Your daughter is a great gift giver! Nice stuff! Here's hoping hoping for some good weather so you try it out. Will you be using an app with cell phone or a garmin head unit?
Good point. It would be a very expensive tail light though. I just retired a taillight that does a great job increasing my presence for motorists that cost $35 USD. If anyone is interested here is the link. I am not affiliated in any way with Cygolite. Just sharing. www.amazon.com/CYGOLITE-Tuneable-Resistant-Flexible-Rechargeable/dp/B07YFF4857?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1
I love this device. It is a game changer and I will never ride without it. I paired mine with the “Ride With GPS” app, that you mentioned. That’s the app I use to navigate bike routes to different locations. The car indicator shows up on the app and it also has an audible alert. Also, air pod pros have a mode call transparency, where you can have both ear plugs in and still hear cars. I do that all the time. Great video
Thanks for the info on the air pods. Good stuff. I need to check out Ride With GPS app at some point as I could really make use of the navigation feature. Thanks! Be safe!
As electric vehicles become more common devices like this will become more important, had a few electric cars pass me this summer on the highway on dry pavement - almost zero sound from the summer tires.
I use this unit and it is well done and works to give you a heads up of rear approaching vehicles. My only issue is I wish the firmware would allow my earpiece to hear the audible beep. I am not sure there is a setting for this to be honest. But I am constantly watching my metrics, so I usually see them approaching on my Garmin Edge 1030.
While linked to your edge I think you could go bluetooth from thr radar to your phone and then onto an earpiece? I think Ive seen this happen. Hope this helps. John
I use the old Garmin Varia RTL500 unit, that I bought seven years ago. It is an indispensable tool. The only problem being that Garmin Edge notification volume is very weak, I often miss the sound and have to visually check the screen from time to time.
Thanks for sharing. For me, even with the phone volume full can be tricky to hear in traffic when I wear a head cover that has flaps over my ears. Plan to try a Bluetooth ear piece for a an audible boost. Wonder if the Garmin head units are louder than the app?
None of this stuff is cheap. I got the magine unit a while back. Has been fine for months. Much cheaper got the head unit and radar for the same as Garmin tail unit only. I agree a great thing. I do long distance touring and have dynamo lighting but the radar helps keep me more aware especially during the day.
I use a seat rail mount to mount the radar unit to the back of my rack so I can use a large bag on the rack without blocking the radar. It clamps to the same place the rear reflector on my rack was mounted on. I didn't buy the Garmin mount. I bought a LICHIFIT on Amazon for less than 1/3 the price of Garmin. It's made of aluminum and is very strong.
Thank you for your input. Nebraska is ranked 49th for cycling safety. Because of that fact it is necessary to increase rider visabilty in the dark as well as daylight hours. Just like all other vehicles on the road my goal is to be seen and light the pathway.
Do you need a phone, to do that? I have a Garmin Explore for its map, and no phone at all. I only hope to find systems which doesn't need to have to buy an expensive, extra phone on top + the huge expenses to make it function at all! I'm soon to be 76, a little "weight challenged" and not at all that mobile, when riding a bike so I would like to warned during rides. Finn. Denmark 😁
Hello, if you are refering to the "Garmin Edge Explore 2" bike computer unit, www.garmin.com/de-BE/p/802162 Yes, that is comapatable with the Garmin Varia Radar cycling awareness devices. But to answer your question, you do need to pair either a Garmin head unit like the Edge, or a smart phone with the garmin app to operate their Varia radar. Im finding it to be a very good investment. I ride an ebike to and from work and very much enjoy the extra safety. Here in the states and especially Omaha Nebraska we dont have the a friendly cycling culture that is found in Denmark. We have a long way to go. Thank you watching. If you have any other questions feel free to reach out. Happy new year and safe riding.
My daughter just got me the varia RTL 515 for Christmas. Just waiting for some decent weather to test it out
Your daughter is a great gift giver! Nice stuff! Here's hoping hoping for some good weather so you try it out. Will you be using an app with cell phone or a garmin head unit?
@@pedalingpast60 I have a garmin 530 head unit I’ll be using it with
Cool video here. I like to see the incorporation of newer technology with older technology and the adventures people can have riding.
Thanks for watching.
The Varia Tail-Light will still do it's job by blinking faster to get notice when cars approaching even without head units or any display device.
Good point. It would be a very expensive tail light though. I just retired a taillight that does a great job increasing my presence for motorists that cost $35 USD. If anyone is interested here is the link. I am not affiliated in any way with Cygolite. Just sharing. www.amazon.com/CYGOLITE-Tuneable-Resistant-Flexible-Rechargeable/dp/B07YFF4857?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1
I love this device. It is a game changer and I will never ride without it. I paired mine with the “Ride With GPS” app, that you mentioned. That’s the app I use to navigate bike routes to different locations. The car indicator shows up on the app and it also has an audible alert.
Also, air pod pros have a mode call transparency, where you can have both ear plugs in and still hear cars. I do that all the time.
Great video
Thanks for the info on the air pods. Good stuff. I need to check out Ride With GPS app at some point as I could really make use of the navigation feature. Thanks! Be safe!
As electric vehicles become more common devices like this will become more important, had a few electric cars pass me this summer on the highway on dry pavement - almost zero sound from the summer tires.
Oh good point. I had not thought about it in that way. Thank you for the insight!
I use this unit and it is well done and works to give you a heads up of rear approaching vehicles. My only issue is I wish the firmware would allow my earpiece to hear the audible beep. I am not sure there is a setting for this to be honest. But I am constantly watching my metrics, so I usually see them approaching on my Garmin Edge 1030.
While linked to your edge I think you could go bluetooth from thr radar to your phone and then onto an earpiece? I think Ive seen this happen. Hope this helps. John
Nice job. Very in-depth.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank.you for the compliment! Happy New Year!
Nice review. I’m looking at the version without the light.
It's totally worth it. Its such a nice safety tool.
I use the old Garmin Varia RTL500 unit, that I bought seven years ago. It is an indispensable tool. The only problem being that Garmin Edge notification volume is very weak, I often miss the sound and have to visually check the screen from time to time.
Thanks for sharing. For me, even with the phone volume full can be tricky to hear in traffic when I wear a head cover that has flaps over my ears. Plan to try a Bluetooth ear piece for a an audible boost. Wonder if the Garmin head units are louder than the app?
None of this stuff is cheap. I got the magine unit a while back. Has been fine for months. Much cheaper got the head unit and radar for the same as Garmin tail unit only.
I agree a great thing. I do long distance touring and have dynamo lighting but the radar helps keep me more aware especially during the day.
Sorry, What radar and head unit do you have? I would like to look at it. Thanks !
I use a seat rail mount to mount the radar unit to the back of my rack so I can use a large bag on the rack without blocking the radar. It clamps to the same place the rear reflector on my rack was mounted on. I didn't buy the Garmin mount. I bought a LICHIFIT on Amazon for less than 1/3 the price of Garmin. It's made of aluminum and is very strong.
I really appreciate the tip. I will look at that seat mount tonight. Thanks a million.
This guys headlight is angled to the point where he is blinding every oncoming person.
Thank you for your input. Nebraska is ranked 49th for cycling safety. Because of that fact it is necessary to increase rider visabilty in the dark as well as daylight hours. Just like all other vehicles on the road my goal is to be seen and light the pathway.
Do you need a phone, to do that? I have a Garmin Explore for its map, and no phone at all. I only hope to find systems which doesn't need to have to buy an expensive, extra phone on top + the huge expenses to make it function at all!
I'm soon to be 76, a little "weight challenged" and not at all that mobile, when riding a bike so I would like to warned during rides. Finn. Denmark 😁
Hello, if you are refering to the "Garmin Edge Explore 2" bike computer unit, www.garmin.com/de-BE/p/802162 Yes, that is comapatable with the Garmin Varia Radar cycling awareness devices. But to answer your question, you do need to pair either a Garmin head unit like the Edge, or a smart phone with the garmin app to operate their Varia radar. Im finding it to be a very good investment. I ride an ebike to and from work and very much enjoy the extra safety. Here in the states and especially Omaha Nebraska we dont have the a friendly cycling culture that is found in Denmark. We have a long way to go. Thank you watching. If you have any other questions feel free to reach out. Happy new year and safe riding.
Also: I am in no way affiliated with Garmin. I ride for the joy of it and love sharing my new found passion that pedal assist bikes have provided me..