Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

[jasonc]

On the quiet ride back, we wondered if the Garmin can be traced by GPS??

Contact garmin and ask them

[jasonc]

ordered a couple of mounts from concentric cycling




feels well made

https://concentriccycling.com/products/ ... alized-sl6

[CmdrBiggles]

ordered a couple of mounts from concentric cycling

feels well made

There's a couple of these mounts (for Varia and Magene tail lights) locally that have piqued my curiosity, and then I see this post.

So contact established with Taylor at CC over in WA this am; I'm in need of a sturdy bracket to hold the Trek CarBack radar tail light firmly in place on the D-profile seatpost of the TCR; he's running checks on compatibility (UCI frame code) at the mo', to report back.

[jasonc]

I'm in need of a sturdy bracket to hold the Trek CarBack radar tail light

I'm surprised someone bought a CarBack. The review I watched had me concerned from about 60 seconds in.

[CmdrBiggles]

I'm in need of a sturdy bracket to hold the Trek CarBack radar tail light

I'm surprised someone bought a CarBack. The review I watched had me concerned from about 60 seconds in.

I am not concerned.
Of the 7 reviews I have read, only 2 were factual in research, features, strengths and weaknesses and conveniently overlooked Trek's forward roadmap of firmware updates to the CarBack.

The bit about the 240m detection range — heavily advertised seemingly as a bait, is indisputably false, and also applies to all radar tail light devices using Ant+ signalling — in the CarBack's case, the detection range has a (very common) cut-off of 196m. In its defence, Trek does publish this fact, but the up-front advertising is a bit akimbo. I have messaged Trek's engineering team about this.

The CarBack still displays up to 6 cars following and what is passing left or right. Importantly, having sampled both the Varia and CarBack side-by-side, it has a 90 lumen light that is considerably brighter than the Varia's unfocused 65-lumen — in my case, I put the emphasis on being seen over wat the radar can, or cannot do.

[jasonc]

the big negative that I didn't like about the CarBack, over the Varia, was the narrow radar field
I find the flashing light on the varia, when triggered by a vehicle, to be sufficient


edit: I have no issues with the 240m claim. it's a claim. i can't believe they made it, but good luck to them

[warthog1]

Ditto on the change in flash pattern on the varia as a vehicle approaches/passes. A very good feature.
Wider radar field you would presume is good on curved roads.

[CmdrBiggles]

the big negative that I didn't like about the CarBack, over the Varia, was the narrow radar field
I find the flashing light on the varia, when triggered by a vehicle, to be sufficient

The narrow field is for straight-line detection. This doesn't mean that traffic in 3-4 lanes beside me (about 40-50m) isn't picked up — it is, but what I saw considered the helmet-mounted rear vision mirror's blind-spot — detection (and position) of traffic on the left and right sides (bi-axial) — covering the helmet-mounted mirror's blind spot — right, just off-side from right shoulder).

Twinkling (disco) lights are not really my scene. I agree a change of light pattern could be beneficial; it might be in the firmware updates in the future, among other goodies.

Since Garmin's patent on radar tail lights expired in 2021, it has become an open market for (some) innovation and me-too-'ism: we are seeing a growing plethora of lights on the market — some good, some so-so, and we can certainly look forward to more variety and tech in the future, in addition to progressive improvements over what we have and use going forward.

[jasonc]

we can certainly look forward to more variety and tech in the future, in addition to progressive improvements over what we have and use going forward.

I look forward to some competition in the Fly12 market.

[CmdrBiggles]

we can certainly look forward to more variety and tech in the future, in addition to progressive improvements over what we have and use going forward.

I look forward to some competition in the Fly12 market.

We said the same thing when dashcams for cars first came along. Time brings change.
Now look at what we have!!
(I have front and rear dashcams).

[twizzle]

My RCT715 arrived last Thursday, started using it Friday, got close passed on Saturday... driver issued an infringement today. It had been SO QUIET since COVID lockdowns, but in the last few weeks I'd had two close passes, one of which was stupidly dangerous. My Fly6's died years back, the batteries couldn't handle neg temperatures. The Aldi light/camera usually didn't catch the registration. This was a bit exxy in my head, but replaced my radar and light/camera.

[jasonc]

Now that I'm using the concentric cycling mount I was somewhat worried about losing the device. I found a case with an inbuilt tether on amazon. It arrived Monday. Easy to install. Doesn't impact the mount. Has a tether. Was ~$25
https://www.amazon.com.au/TUSITA-Silico ... B0BL2LFML7

[CmdrBiggles]

Now that I'm using the concentric cycling mount I was somewhat worried about losing the device. I found a case with an inbuilt tether on amazon. It arrived Monday. Easy to install. Doesn't impact the mount. Has a tether. Was ~$25
https://www.amazon.com.au/TUSITA-Silico ... B0BL2LFML7

Taylor's 3D brackets are an interesting (and extremely strong) mix: carbon and nylon. The level of detail is astonishing — very highly recommend his brackets to anybody looking at a neater and more secure method of attaching their lights etc. to the seat post.

Erring on the side of caution and from the recent sad experience of others having not just their tail light lifted, but also their 1040, I take my light and the computer with me when the bike it unattended. I also take my BBB tool bottle which carries my jelly beans, dehydrated strawberries, hydralyte berries, tissues and sunscreen!

[warthog1]

ordered a couple of mounts from concentric cycling


feels well made

https://concentriccycling.com/products/ ... alized-sl6

Ordered one for my rtl515 on the Reacto. The seat post shape works with neither the wedge shaped aero rubber block or the flat one. Been using the flat one but it moves around a bit.

[biker jk]

ordered a couple of mounts from concentric cycling


feels well made

https://concentriccycling.com/products/ ... alized-sl6

Ordered one for my rtl515 on the Reacto. The seat post shape works with neither the wedge shaped aero rubber block or the flat one. Been using the flat one but it moves around a bit.

I use the flat rubber block and a cable tie along with the rubber o-ring and it doesn't budge. Didn't want to pay $50 for a custom mount.

[warthog1]

ordered a couple of mounts from concentric cycling


feels well made

https://concentriccycling.com/products/ ... alized-sl6

Ordered one for my rtl515 on the Reacto. The seat post shape works with neither the wedge shaped aero rubber block or the flat one. Been using the flat one but it moves around a bit.

I use the flat rubber block and a cable tie along with the rubber o-ring and it doesn't budge. Didn't want to pay $50 for a custom mount.

Yep it was $50 so too late now.
Still cheaper than a tyre and it wont wear out
Have you got a photo please if you get a chance?
I am using a different o ring I found that is quite thick

[biker jk]

[warthog1]

Thanks.
No rubber block at all by the looks.
I'll post up the mount when it arrives.

[jasonc]

the concentric ones are very minimalist

D shaped seat post (tarmac SL6)

[jasonc]

the amazon sourced case I'm using

[CmdrBiggles]

Yep it was $50 so too late now.
Still cheaper than a tyre and it wont wear out
Have you got a photo please if you get a chance?
I am using a different o ring I found that is quite thick

[...]

That ($50) seems a lot, but I suppose you are using a more complex bracket (?)
My CC mount (for all Bontrager/Trek tail lights) was $45.00, the extra $10 on account of Express Post from Perth (I would otherwise be waiting about 5 to 7 days for delivery!). I triplet-checked with Taylor that I had the right one from the several TCR versions available, and he cross-checked the UCI GIANT frame ID to confirm it. Ordered on a Monday, arrived Wednesday morning, in a very attractive black card box with a 3D-'slashed' wrapper enclosing the bracket!

PS: Where'd you get those Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres from (earlier post somewhere)?
They are on my wishlist when the existing CADEX CLASSIC tyres have served their time. Would be happy to go from 28mm to 26mm.

[warthog1]

Same price. 45-.
No free postage.

I haven't got any Vittoria corsa pros sorry. Using Schwalbe pro one from ccache. 30mm on the wide WR50 and 28mm on the AR60.
Taken me a long time but now a fan of the wider tyres. Less pressure = better ride. No loss of speed on my wider rims.

[warthog1]

Got here pretty quick. Yeah not cheap but happy with the fit. Well packaged and good instructions.
Thanks for another tip Jason

[jasonc]

Is this where I apologise to Mrs warthog1?

[CmdrBiggles]

Got here pretty quick. Yeah not cheap but happy with the fit. Well packaged and good instructions.
Thanks for another tip Jason

The brackets are a tour de force — a tap on the shoulder to Garmin, Trek, Bontrager, Bryton et al about how to make a proper, stable and quality bracket — not silly rubber bands!

Are you restricted to moving the mount/light upward because of what I perceive as a wider width of the seat post in that photo?
A number of riders I have seen very recently (last weekend) have part of the lower edge of the Varia obscured by the tyre — something I notice that Garmin themselves point out. Two I saw last weekend are actually pointing at 45°+ off the horizontal (!)