Using the Wahoo Stride Sensor
The sensor runs on an easily-replaceable battery. It turns itself on and off with motion, there is no switch.
To use the sensor, you clip it to your shoelaces and tuck it under some laces. I found it to be easy to attach and secure. Now all you have to do is walk or run.
Size: The sensor is 2.2 inches long (56 mm). It is very lightweight but also very visible.
Noise: The sensor is silent.
Accuracy: I found the distance recorded by the sensor to be very accurate. It has an advantage over GPS in that you can use it indoors, on the treadmill, and in areas where GPS signals are weak.
Heart Rate Monitor
Wahoo Fitness sells an optional heart rate monitor strap that can also transmit its data to the Fisica sensor key. Other heart rate monitor sensors that are compatible with an ANT+ receiving device should also work.
Receiver and Apps - iPhone and iTouch
Wahoo Fisica Utility Screen
Wendy Bumgardner ©Plug the sensor key into your device and now you can view real time data on speed and distance through a variety of apps.
Wahoo Fisica Sensor Utility App: This app receives data from the foot pod, the bike sensor, and/or the heart rate monitor. The screen shows real-time distance, stride rate, and pace in minutes per mile. The heart rate screen shows the current heart rate. This utility gives you basic functions, but other apps deliver far more data and the capability to store that data.
Fisica Fitness App: This app delivers far more data, with both real-time, average and lap speed, distance, and calories burned -- as well as heart rate if you are using the heart rate sensor strap. You can also view your path on the map screen, which can be zoomed in and out to help you navigate. Touch the lap button at any time to record a lap time and distance. At the end of your workout, it is saved in history and can be uploaded to a variety of web sites. These include the Nikeplus.com site and the MapMyFitness site. I appreciate the Pause button so I can get back to my iPod selections to change them. The big drawback of this app -- no step count. Although the foot pod records strides, there is no easy display of a step count. So far, I haven't found an app that gives the step count.
As of this writing, 56 apps are listed for use, although several are bike-specific.
Pluses of the Wahoo Fitness Stride Sensor
- Foot pod sensor works indoors or outdoors without worrying about drop-offs in GPS signals.
- Foot pod has advanced accelerometer that doesn't need calibration and works right out of the box.
- Large selection of apps, with more becoming available
Drawbacks of the Wahoo Fitness Stride Sensor
Fisica Fitness App
Wendy Bumgardner ©- Made to record workouts, doesn't work with counting all-day steps or activities.
- Recording time limited to the battery life of your iPhone or iTouch. While some apps have a power-saving setting, it still drained my phone battery rapidly. I couldn't use it for a half-marathon or marathon distance, or when I didn't have easy access to recharge my phone.
- Couldn't find an app that displayed steps, even though I know they are part of the data stream.
- Highly visible shoe pod.
- Worry about misplacing the sensor key or knocking it loose during your workout.
- Doesn't work with lighter-weight iPod nano or Shuttle that you may prefer to have during a race.
