How To Connect Your Apple Watch to Wahoo ELEMNT Bike Computers as a Heart Rate Sensor
I’m an avid cyclist and I use heart rate and power as my main training and effort indicators. For years, I’ve been wearing a chest strap to transmit heart rate via ANT+ to my bike computer — until I bought an Apple Watch.
I knew that getting the Apple Watch’s heart rate reading onto a bike computer isn’t as easy as it should be, as Apple doesn’t support widespread fitness standards. Before buying the Apple Watch, my research concluded that I’d have to buy a $60 hardware piece such as the “WATCH LINK Pod” or “heartbeatz” and strap it to my bike. But I didn’t like that and I didn’t want to have more stuff — especially more batteries — on my bike.
Being an avid cyclist and a mobile developer, I set out to find a way using the Apple Watch’s BLE connectivity to transmit heart rate — and I did!
I then wanted to build the perfect Apple Watch heart rate monitor app for my cycling. This little challenge turned into the HRM Heart Rate Monitor app and after getting so much positive feedback, I wanted to share this with you.
The Apple Watch’s way of Bluetooth connectivity has some limitations and that’s why the app requires both an Apple Watch and an iPhone. The system is using the iPhone as an intermediary (similar to the mentioned hardware pieces) that then connects to your Wahoo ELEMNT or any other Bluetooth (BLE) compatible fitness equipment (e.g. Garmin Edge, Peloton Bikes, and more). The Bluetooth transmission happens in the background, so the iPhone can just be kept in the back pocket without having the HRM app open during your ride.
I wanted to keep the app as simple as possible and reliably provide heart rate readings to the bike computer without taking the focus on the app. Therefore, it prevents any duplicate workout tracking, heart rate zones, or anything else that would just be redundant alongside the Wahoo’s tracking and analysis. I really like how the app turned out and I use it on most of my outdoor rides and on all of my indoor rides now.
If you want to try the app, you can get it on the App Store directly or by searching for “HRM Heart Rate Monitor”. If you need help using it, I wrote a short guide on my website that covers most topics.
And if you do try it, I’d be very happy to receive your feedback on what you think about my little app. Happy training!
