Originally Posted by
Vintagetrekdude
I’m looking to get a bicycle radar for my own safety. I like to do a 4-6 week bicycle tour every summer when I can, with days averaging around 9 hours of wheel time (sometimes less, sometimes more).
Does anyone have any experience in touring with a bicycle radar? What gear did you use, how hard was it to keep charged, and what’s the longest you can expect to use it on one charge? How good was it in warning you of approaching vehicles (false positives vs failure to warn in time).
I’d prefer something that has built in taillights just so I’m getting more than one function out of it and that will also make one less thing to have to keep charged. I know I can look up specs online but looking for someone with real world experience as touring is a brutal yet honest test of any equipment’s mettle.
Thank you!
frank opinion here on rear radar systems, I hope you are open to other views.
while I totally embrace and get the concept of new technology, I have a bunch of serious concerns about radar use based on a lot of years on two wheels (motorcycles, bicycles) where a high level of situational awareness keeps you alive.
-developing situational awareness at all times should be a second nature sort of thing, relying on a battery powered device to "warn you" imo has pitfalls where one relies solely on this device (not developing good survival instincts on your own, battery failure, equipment failure (this last one probably very very rare)
- a good mirror gives you very important information
more than just "there is a car coming" -- crucial information, such as -- is the car pulling a trailer, are they close to the shoulder? Is a car partway in a turn behind hugging the shoulder? Is the hugging car coming behind you pulling a trailer that is sticking out even more? Is the incoming vehicle a RV probably driven by old people renting it and not really good at judging the width and or have left a door step unfolded sticking out like a leg chopper offer (Ive seen this many a time, had some fricken scarey close calls).
-Is the rear incoming big truck moving over for you, so now you can relax?
-Is the rear incoming truck going to meet up with you just as the other oncoming truck is going to meet up with you and all three of you at exactly the same time on a narrow road, ie trucks can't move over, can't stop fast enough, so you have to make a split second decision to just get off onto the grass (has happened many times with me, the mirror made this a no brainer, not a life threatening situation -- of which I have had a number before using mirrors while bike touring
this sort of stuff
and then there is just plain handy example of mirrors being useful, like keeping an eye out on your riding buddies
when we drive cars, and especially motorcycles, it is a really good habit to glance in rear mirrors regularly. I do it all the time driving, just to be aware of what is going on around me.
While bicycling, to not have a visual idea of whats going on behind you is bonkers and just increases the percentage of possible risks.
I'm all for driving aids and new technology. Rear proximity detection in cars is super useful, rear cameras make parking easier and safer. ABS and stability control safe countless lives. Lane detection and blind spot aids are fantastic.
Bike radar stuff is fine in concept, but it has limitations and it costs money that I would rather put into other bike touring budgets.
But Im open to it, just wanted to put out some honest opinions on what it doesn't do
I could easily see having it in future when it is much more commonplace, much cheaper and battery life is not one more thing to have to think to charge (a real factor in bike traveling)
cheers