I tend to use routes infrequently. When I create a new one it is easier for me to use Google Maps. But then I always forget how to EASILY get it on to my Wahoo Elemnt. I use ridewithgps which is very nicely featured although for simple tasks like this it is not intuitive…at least not the way I use it.

I assume that you have a free ridewithgps account already linked to your Wahoo. You will have done that in the ‘Linked Accounts’ section of the Wahoo Elemnt app (Android, I assume iOS is similar) – see image to right for a hint. My Elemnt is also setup to sync over my home wifi.

Step 1: Plan in Google Maps and copy the full url

Here is the url: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Shepperton+Open+Water+Swim,+Ferry+Ln,+Shepperton+TW17+9LH/Dorney+Lake,+Windsor/@51.3204933,-0.3798118,11.75z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x487675cd7e80aa01:0x1ce4695c1b2d0ceb!2m2!1d-0.453186!2d51.3866735!1m5!1m1!1s0x48767ca1b1609b57:0x48767ca19c9440f6!2m2!1d-0.6634836!2d51.4937557!3e1for a bike trip from Shepperton Open Water Swim to Eton Dorney. The route is in blue on the map and you can also see the purple/white dotted line which I think is the off-road Thames Tow path. The point of showing the off-road path is that such paths can be taken into account by Google Maps and you can also MUCH more easily drag parts of Google’s mapped routes than, for example, in Garmin Connect.

Step 2: Visit mapstogpx.com and paste in the full url

Click “Let’s go” and save a file with the name of your choice to the location of your choice. I chose Shepperton2EtonDorney.gpx on my desktop.

Step 3 (Option 1): Visit ridewithgps.com and upload your GPX file

Click “Select Files” to …err…select the file you’ve just created.

 

You will get the following screen once it’s uploaded and it’s not obvious what to do with it. You need to click where it says “View route” in orange.

This will then show your route on a map. Ignore the map. All you do is PIN the route. I’ve done that already in the following image and instead of ‘Pin’ it says ‘Pinned’ ie click ‘Pin’

That’s it. You’re done. All you now have to do is sync your route with the Elemnt FROM the Elemnt. You don’t have to do anything else on Ridewithgps

Step 3 (Option 2): via your smartphone

ALTERNATE METHOD AVOIDING RIDEWITHGPS: See comments below for an alternate route to the Wahoo via your smartphone. I prefer ridewithgps as my Android smartphone doens’t always play too well with the Wahoo’s and I sometimes use the other facilities of ridewithgps, not least as storage for some of my routes.

Step 4 On the Elemnt

• From the main screen click PAGE (bottom right). Keep on selecting until you get the MAP/ROUTE screen. If you don’t get the map/route screen you might have to revisit the ELEMNT app and add that screen (not sure)
• Click Route (bottom left)
• Click ‘Sync’ (bottom middle) and your screen will look like this

You have a route on the ELEMNT. You know what to do with it.

#Sorted

Of course you can upload other tcx/gpx files to ridewithgps and miss out the google maps conversion sections.

I wrote this as I always forget how to do it. I can’t be alone.