A wonderful device that keeps you from being surprised from unseen autos or ones that you dont hear. It makes riding less stressful because you dont have to constantly turn your head looking for autos.
The bright flashing read light is also a wonderful safety feature.
I figure if I was going to have a flashing light anyway, it might as well have radar to detect autos.
Being old school I wasn't sure I needed Radar but after talking to other riders in our club I decided I would give it a try. We have a lot of grey days and visibility is not always great radar makes me aware of stealth drivers before I might initially be aware of them. It took a ride or two to remember to glance at my GPS unit as part of my usual scans. I won"t ride with out it now.
I bought one of these after my riding partner did and I am glad I did. This puppy works perfectly and when paired with a compatible Garmin head unit alerts you to vehicles behind you visually and aurally if you can hear well (which I cannot). I really like the way it starts blinking randomly and vigorously when approaching vehicles are detected. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this unit and am absolutely delighted with its performance.
This is going to be very helpful on my next road bike tour. Not only does it alert me to an approaching vehicle, it tells me if there are more than one. I ride with a mirror and rely on it but the Varia is a worthwhile safety upgrade. My one complaint is that it depletes my Garmin 1030 battery more quickly, but I will tour with a Garmin Charge Power Pack.
The single most amazing safety upgrade ever. The unit is so reliable you almost never need to look behind. It provides audio warning, shows the number of vehicles approaching and gives all clear after vehicles have passed. It also integrates with head unit and shows the battery level. The thing turns on and off by the head unit so you never have to touch it. Truly set it and forget it.
It flashes when vehicles approaching. Paired with you Garmin computers & it will come on & off with your head units. Get the cheaper RTL510 if you don't need Bluetooth.
Integrated seamlessly into older Edge 1000. Once I got the device 90 degrees off the road, it works great. I have a very small frame so I had to get creative with mounting as I couldn't just strap it to the seat post and go, it would have been blocked by my bike bag. So it took me a few rides to figure this out and get the right positioning. And it helps that 50% of my riding friends have this device as well.
Allows for more visibility day or night. Communicates slowing/stopping helpful for cars and fellow riders following behind. Heads up radar alert gives me an added sense of comfort. Great product. No longer leave the house without it.
I have always loved my handlebar mirror for keeping track of traffic behind me, but now that I bought the Varia I'm amazed at how much safer I feel!
Not only do I get audible warnings when cars come up on me, the display on my Garmin 520 shows me exactly how many of them are back there.
I have been recommending this to everyone in the bike club and now more of the riders than not are using one too.
This is the best investment I made for my bike! The alerts are very helpful and it is so accurate. My safety is number one.
Product was purchased for my father who is an avid cyclist and enjoys riding on back rural roads. Making sure he enjoys his hobbies in a safe manner is my main concern, and this product provides an extra protection. Product was delivered on time and price was better than even Amazon.
I've used the Varia for a few months and it's been great. It has really made me feel more at ease riding the roads where I live. It really is like having eye in the back of your head. I have had a few false positives but it's never missed any traffic coming up behind me.
Once you ride with radar you won't ever want to ride without it. It picks up vehicles about 159 yards back with a visual and audible warning on my Wahoo computer. Now I don't have to rely on my handlebar mounted rear view mirror which is useless when cars don't have daytime running lights. It's great when riding in a peloton and only picks up other cyclists when they are accelerating rapidly to catch. Highly recommend this unit.
I can feel more calm when riding alone because I know when a vehicle is coming up behind me. When riding in the country there may not be cars for miles and then a fast one comes along during a bumpy or shoulderless road. This radar warns me so I can slow down or move if necessary. It is important to turn the radar on before turning on the Garmin, they find each other faster. Initially very easy to pair with Garmin 520 edge.
Thought it was a gimmick but a friend told me it was a valuable safety feature. After using it for a few months I never want to ride on the road without it. Also find it to be useful in Central Park with all of those electric bikes and scooters sneaking up on me.
I enjoy my rides much more with the radar. No more contact looking over my shoulder for traffic. Of course, riders still need to be alert and occasionally look back to confirm what is there, but the radar brings a great piece of mind. The best feature is seeing how many vehicles will be passing.
I struggled with adding such a large appendage to my rather stealth bike, but once it was up and running in action, it proved its value countless times. Only complaint is a fair amount of false positives, but it is nice to know when that big guy behind you is about to attack and pass you!
Love, love love this. I am a mountain biker, but love training on the mountain roads here in Colorado. This radar has made me a much safer rider. Cars now see me and stay further away. Knowing what's coming up on you and giving you a fighting chance to stay clear. Best accessory I have ever purchased for my road riding. This could save your life.
This light makes both cars and rider aware. Works great on country roads. City too much distraction due to constant warnings. Great safety device for long rides in country roads with fast close traffic like the San Francisco Bay Area.
This rear light with radar works exactly as described. It still amazes me that it works so well. You will not be disappointed if you are looking for early warning of traffic coming up behind you.
