+1 for Bontrager Flare RT too (ant+)… have that situated above my Varia Radar. Suggest you get both if you can afford it. Only downside of Flare is battery life. Doesn’t last nearly as long as Varia.
Must admit though when I got the flare (before the varia) I did noticed an improvement in motorists during the day time hours giving me more space. That extra bright flashing light did work.
Have only improved on that by adding the Varia Radar.
If someone hits me, there’s no way they can say they didn’t see me!!
thank you @Shrike, it looks like this may be the one I get for the price and reviews. Wiggle will likely work the best for me likely as I am in Canada. Thanks again
For racing TTs, especially on dual carriageway couses and longer races, I put a pair of cateye rapid X2s on the rear stays. Shorter local races I just use one.
I have no evidence, but iIsuspect air flow around the seat post between the legs is more easily disrupted by a light, than around the seat stays. And more of a faff to fit. However, the trade off for me is visibility and warning drivers behind. Its a choice.
I have seen some very effective seat post lights though.
Hey, did you have any luck with a rear light for the s3? I just purchased a 2019 (no 2020’s this year). I already had a rear Lezyne light with the aero groove but it doesn’t sit properly on the post. For whatever reason, it actually twists ever so slightly to the side and just won’t sit straight. I am interested in the Varia. Wondering if it sits properly? I also find the battery life of the Lezyne 150 to be very poor even in flash mode and it cannot last on any long rides (100k or greater). Thanks.
I just ended up getting the Lezyne pro 300.
It works fine for me. It can shift to one side a bit, however, I just adjust the rubber band a bit to get it centered.
My main problem is actually space. I have a 48cm frame and I am short so there is not a lot of room on the seat post. I also have a saddle bag for my space, multi, … So the stripe light is mounted very low and may not be the most visible.
I haven’t seen a better solution really given my constraints so I have just accepted I have as good a solution as I can expect, for now anyway.
I have an S3 purchased this year and I have just bought a Varia ($150 bucks on Amazon). Sits perfect on the seat post. I have a fair bit of seat post showing, but I can get a saddle on and the Varia underneath. Works like a charm and even though the light is only just under the saddle bag, it has a 100% record of picking up vehicles during my 4 rides so far.
It comes with mounts for round or Aero seat posts and works just find with the S3.
FYSA (for your situational awareness), now (2020) the Wahoo BOLT is integrated with the Garmin Varia. Game-changer, as has been covered here. Problem with Varia is the seatpost mount, which is either a shaky elastic band or a hard mount that hits my thighs on each pedal stroke. Shapeways came to the rescue with a bottle boss mount (for my Trek Speed Concept) and one that is narrow enough on the sides to mount on my 27.2 road bike seatpost without hitting my legs. Varia is phenomenal–mounting it properly takes some doing.
I have the same problem as you being short. I run a 49cm frame. What I did was mount my light on the seat stay. Seems to work well for me. I’m using a Serfas Thunderbolt.
