lightheir wrote:
I really like my Varia, but I definitely agree with you. I see sooo many posts here and elsewhere about "I'm so much safer with it" and "I'll never ride without it", but I definitely disagree with those assertions.
The reality of the Varia, is that in the vast majority of times, there is nothing you can do with the data.
I'm not going to say you're wrong in your own experience, but I'll say that in the month or two I've had my Varia, my experience doesn't match yours.
On the type of roads I ride, it gives me a much earlier warning. It sounds like the roads that I really use the Varia on (relatively light trafficked, narrow, poor shoulder, 2lane) are different than the rides that AutomatickJack's wife got hit on (busy roads.) Counter-intuitively, I feel like the Varia is actually best on roads with very light traffic. It alerts me FAR earlier than I could ever hear them, which gives me time to put my bottle back, make sure I'm as far over as possible (even if that means riding in loose gravel I'd typically be avoiding), look back and identify how much space they're giving me, and act accordingly. That's probably the key with the Varia: It's like a fitbit. Wearing one and not changing your behavior won't help you; you actually have to use the info it provides in an actionable sense and change how you ride. Without a Varia, you only have the time from hearing the car onward to react. With a Varia, you have 10-20s to react and 'settle in' for a pass.
It's undoubtedly true that there's no "you're about to get hit" alarm, and it would be improved if there was. For me though, I will say unequivocally that I feel more comfortable with more information about what's happening behind me, I have more time to react, and it lets me focus on the road ahead while keeping it keeps me informed about what's behind. I've been very critical of Garmin in the past, but the Varia is money I'd spend again.
JustinDoesTriathlon
Owner, FuelRodz Endurance.
Last edited by:
justinhorne: Jul 21, 20 16:08