Bryton GARDIA R300L Rearview Radar and Tail light and Bryton Rider 750 SE bike computer SLSR Review

By Rick Schultz and Sue Rowland

Bryton Rider 750SE

https://www.brytonsport.com/#/R750SE

Price MSRP: US $249.99

Source: Bike shops, Amazon, websites

Features: 240x 400 pixels, 2.8” color TFT  touchscreen LCD display, BLE (iOS & Android)

ANT+ Sensors: HR, Cadence, Speed, Power, Radar, Light

Compatibility: Di2, eTap, EPS

Battery Life: up to 40 hours

Satellites: GPS, Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, QZS S

How obtained: manufacturer sample

Summary: Compared to Garmin Edge 840 ($499.99)

Hot!

• E-bike support
• Smart Trainer Compatible
  1. Steps / ANT+ LEV
• Up to 3 bike support
• Up to 12 data fields per page
• Up to 8 pages
• Can customize via device or with app
• Turn-by-turn navigation
• Back-to-start
• Reverse track
• Group ride and chat
• Smart notifications
  1. Incoming calls, missed calls
  2. Text and emails
• In-use charging

Not! 

• Initial setup a little tedious

Bryton Gardia R300L

https://www.brytonsport.com/#/GardiaR300L

Price MSRP: US $129.99

Source: Bike shops, Amazon, websites

Features: Taillight and radar

How obtained: Manufacturers Sample

Summary: Compared to Gamin Varia RTL515 ($199.99)

Hot!

• Viewing angle 200 degrees
• LED Indicator: ANT+ / BLE Link / Power
• Variable light modes
• G-sensor bicycle braking detection
• Battery indicator on display
• Programming via app
• Easy mounting to seat posts
  1. 27.2mm, 30.9mm, 31.6mm D, Aero

Not! 

• Initial setup a little tedious

Disclosure: I (Rick) have been working with Bryton in a coaching/consulting position for the past four years, recommending features that make sense for cycling computers. 

Bryton Rider 750SE

My view is that cycling computer manufacturers need to add functionality to stay competitive in the market. But how much is too much? Most of the features that have been added to top tier cycling computers over the past 3-4 years can and would best be addressed in a dedicated training application or by the cyclist’s coach. Training Peaks and Golden Cheetah are two good examples of applications that are specifically designed to analyze a cyclist’s performance metrics and determine the best training approach to help them reach their peak performance goals. 

In my opinion, there are already too many metrics – e.g. Garmin Edge 1040 has 176 different performance metrics that can be tracked including 17 heart functions and 32 power related functions, Bryton Rider 750SE has 103 different performance metrics that can be tracked including 12 heart functions and 21 power related functions. Providing cyclists with so many trackable metrics  distracts them from focusing on actual training. That being said, Bryton has done a better job at keeping the number of metrics to a ‘minimum’ than Garmin. 

For example, the table below shows the bare minimum fields I use when training

Gardia R300L – 

I think one very useful addition to the Bryson portfolio is a rear radar-cycling light  that can alert cyclists when vehicles are approaching the rider from the rear. Over the past few years, cycling in Southern California has become very dangerous, with several cyclists posting their interactions with cars to their social media accounts often times from their hospital beds. What is even more sad is that about once-a-month, there is a news story about a juvenile being killed while riding their e-bike. So, in my opinion, anything that can help save a cyclist from injury or death is a very good thing. And I am happy to see that Bryton has developed a ‘safety’ product to help save cyclists’ lives.

Knowing that this is a brand-new product and Bryton is brand new to this technology, they have done a good job integrating it into their new GPS RIDER 750SE cycling computer. 

In general, the unit was a little ‘clunky’ in getting setup and configured and I am sure that Bryton will make this more seamless in future versions. But kudos to Bryton for listening to the testers in building new products. This is one great thing about Bryton — they listen to their audience!

Missing – I would like to see a higher tier product (maybe a GARDIA  R400L) that has an integrated rear camera that would take video of vehicles approaching from the rear. These videos would help to document vehicle/cycle accidents as well as vehicle license plates. I would also like to see the development of a radar device that would capture video from the side (ex. left side for USA, right side for UK) allowing documentation of vehicles cutting off cyclists, kids throwing items at cyclists, etc. Finally, I would like to see the development of an integrated forward-facing video device that could take video of the rear end of the cars that would capture cars cutting off cyclists, brake-checking cyclists, etc. Since all cars are required to have a rear license plate, but not necessarily a front license plate, a front mounted camera is very much needed.

I tested both the Bryton RIDER 750SE cycling computer and the Gardia R300Lfor several days, and the units performed well. It took a little while to get used to the new user interface, but once you get the hang of the colors, etc., it makes sense. 

I then handed the units off to Sue, who continued with more detailed testing. Sue also uses a small mirror that attaches to her cycling sunglasses to monitor rear traffic, and her results were interesting.

Here is Sue’s report.

Rider 750 SE bike computer – use on road bike

Online user manual – https://www.brytonsport.com/download/Manual/UM/Rider750/Rider750-UM_EN_woHF.pdf

Physical Attributes

1. The size of the computer screen is similar to that of other bike computers
2. It is possible to adjust the screen’s brightness but when riding in bright sunlight the screen is difficult to see. The non-adhesive screen protector is not ideal in terms of screen clarity. The dark screen background does not make it easy to see the screen data. A screen with a white background with black text is much easier to see in bright sunlight.
3. The steps required to program the features desired on the computer are a bit complicated at first but once you set the ride data, it is easily accessed on well-organized (user-programmed) ride pages. 
4. Mounting computer – can use sport mount on stem that involves rubber gaskets or an F-mount that places the computer out in front of the stem and attaches to the handlebars.
5. The computer easily pairs to other devices using ANT+ and Bluetooth

Programming

While not directly tested, this computer has a wide range of uses not often included in a mid-level cycling computer.

1. This computer can interface with road bikes, e-bikes, and stationary cycling trainers.
2. To use with an e-bike, it must be a compatible e-bike and can then provide information about battery, assist mode, gear selection.
3. To use with a smart trainer, the trainer must be paired with the Rider 750 to be able to access Virtual Ride, Smart Workout, Resistance, and Power Workout.
4. The computer can be used to navigate using imported maps and routes and can re-route rides in real time.

Data Captured During Ride

The data collected by the Bryton computer are compared to those collected by a Wahoo Element Bolt computer.

In general, the ride statistics were very close.

	BRYTON	WAHOO
AVERAGE SPEED	12.2 mph	11.9 mph
MAX SPEED	28.9 mph	28.9 mph
MILES	18.2 miles	18.3 miles
ALT GAIN	880 ft	967 ft

Review Of Gardia R300L – Rearview Radar & Taillight

I routinely use a small mirror attached to my riding sunglasses to monitor car traffic behind me when I ride. That said, I was unsure how a radar system would enhance my ability to detect rear vehicles.

LIGHT MODES	BATTERY LIFE (HOURS)	LUMENS
HIGH SOLID	8	20
LOW SOLID	12	5
DAY FLASH	17	73
NIGHT FLASH	17	12
GROUP RIDE	11	12
LIGHT OFF	24	–

I used the light paired with the Rider 750 SE and also ran the iPhone app Bryton Gardia. The app was set up to have the phone deliver audio signals that were synchronized to the visual auto detection display that appears on the far-right edge of the bike computer screen. I had my phone in my jersey pocket so at one point during the ride, I stopped and took screen shots of the app screen to determine how well the image displayed the vehicles approaching from the rear. 

Review

Good Features 

Audio signals are produced when the vehicle is up to 190 meters away which is about the distance that the vehicle can be detected using a rearview mirror. The duration of the tones produced and the sounds themselves indicate the relative speed of the approaching vehicle with higher numbers of and louder beep signals indicating a faster approaching vehicle. An all-clear sound is given when the car has left the radar field.

The audio signals in and of themselves are very useful and do improve safety by alerting the rider of a rear coming vehicle allowing time for the rider to make appropriate adjustments.

Needs Improvement

Visual auto detection display that appears on the far-right edge of the bike computer screen.

The screen display on the Rider 750 SE computer was very difficult to see. It is located on the far right of the screen and is a bit too small to be easily seen at a glance, which is about as much time as you have to look since when a vehicle is approaching (you should be watching the side of the road and not the computer screen).

If computers want to show the bar it should be about twice as wide, so it is easily visible while cars are approaching. Alternatively, a rider would mount their phone on their bike and run the Bryton Gardia app on the phone which is how I obtained the images shown below.

The audio signal does not accurately inform the rider about multiple vehicles. When more than one vehicle is approaching from the rear, the audio signal does not reliably indicate how many vehicles are present and may give an all-clear signal when in fact, there is a vehicle that is now next to the rider. 

I found that the use of a mirror with audio tones to be very effective in these instances. Use of an iPhone to display the vehicle location bar would be another way to improve this problem or even having the screen another 50% wider.

The images below show the sequence of changes seen on the iPhone when normal speed, faster speed, or multiple vehicles approached from the rear.

The yellow sequence was associated with a 2-beep audio tone indicating normal car speed. Once in front of my bike, the screen and tone indicated all clear.

The red sequence – 4 beep warning signal of oncoming vehicle fast approaching. Turned out there a second vehicle was quite close to the first one that was detected. There were not two sets of warning signals indicating two vehicles. The first all clear signals came before the following car was clear.

From Bryton (for clarification) Regarding Beep

The notifications beep when only the threat level of the vehicles (behind) has elevated.

1. When the alert bar turns yellow, the device won’t continue beeping. The only consistent alert happens when the car is dangerous to you. (Red color )
2. While the threat level changes to the “safe condition”, you will hear the beep sound probable for 1-1.5 seconds. (Green level or no card behind)
3. Before the sound of safe condition (longer sound beep) happens, it might still have some cars behind.

All-in-all, for the price, it’s a great pair of products for giving the cyclist more information so they can stay safer on the road. Are these worth buying? I say YES.

PRODUCT PAIR with SIMILAR FUNCTIONALITY
GARMIN EDGE 840	$500	BRYTON RIDER 750 SE	$250
GARMIN RTL515	$200	BRYTON R300L	$130
TOTALS	$700		$380

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Coach Rick Schultz is an avid cyclist who trains, races and coaches in Southern California. Rick is an engineer by trade, and in addition to being a coach, he’s a bike fitter and prolific product reviewer. He’s the author of Stretching & Core Strengthening for the Cyclist in the RBR eBookstore. Check his product reviews website, www.biketestreviews.com, and his coaching site, www.bikefitnesscoaching.com. Click to read Rick’s full bio.