Rear Radar / Light

[andrew-6xade]

Does anyone use one of the above from either Garmin or Wahoo?

If so, worth the money?

[eyebeebe]

Yes, Garmin RTL-515. Consensus of the people I know who have them and online more generally is that once you've got one, you'll never ride without it.

Reviews e.g. DCRainmaker, suggest that the Wahoo one can be a bit flaky. I would go Garmin. They integrate with Wahoo and Hammerhead as well as Garmin head units.

[andrew-6xade]

Thanks, the Garmin makes sense given it's cheaper and I have an Edge 530 head unit.

[Mutts]

I've got the Bryton Gardia R300L. I use Bryton bike computers anyway.
Works great, have it set as constant red light but when i picks up a car it flashes.
Appears as a vertical strip on right hand side of the display (Bryton S800).
If a car comes speeding up to you it flashes red on the screen.

Downsides to it, if a car comes up behind you and matches your speed before overtaking it things the car has overtaken you and drops the alert.

And its only £99 from the amazon.

[LM240]

I personally don’t know what a radar adds in terms of safety.

I’m always aware if there is a car behind me. Do you change your riding if there’s a car behind you and waiting to overtake?

If one does decide to come speeding up behind you, what is the radar doing to increase your safety? The radar won’t stop the car hitting you if they aren’t good drivers!

I’ve usually got a flashing red on regardless of time of day, so don’t need a radar to switch anything on.

Each to their own, but I just don’t see what they add.

[Dracoro]

As someone who is hard of hearing, they are brilliant.
Even with OK hearing, in many cases you only hear a car when it’s close anyway when ideally you want to know a more in advance.

[S100HP]

I've got a Varia. Was skeptical at first and borrowed one. Ridden for years, always thought I was aware of cars behind me etc, but it just gives you that peace of mind. Can't really describe why, but it gives you warning far far earlier than your ears can. It can spot a car a mile off. It also shows how quickly they are approaching, so I might sit a little further out than I normally would then as they close in move a bit further left, just giving myself a bit more space

I'm now one of those who wouldn't ride without one, having ridden for 20 years without one.

[stargazer30]

My varia saved me getting wiped out the 2nd ride out with it on. My own fault, turning right and I hadn’t heard the car. I saw the warning on my edge 530 head unit and aborted the turn just as he passed me.

I’ve now got a wahoo head unit as it’s as loud as hell. That way I can hear the varia warnings too!

[Your Dad]

stargazer30 said:

My varia saved me getting wiped out the 2nd ride out with it on. My own fault, turning right and I hadn t heard the car. I saw the warning on my edge 530 head unit and aborted the turn just as he passed me.

I ve now got a wahoo head unit as it s as loud as hell. That way I can hear the varia warnings too!

Do you rely on the Varia instead of doing a shoulder check/life saver?

[fooman]

Do you need a Garmin head unit or are they independent?

[eyebeebe]

Your Dad said:

Do you rely on the Varia instead of doing a shoulder check/life saver?

I always do a shoulder check before making a move, but if I already know something is there, I won‘t make a move.

fooman said:

Do you need a Garmin head unit or are they independent?

It‘s an open standard, so up to the manufacturer to implement it. When I bought one year‘s ago, only Garmin had implemented it, but Wahoo have done now too and so have Karoo. Someone posted about the Bryton one too - assuming they use the standard then a Garmin or Wahoo radar would work with their head unit too.

IMO they‘re great for when you‘re in a TT position, when wind noise is high e.g. quick descents and for making you aware of electric vehicles. They get a bit confused by trains if you are riding by a track though

[Hard-Drive]

Your Dad said:

stargazer30 said:

My varia saved me getting wiped out the 2nd ride out with it on. My own fault, turning right and I hadn t heard the car. I saw the warning on my edge 530 head unit and aborted the turn just as he passed me.

I ve now got a wahoo head unit as it s as loud as hell. That way I can hear the varia warnings too!

Do you rely on the Varia instead of doing a shoulder check/life saver?

When turning right, I'll always check. But won't on a straight road when it's just cars overtaking. The unit gives you range, closing speed (RAG) and number and is VERY accurate. It also bleeps if it loses connection but a life saver is a life saver.

[Hard-Drive]

fooman said:

Do you need a Garmin head unit or are they independent?

You can download an app to your phone too if you want.

[Hard-Drive]

andrew-6xade said:

Does anyone use one of the above from either Garmin or Wahoo?

If so, worth the money?

They are an absolute game changer. I absolutely would not ride without one now (although in a city it's debatable, just too much info/alerts etc).

Just be mindful of the guy/girl behind you if you are riding in a bunch and set the light accordingly. Also the kit "rubber band" mount is a bit pants and you are better with an aftermarket bolt on version, either on your seat post for road/gravel or on the rear rack for tourers.

[stargazer30]

Your Dad said:

stargazer30 said:

My varia saved me getting wiped out the 2nd ride out with it on. My own fault, turning right and I hadn t heard the car. I saw the warning on my edge 530 head unit and aborted the turn just as he passed me.

I ve now got a wahoo head unit as it s as loud as hell. That way I can hear the varia warnings too!

Do you rely on the Varia instead of doing a shoulder check/life saver?

No I just screwed up.

[vexed]

I have a Garmin Varia. It's a good bit of kit. Useful to know when cars are approaching and it seems very accurate.
Personally I ride with headphones and audiobooks when riding solo, I'm aware this has its drawbacks! The Varia helps with an early warning of something you haven't heard. I would still always do a shoulder check before changing position or turning, but it is very rarely wrong!

[Hard-Drive]

vexed said:

I have a Garmin Varia. It's a good bit of kit. Useful to know when cars are approaching and it seems very accurate.
Personally I ride with headphones and audiobooks when riding solo, I'm aware this has its drawbacks! The Varia helps with an early warning of something you haven't heard. I would still always do a shoulder check before changing position or turning, but it is very rarely wrong!

May I very, very strongly suggest Shokz bone conduction earphones. Sorry, but headphones on a bike is Darwinism at it's finest.

Shokz keep your earholes totally open so you can hear what is going on around you. Listening to an audiobook on Shokz would be just like having a conversation with another ride buddy next to you.

[lufbramatt]

If you’re riding in a group and someone has a varia then you can all pair with the same unit via ant+ which can be useful.

[Dracoro]

Hard-Drive said:

vexed said:

I have a Garmin Varia. It's a good bit of kit. Useful to know when cars are approaching and it seems very accurate.
Personally I ride with headphones and audiobooks when riding solo, I'm aware this has its drawbacks! The Varia helps with an early warning of something you haven't heard. I would still always do a shoulder check before changing position or turning, but it is very rarely wrong!

May I very, very strongly suggest Shokz bone conduction earphones. Sorry, but headphones on a bike is Darwinism at it's finest.

Shokz keep your earholes totally open so you can hear what is going on around you. Listening to an audiobook on Shokz would be just like having a conversation with another ride buddy next to you.

Prob worth noting that some headphones have transparency mode (like AirPods Pro etc.) so you still hear traffic/people etc. In fact, on the AirPods, it reduces the volume (and possibly silences) the podcast/song if it detects external voices/noises etc.

In fact for someone with hearing issues (I have), headphones that enhance external sounds (i.e. works like a hearing aid) is actually great and better than nothing in ears. A more niche case, but of note personally.

[Piginapoke]

Big advocate of the RTL515 here for the reasons others have said.

One thing I would add is that it tells you how many cars are behind you- I find that really helpful out on the road