Originally Posted by
KH0456
Actually the Background app refresh lets the app stay running with wifi or cellular which is why it needs to stay on while riding if you want the app to track your route. I have mine set the same as yours... only use location while using the app. I also turn off background refresh when I'm not riding to preserve battery during the day. Thats not an Elemnt thing.... that an Iphone thing. Until I started using the Wahoo app, I never turned on the refresh.
I found this thread because I was trying to verify that I only need my phone with me, turned on and paired to the Mini in order to create a track.
I used to use Ride with GPS (RWGPS) as my only computer, but after losing my phone due to an extremely rough patch of road (I did eventually locate it, only a little worse for the wear) I decided I didn't want to have it attached to my handlebar. Never mind that battery life is horrendous if you have the screen on all the time...
Anyways, I had read that the Mini can push data to RWGPS, but since I knew the Mini didn't have GPS I assumed I had to have RWGPS recording on the phone at the same time. However, When I push the Mini data from the App to RWGPS I end up with two (nearly) identical routes... Hence my finding this thread.
However, after reading down to this point (the quoted thread) and looking at my phone settings, I am maybe a bit more confused. I have had Background Refresh turned OFF, system wide. But, I do have Location Services turned on for the Elemnt while using the app. As I believe I saw in another post in this thread, you should be able to be in airplane mode and still know where you are, as the GPS is receiver only, not transmitter.
I am planning a century ride tomorrow and probably won't take a chance on the Mini alone, and will run RWGPS parallel.
BTW, so far I love the Mini. It does everything I want/need it to - I primarily got it to provide a constant readout of HR, Speed and Cad. I already had Wahoo HR and Cad sensors so it was almost a no-brainer after reading the reviews. The only issue I've had so far with it is that sometimes it doesn't auto-pause when I stop, and one time I was coasting at around 25-30 MPH and when I glanced down to check my speed I saw the screen flash "Auto Resume"... If at some point I need/want GPS routing I can put my phone on my handlebar, but my normal rides are all on roads that I am familiar enough with that I don't need it - I just plan my route and memorize it.