Bike Radar
05-09-24, 08:13 PM
#26
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Well, this is a pretty uniform positive response from actual users! Might be time to look into buying one.
Has anyone used the Trek CarBack unit?
Also, the Garmin units appear to have a short (1.5 hour) battery life. Are they capable of accepting a charge while operating?
Has anyone used the Trek CarBack unit?
Also, the Garmin units appear to have a short (1.5 hour) battery life. Are they capable of accepting a charge while operating?
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05-09-24, 08:23 PM
#27
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05-09-24, 08:31 PM
#28
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05-09-24, 08:42 PM
#29
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with stuff like these, very cold temps mess with the battery life too.
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05-09-24, 10:16 PM
#30
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05-09-24, 10:49 PM
#31
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I’m in! Garmin Varia should be arriving tomorrow.
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05-09-24, 11:00 PM
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I don’t own a Varia. To clarify my question, I wonder if folks who live in less urban areas and are often on backroads, often without shoulders, are finding these more useful then perhaps a rider, like myself, who rides in more congested areas, where there is pretty much always a car back, as it were. Thus a user in a congested area, might have less need for a radar, as it’s kind of telling you what you already know, there’s a car back. In a rural area, I understand the usefulness as it alerts you and gives you time to maybe move a bit out of whatever lane is remaining. As well, I really doubt I would hear an audible alert, I don’t wear my hearing aids when I ride and I currently do not hear the audible alerts a 1040 gives for navigation route changes.
The rear camera is a feature I might desire as it provides a record of “what happened” when a teenager on a cell phone mows you down. Thus my interest in plunking down $400 is increased.
The rear camera is a feature I might desire as it provides a record of “what happened” when a teenager on a cell phone mows you down. Thus my interest in plunking down $400 is increased.
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05-10-24, 04:07 AM
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05-10-24, 04:56 AM
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I should add that I also use an Italian Road Bike mirror and I ride in areas where there are few cars for the most part. And, my hearing is actually excellent so I feel pretty secure.
Last edited by bruce19; 05-10-24 at 05:03 AM.
05-10-24, 09:03 AM
#35
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05-10-24, 09:05 AM
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i use it so ubiquitously that on my e-bike i’m really tempted to get the hardwired no-battery version and wire it up internally. i’d love to do the same on my aethos but the varia battery is about the same size as the di2 battery, which would mean very many charge cycles.
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05-10-24, 04:49 PM
#37
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022_rev2-_smartsense-oms_138691__en.ashx (cannondale.com)
You must be one of the few people who actually want this system. Pretty much everyone else takes it off their bikes.
05-10-24, 09:45 PM
#38
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The stock Garmin seatpost mount sucks. I recommend this one: Amazon.com: TUSITA Bike Seat Post Mount Compatible with Garmin Varia RTL510 RTL515 RVR315, Rearview Radar - Round,D Shaped,Aero Seat Post Compatibility : Electronics
05-10-24, 10:02 PM
#39
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The stock Garmin seatpost mount sucks. I recommend this one: Amazon.com: TUSITA Bike Seat Post Mount Compatible with Garmin Varia RTL510 RTL515 RVR315, Rearview Radar - Round,D Shaped,Aero Seat Post Compatibility : Electronics
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05-10-24, 11:01 PM
#40
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I prefer the seatpost mounts that clamp on rather than the ones held on by rubber bands. You can find cheap ones from AliExpress that work fine on standard (27.2-31.6mm) round seatposts. This didn't quite fit for the larger diameter seatmast on my Trek Domane so I machined my own:
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05-11-24, 09:29 AM
#41
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I prefer the seatpost mounts that clamp on rather than the ones held on by rubber bands. You can find cheap ones from AliExpress that work fine on standard (27.2-31.6mm) round seatposts. This didn't quite fit for the larger diameter seatmast on my Trek Domane so I machined my own:
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05-11-24, 10:04 AM
#42
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Actually you're right. That was a picture from when I first test fit the radar mount, and in a test ride I did get the occasional bit of 'shorts rub'. So I just cut the corners off at 45 degrees as shown. I've since ridden with this set up for over 2000 miles without it ever making contact with any body part. Not as clean looking as the $4 AliExpress part, but it works for me.
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05-11-24, 01:19 PM
#43
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Actually you're right. That was a picture from when I first test fit the radar mount, and in a test ride I did get the occasional bit of 'shorts rub'. So I just cut the corners off at 45 degrees as shown. I've since ridden with this set up for over 2000 miles without it ever making contact with any body part. Not as clean looking as the $4 AliExpress part, but it works for me.
05-12-24, 02:49 PM
#44
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I've had one for years and recently lost it, ordered a new one and found the old one under a pile of my dogs stuffed animals....dang dog. Somehow I missed that there is a phone app for the varia! I was using my fenix watch which is good but in strong winds I might not hear the beep. On the phone it's awesome and loud with a great visual on the approach! Fun fact two...my old unit won't work with the app...only the newer model which is exactly like the old one...sigh.
05-12-24, 04:40 PM
#45
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No doubt. However, the Varia can help you know when to look. For example if I want to turn left, and the Garmin tells me a car’s there, I stay put, no need to look back, If it tells me nothing”s there it’s a good time to look, verify that, and make the move left.
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05-12-24, 05:38 PM
#46
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No doubt. However, the Varia can help you know when to look. For example if I want to turn left, and the Garmin tells me a car’s there, I stay put, no need to look back, If it tells me nothing”s there it’s a good time to look, verify that, and make the move left.
05-13-24, 11:13 AM
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I've used the Garmin Varia RTL515, and I can say I'm quite satisfied. Also, I've heard from a friend that the Wahoo Fitness RADR is similarly good.
05-13-24, 03:54 PM
#48
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It might be age, experience, or worldview, but even for free, I'm not interested.
Even if it worked great, I don't imagine there's any way to reliably predict which drivers are going to hit me from behind and which are going to swing around and pass safely (defined as no contact). Secondly, there's the question of timing, Even in the best of worlds, with excellent accuracy, I don't believe, I can get warned soon enough to react effectively. So, I don't want to ride where I'm repetitively diving for shoulders, or tuning out false alarms. If I can't use info effectively, I don't need to have my peace disturbed.
Ask those who live with automated warning alarms, ie. jet pilots, and they'll tell you how too many alarms is as bad, or worse, as never having alarms in the first place.
Even if it worked great, I don't imagine there's any way to reliably predict which drivers are going to hit me from behind and which are going to swing around and pass safely (defined as no contact). Secondly, there's the question of timing, Even in the best of worlds, with excellent accuracy, I don't believe, I can get warned soon enough to react effectively. So, I don't want to ride where I'm repetitively diving for shoulders, or tuning out false alarms. If I can't use info effectively, I don't need to have my peace disturbed.
Ask those who live with automated warning alarms, ie. jet pilots, and they'll tell you how too many alarms is as bad, or worse, as never having alarms in the first place.
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05-13-24, 04:05 PM
#49
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To keep this bike related, I've just acquired a Garmin Varia, and it works great from a detection standpoint, but I think it's really like to turn into a largely useless annoyance. Time will tell. Unfortunately, it's not easy to find a place to ride in San Diego without lots of cars at a reasonable hour.
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05-13-24, 04:09 PM
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I imagine they would have been more upset if you landed there dead stick.
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