Thanks mate. Like everyone I so pleased your ok to share your experience. I bought a Varia a couple of years ago…. I won’t ride without it. Take care safe riding
Glad you're ok Clint. I make holiday right now in Mallorca (Surfing, Swimming). and a break from MTB-ing. It's being over two year since i could do that and my muscle-memory starts to kicks in after a week (I'm 41 and from Switzerland with no ocean :D) but even here are some people that would run you over with a Jet-sky or other Surfboards if you would not be vigilant. Already had a close call that I could prevent with diving.... Normally I would just go to a spot with very few people but had a-lot of migraines the last couple of weeks and some lower back pain (Herniated Disk) so I stay closer to my basecamp here. Cheers and have a great day.
@@ClintGibbs Thank you Clint, I just hat the most wonderful day in a place called: Cape Cavalleria Lighthouse(Far de Cavalleria). Was snorkeling all day long with family members and observing many octopodes changing color and shapes followed by the most stunning sunset by the Lighthouse. Have a great weekend
Wearing hi-vis clothes makes no difference. You have drivers who care and drivers that don't care. The drivers that don't care don't give a damn what you wear. They suffer from a disease called Must Get In Front no matter what the cost. Clint was nearly hit because the driver was looking at his phone - Hi Viz clothes cannot be seen if your looking at your phone.
The thing that makes the Varia really comfortable to use is that it gives the information that the driver is intentionally not slowing down when it comes up on you. I've had so many times where the red would just not go away on the Varia screen so I had to constantly fan out my arm to get their attention.
I grew up riding on the road for 20+ years. Now, I don't ride on roads any more for this reason. People just don't value life more than what's going on on their phones. Sad. Glad you're okay man. I will look into the Varia though because, even in the park where I ride, it's becoming more and more dangerous.
The best purchase I ever made Garmin Varia Radar. Had it for some time now - RTL515. One time I was leaving for a ride - the Varia battery was nearly flat (had an operation so no riding for a period). I went straight back inside and waited for a full charge. You often hear of someone regretting purchase of a product - I have NEVER heard anyone even mildly regret the purchase of a Varia - says it all. The cheapest insurance you will ever have. I hate Govt interference in our lives - but - mobile usage by drivers is an absolute curse. Here in Australia we have a $1161 fine and 4 demerit points (12 points in a year = no licence) You could double even triple it - I would vote for it.
I don't have the Varia, but whenever I'm on asphalt I'm checking my mirror every two seconds. I've pulled in the grass countless times, mostly for trucks that are too big to give me much room. Glad you're ok. In my area there was a roady with decades of riding experience who was killed several years back on a 55mph country road. He was hit by the only car passing by. No drugs or drink involved. I imagine driver was on the phone as well. The cyclist didn't have a mirror. I always wonder how that could have changed the outcome.
Glad to hear you are alright! Yes I have the Magene but is basically the same, and well our roads are 100 times safer, but yes, only one guy or girl is needed to get killed easily
Excellent advice. My wife once said to me, 'Honey, would you ride a motorbike without a motor?' I said, 'Of course not.' So she said, 'Then why do you ride your bicycle without one?' I ordered a mirror for my bike that very day, and I have not ridden my bike without it since. In my opinion, it's just as essential a kit as your helmet.
Ditto to most everyone. The Varia integrates with the Ride with GPS app on your phone, so you can see what's up merely by looking down at your phone. If the car is still far away, you probably don't need to check your mirror or turn your head. Great product.
Wow,.didnt know this tech exist. Tbh, I got a Specialized Tarmac road bike many years and the cars whizzing by was really unnerving..then I went into the bike shop to get my bike serviced and saw a stack of broken frames of people who were hit by cars. I sold my road bike and just stick to off road xc mountain biking now. People are just too careless when they drive these days, distractions abound. Glad you made it out alive!
I may be wrong about the effectiveness of these devices, but I use my ears to detect cars approaching,I can detect by the engine noise whether it’s accelerating or slowing down🤷🏼♂️.
Im a trucker, spend hours and hours in traffic everyday and can see very easily down into drivers cabins going in both directions. Almost literally everyone is on their phone constantly in their car. Its scary to see. Always assume that people are not paying attention. Rarely the opposite is true. Always tell my family members to stay off the main roads on the bike and not use roads without a dedicated bike path. Please dont ride your road bikes on main roads, times have changed..Also exit your vehicle if you stop in the emergency lane on highways
At every damn red light I glance inside the cars around me and they are ALWAYS on their cell phones. I’m surprised more of us aren’t hit. I’ve been hit on my BMC, and it hurts- as well as makes your life suck for a long time.
Happened to me twice over the years. Last year I had to dive into a roadside drainage Ditch. Fractured elbow. Done. XC and trail is all I do now. Drivers suk
One thing I realized is that many drivers do not expect cyclists to be around in certain roads. Maybe the signs by the road alerting drivers would be helpful.
Relieved to hear nothing happened, but this is why offroad became the only choice for me, after a side view mirror made sure I understood just how easy it is to get hurt even by a tiny contact with a metal beast. If the road is unavoidable, then those group rides You do that are the best option, until the day We are all obliged to carry a mutual warning system- which will happen sooner than We think, but even then...
Hey Clint. Long time follower of your channel here. Thanks for all your awesome work. I have the exact same set up that you do on my road bike, Garmin 515 with the mirror in the same location. I ride on north Texas country roads, 800 miles a month, and will not go out without my Garmin radar. Here’s my question: As you know, the Garmin radar alert volume is not easily heard especially in headwinds. I wear a Shokz bone conduction open run headset for music while riding. It does not block the ears so I have full audio range. It would be absolutely awesome if the Garmin traffic alerts would sound off in the Shokz headset. Do you know of any way to interface this headset to hear Garmin alerts? (The Shokz headset works through an iPhone where I can get text alerts and also talk on the phone while riding.). Thanks again for all the great work.
That’s a good question and I actually don’t know the answer to that. I know there is a Phone app that you can use with your radar instead of the head unit but I have not used it. Perhaps the tone would come through that? I may do some research and get back to you.
I found the app that will work. It’s called the Garmin Varia app. I tried it this morning on a long ride with the Shokz bone conduction headset, and it worked amazing. I could hear the loud chimes when a vehicle was detected through the headset. I was running Spotify music at the same time and the chimes override the music. The Garmin Varia app is not designed with this feature in mine however, it works great due to the fact that the chimes coming out of the Garmin head unit are very weak and hard to hear. This is just another way to mitigate our risk out on the road. Keep up the great work Clint
Son of a bitch.... Halfwit. Really glad you're ok Clint. I've just bought a Garmin 130, so, compatible with radars, and I can get a radar for $180 Australian. Most definitely on the must get list. Glad again you're ok.
I've come close to getting hit by a Car on a road! I'm alive to text this message today! I'm happy you are alive to share this Message 🙏. I will add a mirror ASAP❤
That’s specifically why I don’t ride road and stick to dirt. I’ll take rattlesnakes and my lions over cars any day. Even our paved bike trails are now risky with now quiet 60 plus pound Ebikes with their 200 pound padded up full faced helmet wearing riders. Stay safe out there.
If you're riding on a 55 mph road with no shoulder you are asking to get hit. Perhaps you can reduce your chances of getting hit by riding smarter? The driver is clearly an idiot, but we all know what drivers do. Why ride on a 55 mph road?
I’m not asking to get hit. I’m riding roads right outside of my neighborhood and connecting dirt road segments. Fortunately there are wide grass shoulders that I can move onto if things don’t look right behind me. I spend as much time as I can on gravel roads But there is pavement required to connect them.
