Since launching the RTL515, Garmin has had the best radar on the market, but Wahoo has done enough to finally surpass it.
Lot of technical specs, not much info on what the point is. What are you going to do, leap off your bike onto the sidewalk if it detects a car approaching? If I’m switching lanes I could see the point but $200, more weight, and more things to charge is a lot to invest in something that’s slightly better than turning my head
What is the advantage of this beyond something like a mirror, or looking over your shoulder?
More than you’d think!
- Yes, it alerts you of vehicles, even before you can hear them. This can be critical when riding in hilly, rural areas.
- It can detect multiple vehicles (even when you miss them through your mirror). Depending on how you’re device is set up, it can indicate the approach speed and give you a colour coded warning.
- It can be used to gather vehicle passing speed and count data.
- They flash when vehicles approach, increasing their speed and intensity to catch a driver’s attention. I’ve actually been told by drivers in passing that this feature works really well.
- they can warn you of unexpected vehicles, like ebikes, approaching quickly from behind when you wouldn’t expect them (like on a quiet trail).
- They can alert you when it may not be safe or ideal to check your mirror or shoulder check.
I have the varia 515, and it’s been an incredible safety tool. Even though I also ride with a mirror, the radar has been more useful/practical/accurate on certain roads.
it’s cool?
it also flashes bright when people get too close I think.
Y’know what? ‘it’s cool’ is a good argument. This thing is totally not for me, but I’ve got plenty of other useless crap that I love because I just think it’s cool, so you do you! Enjoy it.
What’s a radar light?
It’s a safety light that has radar. You can see if/how many cars are behind you, usually through an app on your phone.
Could you tell whether you usually ride in car lanes? Is it a choice (meaning, don’t you have separate bike lanes)?
In any case, i wouldn’t dare to constantly ride a bike in traffic (if i would have a bike lane to use), and no bicycle radar would settle my concerns. Call it excessive caution or trust issues (myself and other people on the road). 💁
I wonder: To make a turn, do you only follow what radar tell you (or does not signal anything)? Do you still look over your shoulder to check yourself if it’s safe to maneuver? 🤔
Also: What kind of warnings do these radars provide (and how do you react)?
Could you tell whether you usually ride in car lanes? Is it a choice (meaning, don’t you have separate bike lanes)?
Personally, I ride on routes that get me to my destination. This may often involve roads (usually not by choice) because no other options exist.
In any case, i wouldn’t dare to constantly ride a bike in traffic (if i would have a bike lane to use), and no bicycle radar would settle my concerns. Call it excessive caution or trust issues (myself and other people on the road). 💁
I ride with a mirror and radar, and the radar really does help to be aware of what’s behind you.
That obviously won’t help if drivers are still being negligent, but I’ll take any tool I can to be as safe and aware as possible.
I wonder: To make a turn, do you only follow what radar tell you (or does not signal anything)? Do you still look over your shoulder to check yourself if it’s safe to maneuver? 🤔
I use a mirror, radar, and shoulder check.
The radar can give me advanced notice of a car, even before I hear it. And if there are multiple cars, it will tell me when the last one has passed, saving me from taking my eyes off the road.
Also: What kind of warnings do these radars provide (and how do you react)?
I don’t use the radar app, but do have a bike computer, so cars appear on the side of the screen as a coloured dot, starting at the bottom and moving up as it comes closer.
My radar detects cars 150m away, and I can set it up to tell me the approach speed for more information.
Multiple cars are indicated by multiple dots. And I have it set to give me an audible tone when it detects a vehicle, and when the last vehicle passes.
How I react depends on the situation (am I turning, am I on a rural road or a road with a shoulder, am I approaching an intersection, etc.)
Even when I’m on a bike path with no cars, the radar will tell me of approaching (silent) vehicles like ebikes or escooters, when I may not be checking my mirror.
That sounds pretty cool. What radar do you use? Varia?
Varia RT515. My only regret is that Garmin is an American company, so if I had to get one today, it’d likely be a different brand.
