Thanks dude, I saw those on Amazon. I came across an online retailer called 76 projects. I got a saddle mount and adapter for £27 then paid £6 for priority post. Free post over £30. They look really decent and might get them sooner. Check their site, they do some cool stuff. Thanks again for the info. 
happy safe riding
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Got my new saddle mount a few days ago, really fast post to Scotland and are a great item. The bolts were too long for my saddle rails so they wouldn’t grip. I got a couple of nuts (lol) from B&Q that allow the bolts to tighten up onto my rail. As the nuts that came with the mount have a no push through rubber bit in them. So all mounted neatly now. I will try and measure the lights out radar on battery life and post asap. 
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I found a way to do it.
You should remove the radar from the “Sensors & Accessories” list (unpair it) on your device (Watch/Cycling Computer).
Then, connect the Varia as “Light” only (Add New → Lights).
On the Light menu on the device, change Configuration to “Individual” mode.
Now, pair the Varia as “Radar”.
The “Light” device will be disappear from the paired device list. But, it’s OK.
Now you can use the Varia with or without light on by changing the light mode using the button on the Varia.
Safe rides.
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Had my first ride today with the new 515…can’t believe I never got one earlier.
As I have mentioned before, living in the northern burbs of Chicago means there is almost always a car behind me and I ride like it, so didn’t really see the need for a Varia.
I was totally wrong.
The extra distacne that the system gives you is fantastic, as well as letting you know if there are multiple cars, etc. It eliminates the need to constantly look over my shoulder as a line of cars passes me, wondering how many more there are behind, etc.
The extra audio notification through BT into my earbuds is a great feature as well.
In the space of one ride, this went from “I don’t think I need that” to “I won’t ride without it.”
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Welcome to the dark side!
When somebody says that you have wasted your money and should have just got a $5 mirror remember what Jesus said…
“Forgive Them, For They Know Not What They Do”
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How do you get a notification through earbuds? Do you run an app like ridewithgps on your phone, which is connected to earbuds by BT?
Yes, the Garmin Varia app supports audio notifications via BT. So even if I am listening to a podcast or something riding, I still get an audio alert through the earbuds.
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Hmm, that’s cool. Thanks.
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+1
I was lucky enough to get one for my birthday, it is as awesome as I had hoped as well. Having audio tones through bt will be icing (haven’t tried that yet). Knowing the # of cars is really cool, and also how fast they are approaching in an easily consumable consistent format reduces the cognitive load which is always a great thing!
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Can anyone tell me / show me a screen grab of what the ‘warning’ looks like for this device when using a Wahoo Element Bolt headunit?
I’m considering buying this but I don’t want to buy a Garmin heading so would like to understand what the waning screen looks like and whether it beeps an audible warning as well?
This video shows what it looks and sounds like:
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In my opinion the Wahoo radar integration is actually better than Garmin’s, thanks to the LEDs and better beep sounds. Main reason why I prefer my Roam to my Edge 830 on the road. Bolt is good too.
I use it with a Wahoo Roam…and yes, there is an audio warning, as well as the visual warnings on screen (car icons and flashing top lights).
I’d argue that the warnings are superior on a Wahoo unit for two reasons - 1) The flashing LED lights on the top if the unit, and 2) The car icon on screen vs. just dots on a Garmin unit.
the only “downside” I could see to the Bolt is that the “warning stripe” on the side of the screen for the Bolt would not be in color like it is for the Roam or a Garmin. But again, you have the flashing LED lights which IMO is a more powerful warning indicator.
I think you would have a hard time mounting all that…your best option migh tbe the Varia w/o the light, since it is a smaller unit and you already have the light issue covered across multiple devices.
On My Aeroad, I had to mount my Bontrager Flar light on the seattube…since the bike has dropped seatstays, I could do that. But between my saddle bag and the space required for the Varai, there was no room left on the seatpost.
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@guyc @Power13 … I went ahead and bought the 515.
The set up with the Wahoo element bolt was super easy.
Works a treat and has given me a great deal of additional confidence.
Thanks 
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Hi dude. Have you seen the topeak bar extender. I have one, they’re cheap and great. You can fully adjust it horizontal or vertical. You could mount both side by side. You might look like something from back 2 the future but hey.
I just purchased the 516 here in Germany, I actually did want the blinking option but not available here. Any idea if there is a way to “install” it on the 516? It is obviously just a software option. Thanks in advance.
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I actually have the same question wanting to improve the 516 with the 515 software.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Frank
There were the same questions regarding the different versions of the 510/511 radars.
It does seem like it should be straightforward to switch fw but I never found any evidence of anyone doing it.
I actually wanted to go the other way and remove the flashing from my 510 and turn iot into a 511 so that it stops startling other riders (I think the peloton mode on the newer 515 fixes this?)
Lots!
Partner Integrations
Best Idea Ever -->Integrate alert status with 3rd party video cameras (GoPro) to start/stop video recording when alert status is present. (I know, it’s on them, not Garmin. But Garmin can make this happen). I don’t want my whole ride… just video evidence of the car that hit me. I’d also like a video evidence of all the drivers that decided to “give the cyclist a little scare.” Documenting the drivers who move closer while passing cyclists and then back out to middle of their lane. Public shaming with license plates?
Radar Sensitivity / Resolution
- Detecting cyclists in addition to cars. Theoretically, being able to distinguish big things (cars) from little things (cyclists) is possible. A much more expensive and power hungry sensor no doubt. What I really want is ‘zwift like’ radar telling me how many meters back my buddy is currently sitting at so I know when my TR power starts opening a gap. (Never open a gap!)
- Auto-peloton mode: Turn off when a cyclist is (better, many cyclists are) behind me. Turn on when I’m in the back of the group. I often flip it off from head unit once I get into the group ride.
- Blink the top light on the display at the same rate as the tail light is blinking. make the blinking adaptive to the speed of the approaching car - increasing attention. ideally, stochastically.
- Car’s disappear if they hold their position steady for too long. I get why. Just wish they wouldn’t.
Alerts:
- Easier head unit control to turn on/off the audio alarm – riding out of town gets noisy. (similar to ease of changing tail light mode)
- Different alert sounds for normal vs fast approaching (single vs double, soft, med, load…)
- Audio Alert if it’s been a long pause since last detect (quiet roads with little traffic)
- Alert overlay stomps on some of the data values, showing the age/limits of the UI/UX of the Garmin interface. Garmin head units are super power efficient and water resistant…so I’m only complaining a little.
- Bluetooth audio alerts – I keep one earphone in sometimes (in case my daughter calls) or listen to books on lonelier roads (words only! no music) - would like the alert over headset audio. This feature would crush the Garmin software and flakey bluetooth drivers. So no really hope here.
A bit bulky. Skinny it up a bit. All seat posts are sloped, it’s has to be vertical - big ugly gap. This sucks
- more options for aero fairings – the shapeways folks are a bit too opportunistic.
Record in Datastream
- Record locations of radar alerts in the fit files. Allow visualizations on post ride.
On/Off/Power
- Occasionally get confused if it’s between linked light-network mode and plain blink mode
- Ending ride auto turns off the light, but not the radar. Way too easy to put the bike way and not notice the tiny blue radar light still flashing. Always dead at the next ride.
- Battery life is very good, btw. I can do 100+ mi rides with radar & lights – no worries. Might explain why it’s so bulky. When I remember to turn it off after each ride, I charge it once a week on Fridays
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