All of the Tech

Even before I rolled out the door for today’s hour-long ride, I connected my GPS-enabled computer to five devices, including a power meter, electronic drivetrain, heart rate monitor, body temp sensorand radar. I then paired my phone and head unit, and messaged my girlfriend a link so she could track my route. Upon finishing the ride, my data automatically uploaded to Strava.

While you might not use as many connected devices as I do, many cyclists have at least one or two, and that number is growing. Yet, only a few years ago, most cyclists did very little of that.

Technology has entirely altered cycling in a relatively short period. It affects how many of us engage with the act of riding bikes, as well as the product, racing, and the community. Depending on your personal views, you might believe that tech has made riding better or worse—neither is an invalid reaction, but that is not my point.

More cyclists than ever ride with a myriad of connected devices.

Monitoring fitness, recording data, and route planning. Shifting gears and the design of bikes and components themselves. How we watch bike races and connect with other riders in our local and global communities. Technology has titanically shifted how cyclists do all of these things.

Most bike tech is centered on increasing riding speedenhancing trainingor adding convenience. These things are fun and easy for brands to market and sell to riders intent on improving their cycling experience. But very few of these nifty gadgets or applications improve the one thing every road and gravel rider needs. Regardless of ability, age, or price of their equipment, every cyclist requires better safety and security when riding.

Unfortunately, safety isn’t sexy, thus it’s not as easily marketed with race wins or measurable performance gains. As cyclists, we often obsess over ride data, planning new routes, or dialing our training plans. No one sits at their desk on a Wednesday afternoon and daydreams about avoiding getting hit by a driver on a weekend ride. So, we purchase the products that inspire us.

A radar system will not smooth your pedal stroke, make you ride faster, or produce more watts. It also won’t help you up a hill easier or make your bike weigh any less. However, it might calm your nerves a little and give added assurance that you will get home in one piece and be able to ride the next day.

Radar Alternatives

I want to be very clear—I am not attempting to shift the burden or responsibility of rider safety onto cyclists. Radars are not a replacement (or an excuse) for proper bike infrastructure, enforcement of traffic codes, or improved driver training and licensing. Nor will radars remove a cell phone from a driver’s hand, keep them from driving drunk, or create a magical force field to prevent a reckless motorist from striking you.

However, if officials aren’t doing meaningful things to address these systemic issues, you need to look out for yourself. Apart from quitting riding on the road altogether, there aren’t significantly better options to help keep cyclists from being struck than a radar. Blinky lights can help warn a driver of your presence, but a traditional rear light will not warn you of the car. And mirrors, whether on your helmet or handlebar, require your constant attention and have a limited view.

I now use a radar light on every road ride.

Radar systems do both: They allow you to focus on the road ahead and audibly warn you of vehicles approaching from behind, and their built-in lights increase your visibility to drivers. The devices aren’t foolproof or perfect, but they will signal to you to move or check over your shoulder to avoid disaster.

I cannot recall a single case when it didn’t notify me of an approaching vehicle in about 2,000 miles using the Trackr Radar. It sometimes gives me a false-positive, like when another rider is behind me, but I’ll take that occasional annoyance over the radar missing a speeding vehicle.

Why You Should Get One

Of course, you don’t need to use a radar. I certainly can’t force you to do it, and I won’t shame you for not installing one on your bike if we ride together. However, I will use my platform here to urge you to consider at least trying one.

Like many of you, I was skeptical about its actual effectiveness or usefulness until a few months ago. I read the reviews and had discussions with my colleagues about Trek CarbackGarmin Varia, and Wahoo Trackr radar. And I also chatted with friends online and in real life about their experiences with different systems. But I completely underestimated the impact using a radar would have on my riding.

Often, we do not realize the impact something has on our lives and routines until it is removed. And until last week, I hadn’t really given much thought to how using a radar system had changed my riding habits.

On Friday afternoon, I was about to head out for a ride. Then I realized that I had left my radar on a bike in the office. So, I changed my ride plan. Instead of a 75-minute ride on roads with afternoon traffic, I opted for a 14-mile route that is mostly on bike paths.

You wouldn’t ride without a helmet, right? I won’t ride without a radar.

I will no longer ride on open roads without a radar. Using a radar while road riding is, for me, now on equal footing with wearing a helmet, filling a water bottleand carrying a flat kit—It’s required for every ride I take.

If the safety aspect of using an on-bike radar isn’t enough to convince you, maybe the unanticipated upsides will. Anecdotally, I’ve had far fewer flat tires in the last 2,000 miles than I had in the previous 2,000. I attribute this riding less on the shoulder where glass, rock chips, and debris tend to accumulate. Now, instead of instinctively riding to the right of the painted white line, I’m not scared to take the lane.

Taking the lane also provides for a smoother ride. The road surface has fewer potholes, broken concrete, and obstacles—such as parked cars, garbage cans, or fallen branches—to avoid. It also seems to make group rides more comfortable and conversational. Rather than riding single file, we can ride two abreast in more places and move to the side or single up when a car approaches.

Lastly, I have more confidence on the road. I was never scared, per se, but I always had a lingering subconscious fear that a driver was always lurking behind me. I found myself constantly checking over my shoulder, even on the quietest of country roads. Of course, that fear has not disappeared, but it has significantly decreased. That alone allows me to enjoy my rides a lot more.

What We Recommend

Rear Radar Light

Garmin Varia RTL515

Now 25% Off

Rear Radar Light

Rear Radar Light

Radar Light w/ Camera

Several popular radar systems are available on the market. However, since we consider on-bike radar a key safety item, Bicycling’s test team only provides recommendations for radars we know work as advertised based on our firsthand experience. This is not to say that other radars are bad, simply that we do not have direct experience with using them

Bicycling staff have ridden, tested, and recommended three brands: Garmin, Trek, and Wahoo. These are the systems we use on our own bikes. Lezyne and Bryton are both reputable cycling brands that also sell radar units. As of the publishing of this story, we have not yet tested their devices and will update when we do.

Lower-priced, unbranded radars are available through retailers such as Amazon and AliExpress. However, we urge caution when buying these units. Consult with friends and other cyclists who actually use these systems before purchasing them to ensure they work as expected.

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As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.