I'm constantly working on this app.

Blog

How to Create Custom Wahoo Planned Workouts Without Expensive Subscriptions

Wahoo's own documentation confirms you can't create custom workouts without expensive monthly subscriptions. This should be easy:

How to Create Custom Wahoo Planned Workouts Without Expensive Subscriptions

If you own a Wahoo ELEMNT, BOLT, ACE or ROAM, you've probably discovered the "Planned Workouts" feature and thought: "Great! I can create custom structured workouts for my training."

Unfortunately, you quickly hit a frustrating wall.

Wahoo doesn't support "Planned Workouts" on their own

Wahoo's own support is honest about this limitation. When asked "Can I import or build my own workout?", their official response is:

"We don't currently have this functionality in the app."

That's it. Wahoo only provides 9 basic workouts:

  • 2 FTP tests (20-minute and 8-minute)
  • 7 generic training sessions (climbing, sprinting, mixed sessions, etc.)

For anything beyond these basics, Wahoo's official planned workouts guide directs you to expensive third-party subscriptions.

Wahoo's Recommended Solutions... And Their Costs

According to Wahoo's documentation, to use planned workouts effectively, you need:

"A planned workout provider" which includes:

  • TrainingPeaks Premium: Requires paid subscription after 30-day trial
  • TrainerRoad: Full monthly subscription required
  • SYSTM: Wahoo's own subscription service
  • "Another third party provider": All requiring paid accounts

So apparently, if you want custom workouts on your Wahoo device, you must pay monthly subscription fees to third-party platforms and understand their workout builders. But if TrainingPeaks can get workouts onto the device, it should be possible:

Turns out, wahoo offers a cloud API that can be used in order to sync workouts. We used this for planned-workouts. Here is how it works for you now:

How It Actually Works: 4 Simple Steps

This is the entire process to get a custom workout on your Wahoo device:

1. Generate Your Workout

Describe any workout in plain English. Examples:

  • "4x8 min at threshold with 2 min recovery"
  • "Pyramid intervals: 1-2-3-4-3-2-1 minutes at VO2 max"
  • "20 min warm-up, 3 sets of 5 min sweet spot + 30 sec sprint, 15 min cool-down"

All you need is an estimate of your current FTP. The planned-workouts handles the rest.

2. Review and Iterate (Optional)

Don't like the workout structure? Simply adjust your description and regenerate. No complex workout builders or power zone calculations required.

3. Send to Wahoo

One click sends your workout directly to Wahoo's cloud system using the same API that TrainingPeaks and TrainerRoad use.

4. Open on Your Device

Your workout appears in the "Planned Workouts" section of your ELEMNT, BOLT, or ROAM within 30 seconds. All the usual features work: progress tracking, interval notifications, LED guidance.

Why This Matters

Wahoo built excellent hardware with powerful planned workout capabilities. The artificial limitation forcing expensive third-party subscriptions feels weird.

Ready to create your first custom Wahoo planned workout? Try describing any workout you have in mind—from simple intervals to complex periodized sessions.

← Back to blogGenerate workouts →