Garmin radar v3 is out
05-17-20, 07:36 PM
#52
Full Member
Likes For travelerman:
05-17-20, 10:01 PM
#53
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
Carried the bike out, realized the Varia battery was dead while I was calibrating my power meter. I said to hell with it and rode anyway. Spent two hours feeling a little apprehensive, and looking behind me more often because of lane positioning.
It's just better to be riding with the radar. It makes its value known immediately. Not using it is like not taking your vitamins, it isn't the end of the world, but it's not ideal and feels a little off.
It's just better to be riding with the radar. It makes its value known immediately. Not using it is like not taking your vitamins, it isn't the end of the world, but it's not ideal and feels a little off.
Likes For Seattle Forrest:
Likes For kissTheApex:
05-18-20, 01:59 PM
#55
Member
I would LOVE it if you could use the Varia in watch mode. If that was possible, I'd probably get a cheaper Edge, like the 530. The vibration on your wrist is easier to notice than the little chirp, especially in any kind of noisy environment.
Does the radar work in indoor profiles? That would at least reduce battery drain on the watch.
Does the radar work in indoor profiles? That would at least reduce battery drain on the watch.
05-18-20, 02:04 PM
#56
Member
As far as what I do when I get an alert is sometimes slide over if there's room to do so comfortably, but most of the time, I just hold my line and ride predictably. To me, the best use case is when I want to get over to make a left turn. If the radar is clear, I look over my shoulder and move into the roadway. If the radar shows cars, I know I don't even have to bother looking.
Likes For rtalain:
05-22-20, 11:48 AM
#57
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
I haven't been honked at once since getting the radar.
It's kind of like talking vs talking over the internet, there's no intonation, etc. A car horn can mean "get on the sidewalk Lance" or it can mean "know that I'm behind you." I've been riding in the middle of the lane (residential streets, and traffic is still pretty light in most places) and moving over when the alert goes off, the driver sees me do that and they see my steady light start flashing at them. They know I'm aware of their presence. No need to honk. It's one thing to get honked at in your isolated car with the radio playing, it's a lot more jarring on a bike. Never felt like it would startle me into crashing or anything, it's just unpleasant.
It's kind of like talking vs talking over the internet, there's no intonation, etc. A car horn can mean "get on the sidewalk Lance" or it can mean "know that I'm behind you." I've been riding in the middle of the lane (residential streets, and traffic is still pretty light in most places) and moving over when the alert goes off, the driver sees me do that and they see my steady light start flashing at them. They know I'm aware of their presence. No need to honk. It's one thing to get honked at in your isolated car with the radio playing, it's a lot more jarring on a bike. Never felt like it would startle me into crashing or anything, it's just unpleasant.
05-22-20, 04:40 PM
#59
Occam's Rotor
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
I have, but I definitely think it has reduced the potential confrontations. Generally, non-psychos will behave properly if they think you aren't deliberately trying to be a road-hog.
05-23-20, 07:35 AM
#60
Senior Member
I haven't been honked at once since getting the radar.
It's kind of like talking vs talking over the internet, there's no intonation, etc. A car horn can mean "get on the sidewalk Lance" or it can mean "know that I'm behind you." I've been riding in the middle of the lane (residential streets, and traffic is still pretty light in most places) and moving over when the alert goes off, the driver sees me do that and they see my steady light start flashing at them. They know I'm aware of their presence. No need to honk. It's one thing to get honked at in your isolated car with the radio playing, it's a lot more jarring on a bike. Never felt like it would startle me into crashing or anything, it's just unpleasant.
It's kind of like talking vs talking over the internet, there's no intonation, etc. A car horn can mean "get on the sidewalk Lance" or it can mean "know that I'm behind you." I've been riding in the middle of the lane (residential streets, and traffic is still pretty light in most places) and moving over when the alert goes off, the driver sees me do that and they see my steady light start flashing at them. They know I'm aware of their presence. No need to honk. It's one thing to get honked at in your isolated car with the radio playing, it's a lot more jarring on a bike. Never felt like it would startle me into crashing or anything, it's just unpleasant.
05-24-20, 12:52 PM
#61
Flyin' under the radar
I have both too and agree the Flare RT is brighter and more visible in normal flash mode. But when the Varia goes into hyper-flash as it senses an approaching object they look about the same brightness and attention getting factor to my eye. Have you set them up and tried this little test? I'm curious if it is just my perception or others see the same thing.
05-24-20, 12:53 PM
#62
Senior Member
I just want the d-shape post thingy.... dont care about gen3. I have gen2 and gen1
05-24-20, 01:02 PM
#63
Flyin' under the radar
Mount the radar unit on the seat post as usual; mount the flare under the saddle. I run tubeless, so I don't need a saddlebag. I've got a plug kit, CO2, and a multi-tool in my jersey.
05-24-20, 04:04 PM
#64
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Land of Enchantment
Posts: 468
Bikes: Domane SLR7 Project One
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 152 Post(s)
Liked 173 Times
in
105 Posts
As far as I know, mine has always done it. You can test it easy by just turning on to day flash and walking up from behind the bike so the radar sees you as an approaching object. I discovered by accent one day and was surprised how bright it appeared to be. I'm not sure if the intensity increases but the flash rate does causing it to at least appear much brighter.
05-24-20, 04:07 PM
#65
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Land of Enchantment
Posts: 468
Bikes: Domane SLR7 Project One
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 152 Post(s)
Liked 173 Times
in
105 Posts
That's exactly what I do. I like the radar and long battery life of the Varia with the light turned off but like the brighter light and compact, hidden look of the Flare RT. I switched back and forth few times and finally decided why not just run them both and turn off the light on the Varia.
05-24-20, 04:15 PM
#66
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Land of Enchantment
Posts: 468
Bikes: Domane SLR7 Project One
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 152 Post(s)
Liked 173 Times
in
105 Posts
05-24-20, 04:49 PM
#67
Senior Member
I ordered the whole kit, part #010-10644-12 since it shows there are all 3 shims included. It arrived Friday but only had the 2 shims the 510 came with so I ended up RMA'ing it. The rep. I talked to said the photo was wrong and the new Universal Mount Kit that has the 3 shims isn't out yet. Also said I wasn't the only one who was mislead by the wrong picture. He said when they do release the new mount kit it will have a different part #. Wish I could order just the D shaped shim since I don't need any of the other stuff in the kit.
yes I saw that and read the description (2 shims) and thus I didn't order
. Dumb Garmin
05-24-20, 05:04 PM
#68
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 3,114 Times
in
1,683 Posts
how easy or difficult is it to swap the varia mount(s) between different bikes? this coming from a guy that has bought two additional garmin “out front” computer handlebar mounts because i found it to be a pita when wanting to swap mounts between bikes. .
05-24-20, 05:16 PM
#69
Senior Member
it's super easy... take all of a couple seconds. But I'm lazy and will buy mounts. I have 4 bikes that I ride and 3 mounts. Only 2 bikes have the same shaped seat post.
Likes For spdntrxi:
05-24-20, 05:17 PM
#70
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Salt Lake City, UT (Formerly Los Angeles, CA)
Posts: 1,145
Bikes: 2008 Cannondale Synapse -- 2014 Cannondale Quick CX
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 212 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 83 Times
in
54 Posts
Like he said, if you already have one (I do), not much incentive to upgrade. I have a Wahoo that links up via Ant+, so the bluetooth functionality isn't a draw. I guess if you didn't have a bike computer and wanted to use your smartphone with the radar, you might be interested.
I'm curious who is interested in just the radar without the taillight, especially given that it's a really good/visible light. But they must have thought there was a market for it.
I'm curious who is interested in just the radar without the taillight, especially given that it's a really good/visible light. But they must have thought there was a market for it.
05-24-20, 05:50 PM
#71
Senior Member
Garmin just need to buy cycliq.. or make a radar and video recording unit all in one unit and then have a mode where is only records on radar pickup. I'd buy it yesterday
Likes For spdntrxi:
05-24-20, 06:19 PM
#72
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 3,114 Times
in
1,683 Posts
05-24-20, 06:55 PM
#73
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Land of Enchantment
Posts: 468
Bikes: Domane SLR7 Project One
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 152 Post(s)
Liked 173 Times
in
105 Posts
I saw the description too but figured it might be wrong (since it only includes 2 rubberbands, not 4 like the description says) and why would they update the picture and still sell the old kit? Oh well, it didn't cost anything since they gave me a full refund including shipping. The round post works good enough on my D seat post but will get the updated D shim when available. Or maybe I can find someone who purchased a 515 but doesn't need the D shim.
