My husband was using the Varia when he was hit from behind at 70mph on a rural 4-lane road in broad daylight while wearing bright colors.
We still credit it with saving his life: it alerted him to the oncoming cars (the lead driver who hit him admitted to being on his phone), so he got out of aero and moved as far right as possible. In a traumatic car-on-bike incident like that, even a one-degree difference in your position/how you’re hit can be monumental. At the very least, we knew that he’d done everything “right” so there were no regrets — and that peace of mind is honestly priceless.
Anyway, that said… I think you’re in the Springs, right OP? The cycling around here (Fountain, for example) is exactly the kind of riding the Varia was made for. 100% recommend.
We still credit it with saving his life: it alerted him to the oncoming cars (the lead driver who hit him admitted to being on his phone), so he got out of aero and moved as far right as possible. In a traumatic car-on-bike incident like that, even a one-degree difference in your position/how you’re hit can be monumental. At the very least, we knew that he’d done everything “right” so there were no regrets — and that peace of mind is honestly priceless.
Anyway, that said… I think you’re in the Springs, right OP? The cycling around here (Fountain, for example) is exactly the kind of riding the Varia was made for. 100% recommend.