I bought the $100 Bryton Gardia (Varia competitor) - Ask me anything

[Baron Blubba]

Originally Posted by gravelreformist

I agree that this is not a component on which I'd prioritize saving money. Especially considering that $50-100 is insignificant relative to what most people on a board like this spend on cycling in total.

The amount of people who want a Varia but only at $50 off boggles my mind.

[Davist]

Agreed, Varia is bulletproof. I just skip the fancy tubeless valves some folks around here run and I've got the $50.. but sure, whatever floats your boat.

[Likes2ridefar]

Originally Posted by Baron Blubba

The amount of people who want a Varia but only at $50 off boggles my mind.

Why would I spend retail if I know yearly it goes on sale for 50 off?

[Baron Blubba]

Originally Posted by Likes2ridefar

Why would I spend retail if I know yearly it goes on sale for 50 off?

Because the value of having it sooner than later is, in this instance, easilyworth $50. If I had to pay $50 not to be without my Varia for a month (say mine was broken and I could rent one for $50) I would pay without hesitating.
And I am in the income range where $50 is, while thank goodness far from being make or break, still very meaningful.

But…if you’re thinking about one…wait…til the end of the month.

[Likes2ridefar]

Originally Posted by Baron Blubba

Because the value of having it sooner than later is, in this instance, easilyworth $50. If I had to pay $50 not to be without my Varia for a month (say mine was broken and I could rent one for $50) I would pay without hesitating.
And I am in the income range where $50 is, while thank goodness far from being make or break, still very meaningful.

But…if you’re thinking about one…wait…til the end of the month.

I already have 2 and want to get them for gifts for the end of the year so no rush. While they are useful tools I’d take my cat ears any day over the light. I can still look behind me and with the cat ears I can easily hear most any car approaching.

[Likes2ridefar]

Took the plunge and will have a Bryton tomorrow to try out…

[RoosterCogset]

That's cool. At least we know that viral marketing is alive and kicking!

[Likes2ridefar]

More like an innate curiosity to test different things to come to my own conclusions.

[jkbrwn]

Good luck! I'm heading up to Santa Cruz to ride all week so the conditions will be very varied. Blind bends, Redwood's getting in the way of stuff, busier roads down in Santa Cruz.... More real world feedback to follow.

[NHAero]

Originally Posted by Baron Blubba

Because the value of having it sooner than later is, in this instance, easilyworth $50. If I had to pay $50 not to be without my Varia for a month (say mine was broken and I could rent one for $50) I would pay without hesitating.
And I am in the income range where $50 is, while thank goodness far from being make or break, still very meaningful.

But…if you’re thinking about one…wait…til the end of the month.

Is there a sale coming?
Do you use the one with video, and if so, how good is the video - can you read a license plate?

[jkbrwn]

Ok. Used it again today for 120k on some incredibly empty and one very busy road. Big trees basically everywhere obscuring bends even more and stuff.

I was passed by hundreds of cars. Worked flawlessly except for two small hiccups:

There was a car tailing another so so closely that it didn’t pick up the second car - it may as well have been on a trailer behind the first car, it was that close.

Another one did something similar to what I mentioned in the first post. Alerted of car presence, went round bend, car disappears from radar and did not reappear despite it still being there and ultimately passing me.

This is fine by me given it’s half the price of the Varia. As I said up thread, this is an aid, not a replacement for my eyes and ears.

[superbowlpats]

Originally Posted by Baron Blubba

The amount of people who want a Varia but only at $50 off boggles my mind.

Agree. The Varia is the single best cycling purchase I have ever made. Cost was never an issue for me compared to what it provides me.

[avalonracing]

Originally Posted by superbowlpats

The Varia is the single best cycling purchase I have ever made.

Man, you guys must be lucky to have more quiet roads than I do. Where I ride in suburban Maryland that thing would basically have a solid tone from all the traffic I deal with.

[Black Dog]

Originally Posted by Baron Blubba

The amount of people who want a Varia but only at $50 off boggles my mind.

As someone who picked up one from you at $50 dollars off perhaps I can shed some light on the calculus of such a decision. I was very much on the fence about getting one. I keep my bike spending within limits. What I spend on one thing is money not spent on another thing. I have other hobbies that cost money as well. The lower price was enough to trigger whatever emotional irrational tipping point was needed for me. I am not a collector or do I turn over bikes. No judgment, just not my thing. Been on bikes for a long time and love riding, I seek experiences not things.

When I make a purchase for myself, as a guy with a family, I have to live with it. This is true of all spending, so to your point: As a single purchase the 50 bucks does not matter much, but in a constellation of purchases the savings on each one, do add up. Not cheap but not reckless with money.

I am grateful for the deal you extended to us here and you are a standup person who was a pleasure to deal with.

Tried the radar today for the first time and it was great. I don’t expect it to save my life but it makes my riding experience much better when I am on quiet roads and can take space without constant shoulder checking.

[makoti]

Originally Posted by Black Dog

As a single purchase the 50 bucks does not matter, but in a constellation of purchases the savings on each one, do add up. Not cheap but not reckless with money.

A lot of people would be a lot happier if they understood this.
Is this worth the money you'll spend on it AND the money you won't have to spend on something else?
Things have two costs. The hard part is to balance income, expense, and want.