Sorry i figured we could all assume stuff so obvious as this but if it needs to be stated, go ahead. I fully admit crashing into a wall or a bus on a TT bike at full speed is a bad idea. You really got me there lol
I’m also still in the market - my original fly 12 seems to have finally given up the ghost (despite or maybe because of me changing the battery when it wasn’t holding charge). Maybe not comparable to the newer versions, but I always went to PC for footage as the app was so much slower than doing it that way, so that really wouldn’t be the blocker for the varia 715 if that was the only issue!
These seem like a brilliant idea… but is there a chance that it’d make drivers hate you even more? I can’t decide whether to order or not…
With a GoPro camera you can have an external battery and extend the battery life. I’ve recorded over 8 hours.
Yes, but where do you attach the external battery? There is already so much stuff attached to my bike 
Liability?
If you are severely injured or permanently disabled, the other person’s insurance company is liable. If you live in the US, the driver is also on the hook for the medical bills, which can bankrupt people.
While that doesn’t undo the damage, there are good reasons to ensure the party at fault takes responsibility.
The Varia is one of the best cycling-related purchases in my lifetime. This is not an exaggeration. Have a look around, most owners are like me, really singing its praises. And that’s for a reason.
Or if there are two, sometimes three cars bumper-to-bumper. Really hard to tell by ear, and it happened to me more than once that I anticipated 1 car, but not 2 in close succession.
You’re missing the point. Sure, video and radar would be nice in a lawsuit, but is riding your bike outside worth getting hit by a car regardless of how big a lawsuit judgement would be. It’s not an easy question. It is kinda looney tunes to say “I’m going to ride my bike outside even if it kills me” but I guess we do it all the time.
Dumb question, but is there any value in getting the Varia if I have a wahoo head unit? Is there a comparable non-garmin alternative?
The Varia works with the Wahoo head unit. I agree with the post above that it’s the best cycling purchase I’ve made because in addition to alerting me a vehicle is coming, I trust it enough to be confident when one isn’t coming so I can relax a little bit and not hug the shoulder so close.
They are compatible, I have a Bolt v1 and a Varia. It just works.
Totally agree. It’s a huge peace of mind when cycling alone and a benefit when in a group and you’re at the back (a good excuse to stay at the back). I don’t have a camera but I do have a magnetic camera sign that fits over my jersey pocket. No one knows you don’t have a camera but you get much wider passes here in the UK simply by having one.
About 1,000 cyclists die each year in the US. Not to trivialize that number, but the overall risk is relatively low. Of course, each cyclist’s behavior can have an large affect on the risk and there a lot of potential injuries before one buys the farm.
OTOH, has anyone every died riding Zwift?
I don’t think I am: you essentially asked “What good is it if the guy gets caught?” and I gave a few reasons why the situation does not just amount to you being able to put “I had the right of way” on your tombstone.
A radar is a completely different story: It is a safety device that reduces your risks of getting into a traffic accidents. It can recognize when there are several cars behind you, detect electric cars (which are hard-to-impossible to hear) or “see” in the fog (ask me how I know). (FWIW, I always ride with my Varia, but I don’t have a camera on my bikes.)
Overall, in most jurisdictions, a cycling accident on the road is a low probability, high consequences event. But I don’t think it is automatic that you will get hurt, which is what you seem to suggest.
That is not what I essentially asked. What I essentially asked is “What good is it if the guy gets caught and you are dead or permanently disabled?” You forgot the second part.
Please re-read my earlier response (emphasis added):
It’s cool if our opinions differ, but I don’t think I misunderstood what you wrote.
Talking specifically about cameras …
I had 3x different Fly6 (v2, v3, CE) before giving up and switching over to Varia RCT715 18mths back.
No doubt - camera won’t prevent accidents. Agree with all points raised earlier.
In comparing Cycliq vs Varia, the 715 provides greater flexibility.
- different camera modes
- turn on camera all the time and record in a loop << what i call “dumb camera mode”
- turn on camera only when radar is triggered (thus saving battery) << ie “smart camera mode”
- light mode
- control light mode from app (doh, another app? it’s been really usedful for me - eg rock up to group ride at dawn, switch from flashing to peloton mode before pace line starts. All done without faffing around with said light)
- light flashing actively - speed of flashing light will change in response to vehicle’s distance - as compared to cyliq’s light which have the same burst regardless of proximity of vehicles
- unlike the cycliq, the 715 has the radar feature
- 1 big advantage over Cycliq
715 battery life seems to be pretty good.
- with light flashing, will last 5-6hrs.
- If I use the radar + camera alone but NO lights (because I have external Cygolite lights), then it will last 7+ hours
the main drawback of 715 = it’s bulk and heft
- it’s also got its own proprietary mount that does not use the Garmin twist-lock mechanism. Maybe the size of the unit required a different mount design. Not many aftermarket mounts available.
Are those battery life figures based on continuous camera recording? If so, how much extra life do you get if it’s set to only record when it detects a car? (I realise it would depend on how many cats you encounter but would be interested in example figures.)
Thanks!
Those battery life is based on camera recording only when radar detects a car.
Most of my rides are away from the suburbs, ie not high volume traffic, therefore pointless to have it recording in a loop, that’s my thinking anyway.