Garmin Varia RTL515 to flash when a vehicle approaches but otherwise the light must stay off

[guidodg]

I would like my Garmin Varia RTL515 to flash when a vehicle approaches but otherwise the light must stay off...I cannot get this to work [using a Hammerhead Karoo2]

I have set the "flash on alert" using the Varia app and set the default mode to "light off" on my Karoo....but it does not flash on approaching vehicles

Any ideas?

[Guest Mike Dewing]

5 minutes ago, guidodg said:

I would like my Garmin Varia RTL515 to flash when a vehicle approaches but otherwise the light must stay off...I cannot get this to work [using a Hammerhead Karoo2]

I have set the "flash on alert" using the Varia app and set the default mode to "light off" on my Karoo....but it does not flash on approaching vehicles

Any ideas?

Isn’t the idea that the light makes you visible to motorists at distances beyond 150 metres and then the radar alerts you when they are within 150 metres of you.? Isn’t that the safety fundamentals of the device.? 

[guidodg]

no, not really, during the day the rear light is not really that visible in bright sunshine so I would rather it stays off and only come on and flash when a vehicle approaches...much more useful for my cycling buddies behind me and also saves the battery [which only lasts 6hrs in full ON mode]

according to what I read it is perfectly possible for the light to stay off and only flash when a vehicle approaches, but I have not managed to get it to work

[cadenceblur]

8 minutes ago, guidodg said:

no, not really, during the day the rear light is not really that visible in bright sunshine so I would rather it stays off and only come on and flash when a vehicle approaches...much more useful for my cycling buddies behind me and also saves the battery [which only lasts 6hrs in full ON mode]

according to what I read it is perfectly possible for the light to stay off and only flash when a vehicle approaches, but I have not managed to get it to work

have you seen this?

 

[guidodg]

yes I did see that but it requires a separate Light Network Connect IQ app on a Garmin device to work…. but from what I read it should work even with just the Garmin varia app on a phone

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, guidodg said:

no, not really, during the day the rear light is not really that visible in bright sunshine so I would rather it stays off and only come on and flash when a vehicle approaches...much more useful for my cycling buddies behind me and also saves the battery [which only lasts 6hrs in full ON mode]

according to what I read it is perfectly possible for the light to stay off and only flash when a vehicle approaches, but I have not managed to get it to work

 

My Varia is paired with an Edge 530.

 

It seems to switch to the "off-then-flash mode" by itself .... would love to get a more consistent way to use the Varia

 

1 hour ago, Mike Dewing said:

Isn’t the idea that the light makes you visible to motorists at distances beyond 150 metres and then the radar alerts you when they are within 150 metres of you.? Isn’t that the safety fundamentals of the device.? 

Personally I prefer to have it on a steady flash mode, then go into the adaptive flash as a vehicle approach.  Thus being of use further than 150m, as well as the additional alert that comes with the adaptive flash.

 

 

Having it ON, then flash as vehicles approach is simply not an option on long rides, as the battery dont make it home.

[Guest Mike Dewing]

1 hour ago, guidodg said:

no, not really, during the day the rear light is not really that visible in bright sunshine so I would rather it stays off and only come on and flash when a vehicle approaches...much more useful for my cycling buddies behind me and also saves the battery [which only lasts 6hrs in full ON mode]

according to what I read it is perfectly possible for the light to stay off and only flash when a vehicle approaches, but I have not managed to get it to work

That’s fair👍🏻

[Rowl]

4 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

My Varia is paired with an Edge 530.

 

It seems to switch to the "off-then-flash mode" by itself .... would love to get a more consistent way to use the Varia

 

Personally I prefer to have it on a steady flash mode, then go into the adaptive flash as a vehicle approach.  Thus being of use further than 150m, as well as the additional alert that comes with the adaptive flash.

 

 

Having it ON, then flash as vehicles approach is simply not an option on long rides, as the battery dont make it home.

Running the same setup, but my Varia defaults to constant on. It drives me nuts that I can't switch the thing from Edge.

 

Have seen a connectIQ app, but haven't investigated.

[cadenceblur]

33 minutes ago, Rowl said:

Running the same setup, but my Varia defaults to constant on. It drives me nuts that I can't switch the thing from Edge.

 

Have seen a connectIQ app, but haven't investigated.

I installed the app and it works . It picks up both the front (bontrager ion)and the varia and there is capability to adjust / switch both on or off. 
also shows battery life 

[Jaco Steyn]

I would not use it in that way. If a car travels at say 120 km/h on an open road and your bike's light only starts flashing when he is 150 meters away from you, the car will cover that 150 meters in 4.5 seconds. I know it probably will be slightly longer because you may also going forward at e.g. 35 - 40 km/h, but still the time available for an approaching vehicle to take possible evasive action will still be <5 seconds. You then also have to factor in reaction time, which will also reduce the time to take any evasive action should it be needed.

It's been proven that a flashing light can be seen much easier and earlier than a static light.

Flashing vs steady bike lights: which is safest and what does the law say? | BikeRadar The law part can probably be ignored, this article is applicable to the UK road laws.

[guidodg]

a constant bright flashing light just irritates my cycling buddies and on a bright sunny day here in Greyton on gravel roads makes little sense...

rather a bright flashing light coming on when a vehicle approaches so everyone behind me gets alerted...and the battery lasts 3x longer:)

what is definitely more important and has been proven time and time again to be very useful is a bright flashing front light...do some googling