Well, this came a few days late for me as I needed it earlier this week for a TT. Anyway, now the Wahoo RIVAL Watch gets pacing targets for cadence, power and heart rate but not pace/speed. Here’s a quick explainer of how it works
Getting Ready
You’ll need the Rival updated to at least v1.49.78 and you will probably have to have the smartphone app on the latest version in order to do that. I don’t think there is an easy way to force an update of the Rival if you don’t get it straight away.
Creating a Target
It’s a very intuitive process that’s initiated from the main menu. Simply enable the target plan feature, choose the metric you want to be the target and then choose the target level.
Your plan is confirmed and off you go. It takes 10 seconds to get this working. Easy peasy.
Exercising To Target
For all the target types you are allowed a leeway of +/-5 watts, beats or steps before the alerts kick in.
You get an audio alert if you are off target and the screen changes to show the words LOW or HIGH underneath your current effort level. As a reminder, the target boundaries are also shown as an arc over the top third of the watch face.
Opinion
In my opinion, this is a nice feature that is well executed and useful.
It’s maybe also arrived somewhat late in the day compared to the competition who have had similar abilities for years. That said, Wahoo is a relative newcomer to the sports watch market and is producing a steady stream of new features on a regular basis.
FAQ
Q: Can I change the boundaires from +/-5
A: No. I don’t think so.
Q: Can I change or stop the target type mid-workout
A: Yes. You can easily do either or both.
Last Updated on 26 January 2026 by tfk the5krunner
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- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
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- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
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- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
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- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
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Home and indoor training
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- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
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Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
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- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
