you don't need to attach a separate magnet to the chainstay, as needed by most other cadence sensors. That means it's very easy to install, you simply use the double-sided tape or rubber carrier and zip ties to affix it to the non-driveside crank arm, and you're all set.
You'll need a device, such as a Garmin or smartphone, that can communicate with the cadence sensor via either Bluetooth 4.0 or ANT+. I used the latter and the sensor quickly and easily synced with my Garmin Edge 500. If you use a smartphone you can use any app such as Strava, MapMyRide or Wahoo's own Fitness App to make use of the cadence data.
An LED indicates activity, blue to signal Bluetooth connection and red to signal cycling cadence detection.
In testing I found it took about 5-6 seconds for cadence data to be displayed when setting off, but once the sensor was engaged it provided reliable and consistent data with no spikes or anomalies noticed during riding.
The slight delay is an issue if you doing very short intervals on a turbo trainer and want to use cadence, but out on the road and in normal cycling it caused no issue at all. It makes it very easy to monitor your cadence when pedalling, and can help you to hone your pedalling technique or work on certain aspects of training, such as high gear low rpm climbing drills for example.
I've been using 3M double-sided tape, because it's really easy to use, and any concerns about the sensor peeling away when riding through a range of weather conditions, and purposefully splashing through muddy puddles, soon faded away. It didn't budge.
It takes all of five minutes to fit and set up the RPM Cadence Sensor and it works from the off. It's a really easy, lightweight (just 8g) and relatively affordable way to add cadence to your cycling. It's powered by a single coin cell battery and the manufacturer claims it's good for two years; I've not had it long enough to challenge that claim yet.
Verdict
Simple, light and easy way to add cadence data to your cycling
road.cc test report
Make and model: Wahoo RPM CADENCE SENSOR
Size tested: 15
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
The Wahoo RPM Cadence Sensor is a wireless, magnet-less, lightweight, cycling cadence sensor. This sleek, Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ enabled cadence sensor is easy to install, connects wirelessly to your iOS or Android device, and displays your cadence data (through the free Wahoo Fitness App or your favorite cycling app). It can also be worn on your shoe or installed directly on your bike.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Dual Technology: Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ compatible
Sleek and lightweight design: Only 7 grams
Easy installation: No magnets!
Two LED lights: Blue to signal Bluetooth connection and red to signal cycling cadence detection.
Shoe mount option: Can be worn on your shoe for spin classes or multiple bikes
Two bike mount options: (1) mount with double sided 3M tape, or (2) use the silicone sleeve and mount with zip ties.
No charging required: Operates on a coin cell battery for up to 2 years
Universal Fit: RPM will work with any bike.
Works with iPhone 4s and newer, Compatible Android devices, iPod Touch (5th generation), the new iPad (3rd and 4th generations)
SUPPORTED DEVICES
IPHONE
iPhone 4S and newer
ANDROID
Click here for compatible devices
IPAD
iPad (3rd gen and newer), iPad Mini, iPad Air
IPOD
iPod Touch (5th gen)
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
8/10
Rate the product for value:
7/10
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Works as intended and provides a very easy way to add cadence and Bluetooth and ANT+ communication will work with a host of devices.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Easy installation.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Not all that cheap.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
It's perhaps an expensive outlay but if you really want cadence and want an easy to fit option, this is a good choice.
About the tester
Age: 31 Height: 180 Weight: 67
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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I don't disagree that many of them are bullies, some of the worst jobsworths one can come across, and I disagree with nearly all the PSPOs I've...
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14 comments
Just got one of these yesterday on the strength of your review and used it on the way home. Setup with Garmin 500 and phone was pretty simple and I clipped it onto my shoe for the ride. There is a variable lag in picking up the signal after stops and starts but it reacts quickly enough.
Was pleased to see my average over 14 miles was a fairly optimal 84 without a lot of conscious checking of the reading
I've got all 'the other three' variants of these, including the older Wahoo & Garmin GSC10 which have the spoke magnet / chain stay mounting option.
I recently bought the updated Garmin variant & I've found the cadence sensor to be very fat, there is hardly any clearance at all on my Cannondale - only been out a couple of times, but the slightest nudge or rotation around the crank & it'll be off. Also no joy yet pairing it with my Garmin 510 - if I'd not binned the box it'd be back to Amazon & swapped out for this new Wahoo.
Just to confirm, the sensor also comes with a rubber housing that lets you very quickly and easily attach it to the crank arm, much like the similar Garmin mount.
You also get a couple of 3M adhesive patches if you aren't planning to swap it between bikes. We simply photographed it this way because it looks better in the pic
Ah - my bad. Thought it was just the sticky tape.
yeah just checked a couple of sites and I am surprised to see Wahoo £5 more. Surely that is not justified by the bluetooth ?
price I guess ? Wahoo slightly cheaper
Are there an deals on the RPM as the Garmin seems a little cheaper? Not many places seem to stock the Wahoo and then usually for the full £40 RRP.
Halfords have the Garmin at £35 and with their "regular" 10% off and extra 10% BC discount they'd be £28,
The description on their website says:
BlueSC comes with a rubber band mount and zip tie mount.
So presumably it can go on and off as easy as the Garmin?
If that's the case, is there any reason to pick one over the other (assuming you just want Ant+)?
Looks good and lots of advantages for those using iPhones (bluetooth). Look at the similar Garmin one though - no bluetooth, but the big advantage from my point of view was that it attaches just with a mega-strong rubber band, so you can swap it between bikes in seconds (vs this one that sticks on with double-sided tape I think). I swap the cadence sensor between my commuter (for morning sessions on the way to work) and the bike I have on my trainer. The Garmin one has worked flawlessly for several months now (after the old GSC-10 one got tangled in my wheel and destroyed instantly...
Is this broadcasting using the ant+ cadence only or ant+ speed+cadence (leaving speed at 0), I think I remember dcrainmaker saying the later in the past, but this could have changed?
The other handy feature is that you can attach it to your shoe instead of the crank. Meaning you can easily switch it between bikes or even use it on the turbo or gym spin bike.
A great product that is well designed and manufactured
the new ones are slightly different now and hardly can be seen
Ah yes, but if you already have a GPS computer then this is bang tidy and a damn site better looking than a big black box on your chain stay. Thumbs up from me
the question is for £12 more you get a Garmin cad and speed sensor but no bluetooth connectivity, surely cadence alone is not good enough to measure ?