Originally Posted by
chaadster
I finally relented and scooped up a Varia radar. I’d been thinking that I’m so well habituated to keeping right and head-checking before moving out into the lane, that the radar was really of no benefit to me. However, the chorus of praise for the thing became too much to ignore, and I wondered was I missing something, so now we’ll see.
Riding down to the LBS to buy it, and on the ride home, I kept noticing situations where the radar system might be handy. Spring is the time I do the most solo riding, so this is a pefect time for me to evaluate whether Varia is as good for me in practice as it seems to be in principle.
I find it most useful on gravel. I can pick my line and move to the right as a car approaches from the rear. I no longer have to periodically look back and I never hold a car up. It helps share the road in an efficient and polite way.