Home Troubleshooting Connecting Devices

Connecting Devices

By Kevin Gundlach and 3 others
• 8 articles

Do bridging devices work with TrainerRoad?

TrainerRoad does not officially support bridging devices. While there are some cases where you may be able to get metrics from a bridging device, it won't be as reliable as connecting the sensor directly through ANT+ or Bluetooth (click for more information on each connection method). We've had some luck with bridging devices, but most of them haven't worked as intended with our app. In some cases, we've found that only one device will be transmitted when running multiple devices through a bridging device. In others, we've found that it prevents the device from pairing to TrainerRoad entirely. This behavior tends to vary from device to device, and to be safe, we generally recommend against a bridging device. Instead, we encourage purchasing a dedicated ANT+/Bluetooth dongle. We may look into adding more compatibility with bridging devices in the future, but we don't have an ETA on this for the time being. Troubleshooting Devices with Bridging Options If you're unable to pair your sensor to TrainerRoad, and your sensor has a "bridging" option, we would recommend turning this off to make sure this isn't preventing the sensor from pairing. Otherwise, if you're still experiencing issues pairing, we would recommend checking out our troubleshooting article here. Of course, you can also reach out to our support team if you'd like some more information, too. Shoot us an email at [email protected] and we'd be more than happy to help.

Last updated on Aug 13, 2026

Bluetooth Smart (4.0) Troubleshooting

Experiencing problems pairing Bluetooth devices to TrainerRoad? You're in the right place to get some help! This article will help you identify solutions to your Bluetooth connections on your desktop or mobile device. IMPORTANT: The first thing is to make sure that your Bluetooth Smart devices aren't currently paired to any other devices or applications. Bluetooth devices can only pair to one receiver at a time, so if they're already paired somewhere else, they'll be invisible to TrainerRoad. About Bluetooth Smart Bluetooth Smart (4.0) is a wireless communication protocol that devices such as heart rate straps, speed/cadence sensors, and trainers use to communicate with TrainerRoad. Bluetooth connections are much like a phone call; they create connections that directly link one device to another. This varies from ANT+ which acts more as a radio transmitter that allows anyone with a radio receiver to "listen" to the data. Note: Bluetooth devices can only pair to one device at a time. If your device is paired to any other computer/device/head unit etc. your device will not be "visible" to any other platform until the connection has been disconnected. iOS Bluetooth Troubleshooting - Bluetooth Unavailable - Enable Bluetooth - If you've navigated to the "Devices" tab within the TrainerRoad app, and you see "Bluetooth Off" in the upper right-hand corner, make sure that you've properly enabled Bluetooth. You can do this by navigating to your iOS Settings. From here, click on the Bluetooth tab, and enable the Bluetooth toggle. - Dropouts - Sensor Battery - When a device battery gets low, the reception distance decreases. Try replacing the device battery. Some devices report their battery condition over Bluetooth, and we display that on the Devices page. (Bear in mind, this is not a universal feature for all Bluetooth devices, and no Bluetooth speed/cadence sensors can report it due to a protocol limitation.) Simply put, if you think your battery is low, go ahead and replace it to see if the connection improves. - If your head unit picks up the signal, but TrainerRoad does not try moving your bike setup closer to your computer or phone. Sometimes a couple of feet can make a big difference. ant-device-dropout-battery-level.png - Interference - Wireless devices such as 2.4 GHz routers, wireless speakers and wireless mice may interfere with the Bluetooth signal. ANT+ and Bluetooth use the 2.4 GHz band. Try moving any other wireless devices a couple of feet away. If you suspect your router to be interfering, you can change your wireless channel. - Obstructions - Is something blocking the sensor? Try removing any physical obstructions between your computer or mobile device and the Bluetooth device. - Direct Line of Sight - Do your best to ensure that your computer has the most direct line of sight possible to your sensors. Simply put, the closer and more level your devices are to your phone or computer, the better readings you will get. - Device Conflicts: "Stealing" the Bluetooth connection - Bluetooth devices can only pair to one device at a time. If any other application, head unit, computer, or device is paired to the device you're trying to pair, TrainerRoad will not be able to "see" the device. You will need to make sure that your device is unpaired from every other app/computer/device etc... before attempting to pair it to TrainerRoad. Android Bluetooth Troubleshooting - Bluetooth Unavailable - Enable Bluetooth - If you've navigated to the "Devices" tab and you see "Bluetooth Off" in the upper right-hand corner, make sure that you've properly enabled Bluetooth. You can do this by navigating to your Android Settings App. From here, click on the Bluetooth tab and enable Bluetooth. - Locational Services Permissions - Given recent software updates on Android, TrainerRoad is now required to be granted access to your locational services in order to use Bluetooth. This is due to the nature of Bluetooth architecture on Android devices. - When enabling Bluetooth and attempting to pair devices within TrainerRoad for the first time, you will be prompted to accept these permissions. - If you have already declined these permissions, you can accept them by navigating to your Android device settings by following this path: - Apps & Notifications - App Permissions - Location - TrainerRoad - Enable the locational services toggle - Dropouts - Sensor Battery - When a device battery gets low, the reception distance decreases. Try replacing the device battery. Some devices report their battery condition over Bluetooth, and we display that on the Devices page. (Bear in mind, this is not a universal feature for all Bluetooth devices, and no Bluetooth speed/cadence sensors can report it due to a protocol limitation.) Simply put, if you think your battery is low, go ahead and replace it to see if the connection improves. - If your head unit picks up the signal, but TrainerRoad does not, try moving your bike setup closer to your computer or phone. Sometimes a couple of feet can make a big difference. ant-device-dropout-battery-level.png - Interference - Wireless devices such as 2.4 GHz routers, wireless speakers and wireless mice may interfere with the Bluetooth signal. ANT+ and Bluetooth use the 2.4 GHz band. Try moving any other wireless devices a couple of feet away. If you suspect your router to be interfering, you can change your wireless channel. - Obstructions - Is something blocking the sensor? Try removing any physical obstructions between the sensor and the Bluetooth device. - Direct Line of Sight - Do your best to ensure that your computer has the most direct line of sight possible to your sensors. Simply put, the closer and more level your devices are to your phone or computer, the better readings you will get. - Device Conflicts: "Stealing" the Bluetooth connection - Bluetooth devices can only pair to one device at a time. If any other application, head unit, computer, or device is paired to the device you're trying to pair, TrainerRoad will not be able to "see" the device. You will need to make sure that your device is unpaired from every other app/computer/device etc... before attempting to pair it to TrainerRoad. Mac Bluetooth Troubleshooting Bluetooth 4.0 comes native in most Mac desktops and laptops since 2011. This means that you do not need a Bluetooth dongle to pair Bluetooth Smart devices to TrainerRoad! Here is a more specific list of Apple devices that come with built-in Bluetooth Smart: - MacBook Air (mid 2011+) - Mac Mini (late 2011+) - MacBook Pro (mid 2012+) - iMac (early 2013+) - iPhone 4s+ - iPad Mini, Air, Air 2 - Bluetooth Unavailable - Enable Bluetooth - If you've navigated to the "Devices" tab and you see "Bluetooth Off" in the upper right-hand corner, make sure that you've properly enabled Bluetooth. You can do this by navigating to your System Preferences. From here, click on the Bluetooth icon and enable Bluetooth. - Allow Bluetooth Access (Mac OS Big Sur Only) - On Big Sur, you get a notification when opening TR for the first time if you want to allow Bluetooth access. If this is denied and Bluetooth isn't displayed as ON, check: - System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Bluetooth > Ensure TR is checked. - Dropouts - Sensor Battery - When a device battery gets low, the reception distance decreases. Try replacing the device battery. Some devices report their battery condition over Bluetooth, and we display that on the Devices page. (Bear in mind, this is not a universal feature for all Bluetooth devices, and no Bluetooth speed/cadence sensors can report it due to a protocol limitation.) Simply put, if you think your battery is low, go ahead and replace it to see if the connection improves. - If your head unit picks up the signal, but TrainerRoad does not, try moving your bike setup closer to your computer or phone. Sometimes a couple of feet can make a big difference. ant-device-dropout-battery-level.png - Interference - Wireless devices such as 2.4 GHz routers, wireless speakers and wireless mice may interfere with the Bluetooth signal. ANT+ and Bluetooth use the 2.4 GHz band. Try moving any other wireless devices a couple of feet away. If you suspect your router to be interfering, you can change your wireless channel. - Obstructions - Is something blocking the sensor? Try removing any physical obstructions between the sensor and the Bluetooth device. - Direct Line of Sight - Do your best to ensure that your computer has the most direct line of sight possible to your sensors. Simply put, the closer and more level your devices are to your phone or computer, the better readings you will get. - Device Conflicts: "Stealing" the Bluetooth connection - Bluetooth devices can only pair to one device at a time. If any other application, head unit, computer, or device is paired to the device you're trying to pair, TrainerRoad will not be able to "see" the device. You will need to make sure that your device is unpaired from every other app/computer/device etc... before attempting to pair it to TrainerRoad. - Older Mac without native Bluetooth 4.0 - The IOGEAR or ORICO dongles can work for Macs that don't come with native BT 4.0. Unfortunately, those dongles don't seem to work consistently with older Macs - especially if the user is running Mavericks. *This is not a recommended approach, but if you have the dongles you can give it a try.*For OSX 10.7 and earlier, you may be able to get the dongle working by following this article: Using unsupported Bluetooth 4.0 USB dongle with OS X.For OSX 10.9 or newer, try following these steps: - If you have a Bluetooth mouse, you need to have a wired mouse handy. A wired keyboard is nice, but not strictly necessary. - Get the "Hardware IO Tools for Xcode" from here: https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action (Apple login required) This includes the "Bluetooth Explorer" utility. - Launch Bluetooth Explorer. A top menu will only appear. Go to Tools => HCI Controller Selector. This setting allows you to change what Bluetooth controller the system will use as its primary. - Before swapping it, plug in your wired mouse and un-pair all Bluetooth devices on the system in the system preferences (100% necessary or you will not be able to re-pair them with the new controller!). Once that's done, change it to your new controller. The utility says that this will not stick with a restart, but I've found that it actually does. It will ask for your password. If you are now keyboard-less, pull up the virtual keyboard and enter it. - The new controller is active and you can now repair your devices. This took me a few tries, for whatever reason they didn't pair right away, but they did within 5 minutes or so. - Go to TrainerRoad and search for the BT controller. Windows Bluetooth Troubleshooting Bluetooth 4.0 is native on many Windows 10 machines. Pre-Windows 10 (7, 8, and 8,1) require a BLED112 USB dongle in order to enable Bluetooth connectivity with TrainerRoad. - Device Conflicts: "Stealing" the Bluetooth connection - Bluetooth devices can only pair to one device at a time. If any other application, head unit, computer, or device is paired to the device you're trying to pair, TrainerRoad will not be able to "see" the device. You will need to make sure that your device is unpaired from every other app/computer/device etc... before attempting to pair it to TrainerRoad. - If the trainer shows up as paired in Windows Bluetooth settings, remove it there. TrainerRoad should connect directly without Windows pairing - Bluetooth Unavailable - Enable Bluetooth - If you've navigated to the "Devices" tab and you see "Bluetooth Off" in the upper right-hand corner, make sure that you've properly enabled Bluetooth. You can do this by navigating to your Action Center. 1. Press Windows Key + A 2. Ensure the Bluetooth tile is highlighted and on. 3. If you don't see the Bluetooth tile, select "Expand". 4. (Ensure "Flight Mode" is disabled as this disables Bluetooth). - If Bluetooth still shows "Off" within TrainerRoad, read the section below to check for native Bluetooth 4.0 support. Your computer may require a BLED112 USB dongle. - Windows 10 Bluetooth - While many Windows 10 machines have native Bluetooth 4.0 support, not all have the hardware to support it. To confirm support on your computer, follow these steps: 1. Press the "Windows Key" + X to open the Win + X menu. 2. Select "Device Manager". 3. Search for a "Bluetooth" category. 4. If you don't see "Bluetooth", search for "Network Adapters" in this list. Bluetooth radios may be within this category instead. - If you're unable to locate the folders above to confirm native Bluetooth on your computer, check the following: 1. Open "Control Panel". 2. Select "Network and Sharing Center". 3. Select "Change Adapter Settings" to open network connections. 4. If you don't see "Bluetooth Network Connection" listed here, your machine doesn't have native Bluetooth 4.0 and you'll require the BLED112 USB dongle to connect your Bluetooth devices to TrainerRoad. - BLED 112 USB Dongle - Although Windows computers have built-in Bluetooth, you will need a BLED112 dongle in order to pair your Bluetooth devices to TrainerRoad. Without it, no devices will be able to pair to your TrainerRoad application. - If you're running into problems with the BLED 112, even after installing the drivers, try the following steps: 1. Make sure the BLED is plugged into your computer's USB port. Open the Device Manager. 2. Next click on "Ports (COM & LPT)" You should now see your BLED under the name of 'Bluegiga Bluetooth Low Energy' with a COM number. 3. Right click on the BLED and click 'Update Driver Software'. 4. Click 'Browse my computer for driver software', and locate the TrainerRoad USB Drivers you downloaded from the link above. This is typically located in "C:\Program Files\TrainerRoad USBdrivers" or \Program Files (x86)\ if you're on a 64bit operating system. 5. Start TrainerRoad and click 'Search for Bluetooth 4.0' in the Devices tab. If that doesn't work, and you still don't see pairing options for Bluetooth, try plugging the BLED-112 into a different USB port and trying again. bluegiga.png - Dropouts - Sensor Battery - When a device battery gets low, the reception distance decreases. Try replacing the device battery. Some devices report their battery condition over Bluetooth, and we display that on the Devices page. (Bear in mind, this is not a universal feature for all Bluetooth devices, and no Bluetooth speed/cadence sensors can report it due to a protocol limitation.) Simply put, if you think your battery is low, go ahead and replace it to see if the connection improves. - If your head unit picks up the signal, but TrainerRoad does not, try moving your bike setup closer to your computer or phone. Sometimes a couple of feet can make a big difference. ant-device-dropout-battery-level.png - Interference - Wireless devices such as 2.4 GHz routers, wireless speakers and wireless mice may interfere with the Bluetooth signal. ANT+ and Bluetooth use the 2.4 GHz band. Try moving any other wireless devices a couple of feet away. If you suspect your router to be interfering, you can change your wireless channel. - Obstructions - Is something blocking the sensor? Try removing any physical obstructions between the sensor and the Bluetooth device - Direct Line of Sight - Do your best to ensure that your computer has the most direct line of sight possible to your sensors. Simply put, the closer and more level your devices are to your phone or computer, the better readings you will get. - Missing Drivers - In order to pair Bluetooth devices, you'll need to make sure that you have all Bluetooth drivers installed. You can download Bluetooth Smart drivers here. Still having problems? If you've gone through all the steps above, shoot us an email at [email protected]. To help us with the ticket, please let us know your username, your operating system, your computer brand, how the above steps went for you.

Last updated on Jan 20, 2026

ANT+ USB Stick Troubleshooting

If you're experiencing issues pairing your ANT+ devices to TrainerRoad, you're in the right place to get some help. This article will help you identify problems with your USB stick or your computer. These are the same steps that our support crew use when you e-mail us, so please make sure you try these steps before contacting us. If you are unsure of what you need to use ANT+ devices with TrainerRoad, you can learn all about it in the ANT+ article. Step 1: Plug the ANT+ USB Stick into Your Computer or Device This is what you will see if the ANT+ USB stick is not plugged into your computer's USB port or is not recognized. If the ANT+ stick is plugged in and still not recognized, there may be something wrong with the stick or your computer's USB port. Screen_Shot_2020-05-15_at_10.24.12_AM.png Step 2: Install Device Drivers If you're on a PC, make sure you've installed the ANT+ USB Stick and Bluetooth Drivers. For Mac users, there is no need to install these. Apple computers come with the necessary drivers already installed so you can skip this and continue to the next step. How to Check for Installed Drivers To check if the drivers are installed, go to "start" and type "Device manager". Load the program called device manager. The device might be displayed in two different locations. libusb-win32-devices Universal Serial Bus controllers Trouble installing drivers? If it looks like the drivers won't install, the next step is to try another USB Port. If that doesn't work, try installing the drivers on another computer. If you still can't install the drivers on another computer, it is likely that you have a bad ANT stick and will need a new one. If you have access to another ANT+ USB stick, try that on both computers and see if the drivers will install. It's also possible the driver was corrupted or changed by your OS or another software program. To fix this, you can uninstall your device drivers and perform a fresh install by following the instructions on this page. Drivers install on another computer, but not the one you train with? We've seen this a few times and there's not much we can do. There is likely a system-level problem keeping you from installing the drivers for the USB stick. A refresh of the operating system is often needed. This is depressing, I know. This occurs because there is a system-level problem between the operating system and Garmin's drivers for the ANT+ stick. Make sure that you test that ANT stick on more computers and USB ports on your computer before you reach this drastic level of refreshing your OS. Step 3: Check for Conflicts If the drivers are installed properly, but TrainerRoad cannot find the ANT+ USB stick, there may be conflicting programs as only one program can access the ANT+ USB stick at a time. Check for Garmin ANT Agent, or Garmin Express in the system tray. If that program is on, make sure you exit it. See screenshot examples below, or watch this video on How to Disable Garmin ANT Agent. With Garmin Express, you'll need to make sure that it's closed fully, and not running in the background, which it can default to. Check your system taskbar to ensure that it isn't running. If it is still in your taskbar, follow the images below to exit it. Garmin Express (PC) Garmin Express (Mac) Garmin ANT Agent (Mac) Make sure to select "Quit" to exit out of Garmin Express entirely. Garmin_Express_Quit_PC.png Have an Acer or other computer with Soluto installed? We've seen some pre-installed software on Acer computers (and some others) that mess with ANT+ USB sticks. If you have an Acer computer, you can manually stop these interruptive programs. 1. Go to start, then type "taskmgr". 2. Go to the process tab and look for something called "Soluto". 3. If you see that process, click on it and click "end task". 4. If that fixes the problem, you'll want to use the Soluto uninstall tool and remove it from your computer. Note: If you can't download the Soluto Uninstall Tool above by clicking it, please try right-clicking it and copying the link address to open it in a new tab. Step 4: Check if Garmin Express Can Detect the Stick If TrainerRoad can not find the stick, and there are no conflicting problems then we want to test the stick in Garmin's software to make sure it works. Open Garmin Express and locate it in the system tray (PC) or taskbar (mac), and click to open it. Make sure to close out of the Garmin Express window once done testing, and to close it from the taskbar as shown in the photos above. Working: Device is Connected and Active PC Example garmin-ant-agent-working-stick.PNG Mac Example Not Working: Device is Not Connected and Inactive PC Example garmin-ant-agent-not-working-stick.PNG Mac Example What do I do if Garmin ANT Agent/Express does not detect the ANT+ USB Stick? If the drivers are properly installed and Garmin ANT Agent/Express can't detect the stick, you'll want to repeat the process on another USB port on your computer. If you get the same result try it again on another computer. If you can't get TrainerRoad or Garmin ANT Agent/Express to detect the USB stick, you likely have a bad ANT stick and should return/exchange it from your place of purchase. Windows 11 ANT+ Drivers After updating to Windows 11, Athletes may lose the ability to pair with their ANT+ devices. This is because ANT+ drivers do not come preinstalled with Windows 11. To get ANT+ drivers on your Windows 11 PC, follow the steps below. 1. Windows Settings" ⚙️, open Updates and hit Check for updates. Note: If it already says you’re up to date, you will still need to prompt a new check. 2. In theAdvanced Options menu, click on ‘View optional update 3. Expand the list of driver updates. Locate the ANT+ driver (it shows up as Dynastream Innovations), select it, and press ‘Download and install’ to complete the process. This should get you the correct drivers. Some athletes get a notification in their notification panel asking them to finish installing the drivers. If this happens to you, confirm the installation, and you should be set! Still having problems? If you've gone through all the steps above, shoot us an email at [email protected]. To help us with the ticket, please let us know your username, your operating system, your computer brand, how the above steps went for you and what kind of ANT+ USB stick you have, details below to figure out what kind of stick you have. Don't know which type of USB stick you have? There are two kinds of ANT+ USB sticks to choose from: USB 1.0 and USB 2.0. USB 1.0 can connect up to 4 devices at a time, while USB 2.0 can handle up to 8. Most newer sticks will be 2.0 since 1.0 is no longer in production. For more information on how ANT+ works with TrainerRoad and which dongles we recommend, please visit the article on ANT+ Connectivity.

Last updated on Aug 20, 2026

Device Pairing Troubleshooting

Having problems pairing a device? Let's figure out what's going on with your device to get you back up and running. Device Walkthroughs We have detailed walkthroughs for all the different types of devices along with individual troubleshooting for different types of devices. Device Walkthroughs Problems with Bluetooth Smart (4.0) Detection devicetroubleshooot_electron.png device_troubleshootRN.PNG If TrainerRoad can't detect your Bluetooth Smart (4.0) devices on your computer we have an article that will help you with the system and hardware requirements. Bluetooth Smart (4.0) Requirements Problems with ANT+ USB Stick Detection devicetroubleshooot_electron.png device_troubleshootRN.PNG If TrainerRoad can't find your ANT+ USB Stick we have a troubleshooting article to help you get going. ANT+ USB Stick Troubleshooting WiFi Signal Interference ANT+ and Bluetooth both operate on 2.4 ghz and can be affected by WiFi routers, microwaves and other bluetooth devices. If you're having pairing/drop out issues it's best to eliminate these variables and then bring them back one at a time. If you find that a WiFi router is interfering, read our WiFi troubleshooting article. Other problems If you are still experiencing problems please check out our device dropout article. Device Dropout Troubleshooting Sensor Battery When a device battery gets low, the reception gets worse. Try replacing the device battery. Some devices report their battery condition over ANT+ and we display that on the Devices page. But it is not a universal feature, and speed/cadence sensors can't report it due to a protocol limitation. If your head unit picks up the signal, but TrainerRoad does not, try moving your bike setup closer to your ANT+ USB stick. Sometimes a couple feet can make a big difference. Still having issues? Drop us a line at [email protected] and we'll get any device pairing issues you have sorted out.

Last updated on Aug 20, 2026

Disabling Garmin ANT Agent/Express

Garmin ANT Agent and Garmin Express are programs that run in the background of your computer, allowing you to connect ANT+ devices and upload data. For example, a rider would use ANT Agent or Express to connect and upload data from their Garmin 910XT watch to Garmin Connect. How Does ANT Agent/Express interact with TrainerRoad? ANT Agent takes over your ANT+ USB stick. This disallows TrainerRoad from recognizing the stick. TrainerRoad should automatically turn ANT Agent off. How Do I Manually Turn ANT Agent/Express off? If TrainerRoad doesn't automatically disable ANT Agent or Express, you can manually turn it off. Turning off Garmin ANT Agent (PC) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMqzH8OsvjE From the Task-bar, right click on Garmin Express and click Exit. Turning off Garmin ANT Agent (Mac) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuK9nGi_LxU 1. Search for ANT Agent or Express... ... or access the program from the tool bar. 2. Open the program. This will allow you to see if the program is running. If what you see matches the above screenshot, ANT Agent is running. 3. Quit the program before using TrainerRoad. How to unpair ANT+ from Garmin Express? Garmin Express takes a hold of your ANT+ and won't allow TrainerRoad to find the ANT+ stick. To fix this, open the TrainerRoad app and take the dongle out and plug it back in. TrainerRoad should be able to grab the ANT+ signal before Garmin Express does. Turning ANT Agent or Express back on ANT Agent will remain off even after you exit out of TR. If you'd like to connect your devices via ANT Agent, you'll have to manually turn it back on. To do so, simply search for and open ANT Agent. It will automatically begin searching for your ANT+ devices.

Last updated on Aug 13, 2026

USB1 vs USB2 ANT+ Sticks

If you're using TrainerRoad on a desktop or laptop computer with ANT+ devices, you probably already know that you need an ANT+ USB stick. There are two types of ANT+ USB sticks: the USB1 and USB2 stick. Depending on your computer and device setup, the type of USB stick you use can matter. Differences between USB1 and USB2 The primary difference between USB1 and USB2 is the number of ANT channels the stick supports. The number of channels determines how many devices the stick can handle, as each connected device operates on a single channel. USB1 has 4 channels (and can thus connect up to 4 devices) whereas USB2 offers 8 channels (and can thus connect up to 8 devices). USB2 not only offers the ability to pair more devices, but it also features more robust connections once devices are connected. Determining what kind of USB stick you have ANT+ USB1 sticks are no longer in production. All recently purchased ANT+ sticks will be of the USB2 variety. However, if you're using an older ANT+ stick, there's a chance it may be USB1. You can tell if your ANT+ stick is a USB1 model in two ways: 1. The stick will be labeled "USB1-Wireless USB Stick" on the reverse side of the stick. 2. If you have a Garmin-manufactured stick, the inner portion of the plug-in point will be white. If neither of the above are applicable to your ANT+ stick, it's probably USB2. Additionally, all mini ANT+ USB sticks are USB2. When do I need a USB2 ANT+ stick? The above ANT+ USB sticks are all examples of USB2 products. TrainerRoad Mac Legacy (Adobe Air) Desktop App: USB1 dongles will work with TrainerRoad Legacy (Adobe Air) on Mac Desktops unless you're trying to pair a Wahoo KICKR. You will need a USB2 dongle to use the Wahoo KICKR with the TrainerRoad Legacy desktop app. Note: if you've updated to the new Mac app, you will need to use USB2. TrainerRoad Windows and Mac Desktop App: USB1 sticks are not supported on either our Windows Desktop or new Mac Desktop software. You'll need a USB2 stick no matter what devices you're pairing. Where can I buy a USB2 ANT+ stick? TrainerRoad Recommends: Mini Garmin ANT+ Stick A great ANT+ USB stick option — and it's small enough to stay plugged in when you aren't training. Suunto Movestick Mini The Suunto Movestick Mini is another great option that's also small enough to stay plugged in. Docooler ANT+ Stick A good, more affordable option for an ANT+ USB dongle. Live in Australia? Aussie users will need to pick up an ANT+ stick from an Australian vendor or a local bike shop instead of the Amazon links above. Problems Connecting Your Devices? Visit our troubleshooting article for help getting your devices connected so you can start training!

Last updated on Aug 20, 2026

Wahoo KICKR Pairing Process

The Wahoo KICKR is a smart trainer that uses both Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ to communicate with TrainerRoad for the ultimate indoor training experience. Pairing the Wahoo KICKR (Mobile) 1. Open the TrainerRoad app and go to the Devices screen. Make sure that either Bluetooth or ANT+ is enabled and your KICKR is plugged in and awake. image_1.png 2. Tap the KICKR option to initiate the pairing process. Once paired, the KICKR will rise to the top of the list, bordered in green. image_2.png 3. Tap the KICKR once more to open the Device Settings screen. From here, you can perform a spindown calibration, rename the device, select the mode, and specify PowerMatch options. image_3.png 4. Perform a Spindown Calibration. Tap "Calibration" in the Device Settings screen. image_4.png You're now ready to ride! Note: KICKR v5's and newer models (any model past 2018) automatically calibrate on the fly as you ride. There's no need to calibrate manually with a spindown due to this functionality. You can learn more about this self-calibrating process here. Pairing the Wahoo KICKR (Desktop) 1. Open the TrainerRoad app and go to the Devices screen. Make sure either ANT+ or Bluetooth is turned on. 2. Search for the Wahoo KICKR and click on it to pair. The device box will be highlighted green one pairing is successful. Bluetooth: You will need a BLED112 USB dongle to pair via Bluetooth on Pre-Windows 10 computers. Most Windows 10 computers have native Bluetooth 4.0 support and you won't need an adapter to pair Bluetooth devices. Confirm your Win 10 computer has native Bluetooth using this article. For Mac, you can pair directly using the computer's built in Bluetooth. Learn more about Bluetooth connectivity. ANT+: You will need a ANT+ USB 2 stick in order to use TrainerRoad's automatic resistance control feature. Learn more about ANT+ connectivity. 3. Click the KICKR once more to open the Device Settings screen. From here, you can perform a spindown calibration, rename the device, select the mode, and specify PowerMatch options. 4. Perform a Spindown Calibration. Tap "Calibration" in the Device Settings screen. 5. Now you're ready to ride! Note: KICKR v5's and newer models (any model past 2018) automatically calibrate on the fly as you ride. There's no need to calibrate manually with a spindown due to this functionality. You can learn more about this self-calibrating process here. Pairing the Wahoo KICKR using the TrainerRoad Legacy app. Pairing via ANT+ 1. Open the TrainerRoad app and go to the Devices tab. Make sure your ANT+ USB stick is plugged into your computer. Note that you will need a ANT+ USB 2 stick in order to use TrainerRoad's automatic resistance control feature. Learn more about ANT+ connectivity. If you don't have an ANT+ stick plugged in, you'll see this: 2. Once your ANT+ stick is in, click "Search for ANT+ USB" and you'll see a list of devices you can pair with. Scroll toward the bottom of this list and you'll see the option to pair your KICKR. 3. Click the Pair button next the Wahoo KICKR. Make sure that your KICKR is plugged into a power outlet. In order for TrainerRoad to read the KICKR, you may need to get on the bike and begin pedaling to wake the KICKR up. 4. Your KICKR is now paired. 5. Click the Spindown button, and follow the instructions to perform a spindown calibration. This will ensure your KICKR's readings are accurate. Pairing via Bluetooth Smart (4.0) Learn more about Bluetooth Smart connectivity. 1. Open the TrainerRoad app, and go to the Devices tab. 2. Scroll to the Bluetooth Smart Device section, and find the Wahoo KICKR. 3. Click the Pair button, and wait for the KICKR to connect with TrainerRoad. 4. Click the Spindown button, and follow the instructions to perform a spindown calibration. This will ensure your KICKR's readings are accurate. KICKR FAQs How does the KICKR work with TrainerRoad during test workouts? TrainerRoad will automatically switch the KICKR from Erg mode into Level mode during the test intervals (8 or 20 minute periods) of a test workout. We do this because we don't want the app to control your KICKR and put limitations on how hard you can ride! TrainerRoad will control your KICKR throughout the warm up, ensuring that you're well prepared for the test(s), but will switch modes once the test starts. Level mode allows you to shift gears to find the optimal cadence for your test and will help you achieve the highest wattage average possible. What do I do if it is very difficult to pedal in Level mode? You'll want to be in a small gear when you start your test. If you start in your biggest gear when the KICKR switches to level it's like being in your biggest gear on a very steep hill. Make sure that you shift down before the testing period starts. Why am I still unable to pair my KICKR via ANT+ or Bluetooth 4.0? If you're still unable to pair after following these steps, it's likely that you will need to upgrade your KICKR's firmware. You will need an iOS device (iPhone or iPad) and the Wahoo utility app to do so. If you're still experiencing issues, shoot our support team a message at [email protected].

Last updated on Aug 20, 2026