Just When I Thought It Was Safe To Back Outside!!

[Tugwell Gibson]

Your right gubbins . Car drivers are doing it to themselves too. There's a Facebook group where they post up,bad driving videos. You can tell the one with a new dashcam. Gets all indignant about Simone 3 cars ahead straying a tad across a lane at a 3 lane roundabout. Invariably someone then points out that the cam car was in the wrong approach lane. And it all kicks,off for a day or two. The ignorance on the group is shocking. And they are worse mostly 40 plus years . Most claim mNy years experience and clearly think they are better than average. They quote the one point from the HWC. Generally incorrectly. always ignoring the nearby points that contradict their chosen point. And claim it's law when it isn't. Bunch of right clowns.

Commons sense is always a good option and in this case we made eye contact as I passed and i nodded to aknowledge the way the driver dealt with her error.
No shouting or head shaking from me.. not like some of these youtube vids where bikers seem go out looking for motorists to berate...
Driving a car can be stressful enough without having irate cyclists shout at you..

 

[I Am Jon]

Not ridden much in the last 12 months but getting back into it now I have an ebike. Never had a road accident but have had a number of close calls, some my fault and some down to bad / impatient drivers. Making a conscious effort to be a good / safe rider on the road.

I have found the extra assist gives me much more confidence to adopt a prime riding position while riding up hills without worrying so much about holding traffic up. I sense drivers are more accepting if i'm doing 10+ mph rather than 5 and less inclined to force their way past me. I still let them pass when it is safe to do so. Having an ebike also opens up more routes that avoid busy roads.

 

[Mac_user82]

I had never heard of the Garmin varia. So looked it up. Would a half decent mirror not be better? I have one that sort of bungees on to my right hand grip. Does the job. Round here I fear that the Garmin will just constantly telling me someone's behind and getting closer. Followed by someone else.

With a mirror I can see what sort of vehicle , likely behaviour , position in road .

But if you cycling at night a mirror is pretty much useless really compared to a Garmin Varia which will tell you how fast a car is coming towards you how many cars is coming towards you a mirror cannot do that for you at all

i do agree a mirror is handy but it cannot do what a varia can do for you sometimes and plus it a extra light on your bike when traffic is coming close to the bike it flashes a lot faster to let the motorist know that their is something flashing in the distance a mirror cannot do that either

"As they say be seen be safe"

 

[Tugwell Gibson]

The real issue though is where does it end? as in an earlier clip in the dark shows, hence the thread title .
Do we eventually secumb and either give up or get hurt..

That Volvo is Shocking. Would they do it to a slow moving heavy machinery? Nope.

 

[Tugwell Gibson]

My mirror works at night. As long as they have headlights on. I can tell the speed . My rear light flashes. Actually I've got two a solid and a flashing one. I'm sure it's very good. But I doubt I would prefer it to a mirror.

But if you cycling at night a mirror is pretty much useless really compared to a Garmin Varia which will tell you how fast a car is coming towards you how many cars is coming towards you a mirror cannot do that for you at all

i do agree a mirror is handy but it cannot do what a varia can do for you sometimes and plus it a extra light on your bike when traffic is coming close to the bike it flashes a lot faster to let the motorist know that their is something flashing in the distance a mirror cannot do that either

 

[Gubbins]

But if you cycling at night a mirror is pretty much useless really compared to a Garmin Varia which will tell you how fast a car is coming towards you how many cars is coming towards you a mirror cannot do that for you at all

i do agree a mirror is handy but it cannot do what a varia can do for you sometimes and plus it a extra light on your bike when traffic is coming close to the bike it flashes a lot faster to let the motorist know that their is something flashing in the distance a mirror cannot do that either

"As they say be seen be safe"

You have made that comment a time or two now but for me it's the oposite.. I find it useful at night when I can see the lights but in daylight with cars that don't have running lights I often miss them in my mirror.

 

[flecc]

The real issue though is where does it end?
Do we eventually secumb and either give up or get hurt..

Neither, I don't have these problems. Because I recognise that drivers are likely to cut across in these ways, I have a mirror mounted when its in easy view and use it intelligently, make the necessary allowances. I've been in London boroughs for the last 55 years where there's never been any shortage of traffic, but I've never been hit while cycling and have never had a mark on me from my long lifetime of cycling.

Of course I could complain about drivers and adopt a more aggressive towards them, but what would be the point? Such an attitude and behaviour wouldn't gain me anything but trouble. So I just accept the inherent problems and behave accordingly in the best interests of both myself and drivers.

Yes, the cyclist making all the adjustment for driver behaviour may be lopsided and unfair, but it's the outcome that counts, not whether its fair or not. The world isn't fair.
.

 

[anotherkiwi]

169€ (sale price)?!

For quarter that money I would prefer a second rear light wired up as a brake light. I only have these situations in town and often when maneuvering so a brake light coming on would probably ward off a few.

On the open road the cars stay well clear for the most part. Only silly old retired fools who seem to never have never been on a bike in their life and who are on holiday (so in a hurry) come too close with their huge cars that they don't know the width of... Had my knee knocked a couple of times

 

[Gubbins]

169€ (sale price)?!

For quarter that money I would prefer a second rear light wired up as a brake light. I only have these situations in town and often when maneuvering so a brake light coming on would probably ward off a few.

On the open road the cars stay well clear for the most part. Only silly old retired fools who seem to never have never been on a bike in their life and who are on holiday (so in a hurry) come too close with their huge cars that they don't know the width of... Had my knee knocked a couple of times

I don't think lights make lot of difference. In the volvo clip I am wearing a builders high visibility jacket that's yellow with reflective silver stripes, a helmet mounted rear light and 2 other rear lights on the bike.
But interestingly (or not) garmin varia now have linked front and rear lights with a suggestion that the rears could be used as indicators... the front changes the beam spread and intensity depending on speed and on coming traffic.
All a bit ott but clever stuff non the less.

 

[Tugwell Gibson]

As a car driver. I see those reflective jackets ways before any lights. Even said so to the missus. So will get maybe over vests for me and the lad. In daylight you can see fluro really easy too. So ones with both are ideal.

 

[Steve A]

My wife bought me the Proviz jacket in silver which is a well known British brand. It was well packed on arrival and good quality.

However, after less than 2 months its in the bin. I caught it ever so slightly on an overhanging bramble and to my amazement it ended up with a 4 inch rip on sleeve. i repaired this with tear aid used to kites / tents and all was well. i then fed off bike and when i got back home the arm/sleeve had literally detached itself from rest of jacket.

In summary, a lovely jacket but too fragile by far. I will not be replacing. Finally, Proviz have admitted that after say 20 washes the reflective glass bead looses it's ability to reflect light.

 

[Tugwell Gibson]

I'm thinking.of the ones they give school kids when they are walking them along the pavement. Just a waistcoat thing with Velcro. Then it can slip over whatever we are wearing on our rare and short Road trips.

 

[Steve A]

I've bought the Garmin Varia after reading reviews from here. I'm waiting delivery. The problem I have is constantly looking over my shoulder, which is in itself a bit dangerous, especially with all the potholes we have here in Kent.

 

[Gubbins]

I've bought the Garmin Varia after reading reviews from here. I'm waiting delivery. The problem I have is constantly looking over my shoulder, which is in itself a bit dangerous, especially with all the potholes we have here in Kent.

Me too, we can compare reviews when they arrive..
Just another point tho.. I intend to use as well as y mirror and rear lights, not instead of as some seem to be suggesting..

 

[Steve A]

Agree, I have a rear head light, rucksac light and bike light. As well as three front lights. Funny as drivers are thinking what the hell is that!

 

[Gubbins]

Garmin Varia rear light arrived today and I am IMPRESSED!!
Fitting and pairing couldn't be easier so just been out for a short test, stopped at the side of the road and filmed it on my phone. It picks up cars a long way back, in fact they are so small in my mirror that I haven't yet noticed them.

 

[Steve A]

Great news. Mine arrived, currently charging at work. Hope pairing is easy and also I'll check for updates via Garmin express. Quality looks very good.

 

[Gubbins]

Great news. Mine arrived, currently charging at work. Hope pairing is easy and also I'll check for updates via Garmin express. Quality looks very good.

The fact that you can see there is more than one vehicle behind is a bonus.
I just followed the instructions for pairing and it worked first time and when you switch edge off light turns off as well... I think it can be set to auto turn on as well but not sure where I read that.

 

[Steve A]

That sound even better. It's nice when things work and are well designed!

 

[Mac_user82]

Garmin Varia rear light arrived today and I am IMPRESSED!!
Fitting and pairing couldn't be easier so just been out for a short test, stopped at the side of the road and filmed it on my phone. It picks up cars a long way back, in fact they are so small in my mirror that I haven't yet noticed them.

Are you still going to be using a mirror or are you going to be just using the varia from now on