That’s good to know.
I have a 520 so if I buy the Varia I have to tell the wife I need a new bike computer too 
I used to run a cycliq6 but swapped it out for a cycliq 12 and a varia.
The varia is the best thing ever. -I don’t ever ride without it. I also virtually never ride without the front camera. My cycliq 6 was useful once a few years ago when a car pulled across in front of me and took me out but it was only useful because as i was lying on the ground the passenger kindly picked up my bike and the camera panned across the crime scene. A front camera would have been more use. Ideally i’d have a rear radar/light/camera all in one but in the absence of such a thing a radar to tell me to avoid being hit is much use use than something to tell my widow what colour car hit me.
I’ve been on one of these course as an alternative to a speeding fine. There was a room full of 30 people representing every type of driver imaginable. It was actually a useful session to remind us of newer road rules since passing my test 30 years ago and as a reminder of risks etc.
On another aspect of this I was talking to a policeman yesterday at work (I work for them but not as one) about uploading cycling camera footage and he told me that their new system “Operation Snap” expected to result in 10% as a nothing, 10% as a prosecution and 80% as a warning letter or them being forced to attend a course.
So there is some hope that in parts of the UK at least there is a genuine attempt to improve enforcement to make riders’ lives slightly safer.
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I’ve experimented with Shimano cameras in different positions and I don’t agree they can’t increase safety (at least in London, U.K). I’m confident that if drivers know they are being filmed they drive better. The problem with the Fly6/12 is that the camera is hidden. Stick an easily visible camera on your head & you’ll get less close passes. You could even stick a random cuboid thing to your head… I don’t think they look that closely.
Yeah, that’s the slowing-down-for-a-police-car syndrome - to way below the speed limit, even if there’s nobody in the police car.
This said - in a no-fault insurance system and a public healthcare system, what does camera footage bring to the table? I understand in the US where you may need to sue to pay for medical treatment, but, say, in Canada?
I believe the 520 plus works.
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This is what footage brings to the table. The driver tried to say all sorts of lies about how i was wearing dark colours, after dark, on the wrong side of the road and that i wasn’t really hurt after all. This footage certainly helped my word against his (and his passenger’s).
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I get that - but in our healthcare system, there is no need to prove or disprove injury, so that part of the use case is out; insurance coverage is limited to physical damage. Does this help ensure the driver’s insurance will cover damage to my bike?
Haven’t had experience of the no fault insurance thing but here in the UK we have free healthcare and video footage is still useful for:
- interesting the police in bringing criminal charges
- non-healthcare related expenses such as missing work, buying a new bicycle etc.
1 is really the key as they automatically attend any road traffic incident to which an ambulance is called and so will get the driver’s details and winning a civil case is much easier if they’ve already had a criminal conviction. That is much more likely if you’ve got video.
Thanks. That helps.
My experience (in Canada) for #2 was pretty simple - there was a police report (the fact that the accident happened right in front of a police car certainly helped) , and the driver’s insurance then took care of it. I assume the video footage may help ensuring the police report gets done correctly.
But there wouldn’t be a civil case. Not that I know of anyway.
I picked up the Fly6 CE when it came out. Honestly, I was and am disappointed, but still use it in case I’m hit. The battery life sucks, and it just eats battery when it’s sitting around on the days you don’t ride. Basically have to charge it before every ride. They suggested turning off the ANT+ and BLE connection to save power, which I did, but then what’s the point in having those connections if you can’t use them? Also shuts off randomly about 20 mins into rides without warning. The latest firmware update has apparently fixed some of this, but I’ve not had a chance to notice if it has fixed the issues yet.
Varia sounds good too, but what I really wanted was evidence if I’m hit. If I’m hit, I want to have some no questions asked evidence to provide to the police and a lawyer. I need a front camera too though.
A friend was hit by a driver, and it was the drivers fault (no questions, it was, police agreed). The police charged the driver. He was convicted in court, but appealed, and the police didn’t send anyone along to defend the appeal, so the driver got off on appeal by default. And then the driver filed a suit against my friend for $25k, for damage to his car (as he didn’t have car insurance) and lost income from him going to trial against the police for dangerous driving. What a complete $hit show.
You’re knocked off your bike, you lose your $8k bike and have $8k of dental work done, and then the driver that hit you, wants $25k. This only bolsters drivers to be less careful, and if you do hit a cyclist, file a suit against them, regardless of who’s fault it is.
So, because of that, I run the Fly6 CE rear, and will get a front camera (not the Fly12, as I don’t want integrated light. Maybe a go-pro or go-pro clone). And I run a front and rear Seesense light too. I don’t want a varia too, as I don’t want 3 lights on the rear.
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You definitely do want it, the radar is huge. On the plus side, the new form factor offers a light-less version. I put that version on the non-band mount and it pretty much disappears on top of the seat post collar, and hangs down over the collar looking over the rear wheel. It pretty much disappears along the lower seat tube.
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I think it depends on the type of riding.
Maybe this is wrong but I see It as inner city/suburban where drivers are more likely to be aggressive I’d say you’re better off with a camera.
Rural/open roads I’d think the radar would be better.
Either way - whoever comes out with a radar + camera will get my future business. If that’s garmin it would absolutely kill off Cycliq I’d think.
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