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Wife is looking to get me something for xmas and I thought about one of the garmin radar things....I know there are reviews out there but do they actually work for most people on normal twisty turny country roads we get in the UK? Also, is the one with the light worth the extra i.e is the rear light bright enough? I guess also, is there any point in knowing the info - do people find knowing that a car is behind you useful?
Yes, Yes and Yes.
Twisty back roads are exactly what I find best about - getting an alert when a car pops briefly into view of the device. On a busy main road they're less useful because they just alert all the time.
Rear light is brought enough to use on its own but I tend to have something extra for redundancy anyway.
On a busy main road, I'm not fussed about what it says quite as much but for everything else it's useful. If it alerts just before I get to the only passing place for a while I might pull into the gateway or layby etc to let it pass. Or i might indicate & move into the middle of the road earlier than planned if I'm turning in front of whatever's coming up behind me.
Having had one for a while I'd prefer not to ride without one now.
Yes, they work very well and the light is worth having. The range and sensitivity is surprising - sometimes I'll get an alert and the car is at least 50-60m back. The display on my Edge then shows how close they are.
The do "lose" cars if one is sitting the same distance behind you for a while.
They'll pick up an approaching cyclist, but ignore ones sitting behind you.
Light flashes more brightly when it picks up an approaching vehicle.
Do they make any difference? If you are riding alone and don't generally weave all over the road then I doubt it. They are most handy if you are out with someone riding side by side as you get advance notice to single out where it makes sense.
Yes, yes, yes, and double yes
I like mine. Definitely best when riding alone, and I find myself using it instinctively. I find it best when approaching junctions or lights, and you know if traffic is coming up behind you. Or if you are approaching an obstacle you can check if things are approaching at speed from behind, before you veer out.
It's less handy when riding in a group, as hopefully your mates are telling you all of the above anyway. 'car back' etc. Although its still good if you are at the back of the group, as you can send the information up the line.
Oh, and get the one with the light
I have the varia light, not sure which model, and it's a superb piece of kit.
Because it reacts to the car's speed I've had far fewer close passes in the 2 years I've had it.
I feel naked riding without it!
I love mine. My commute is all rural and it's perfect for that. I have had very positive comments about the visibility of the light as well. I'd thoroughly recommend one. Battery life of the 515 is easily the whole week's commutes. I just leave it on standby and it comes on when I start my ride on the Garmin and goes back into standby when I stop my ride - very easy to use.
Add me to the yes, Yes, YES group.
I've had the 715 (ie with the rear view 'dashcam' built in) for about 6-8 weeks.
The radar, which is what I was probably least buying it for, is excellent. As per others it pucks up approaching cars on quite back lanes really well - ofter way before they are seen or heard.
The light is good too.
+ I've already used the dash cam after an altercation with some gobby tawtish yoofs. Reg + car type and quick search on the Gov car taxing Web site = enough to report to the Rossers and for them to take pretty quick action
Seems like there's a bit of a consensus forming, hopefully somebody who hasn't used it will be in to say it's shit shortly. 😉
I also use one for commuting (just the radar version). Very good for the bit in the town as it tells me how many cars are approaching from behind prior to any right turns.
Out of town I'll use the warning to ensure my road position is ok for any traffic coming the other way to discourage the close pass from behind. Especially useful when it's flashing red which usually means high speed arse approaching 140m away, the Obree wobble can be deployed.
hopefully somebody who hasn’t used it will be in to say it’s shit shortly. 😉
Sorry, I've got one and I'm another big fan. As mentioned above it's no better than any other light in town or heavy traffic, but it's great out in more rural areas. It's also good on downhills where you can't hear much due to wind noise, and you're going fast enough you don't want to risk looking over your shoulder.
Yeah got one as well, however, I think its really shi....actually very good indeed. As someone else said, feel naked leaving home without it nowadays
It's worth mentioning the difference in battery life between the two. Surprisingly you get about half the runtime on the 315 radar only unit compared to the combined radar/light unit ie ~6 hours compared to 12. This is from my experience and confirms what all the reviews say.