helmets and mirrors

Hello all

For the longest time I have held on to my hardshell BELL helmet, primarily because it offers a nice
safe and sturdy way to attach a rear-view mirror.

Last time I checked (I admit it's been a while), the newer helmets didn't seem to allow rear-view
mirrors to be attached in a nice stable way - is that still the case? I saw velcro and other fairly
"wobbly" arrangements.

I have really come to depend on my helmet mirror over these many years, but this helmet is really
not safe any more so I'd like to get a new one, but one where I can mount a mirror that won't fall
off or get misadjusted all the time.

Can anyone share their experiences and/or make some recommendations?

Thanks a lot.

Esmail
---
Esmail Bonakdarian - [email protected] - http://www.cs.mercer.edu/bonak 32N 83W

 

There's a guy (Harris?) that makes mirrors attached to old spokes. There are ways to clamp them onto
styro helmets, weave them through air vents, etc. Personally, though, I prefer the temple piece
mirrors...

Esmail Bonakdarian <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:

> Hello all
>
> For the longest time I have held on to my hardshell BELL helmet, primarily because it offers a
> nice safe and sturdy way to attach a rear-view mirror.
>
> Last time I checked (I admit it's been a while), the newer helmets didn't seem to allow rear-view
> mirrors to be attached in a nice stable way - is that still the case? I saw velcro and other
> fairly "wobbly" arrangements.
>
> I have really come to depend on my helmet mirror over these many years, but this helmet is really
> not safe any more so I'd like to get a new one, but one where I can mount a mirror that won't fall
> off or get misadjusted all the time.

 

richard <[email protected]> wrote:
: There's a guy (Harris?) that makes mirrors attached to old spokes. There

Is that safe if you crash?

--
Risto Varanka | http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/ varis at no spam please iki fi

 

On Mon, 14 Apr 2003 16:52:30 -0400, Esmail Bonakdarian wrote:

> Hello all
>
> For the longest time I have held on to my hardshell BELL helmet, primarily because it offers a
> nice safe and sturdy way to attach a rear-view mirror.
>
> Last time I checked (I admit it's been a while), the newer helmets didn't seem to allow rear-view
> mirrors to be attached in a nice stable way - is that still the case? I saw velcro and other
> fairly "wobbly" arrangements.

There are a couple of brands of mirrors that fit onto the outside of helmets with adhesive. They
work fine.

> I have really come to depend on my helmet mirror over these many years, but this helmet is really
> not safe any more so I'd like to get a new one, but one where I can mount a mirror that won't fall
> off or get misadjusted all the time.

You can't stop misadjustment; you just have to readjust. Double-sided tape does a good job
reattaching if the base does fall off.

You probably will find the new helmets to be significantly more comfortable (lighter, better
fitting) as well as providing better protection than your old Bell.

 

richard wrote:
>
> There's a guy (Harris?) that makes mirrors attached to old spokes. There are ways to clamp them
> onto styro helmets, weave them through air vents, etc.

Kind of like the first helmet mirrors used to be mounted?

> Personally, though, I prefer the temple piece mirrors...

What are temple piece mirrors?

Thanks Esmail
---
Esmail Bonakdarian - [email protected] - http://www.cs.mercer.edu/bonak 32N 83W

 

Hi Steve,

Steve Palincsar wrote:
>
> > didn't seem to allow rear-view mirrors to be attached in a nice stable way - is that still the
> > case? I saw velcro and other fairly "wobbly" arrangements.
>
> There are a couple of brands of mirrors that fit onto the outside of helmets with adhesive. They
> work fine.
>
> > I have really come to depend on my helmet mirror over these many years, but this helmet is
> > really not safe any more so I'd like to get a new one, but one where I can mount a mirror that
> > won't fall off or get misadjusted all the time.
>
> You can't stop misadjustment; you just have to readjust. Double-sided tape does a good job
> reattaching if the base does fall off.

Could you make some recommendations regarding mirrors/helmets you like or think that would be ok?

FWIW, I'm a cycle-tourist, i.e., the more leisurely type, so I am not obsessed about weight etc.
(Well, obviously not if I'm still riding with my Bell

> You probably will find the new helmets to be significantly more comfortable (lighter, better
> fitting) as well as providing better protection than your old Bell.

That would be fine by me

Thanks for taking the time to write.

Esmail
---
Esmail Bonakdarian - [email protected] - http://www.cs.mercer.edu/bonak 32N 83W

 

Get a Take a Look mirror and stick the prongs into the styrofoam. You can use a bit of glue
when doing so. It does stay fine. They make a stick on holder to do the same but that doesn't
work as well.

 

"Esmail Bonakdarian" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hello all
>
> For the longest time I have held on to my hardshell BELL helmet, primarily because it offers a
> nice safe and sturdy way to attach a rear-view mirror.
>
> Last time I checked (I admit it's been a while), the newer helmets didn't seem to allow rear-view
> mirrors to be attached in a nice stable way - is that still the case? I saw velcro and other
> fairly "wobbly" arrangements.
>
> I have really come to depend on my helmet mirror over these many years, but this helmet is really
> not safe any more so I'd like to get a new one, but one where I can mount a mirror that won't fall
> off or get misadjusted all the time.
>
> Can anyone share their experiences and/or make some recommendations?
>
> Thanks a lot.
>
> Esmail
> ---
> Esmail Bonakdarian - [email protected] -
http://www.cs.mercer.edu/bonak
> 32N 83W

Here you go:

http://www.reevu.com/product_design.htm

Mike

 

I like my Third Eye Micro Mirror.

"Esmail Bonakdarian" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hello all
>
> For the longest time I have held on to my hardshell BELL helmet, primarily because it offers a
> nice safe and sturdy way to attach a rear-view mirror.
>
> Last time I checked (I admit it's been a while), the newer helmets didn't seem to allow rear-view
> mirrors to be attached in a nice stable way - is that still the case? I saw velcro and other
> fairly "wobbly" arrangements.
>
> I have really come to depend on my helmet mirror over these many years, but this helmet is really
> not safe any more so I'd like to get a new one, but one where I can mount a mirror that won't fall
> off or get misadjusted all the time.
>
> Can anyone share their experiences and/or make some recommendations?
>
> Thanks a lot.
>
> Esmail
> ---
> Esmail Bonakdarian - [email protected] -
http://www.cs.mercer.edu/bonak
> 32N 83W

 

Esmail Bonakdarian wrote:
>
> richard wrote:
> >
>
> > Personally, though, I prefer the temple piece mirrors...
>
> What are temple piece mirrors?

I believe he means mirrors which fasten to the side of glasses. I prefer that too. Eyeglass mirrors
are steadier than helmet-mounted mirrors, and can be used no matter what hat (if any) a person
chooses to wear.

--
Frank Krygowski [email protected]

 

Esmail Bonakdarian wrote:
>
>
> Steve Palincsar wrote:
>
> > You probably will find the new helmets to be significantly more comfortable (lighter, better
> > fitting) as well as providing better protection than your old Bell. ^^^^^^
> ^^^^^^^^^^ That would be fine by me

It sounds nice, but it's not necessarily true!

The "best" new helmet cut the impact regulations razor-thin. The cheaper ones have more protection -
although still not much.

--
Frank Krygowski [email protected]

 

Esmail Bonakdarian writes:

> For the longest time I have held on to my hardshell BELL helmet, primarily because it offers a
> nice safe and sturdy way to attach a rear-view mirror.
>
> Last time I checked (I admit it's been a while), the newer helmets didn't seem to allow rear-view
> mirrors to be attached in a nice stable way - is that still the case? I saw velcro and other
> fairly "wobbly" arrangements.
>
> I have really come to depend on my helmet mirror over these many years, but this helmet is really
> not safe any more so I'd like to get a new one, but one where I can mount a mirror that won't fall
> off or get misadjusted all the time.
>
> Can anyone share their experiences and/or make some recommendations?

Yes. Learn to ride without the mirror; it's a crutch and, ultimately, a safety hazard, not a
safety solution.

Learning to listen and watch traffic, turn your head quickly to see behind you without swerving, and
stay relaxed and nimble on the bike will save you in heavy traffic. I've had one bad accident
cycling in Manhattan in the last 6 years (~ 10,000 miles annually) and it had nothing to do with
traffic. Messengers here never use mirrors nor do any of my cycling friends. The only folks I ever
see using the things are slow, unsteady riders that are severely lacking in basic bike handling
skills. Chuck the mirror!

 

> > Can anyone share their experiences and/or make some recommendations?
>
> Yes. Learn to ride without the mirror; it's a crutch and, ultimately, a safety hazard, not a
> safety solution.
>
> Learning to listen and watch traffic, turn your head quickly to see behind you without swerving,
> and stay relaxed and nimble on the bike will save you in heavy traffic. I've had one bad accident
> cycling in Manhattan in the last 6 years (~ 10,000 miles annually) and it had nothing to do with
> traffic. Messengers here never use mirrors nor do any of my cycling friends. The only folks I ever
> see using the things are slow, unsteady riders that are severely lacking in basic bike handling
> skills. Chuck the mirror!

I think mirrors work very well, particularly in urban environments, where there is a typically lot
of merging to be done. I use a mirror while cycling the same way I use one while driving. I don't
stare into it, only glance frequently to stay aware of traffic behind me. That way, merging around
potholes, double parked vehicles, etc. doesn't require a head check.

Many of the, even very experienced, riders I've seen can't do a head check without significant
weaving. Head checks use your peripheral vision (unless your head swivels like an owl's), which is
really pretty poor at anything other than motion detection. If you wear corrective lenses,
peripheral vision is often outside of the optical path, further degrading it.

I find a mirror much more useful in urban, rather than rural surroundings. Head checks are just too
slow to keep up with a rapidly changing environment. I prefer an eyeglass mounted mirror to a helmet
or handlebar mount. I've used "Third Eye" mirrors, but I don't like them much. Their ball joint
swivels loosen, and are bulky enough to get in the way with the inside of the helmet. As for the
"slow, unsteady, rider" thing, I'm not a racer, but I do a lot of fast club riding. In the pace
line, I find that having a mirror allows me to spot someone early making a jump from behind. It also
allows me to discreetly assess the condition of the rider on my wheel, should I be looking for the
right moment to make a break myself.

 

Peter Cole writes:

>>> Can anyone share their experiences and/or make some recommendations?
>>
>> Yes. Learn to ride without the mirror; it's a crutch and, ultimately, a safety hazard, not a
>> safety solution.
>>
>> Learning to listen and watch traffic, turn your head quickly to see behind you without swerving,
>> and stay relaxed and nimble on the bike will save you in heavy traffic. I've had one bad accident
>> cycling in Manhattan in the last 6 years (~ 10,000 miles annually) and it had nothing to do with
>> traffic. Messengers here never use mirrors nor do any of my cycling friends. The only folks I
>> ever see using the things are slow, unsteady riders that are severely lacking in basic bike
>> handling skills. Chuck the mirror!
>
> I think mirrors work very well, particularly in urban environments, where there is a typically lot
> of merging to be done. I use a mirror while cycling the same way I use one while driving. I don't
> stare into it, only glance frequently to stay aware of traffic behind me. That way, merging around
> potholes, double parked vehicles, etc. doesn't require a head check.

As in driving a car, a "head check" is essential while cycling in traffic.

> Many of the, even very experienced, riders I've seen can't do a head check without significant
> weaving. Head checks use your peripheral vision (unless your head swivels like an owl's), which is
> really pretty poor at anything other than motion detection. If you wear corrective lenses,
> peripheral vision is often outside of the optical path, further degrading it.

Motion or object detection is all that's required. I don't care if it's a yellow sedan or a gray
SUV, I just care that something's there. A glance is all that's required.

> I find a mirror much more useful in urban, rather than rural surroundings. Head checks are just
> too slow to keep up with a rapidly changing environment. I prefer an eyeglass mounted mirror to a
> helmet or handlebar mount. I've used "Third Eye" mirrors, but I don't like them much. Their ball
> joint swivels loosen, and are bulky enough to get in the way with the inside of the helmet. As for
> the "slow, unsteady, rider" thing, I'm not a racer, but I do a lot of fast club riding. In the
> pace line, I find that having a mirror allows me to spot someone early making a jump from behind.
> It also allows me to discreetly assess the condition of the rider on my wheel, should I be looking
> for the right moment to make a break myself.

I ride solo and in packs, in the suburbs, in the city and in rural areas when I vacation in Northern
California. An ocassional glance, along with a sharp ear, keeps me well aprised of riders and cars
in my vicinity. I believe that relying on mirrors to do this would ultimately result in degraded
senses and put me in a [more] vulnerable position.

 

"Richard Ney" <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected] 185212.news.dfncis.de:

> I ride solo and in packs, in the suburbs, in the city and in rural areas when I vacation in
> Northern California. An ocassional glance, along with a sharp ear, keeps me well aprised of riders
> and cars in my vicinity. I believe that relying on mirrors to do this would ultimately result in
> degraded senses and put me in a [more] vulnerable position.

Amen. Not to mention, who would voluntarily have *real* glass (or in the worst case a long, metal
'eye-remover') that close to their eyes? What happens if you crash?
A: You're in a world of hurt.

 

Why do you use mirrors in the car?

On Tue, 15 Apr 2003 07:22:24 -0400, "Richard Ney" <[email protected]> wrote:

>The only folks I ever see using the things are slow, unsteady riders that are severely lacking in
>basic bike handling skills. Chuck the mirror!

 

Esmail Bonakdarian wrote:

> For the longest time I have held on to my hardshell BELL helmet, primarily because it offers a
> nice safe and sturdy way to attach a rear-view mirror.

Been there, done that...

> Last time I checked (I admit it's been a while), the newer helmets didn't seem to allow rear-view
> mirrors to be attached in a nice stable way - is that still the case? I saw velcro and other
> fairly "wobbly" arrangements.
>
> I have really come to depend on my helmet mirror over these many years, but this helmet is really
> not safe any more so I'd like to get a new one, but one where I can mount a mirror that won't fall
> off or get misadjusted all the time.

I like and use the 3rd Eye "Pro" model. This is held on by adhesives, but, while their illustration
shows it stuck to the outside of a helmet, it really works better stuck to the inside.

They don't last forever, but they work quite well. I supplement the adhesive with clear
packing tape.

I would rather ride without my helmet than without my mirror.

Once you get used to using a good helmet mirror, you'll find they actually work better than
automobile mirrors.

Sheldon "Retroviseur" Brown +-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| This message has been sent to you using recycled electrons | exclusively. Please do not discard
| them after use, | send them along and help conserve these irreplaceable | sub-atomic resources
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+-----------------------------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton,
Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 http://harriscyclery.com Hard-to-find parts
shipped Worldwide http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

 

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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Richard:

Do you pull your mirrors off your car too? No need to know what's behind you is there?

I can hear cars coming up but generally not until they are there. If the day is windy I may not hear
anything at all. WIth my mirror I always know the situation behind me. It's just another tool, sort
of like clipless pedals, STI, helmets,..........................

I'm a fan of the 3rd Eye mirror. It isn't perfect but the company will replace if for a small fee if
it breaks, it is very adjustable & light, and easily adjustable.

MOO, Matt

Richard Ney wrote:

>Esmail Bonakdarian writes:
>
>
>
>>For the longest time I have held on to my hardshell BELL helmet, primarily because it offers a
>>nice safe and sturdy way to attach a rear-view mirror.
>>
>>Last time I checked (I admit it's been a while), the newer helmets didn't seem to allow rear-view
>>mirrors to be attached in a nice stable way - is that still the case? I saw velcro and other
>>fairly "wobbly" arrangements.
>>
>>I have really come to depend on my helmet mirror over these many years, but this helmet is really
>>not safe any more so I'd like to get a new one, but one where I can mount a mirror that won't fall
>>off or get misadjusted all the time.
>>
>>Can anyone share their experiences and/or make some recommendations?
>>
>>
>
>Yes. Learn to ride without the mirror; it's a crutch and, ultimately, a safety hazard, not a safety
>solution.
>
>Learning to listen and watch traffic, turn your head quickly to see behind you without swerving,
>and stay relaxed and nimble on the bike will save you in heavy traffic. I've had one bad accident
>cycling in Manhattan in the last 6 years (~ 10,000 miles annually) and it had nothing to do with
>traffic. Messengers here never use mirrors nor do any of my cycling friends. The only folks I ever
>see using the things are slow, unsteady riders that are severely lacking in basic bike handling
>skills. Chuck the mirror!
>
>
>
>

--------------080301000802010704090502 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <title></title>
</head> <body> Richard:<br> <br> Do you pull your mirrors off your car too? No need to know
what's behind you is there? <br> <br> I can hear cars coming up but generally not until they are
there. If the day is windy I may not hear anything at all. WIth my mirror I always know
the situation behind me. It's just another tool, sort of like clipless pedals, STI,
helmets,..........................<br> <br> I'm a fan of the 3rd Eye mirror. It isn't perfect
but the company will replace if for a small fee if it breaks, it is very adjustable & light, and
easily adjustable.<br> <br> MOO,<br> Matt<br> <br> Richard Ney wrote:<br> <blockquote type="cite"
cite="[email protected]"> <pre wrap="">Esmail Bonakdarian writes:

</pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">For the longest time I have held on to my hardshell
BELL helmet, primarily because it offers a nice safe and sturdy way to attach a rear-view mirror.

Last time I checked (I admit it's been a while), the newer helmets didn't seem to allow rear-view
mirrors to be attached in a nice stable way - is that still the case? I saw velcro and other fairly
"wobbly" arrangements.

I have really come to depend on my helmet mirror over these many years, but this helmet is really
not safe any more so I'd like to get a new one, but one where I can mount a mirror that won't fall
off or get misadjusted all the time.

Can anyone share their experiences and/or make some recommendations? </pre> </blockquote> <pre
wrap=""><!----> Yes. Learn to ride without the mirror; it's a crutch and, ultimately, a safety
hazard, not a safety solution.

Learning to listen and watch traffic, turn your head quickly to see behind you without swerving, and
stay relaxed and nimble on the bike will save you in heavy traffic. I've had one bad accident
cycling in Manhattan in the last 6 years (~ 10,000 miles annually) and it had nothing to do with
traffic. Messengers here never use mirrors nor do any of my cycling friends. The only folks I ever
see using the things are slow, unsteady riders that are severely lacking in basic bike handling
skills. Chuck the mirror!

</pre> </blockquote> <br> </body> </html>

--------------080301000802010704090502--

 

On Tue, 15 Apr 2003 09:46:21 -0400, Peter Cole wrote:

> Many of the, even very experienced, riders I've seen can't do a head check without significant
> weaving. Head checks use your peripheral vision (unless your head swivels like an owl's), which is
> really pretty poor at anything other than motion detection. If you wear corrective lenses,
> peripheral vision is often outside of the optical path, further degrading it.

Oh so true. And not all of us have such wonderful range of motion for head checks, either:
osteoarthritis has this way of limiting it. Couple that with 20/400 peripheral vision, and a head
check isn't worth much.

 

On Tue, 15 Apr 2003 11:34:39 -0400, Paul Kopit wrote:

> Why do you use mirrors in the car?
>
> On Tue, 15 Apr 2003 07:22:24 -0400, "Richard Ney" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>The only folks I ever see using the things are slow, unsteady riders that are severely lacking in
>>basic bike handling skills. Chuck the mirror!

Obviously, it's a crutch! ;-)