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TECH NEWS

Garmin snaps up Backtracker bicycle radar system

Garmin acquires the company behind the Backtracker, a radar-powered early warning device

Garmin have this week announced the acquisition of South African company iKubu, which developed the Backtracker radar system we reported on last summer when it was seeking crowd funding.

To recap, the Backtracker is designed to provide early warning of vehicles approaching from behind. It does this by using radar technology to alert the cyclist to the speed and distance of the approaching vehicle via a handlebar-mounted device, while simultaneously lighting up to alert the vehicle to your presence.. When it was seeking funding, Backtracker’s inventors claimed the ability to detect vehicles from as far away as 140m.

The idea for Backtracker came about after meeting a cyclist fearful of vehicles approaching from behind: “The idea for Backtracker was born through a chance meeting with an elderly cyclist, who had resorted to riding in the face of oncoming traffic, for fear of motorists behind him. It inspired us to create a safety product that could bring confidence back into every ride,” said the inventors.

“iKubu has found a way to implement short-range radar into a low-power system that addresses a common concern among cyclists – identifying potential hazards that are approaching them from behind,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and CEO. “We are delighted to add this technology to the Garmin portfolio.”

How Garmin might incorporate this technology into its existing product remains to be seen. It the Backtracker the sort of modular add on product that could sync to one of Garmin’s Edge computers to provide any early warning system?

“Garmin is a technological leader among cyclists, and we are looking forward to integrating our technology and expertise into their outstanding products,” said Franz Struwig, managing director of iKubu. “Garmin gives us the resources to develop, bring to market, and showcase our products that we otherwise would not have.”

iKuba was in the final stages of developing the Backtracker and now with Garmin’s backing, and deep pockets and large team of engineers, the Backtracker should soon become a reality. Which is a good thing because as interesting as the Backtracker project was, they didn’t attract enough backers and missed, by some way, their ambitious funding goal. An interesting development and we'll be keen to see just how Garmin implement it alongside their existing products.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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20 comments

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Matt eaton | 9 years ago
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I try to be open minded to this sort of stuff but I don't quite get it either.

Alerting a rider that a vehicle is approaching from behind seems pointless. As already pointed out, what can we do with this information? Using it to contol lights during daytime hours makes some sense but it seems like a highly complex solution to a simple problem when you could simply have lights on full-time when riding in the daytime.

I can see usefullness in the technology, but it's the approaching driver that needs to be alerted to the presence of the cyclist rather than the other way round.

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Tony | 9 years ago
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I'm in the don't get it camp. What you don't need to know is that there are cars approaching from behind. You can hear them by tyre noise if not engine noise. And if you do know, what do you then do? Look round? Ride off the road? Stop? Carry on as before?

What you need to know is whether the car is on a collision course with you so you can take evasive action. But I don't think this does that. It just tells you there is a car approaching from behind and you don't want to be taking evasive action for every car coming past.

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truffy | 9 years ago
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To those who ask "and then what?" once it's detected an upcoming vehicle, the answer may be in the article:

Quote:

simultaneously lighting up to alert the vehicle to your presence

Presumably a change in lighting is more likely to gain attention. Perhaps.

Anyway, other than the potential to be screwed by Garmin's coding inabilities, this seems like a potentially useful addition for some people. Don't knock it simply because you don't like it or don't need it.

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sikko_h | 9 years ago
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I do not see the usefulness for hearing people, but only for deaf, like me ~X(. Whats's the price?

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tom_w | 9 years ago
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Lol, well I thought it was a good idea but couldn't really see the point. iKubu's owners are now millionaires... I am not... shows how much I know!

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rix | 9 years ago
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Shoulder check and no earphones is much better option. Keeps you from becoming complacent and keeps you constantly aware of your surroundings.

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l4urence | 9 years ago
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Here's a thought. Is the radar signal strong enough to trigger the speed sensor some cars carry. They may slow down thinking a speed trap is ahead.

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superdx | 9 years ago
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The radar detection for this device naturally needed a way to be displayed to the cyclist themselves, and Garmin computers tend to be the display device. So yeah, this would only make sense that Garmin acquires the unit as well. I would love to have this as the roads I cycle on are narrow, and drivers are aggravated when they approach to see any cyclist already.

I don't get the negativity that comes from a lot of the readers on this site. Too expensive this, too advanced that. If you really think none of the advances matter in cycling, then why even visit a website. The first bicycles including the wheels were made with wood, shall we keep using those forever?

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Adders69 replied to superdx | 9 years ago
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superdx wrote:

I don't get the negativity that comes from a lot of the readers on this site. Too expensive this, too advanced that. If you really think none of the advances matter in cycling, then why even visit a website. The first bicycles including the wheels were made with wood, shall we keep using those forever?

+1

If I were Garmin I'd be looking at :
- Edge Head unit display and control of the light settings
- Adjust the light pattern based upon approaching vehicle from behind (flash faster?)
- Edge Head unit to warn of approaching vehicle (you guys know there are very quiet electric cars out there right?)

It's just like all those iPhone users who poo-poo'd smartphones / tablet computers before Apple were even at the party....

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mellowmiles | 9 years ago
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i think it is a good idea.
it won't replace a shoulder check but sometimes have a bit of an idea about oncoming traffic without turning every single time. I ride alone a lot and some times one can get caught out. I also have a mirror but for my bike fit i seem to have to strain my neck to look in it it's probably even easier to do a shoulder check as well.
riding in groups it's odd how often people don't hear a car cos they're chatting away till it's up close and personal.
I don't think it picks up other bikes just cars btw

my tuppence...

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Ramig1 | 9 years ago
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Taking into consideration that in the last two weeks garmin connect returns the error message "internal error" every time I make a search in activities. A fix of this bug should be an easy programming exercise. I doubt that Garmin will ever manage to do anything of value with this new technology.

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pedalpowerDC | 9 years ago
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Maybe for the race team so they know when someone's opening up their sprint behind them????

For me personally, I'd prefer to keep riding on the wrong side of the road, thank you very much.

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darrenleroy | 9 years ago
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This would be good for someone who is deaf, or doesn't have a cheap mirror. For the other 99.999 per cent of us it's pointless. Absolutely pointless.

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Coneyhallcycleworks | 9 years ago
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So this elderly cyclist, nervous about things approaching in the biggest blind spot, and having never seen helmet- or handlebar-mounted mirrors, has a radar device developed for him so he can- what? Stop riding on the wrong side of the road? Sounds like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Good one, Garmin, clasping at straws. I can still see hundreds of nervous mamils queuing up for it however.

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ConcordeCX replied to Coneyhallcycleworks | 9 years ago
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Coneyhallcycleworks wrote:

I can still see hundreds of nervous mamils queuing up for it however.

Nervous people don't wear lycra

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mikroos | 9 years ago
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Wheelsucker avoidance device!

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fenix | 9 years ago
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Perfect for avoiding draftbusters in triathlon ?

Other than that. Erm. I must be missing some function or future function.

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OnTheRopes | 9 years ago
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I must say I can see no practical use for this as it is, unless you are totally paranoid.
So an alarm goes off for a car 140m back, even 10m back what are you supposed to do with that information? In urban areas it would be going off permanently unless so accurate it can detect it is on a collision course?
Might be useful if it triggered a camera though so you only record when a vehicle is approaching thus saving battery and recording time.

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dodgy | 9 years ago
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What are you supposed to do with the information? You get notified of a car approaching, do you jump off the road or something?

I prefer to ride in a straight, predictable line at an appropriate distance from the kerb. If I hear a car or see it in my tiny mirror* (yes, I have a mirror, even on my light carbon 'summer' bike), I don't do anything different.

* The mirror was installed so I can keep tabs on riders following me more easily - IT IS NOT a replacement for a shoulder check.

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velobetty | 9 years ago
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Oddly, I already came up with this idea!  1

http://vimeo.com/39688600

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