Article by Jeff Valliere
Garmin Edge 840 $449.99 ($549.99 solar) and Varia RTL515 Bike Radar
$149.99
Garmin Edge 840 $449.99 ($549.99 solar)
Introduction:
I have long been a Garmin user (since 2011) for running and a cyclist (my whole life), but up until now, I have not yet combined the two, or at least not properly. I have a handlebar mount for my watch and while the tracking is spot on of course, the watch is a bit difficult to read and operate while riding. Then of course the Amoled screen of the Epix adds to the complications (transflective Fenix is much better for this application) with the max size (for a watch) 1.4” screen is still too small to be practical, especially if trying to read maps.
Enter the Garmin Edge 840, with a 2.6” screen with legible transflective display, touchscreen or button operation and a wide range of data screens, performance metrics and sensor/accessory compatibility.
The 840 (and less expensive sibling the 540 ($349.99-$449.99)) is a great compromise for those not wanting the larger/heavier/more expensive ($599.99-$749.99) 1040 model, but want a lighter, more compact, full featured GPS head unit. The 840 and 540 share all of the same features as the flagship 1040, but just have a smaller screen and buttons to operate. The 1040 is touchscreen only, the 840 can be operated by buttons and touchscreen, whereas the 540 is buttons only.
The 840 has incredible GPS accuracy, long battery life and a host of navigational and cycling features that are hard to beat.
Features/Specs:
Operation: The Edge 840 is a compact and lightweight GPS unit that has the option of touchscreen operation or operation with buttons on either side if using a non touch full fingered glove. The flagship 1040 has only a touchscreen and no buttons, which is one of the reasons that I selected the 840 with touch and button options. I find myself using the buttons as much as the touch screen, but the touch screen is so good, working well in all circumstances, that the buttons are only a convenience really and are not really a necessity.
GPS Accuracy: The 840 features Multi Band GNSS technology and provides impeccable GPS accuracy, which I find to be spot on with what I consider the benchmark Epix Gen 2 Pro. In side by side comparisons, the GPS track for both units have lined up perfectly with one another, as well as my track on the road or trail.
Altimeter: The 840 has a barometric altimeter that has the option to auto calibrate. I find it to be super reliably accurate, much more so than any of my watches that drift and require regular attention.
Maps/Navigation: Perhaps one of my favorite features of the Edge is the ability to navigate in an easy and reliable way with turn by turn directions. You can either preload or designate a course ahead of time, or you can randomly select a course with variables of type of ride and distance for example and the Edge will calculate a route for you (but I find this to be a bit slow to calculate and if you deviate at all from the route, it will slowly recalculate a “new” routing which takes minutes). The maps are quite detailed with roads, trails, features and topography.
Easy to search nearby POIs
Finding local trails to follow is a snap.
Screen: The 2.6” screen is transflective and easy to read in most outdoor lighting conditions. There is also a backlight that can be set for low light conditions that I have tested on early morning rides and it is adequate, but can seem a little dim sometimes.
I find the size/font of the data field numbers to be easy to read, but other messages with smaller font that come up can be a little tough to read for my aging eyes.
Fortunately, Garmin makes a 1040 and now the newer amoled 1050 with a much larger screen that is easier to read. If I had to do it all over again, I would set aside my gram counting minimalist ways and go with the larger 1040 or 1050.
Data Fields/Configurability: The data fields are very easy to adjust, even on the fly if you need, just by long pressing and selecting which field you wish to display. The font and size of the digits are easy to read and you can configure the order and layout as you wish, how many screens, etc… You can also configure this from the Garmin Connect app.
Mounting: The 840 comes with two different types of mounts, a flush out front mount to position the unit forward of the stem, which I use on my gravel bike and then a more tidy, lightweight standard mount that I mount on the handlebar of my mountain bike (can also mount on your stem). Also included are a bunch of different shims and adapters to fit just about any size conventional bar/stem.
While the mounting is very secure, the 840 also comes with a lanyard which makes me feel better, just in case.
Battery Life/Charging: Garmin claims a battery life of 26 hours and I am finding that to be accurate. While I have not run the battery down all of the way, I easily am able to get about two weeks of riding (several rides per week) without having to charge and even then it is still around 50%. Charging is easy with a USB charging cable/port (cable included).
Alarm: While no substitute for a lock, the 840 has a built-in alarm that you can activate if just running into a bathroom or coffee shop. You set a pin that you use to deactivate, so if somebody nabs your bike, it will alert you. You can also track it since it is a GPS afterall (though the thief could easily toss the unit and continue on with the bike).
Climbpro: The Climbpro feature, when enabled, will automatically alert you when you are approaching a climb and show an elevation profile along with gradient, distance and vertical feet to the top.
This is super handy and convenient being able to anticipate what is to come and pace your effort accordingly. If you are on a climb that splits in different directions, it seems to select the longest of the options, but as soon as you turn at a junction, it quickly recalculates, so take the estimates with a grain of salt and some flexibility.
Conclusions/Recommendations: Garmin leads the competition by a longshot when it comes to GPS devices and the Edge 840 carries on that trend. It is a nice tidy and compact unit that is packed full of training features, navigational features, configurability, top level accuracy, sensor compatibility and more. The 2.6” screen is crisp and easy to read, though if your eyesight is not ideal (or you are aging and struggling with fine print), then you may want to opt for the larger display of the Edge 1040 with a 3.5” screen, as both units have the same features and functionality (though the 1040 does not have buttons). If you are looking for a state of the art, highly accurate GPS bike computer in a tidy package, the Edge 840 is your best option.
Garmin Varia RTL515 Bike Radar
$149.99
Introduction and the Basics: Every now and then a new product comes along that strikes me as revolutionary and a complete game changer. The Varia Bike Radar falls into that category for me, as it adds an unprecedented element of safety to your rides that gives you peace of mind when riding on the roads.
The Varia is light and is compact at just 71 grams, mounting on your seatpost, where the radar provides a 220 degree range of detection and integrates with either a Garmin Edge GPS unit (also compatible with Wahoo, Hammerhead or Stages bike computers), smartphone app, or a Garmin wearable (like my Epix Gen 2 Pro). The Varia provides an audio and visual alert when a car comes into range, showing the location of the car in relation to your position. Additionally, the RTL515 has a built-in multi mode 65 max watt safety light.
The Varia comes in 3 different flavors, the RTL515 reviewed here and the basic RVR315 ($99.99) that works the same as the 515, but does not have a light and is lighter at 51 grams.
There is also a higher end model, the RCT715 which functions the same, has a light and also a built in camera to record any potential incidents, but it is larger and heavier at 147 grams and pricier at $349.99.
The Varia comes with a standard ¼ turn universal seatpost bracket, which includes 3 different post adapters (round post, aero post and D shaped post).
The connection between the unit and the bracket is secure, but I am not entirely confident in relying upon the silicone rubber band to hold the bracket in place. It is secure, but I worry about the band deteriorating or disconnecting when riding rough gravel or mountain biking. You can however buy a beefed up Garmin mount ($19.99) that bolts on and fits round seatposts.
I did not get the upgraded mount, but instead,
I was able to add a velcro band (one that you would use to organize cables under your office desk), which is snug and is a failsafe in case the silicone band fails.
Velcro is not included, but can be added easily by just sliding it through the bracket.
The light has 4 different modes, solid, peloton, night flash, day flash (20 lumens solid, 8 lumens peloton, 29 lumens night flash, 65 lumens day flash).
Battery life is listed as follows by Garmin:
6 hours solid
8 hours peloton
6 hours night flash
16 hours day flash
I always use day flash mode and I only charge the unit every few weeks, riding several times per week for a few hours at a time, so I believe these numbers. Charging is easy with a micro USB cable via a sealed port on the bottom.
The Varia can be turned on/off and cycle through the light settings by using the button on the top, or you can adjust the settings through the menus on the Edge computer.
Performance: The Radar functionality is absolutely amazing, detecting a car moving towards you from 140 meters out. In addition to cars, trucks, buses, etc…. It will also detect motorcycles, eBikes, or bikes overtaking you. I am amazed how well this works, filtering out moving objects going in other directions, vehicles going the same speed (namely other riders you are riding with), but quickly and accurately catching vehicles overtaking you and it even judges the differential in speed between yourself and the vehicle.
For example, the Varia in most cases will trigger an alert with an orange screen warning and audible beep, showing a vehicle or vehicles approaching as shown in the photo above. In this case, there are 4 cars approaching me represented by the white dots (I am the red dot at the top) and the dots show the position of the cars in real time. As the white dot(s) creep up on the red dot, I look over my shoulder to the left and can confirm that the vehicle is there and safely passing. I can usually hear cars approaching, but sometimes it can be tricky to filter out the sound of an approaching car coming from the back frin heavy traffic moving in the opposite direction and/or if it is windy. It is especially helpful to have the Varia to know for sure that a vehicle is overtaking you. I do find though that when you are riding along a highway bike path or in heavy traffic, the constant alerts get annoying and I just turn it off.
Once the vehicle clears (or turns off on a side road), the screen turns green to indicate that there is no more traffic approaching behind you.
Conclusions/Recommendations:
If you ride on roads, whether you are a dedicated roadie, or like me, someone who generally avoids roads, but reluctantly find myself on them while connecting gravel/trails, then the Varia radar is an absolute must have. It adds a level of safety and confidence that is very reassuring to have that extra set of “eyes” behind you for a greater sense of awareness.
Of the 3 models, I picked the mid RTL515 model because it seems to be the best balance for my uses, appreciating the added light in addition to the radar, but not feeling like I really need a built in camera given the limited road riding that I do.
If I could offer any feedback, it would be to brighten the light a bit (I have an extra 100 lumen Knog flashing light that I keep on my post for added visibility) and I wish Garmin would include the beefed up bracket instead of the current universal mount (though the universal mount is, well, universal). No matter, I would highly recommend it.
EUROPE Men's & Women's SHOP HERE
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
1 comment:
Following
Post a Comment