If you use mirrors.... - Page 3

I've read this entire thread with great interest noting the opinions both pro and con. I rode for a number of years without a mirror thinking (as others have expressed) that by being alert, listening carefully and looking over my shoulder I wouldn't need a mirror. Besides, I thought that a helmet or glass mounted mirror would make me look "like a fred" (to quote others here) and a bar mounted mirror would ruin the look of the bike.

However. About 2 years ago I was riding into a strong headwind and ascending a long climb about 70 miles into an 80 mile ride. I had ridden pretty hard and it was into the wind a bunch that day. I got out of the saddle to climb and swerved a little bit (maybe 8-10 inches at *most*) in doing so and was nearly flattened by an 18-wheeler coming at 70+ miles an hour on the 2-lane country road I was riding on. I swear I never heard it. I didn't turn to look since I wasn't really planning a turn or change of direction, I just "bobbled" a bit getting out of the saddle because I was tired. The truck missed me by no more than 6 inches, in fact the blast of wind when it went by blew me off the road. OK, I admit it, my fault (though there was no reason for the semi to be that close to me, it was a long hill and he had visibility of oncoming traffic for at least 1/2 mile).

Shortly after, I bought a 3rd eye bar-end mirror. I now have one on all three of my bikes. If installed properly and tightened down sufficiently, it's rock solid and stays in place even on crap road surfaces (like the chip-seal we have here in central Texas). I can see at least 1/4 mile behind me, usually farther. Just as I do when driving, my eyes are moving constantly when I drive front, sides, mirror, front, sides, mirror. I've never been surprised by an oncoming car.

I guess another factor is that at least here in Texas, people will normally cut you some slack (a**holes excepted) unless they feel like you are hogging the road i.e., riding in the lane instead of the shoulder. The problem (as you all know) with riding on the shoulder all the time is that's the home of nails, broken glass, sharp rocks, etc. Without the mirror, I lived on the shoulder. With the mirror, I ride more in the lane being constantly attentive (as mentioned above) to what's behind me. It seems to me that pulling over when a car comes does two things: 1. let's them know I know they're there and 2. because I've shown the courtesy of pulling over, they're more inclined to give me a break and make sure they can pass me safely. Finally, for the above mentioned a**holes, I'd like to know I'm about to be a hood ornament on an F350 in advance so at least I have the option of diving off the road.

And by the way, I've tried helmet mounted mirrors and found that they don't give anywhere near the field of view rearward that the third eye does. Also, I don't rely exclusively on the mirror. I still look over my shoulder when doing lane changes, turning across traffic, etc., to confirm what the mirror is telling me.

To each his/her own. I certainly understand why people wouldn't want to use mirrors but having ridden without and with a mirror, I'll never go back to riding mirrorless.

Greg

That's been my experience to a 'T'

[QUOTE=ghsmith54] To each his/her own. I certainly understand why people wouldn't want to use mirrors but having ridden without and with a mirror, I'll never go back to riding mirrorless.

Seems like this post sums up the matter succinctly.

-Wm.

Hmmm... I think a female can still be referred to as a Fred. So I'll say that despite it's distictly male slant, it's not a gender specific term.

It's not a religious thing for me. I'm really comfortable on my bike and I think that seeing traffic behind me would just make me obsessed or nervous to see the cars coming at me all the time. I tend to ride on the shoulder or just on the line.

Also, I was hit from behind when I was on a motorcycle once while stopped at a redlight. The crappy thing was I saw it coming in my mirror and there was nothing I could do as there was no time to move out of the way of the car that didn't stop at the redlight that I was stopped at along with cars on either side of me. So, now I think that if I had a mirror I'd be looking at it and swerving into the grass or curbs or rocks everytime it looked like someone was coming close, since I'm already riding about as far over as it is safe to ride - sometimes only 4 or 5 inches from where the pavement ends and the rocks start on roads with no shoulder. Like I said before I think it's a question of what makes you comfortable, me I think it would make me more nervous so I don't do it.

Thanks for reply. Suppose if it would really make you nervous to see what's coming from behind, and you feel you don't need to know, that's a valid reason not to use a mirror.

Some experienced guys I ride with here don't use mirrors either. Basically, the arguement is that they are legally entitled to a whole lane, and that traffic has the burden of passing safely. Therefore, there is no need for them to constantly check back and pull over, since that would encourage traffic to squeeze around them. For lane changing at intersections, or to see who's drafting them or being dropped, they just turn around and look. The rest of the time, why worry? That style suits some riders fine, but doesn't work for me.

Concerning lane placement, the mirror gives me the confidence to ride in the center of the lane, or side-by-side with another rider. I'll pull over to the edge line when a car is coming up, unless he's already clear in the passing lane. As a poster above says, drivers seem to appreciate that we've recognized them and have made passing as easy as possible.

At least they'll be able to have the words "Had the right of way" engraved on their tombstones. There's legality and there's ethics. Even though you might be legally entitled, frankly it's stupid and damned inconsiderate to ride along at 12 mph in the middle of the lane.

Greg

No, its more inconsiderate to cuss on this family website. I really don't know anybody dumb enough to travel at 12 miles per hour in the right lane. Actually it's more like 35 miles per hour in the right lane and the speed limit is 30. If a car is going to hit you from behind going 50 a whole truck load of mirrors wouldn't be able to save you or your friends lives. Don't look back.

I'll stand by the damned inconsiderate and I've seen a number of instances both when cycling and in a car where two or more cyclists are tooling along at 12-15 mph right in the middle of the lane with a long line of cars behind them. One occasion in particular stands out, I was cycling south and several cars coming north honked the horn, gave hand gestures (use your imagination since this is a "family" web site), yelled out "get off the *$x$@#$* road (use your imagination again since this is a "family" web site) and nearly hit me. I was wondering what the heck I'd done to inspire such anger when I crested a hill and saw three cyclists coming toward me riding three abreast with a long line of cars behind them. Naturally, they had the "right" to be there. I've often wondered how many enemies cyclists made that day.

And by the way, I've seen this in a number of states besides Texas.

And also by the way, here in Texas, a state senator (Jeff Wentworth) sponsored a bill outlawing cycling on public roads. It didn't pass but it reflects the sentiment of a lot of the public regarding cyclists. Being rude and inconsiderate just gives them more ammunition.

Greg

My opinion is "i have every right to be there" i ain't got mirrors, i have got a good pair of ears however" if a veihicle driver wants to hurl abuse and make such gestures. He just better hope the next set of lights are not on red, since the handle can make a hell of a lot of damage to pretty paint work of cars.

I have however on 2 occassions been honked at whilst i have been riding 30+mph, scared the hell out of me since he was right up my ar*e since the passenger was hanging out the window laughing and shouting abuse at the time and thought it was ohh so amusing the fact that they made me crash.

what do you think he thought when he pulled up at the junction and a miffed cyclist pulled up at the side, punched the passenger window through then commenced to point and laugh at the horrified expression on his face.

tell you one thing he didnt sit around at that junction for long to see what was going to happen next.

i ride in the road, not in the gutter i paid to much money for wheels to wreck them there plus i pay my taxes. why should i have to.

if there is one thing i hate more than that its car drivers that drive in the gutter when traffic is almost at a stand still, and don't offer that door width for a cyclist to pass. So if your ever in my town, like your paint work on your car, give us room, where coming through like it or not. the scratches are your own fault.

Oh I see. So if we all use mirrors, all cyclists will be more considerate and not ride in the middle of the lane going 12 mph anymore???

All excellent points, all valid. I'm not here to make an argument, or to disagree with anyone; just thought I'd offer my perspective.

I regularly ride in dense, urban areas, and I don't use mirrors. I suppose that's mostly because I never felt that I needed them. Sure, it's wise to know where the cars are, so some expeditious glancing and checking is warranted, along with careful listening, but mirrors, I've felt, detract from my natural philosophy or road riding.

I feel that I became a safer rider when I got past the initial fear of cars creeping up behind, and instead focused on being predictable and steady. A bike which reacts and weaves according to shoulder obstacles or traffic from the rear makes drivers nervous, I think, and increases the variables for disatser. I've always felt much safer holding a steady line on the side of the road, wearing bright colors, and not giving cars the impression that I might peel off (what if I don't?).

I don't think I'd trust myself if I reacted, actively, to obstacles from both the front and the rear.

As when I'm driving a car, I always check my blind spots before making a manuever which might put me in someone's path -- taking a turn, changing lanes, going wide, or entering a narrowed section of road.

Again, this is just me. I don't doubt for 2 seconds that there are those who make great, safe use of mirrors... but you won't see them on my bike or helmet any time soon.

Sadly, no.

Greg