Does the Garmin Varia Work With Wahoo Bike Computers? (My Real-World Test)
Before I bought the Garmin Varia, I searched the exact question you’re probably searching right now: Does the Garmin Varia work with Wahoo bike computers?
I didn’t find much that felt clear or real-world. So here’s my straight answer after riding with it:
Why I Wanted This Answer Before I Bought One
For years I relied on my Take-A-Look mirror. I bought mine in 2014 and I’ve worn it on every ride since. And yes — it made me safer.
But I noticed something uncomfortable: sometimes I’d lose focus. Not because I’m careless — because riding is real life. You look ahead. You think about the road. You settle into rhythm. And on rural roads, especially, you can go a long stretch without seeing anyone.
The mirror only helps if you’re looking at it at the right moment. And there are moments when you’re not.
The Day I Realized a Mirror Isn’t Enough
Quite a few years ago, I was riding between Lubbock and Brownfield — about a 35-mile ride. I was maybe 5–10 miles outside of Brownfield. It’s a divided highway with a nice wide shoulder and rumble strips.
I was riding on the shoulder, mostly toward the right side. I felt like I had plenty of space. I had my mirror, and I was checking behind me, watching traffic stay up on the highway while I stayed safely on the shoulder.
Traffic was a little busy that morning. And at some point, I lost focus for just a moment — I didn’t check the mirror like I usually did.
Then I heard the rumble strips.
A car was suddenly right on top of me — so close that I could feel the heat off the engine as it came across the rumble strips and into the shoulder. If I had been riding in the middle of that shoulder, they would have hit me. By the grace of God, I was more to the right than the middle.
That driver never should’ve been there. But distracted drivers don’t announce themselves. The mirror didn’t fail me — I wasn’t looking at that exact moment.
If I’d had a Garmin Varia that day, I would’ve known a car was coming behind me long before it drifted across those rumble strips. I would’ve been alert and ready — not surprised by a vehicle already invading my space.
So… Does the Garmin Varia Work With Wahoo?
Yes. And this is where it gets good.
When the Garmin Varia detects a vehicle approaching from behind, your Wahoo displays a vertical radar strip on the left side of the screen. It’s not just “dots.” It shows a small car icon and that icon moves as the vehicle closes the distance.
The alert can happen when the car is far back (roughly up to around 150 feet in my experience) or when it’s already close. Either way, the point is the same: it snaps your attention back.
And once you get that alert, your mirror becomes more powerful because now you’re looking for something you know is there. Any car can drift or swerve — that’s why I like getting the warning, then using my mirror to watch it as it approaches.
What It Looks Like on a Wahoo Screen (Real Photos)
These are my actual photos from rides with my Wahoo and the Varia connected. This is exactly what you see in the real world.
Green strip = no vehicles detected behind you.
Red strip + car icon = a vehicle is approaching from behind.
Multiple car icons = multiple vehicles approaching. This is what makes it so reassuring on busier roads. I did not want to take a picture with multiple cars approaching so I took this one at a stop light just to show how it works.
Does It Pick Up Cars on the Other Side of the Road?
This was another big question I had. I wondered if it would alert to cars traveling in the opposite direction, or cars crossing at intersections.
In my experience, it doesn’t clutter you with those. I’ve had one moment where it alerted and I looked back and realized what triggered it, but overall it’s been eerily accurate about alerting only when a vehicle behind you is a possible danger.
Does the Tail Light Change When Cars Approach?
I’m going to be honest here: when I’m riding, I can’t see my own tail light. But yes — the Varia is designed to change its flash pattern when it detects approaching traffic, so it acts like a smart tail light in addition to radar.
And that matters because it answers another common question riders ask: “Do I also need a tail light?” With Varia, you’re not just getting radar — you’re getting an active rear light that’s built for visibility.
Why I Wish I’d Bought It Sooner
This is a device I wish I had bought sooner. I can’t say enough about it — I honestly think it’s the greatest new invention for cyclist safety in the era of distracted drivers.
And as I get ready for a long-distance, multi-day 500-mile tour this summer, it’s going to be incredibly reassuring to have that extra layer of awareness behind me.
My Garmin Varia Recommendation
If you ride around traffic — rural or city — this is one of the best safety upgrades you can make.
FAQ
Will Garmin Varia pair to a Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT?
Yes. The Varia pairs to the Wahoo via standard sensor pairing, and the radar display shows on the Wahoo screen once connected.
Does the Wahoo show dots or actual cars?
In my experience on the Wahoo, you see a car icon (not just dots) and it moves as the vehicle closes in.
Will it alert for cars going the opposite direction?
In my riding, it has not been noisy or full of false alerts from oncoming traffic. It has been very accurate about vehicles approaching from behind.
Do I still need a mirror if I have Varia?
I strongly prefer using both. The Varia alerts you that a car is coming. The mirror lets you watch it as it approaches. Together they’re better than either one alone.
Bottom Line
If you’re riding with a Wahoo and wondering if the Garmin Varia is worth it: Yes — it works, and it changes the way you ride.
The mirror helps when you’re looking. The radar helps when you’re not. And that gap — that human moment where focus drifts — is exactly where riders get surprised.
This is one of the best safety purchases I’ve made in years.
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