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Varia radar for running?

Data
1 month ago

Would a Varia radar work if you clip it on a belt and wear it on your back when running, or would the motion of running throw it off? And could it also warn for (fat)bikes and scooters or are those too small?

I run a lot on narrow roads and often don't hear electric vehicles approaching behind me (I never run with music, but wind noise is enough to not hear them). 

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  • 0 16 days ago

    It would detect them. It wouldn't work through a watch unless you were recording a bike activity. You could run an RTL515 through your phone while you record a run on your watch though.

  • 0 12 days ago in reply to sre92

    Thanks, that seems a good idea!

  • 0 11 days ago
    Data said:
    And could it also warn for (fat)bikes and scooters or are those too small?

    As a user of Varia RTL 516 (515 for German market), I can confirm that not only cars are detected reliably, but also motorcycles and I also had it once or twice, that it detected another biker on a fast ride (and probably 20 years younger than me ;) ) and gave me a warning.

    BUT

    Data said:
    Would a Varia radar work if you clip it on a belt and wear it on your back when running, or would the motion of running throw it off?

    I seriously doubt, that it would work with all the motion that you have, when just clipping it to your back and then go running.

    On a bike, you have to watch out that the radar axis is parallel to the ground, directly backwards and not impacted by a wheel or a (saddle-)bag (not mounted to low or to high). And then it is quite static.
    On your back while running I guess because of the motion of your hip and back it would constantly change angle by 20, 30 degrees or even more.
    I don't think it will work like this, reliably.

    Of course you could use some kind of a gimbal and mount the Varia to that and then wear the gimbal, but I seriously would be interested to see that construction then ;)

  • 0 10 days ago in reply to Grumpy from dawn till dusk

    Indeed, that would make an interesting contraption! :-) I still like to experiment with a unit just strapped to my back, but I'll start with something cheap (and probably nasty) from Aliexpress.