Using Wahoo Kickr with Garmin devices (step by step guide)
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You have just bought a Wahoo Kickr or are about to buy one. So you probably have lots of questions to make sure it is compatible with the Garmin devices you already own. I will answer below to a list of common questions with regards to Wahoo Kickr and Garmin.
Can Wahoo Kickr connect to Garmin?
The Wahoo Kickr can connect with Garmin devices such as Garmin Edge or GPS watches. These devices will serve as controllers to the Kickr: set a resistance, launch a workout, or recreate an outdoor activity. The kicker cannot connect directly to Garmin Connect, it will need these devices to do so.
How to sync Wahoo Kickr data to Garmin
Wahoo Kickr cannot upload data directly to Garmin Connect. You will need to use one of the few compatible apps or devices which can write in Garmin Connect as intermediates. Devices compatible are Garmin bike computers and GPS watches. The Zwift app can also write in Garmin Connect.
Garmin Connect only allows Garmin devices to record data directly into its services. For other devices, such as smart trainers, their data need to be recorded via external applications or by a Garmin device in order to be written into Garmin Connect.
In my opinion, the simplest solution is to record your session with a Garmin edge or Zwift and then send it over to Garmin Connect.
If you wonder how to export activities to Garmin Connect which have been recorded with a Wahoo, I wrote a dedicated article on this topic: How to use Garmin Connect with a Wahoo.
The rest of the article focuses on how to use a Wahoo Kickr with a Garmin edge, or a Garmin watch. Hence it focuses more on hardware than software.
Garmin devices compatible with the Wahoo Kickr
Wahoo Kickr is compatible with several Garmin GPS bike computers and watches. Once paired, your Garmin device can control your Kickr: set the resistance, allow you to ride a structured workout in ERG mode, or re-ride an existing course.
The following Garmin models can connect to your Wahoo Kickr:
Bike computers:
- Edge 130 Plus
- Edge 520
- Edge 520 Plus
- Edge 530
- Edge 830
- Edge 1030
- Edge 1030 Plus
- Edge 1040/1040 Solar
- Edge Explore 2 Series
If you are not equipped with a bike mount yet, this one available on Amazon is great to attach a Garmin edge.
Watches:
- D2 Mach 1
- Descent Mk2 Series
- Descent G1 Series
- Enduro Series
- Epix (Gen 2) Series
- Forerunner 255 Series
- Forerunner 745
- Forerunner 945 (minimum software version 5.00)
- Forerunner 945 LTE
- Forerunner 955/955 Solar
- Fenix 6 series (minimum software version 11.00)
- Fenix 7 Series
- Instinct 2 Series
- Instinct Crossover Series
- MARQ Collection (minimum software version 11.00)
- MARQ Collection (Gen 2)
- Tactix 7 Series
- Tactix Delta series (minimum software version 11.00)
Once you have paired your Kickr to your Garmin, you have 3 options:
- Use the Garmin as a remote control to select a set resistance and ride it. Of course, you can modify the resistance while riding.
- Use the Garmin to re-ride an outdoor activity on your trainer. It will show you a virtual partner and use ERG mode to control the resistance throughout the ride.
- Use the Garmin to ride a prepared structured workout. You can create these workouts in Garmin connect and export them to your Garmin devices.
How to pair Wahoo Kickr to Garmin
You can pair a Wahoo Kickr with a number of Garmin GPS bike computers and smart watches. The pairing will allow your Garmin device to control your Kickr.
To pair your Garmin Edge, follow these steps:
- Plug in your Kickr
- On your Garmin Edge device, go to ‘connecting to sensors’
- Click on ‘add sensor’
- Click on ‘indoor trainer’
- Your device is now paired.
- Optional step: rename the device to recognize it easily (device ID is not very clear)
To pair your Garmin Watch, follow these steps:
- Plug in your Kickr
- On your Garmin Watch device, go to ‘sensors and accessories’
- Click on ‘Add new’
- Click on ‘Search all sensors’ or click select directly ‘Smart trainer’
- Once device is found, just select to add it to your list of sensors.
- Your device is now paired.
- Optional step: rename the device to recognize it easily (device ID is not very clear)
Once you have paired your Kickr to your Garmin, you have 3 options:
- Use the Garmin as a remote control to select a set resistance and ride it. Of course, you can modify the resistance while riding.
- Use the Garmin to re-ride an outdoor activity on your trainer. It will show you a virtual partner and use ERG mode to control the resistance throughout the ride.
- Use the Garmin to ride a prepared structured workout. You can create these workouts in Garmin connect and export them to your Garmin devices.
Can you use Garmin Heart Rate monitor with Wahoo Kickr?
It is possible to use a Garmin heart monitor with a Wahoo Kickr by using a 3rd party app. The kicker cannot receive data from other devices directly. You will have to connect it through an app like Zwift. It will record in one place the data of your Kickr (power, speed, cadence) and your HR monitor.
It is worth noting that the Garmin Heart Rate monitor can only connect via ANT+. While the Wahoo Heart Rate monitor can connect via ANT+ and Bluetooth to external apps and devices. This is important especially if you are riding in Zwift with an iPad or with Apple TV: these devices cannot receive ANT+, only Bluetooth. So they will read your Kickr data but not your Garmin HR data.
If you enjoyed this article, there are two other guides I wrote that could be helpful to you. Don’t hesitate to have a look:
- Don’t want to pay for indoor cycling? See how to use your Kickr without a monthly subscription
- A photo guide to help you change put and remove a cassette on your Wahoo Kickr
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These articles are a great help!
Thanks for the guide, it really helps. One thing I could not find is if you have a Garmin watch with built in HR will it also Publish to Zwift?
Hello Hugo, I confirm you can send your Garmin watch built-in HR to Zwift. You must enable the HR broadcast mode on your watch and then in Zwift Connect (or Zwift directly depending on your setup) you can detect your watch HR and connect to it. It will then show in-game and be saved with your ride.
Hi Hugo
I am working out on the turbo using a kikr core and it is connected to the Wahoo RGT virtual cycling world
other than a manual input from the strava exported GPX file [wahoo sends the file to strava] is there another way of using say zwift to get the workout transferred into garmin connect
i want that info in there for all of the obv reasons
Hi Aidan, since you posted your comment I have published an article to cover how to send data from Wahoo to Garmin Connect.
Wahoo RGT is a bit different as the workouts don’t go through Wahoo Fitness app. And Wahoo RGT does not allow sending workouts to Garmin Connect (as of today). You might have considered recording your rides with Zwift (or with a Garmin Bike GPS) in parallel to RGT. But Wahoo Kickr Core is known to struggle to connect to 2 devices at once and you might have disconnection issues while riding. Therefore, with RGT, you have to manually upload your activities to Garmin Connect.
Constance, as a senior adult I could really use your help. For years I have been an avid bike rider but health issues these past two years now have limited me to indoors only. I have always been a data junkie and remain so to this day. I have a Garmin Edge 1000 purchased in 2015. Garmin tells me I am up to date “today” but no more updates will be sent to the device. I have a Wahoo Kickr Gen 5 (Purchased November 2019) and a Wahoo Climb. In addition to the Garmin Edge 1000 I also have Garmin Vector 3 pedals for power readings and the Garmin heart rate monitor strap (I also have an old Wahoo HRM strap. My preferred app to ride to is Fulgaz. Pre Gen 5 I had all this working. Now, after two years off due to health, I am unable to do so. HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS IF YOU WOULD. In your opinion should the above still work together OR would purchasing a Garmin Edge 1040 be recommended? I would really like to have heart bpm and power to see if I am gaining strength. Thank you in advance for your opinion and may you enjoy many years on the bike.
Hi Dan, the communication protocol of Wahoo Kickr Gen 5 is the same as previous versions. If you had all of it working pre-gen 5, I am expecting it will work correctly with the gen 5 as well. In my opinion, you should give it a try because I don’t think you need a new Garmin Edge right now.
saludos
tengo el wahoo kick core conectado a mi Garmin edge 530 vía ant+. Cuando estoy en las sesiones de entrenamiento desde mi edge, el simulador se empieza desconectar y al momento vuelve y se conecta, muchas veces durante toda la session de entrenamiento. saben como lo puedo resolver?
Hi Constance. I just bought a Kickr Snap and now understand the basic way to tell it I want to do more than use it like a dumb trainer. You describe one option as:
“Use the Garmin to ride a prepared structured workout… create these workouts in Garmin connect…”
When I try to google things like create sturctured workout out on Garmin, I have found articles that seem to agree it can be done (e.g. https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=CHnxYj6F2OA6tN4QRRjEJ8) but assume that you’ve already created it and use different terminology (e.g. a power based workout). There is not link on to how you create such a thing in Garmin Connect.
Can you point me at a simple how-to (or two?) that shows how to 1) create what you’re calling a “prepared structured workout” and (assume the sync up is automatic) 2) how to use an Edge 130plus to use that drive the Wahoo?
Hi Tim,
To create a workout in Garmin Connect you need to go into the menu under “Training & Planning” then select “Workouts”. You can do it either on the website or on the mobile app. Then once in the menu, select “create a workout”, select “cycling” and start adding your workout.
You can add as many steps as you want to the workout. When you click on a step, you can edit it to change the type: a step can be based on time, distance, power, heart rate, lap button press…) and then you can adjust your target. For indoor cycling connected to a smart trainer, I recommend you make use of ‘power’ targets when creating your workouts.
But feel free to try different style of workouts that suit you.
Then when your workout it ready, just save it and name it.
Now you must send the workout to your Garmin Edge. Click on the workout in Garmin Connect mobile phone app and select the logo in the top right that looks like a phone with an arrow. Then select your Garmin Edge. The workout will now be synced to it.
To use you Garmin Edge 1030 plus with this selected workout on your smart trainer, you must first connect your Garmin Edge to your smart trainer in the pairing menu (like if you are adding a new sensor).
Once it is connected, select ‘training’ then “indoor training” and select “follow a workout”. Now select the workout you imported and start riding!
I purchased a Wahoo Kickr Bike several months after they were introduced, back in 2021. I’ve never attempted to do any of the augmented reality stuff previously, nor even attempt to pair it to my Edge 1030, but I tried to do that today, following your step by step instructions. On the Edge, when I tap “Add Sensor” then “Search All” I never see a choice labeled “Indoor Trainer.” My Edge 1030 firmware is up to date. Can you offer any suggestions?
Hi Jim, to pair your Wahoo Kickr Bike with a Garmin Edge 1030, you cannot use the sensors menu. You have to go into “menu” > “training” > “indoor trainer” > “pair ant+ + bike trainer”. Make sure you are holding your Garmin Edge very close to your Kickr Bike and that the Kickr bike is active (connected and you have rotated the pedals a couple of times before starting the pairing process). If that’s the case you should see your trainer appear on the screen being listed as “indoor trainer” (with a device number under it). Select it and press “add sensor”. Now it is paired and you can use it for training directly with your garmin edge under the indoor training menu. Good luck! Enjoy!
Thanks so much! Worked like a charm. Easily figured out how to rename it to “Wahoo Bike.” I should have time for a “ride” this afternoon, and then I’ll try to see if the data gets exported to Strava. Any “gotchas” to expect there?
If your Garmin Connect account is already linked to Strava (in Garmin Connect app “settings” -> “connected apps” -> “strava”), it should work like a charm.
Thanks SO much! You’re correct. I had no trouble importing a “ride” on my Wahoo bike. (Indeed,, when I dismounted the Kickr and sat at my laptop, the data was already there!
Now, however, I’m wondering whether the Wahoo bike “gear” sensor settings can be transmitted to the 1030 as information stored about individual Wahoo Kickr rides, ESPECIALLY once I advance to specific routes. I see settings adjustments for wheel diameter and single gear ratio for trainers, but none for the “virtual” resistances offered by various real-bike groupsets I’m always surprised by the additional effort required to make the Wahoo bike reach virtual paces that match what I do on the open road on a windless day, but it would be nice if the contribution of the virtual gearing was stored as data.