bcapostagno Posted August 11, 2021 Share Hi Hubbers I am looking for some cyclists who currently use a Garmin Varia (bike radar) who would be interested in testing a related product. If you are currently using a bike radar, are based in the Cape Town or Stellenbosch areas and would be interested in testing a new product, or would like to find out more, please drop me an email Benoit.Capostagno@Garmin.com. Cheers Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanievb Posted August 11, 2021 Share why only the okes in the Republic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcapostagno Posted August 11, 2021 Share Just now, fanievb said: why only the okes in the Republic? Fair question Fanie. Unfortunately, our product development office is based here and we won't be able to get the units out to other areas. Kind regards Ben ChrisF 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samson99 Posted August 11, 2021 Share do we need to be currently using a varia? is that in order to get a comparison? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcapostagno Posted August 11, 2021 Share Hi Samson No. Experience with using a Varia is really what we are looking for, so if you no longer have one, that doesn't exclude you from taking part if you are interested. Cheers Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanievb Posted August 11, 2021 Share 5 minutes ago, bcapostagno said: Fair question Fanie. Unfortunately, our product development office is based here and we won't be able to get the units out to other areas. Kind regards Ben suppose it's easier to hand deliver than courier. (and easier to get the units back after testing) pity. I'm a garmin fanboy, and would like to test things Long Wheel Base 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcapostagno Posted August 11, 2021 Share Drop me an email anyway Fanie. Maybe there will be an opportunity to get a unit to you for a bit. Cheers Ben fanievb and Long Wheel Base 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamil Posted August 11, 2021 Share 25 minutes ago, bcapostagno said: Hi Hubbers I am looking for some cyclists who currently use a Garmin Varia (bike radar) who would be interested in testing a related product. If you are currently using a bike radar, are based in the Cape Town or Stellenbosch areas and would be interested in testing a new product, or would like to find out more, please drop me an email Benoit.Capostagno@Garmin.com. Cheers Ben Email sent bcapostagno 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepia Posted August 11, 2021 Share Great thread. Anything for safety. I only ride with a Varia and it it is a fantastic piece of kit. Unfortunately it comes at a price and only works with the high end Garmin products. I just love mine but would like something which could work with other units and smaller Garmin devices. Not sure where you are going with this but I can highly recommend the warning radar. I will follow this thread with interest. Edited August 11, 2021 by Sepia IceCreamMan and lechatnoir 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lechatnoir Posted August 11, 2021 Share I'm not able to participate, but can attest to a Varia being awesome. If anything comes close, it'll be great to have something else to choose from. I ride alone, sometimes on high-speed roads with no shoulder. The warning gives me an opportunity to give a hand signal and motorists oblige more often than not. I'm still getting to grips with one car following another my about 100m as the second one doesn't give a warning, so it's arrival is sometimes alarming. bcapostagno and Vetplant 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinnekop Posted August 12, 2021 Share Been using the Varia since before they were available in SA. Brilliant piece of equipment I can no longer ride without. Even cooler when you know it was developed by a South African! Pity the Cape Town boys get to play with new tech. Enjoy! Edited August 12, 2021 by Spinnekop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JA-Q001 Posted August 12, 2021 Share 17 hours ago, Sepia said: Great thread. Anything for safety. I only ride with a Varia and it it is a fantastic piece of kit. Unfortunately it comes at a price and only works with the high end Garmin products. I just love mine but would like something which could work with other units and smaller Garmin devices. Not sure where you are going with this but I can highly recommend the warning radar. I will follow this thread with interest. I have one that I use with my EDGE 130. Its only older units it does not work with. The newest ones also have Bluetooth, so can work with a phone app as well. Most other big GPS manufacturers also work with it, like Wahoo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamil Posted August 12, 2021 Share Agreed the Varia is the best investment I've made in cycling safety - it's a great light too and the radar warning is astonishingly accurate - in a little under a year of riding I have not had a single false negative read. False positives occur rarely particularly around bridges and Y junctions but these aren't at all a problem. A glance at the screen and I know how many cars are behind me and how much faster than I am they are. Looking forward to test driving the new kit whatever it is! aquaratza and Vetplant 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquaratza Posted August 12, 2021 Share Email sent. I've been using a radar for a while now and it's very reassuring on the roads. My main cycling friend has been reluctant to get one but seems to be considering it after a recent near miss. My Varia rarely (if ever in fact) reports false positives. My only gripe is that the battery life is a bit short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket-Boy Posted August 12, 2021 Share On topic: Are you developing a similar product to the Varia? It would be really great to have something made in SA on the market. Off topic: Ben, this is going to seem really weird but Im 99% sure I grew up across the road from your wife throttles, Long Wheel Base and mikkelz 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCreamMan Posted August 12, 2021 Share As others have mentioned Varia is a brilliant piece of kit, never leave home with out it. Sometimes if a car is behind me and cannot overtake and maintains my speed the Varia "loses" it but by then i am aware it is there so no real issues. Would be nice to have alternatives when it dies one day. (IIRC Varia concept was originally an SA product bought out by Garmin but memory is hazy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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