Cyclist Down - Muldersdrift

[Paul Ruinaard]

6 hours ago, Schnavel said:

Exactly! I do a lot of road riding and will never ride without my Varia. 

I also have a bright Bontrager front light that is set on flash, no mater the time of day - visibility is crucial!

what the man said, Varia and lights = visibility and warning

[Frosty]

On 1/27/2023 at 3:26 PM, ChrisF said:

 

Do you possibly know of anybody linking it to a Garmin watch ?  (Probably just easier to use the 530 for the commutes)

List of compatible devices are here:
https://www.garmin.com/en-ZA/p/601468#devices

This is what is looks like on a 735XT, except mine showed green and the dots (cars), and it didn't vibrate either (could be my settings).

 

Edited January 30, 2023 by Frosty

[ChrisF]

31 minutes ago, lechatnoir said:

yes, it pairs and works fine with watches and Edges... At least it does with an older Fenix 5. 

The wrinkle with a watch is that it's probably not viewable in a normal riding position and looking at it will likely take your hand off the bars and with traffic/trucks etc, I get the heebie-jeebies. Even so, the functionality is all there - beeps and a scale of where the vehicle is picked up.

Top-tip - if you get one, you're likely going to unbox it and hit the button... do not, whatever you do, look at the light... I did that 2 years ago when I got it and I swear I can still see it during night time loadshedding... it's hella bright!!!

 

Thanks for that tip 👍👍

 

Sounds like a Bontrager light.

 

 

Good point about looking at the screen.  Certainly want my hands on the bats and a vinger on the brakes when in traffic.

[lechatnoir]

25 minutes ago, Paul Ruinaard said:

what the man said, Varia and lights = visibility and warning

I'm going to add this here - When I get a radar alert, I poke out my arm as a request to the car approaching from the rear to give space if possible. @Mamilsays it may be them seeing me as human and acting accordingly

They generally do give space if they're able - in cases where they don't, I need to be alert to the fact they might not and make my own room. I do this even when I'm in the emergency lane. Not all drivers are nobbish - not even all the white bakkie drivers

[ChrisF]

1 minute ago, lechatnoir said:

  Not all drivers are nobbish - not even all the white bakkie drivers

 

Had a good laugh at the Winelands bike race, in the parking area.

 

More than half the vehicles were bakkies .... most being white ....

[lechatnoir]

Just now, ChrisF said:

 

Had a good laugh at the Winelands bike race, in the parking area.

 

More than half the vehicles were bakkies .... most being white ....

where's @Patcheliciouswhen we need him hey?

[wolver]

1 hour ago, ChrisF said:

 

Do you possibly know of anybody linking it to a Garmin watch ?  (Probably just easier to use the 530 for the commutes)

 

Varia on a Watch (forerunner)

[Thomo]

On 1/27/2023 at 2:10 PM, ChrisF said:

Anybody with experience of both the Varia and the other brand ?

Is dit "goed koop koop is duur koop" ?

The "other" brand/s seem to get very respectable/acceptable reviews internationally.

Also hard to ignore at +-R1000 cheaper ...

[Patchelicious]

On 1/27/2023 at 4:21 PM, lechatnoir said:

where's @Patcheliciouswhen we need him hey?

Avoiding bakkies

[Patchelicious]

Speaking of which.. this is interesting.

Driving a bakkie for work vs driving a bakkie for image.

 

 

[Pieter-za]

On 1/27/2023 at 3:26 PM, ChrisF said:

 

Do you possibly know of anybody linking it to a Garmin watch ?  (Probably just easier to use the 530 for the commutes)

Hi Chris - I link the Varia to both my 830 and Fenix 6, no issues.  (Watch is set to vibrate when the radar picks up a target)   It works great!

[DieselnDust]

On 1/26/2023 at 7:08 PM, Marcv said:

I hope he heals well

For those that have never seen it, look at the Garmin radar, helps you know when a car is coming up behind you. Its worth it.

I use an old analogue mechanism called turning my neck. Work s really well. 

Speedy recovery to the rider

[Madone69]

On 1/27/2023 at 1:37 PM, Frosty said:

Friend of mine has one, and another friend (also a Hubber) said they could both use the same Varia while riding together. Must be an Ant+ connection then to facilitate that.

This is correct. I bought one and both my wife and I see and hear the functions just fine. Nice thing is if the rider falls off you tend to see the radar lost and know the person dropped.

And they were almost R1200 off normal price from Garmin SA in Dec 👍

Edited January 30, 2023 by Madone69

[capediver]

5 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

I use an old analogue mechanism called turning my neck. Work s really well. 

Speedy recovery to the rider

This is the unfortunate "side-effect" of the Varia series, any cycle radar for that matter....relying totally on the technology....Garmin clearly state that their product is not a replacement for cyclist attentiveness and good judgement..........a look back should always stay part of your safety regime while cycling....strongs to the IP

[mecheng89]

On 1/27/2023 at 2:10 PM, ChrisF said:

BEST wishes for both the cyclists and the driver.

 

 

As the thread is tapering towards the Varia, some questions for those that know these devices.

 

Anybody with experience of both the Varia and the other brand ?

 

Is dit "goed koop koop is duur koop" ?

 

 

 

How easy is it to switch between two bikes ?  

 

 

I often commute just with my watch, not the cycling computer.   How would this impact using the Varia (or other) unit ?

I have the other brand, Magene. I've been using it for a few weeks now, and I don't know whether it's just me, but it's not working as well as I'd have hoped. Sure, it picks up vehicles and warns you, but I feel that sometimes, especially if there are lots of vehicles, the radar cannot keep up. Sometimes it only warns me literally as the vehicle is about to pass, or worse, no warning at all, which is worthless. Sometimes it even warns you of a vehicle that was never there.

I've noticed if I ride alone, the problem doesn't seem to be as obvious, but riding in a bunch makes the identification and warning of vehicles more sluggish than one would hope. 

If you buy the Magene, you get only one mount but a seat post few adapters (the supplied adapters don't work with my Giant seatpost, so I got a mate's Garmin one and it works well). Being lazy by nature, I don't enjoy swopping between bikes, but the supplier doesn't have seatpost mounts in stock now, so will buy a second and third etc later. 

I don't regret buying the unit. It gives me peace of mind, especially when cycling back into a busy town when you've been out in the sticks. Think of it like a blindspot monitor on your car - sure, it makes it easier not to bump into someone, but o boy will you regret not turning your head around just to make sure there is no one there. 

[mecheng89]

On 1/28/2023 at 5:45 PM, Thomo said:

The "other" brand/s seem to get very respectable/acceptable reviews internationally.

Also hard to ignore at +-R1000 cheaper ...

Read my impression one post above.