Less Dorky Mirror

maxo said:

Bill said:

It has kept me alive and unhit since I started doing it

Are you sure it wasn't wearing the same underwear everyday
or some other superstitous falsehood?

Look, I got yelled at by an older fellow on a bike a couple
weeks ago, and by the looks of his gear I assumed he's been
in the saddle a number of years--I turned into the alley to
get to my garage [in a car of course] and he was riding on
the wrong side of the road and had just turned onto the
street we were sharing. He wiped out pretty hard from his
brakes seizing, but no major damage was done. There was no
way I could have seen him because of his behaviour and an
inch more and I would have perhaps killed the guy. He layed
into me with this anti-motorist rant, not knowing that I
cycle many more miles than I drive per year--I responded
that this ain't Britain and if he continues to break the
law in such fashion I won't have any sympathy if I kill him
next time. Such is the law of Darwin.

So much for making friends with the dogs...er wrong thread.

Bet he'd like you if he knew you though. ;-)

-B

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

This sounds like a good case for riding on the wrong
side of the road.

This is why it is called THE WRONG SIDE of the road.

It's W-R-O-N-G. and you know it.

Pat in TX

Quoted message said:

Look, I got yelled at by an older fellow on a bike a
couple weeks ago, and by the looks of his gear I assumed
he's been in the saddle a number of years--I turned into
the alley to get to my garage [in a car of course] and he
was riding on the wrong side of the road and had just
turned onto the street we were sharing. He wiped out
pretty hard from his brakes seizing, but no major damage
was done. There was no way I could have seen him because
of his behaviour and an inch more and I would have
perhaps killed the guy. He layed into me with this anti-
motorist rant, not knowing that I cycle many more miles
than I drive per year--I responded that this ain't
Britain and if he continues to break the law in such
fashion I won't have any sympathy if I kill him next
time. Such is the law of Darwin.

I wish I could have seen that! I always want to yell at
these idiots but never have the chance.

Pat in TX

"Michael" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a mirror on
the handlebars?

I've resisted mirrors all my life, but I must ride a two
lane road with a 55 mile an hour speed limit with
absolutely no paved shoulder. I hug the white line right
now, looking back sometimes but with the chance of going
into the road or into the gravel.

Thanks,

Mike

I tried a Bell handlebar mirror on my straight bar hybrid
and it was a real POS. Vibrated like crazy and was hard to
keep in adjustment. Now that I have a real road bike I use a
Third Eye mirror that clips onto my glasses and wouldn't go
out without it...most of my normal ride is quiet country
road, but there's a section of 2-lane 55MPH busy road that I
just can't keep swiveling my neck around on...that and the
fact of an old high school high jump injury (30 years ago)
cut down my neck mobility. The Third Eye isn't real
obtrusive on the road, but I wouldn't be trying to pick up
chicks in a bar with it clipped on. :-)

psycholist said:

Bill,

There's no sound logic to your argument whatsoever. Large
log trucks and rednecks will overtake you much more
rapidly and with much less reaction time when you're on
the wrong side of the road.

I live in a county where the #1 economic activity is
logging. The #2 activity is watching NASCAR. The roads are
the worst I've seen anywhere and I've lived pretty much
all over the country. It seems I have everything to deal
with that you do. I would NEVER ride on the wrong side of
the road.

Bob C.

Bob, Opinionated group we have here. I just rode 2 miles on
the left for a very good reason, I was riding into the sun
so cars coming from behind would not be able to see me in
the glare. Left side they could see me fine, so no problem.
Did I mention that I only do this on country roads that
average about 2 cars per minute? In town there is always
somewhere safe to ride on the proper side. As for the rest
of the group, all I am saying is that the law is not always
the best thing to obey under ALL circumstances when it comes
to riding a bike. I do what is needed for 'situational
awareness', including listening to the cars in my vicinity
and not a radio, whoops, that was another post, but relevant
to my style of riding. I am just in favor of rider safety,
not motorist pacification. Bill Baka

--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client:
opera.comm2Open ↗

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

If you rode around Beale AFB in northern California you
would see what I mean. The roads are seriously bicycle
unfriendly. Between big trucks, rednecks, and fly boys
there are a lot of drivers who could care less about
giving bicycles part of their road. Bill Baka

Read long enough in here, and you'll find that same
statement voiced about any city you can name.

Cicninnati, Virginia Beach, Boston, Phoenix, and now "around
Beale AFB".

Don't let them "give" you your part of the road...take what
you need (and no more)

Pete

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

psycholist said:

Bill,

There's no sound logic to your argument whatsoever.
Large log trucks

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rednecks will overtake you much more rapidly and with
much less reaction time when you're on the wrong side of
the road.

I live in a county where the #1 economic activity is
logging. The #2 activity is watching NASCAR. The roads
are the worst I've seen anywhere and I've lived pretty
much all over the country. It seems I have everything to
deal with that you do. I would NEVER ride on the wrong
side of the

road.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Bob C.

Bob, Opinionated group we have here. I just rode 2 miles
on the left for a very good reason, I was riding into the
sun so cars coming from behind would not be able to see me
in the glare. Left side they could see me fine, so no
problem. Did I mention that I only do this on country
roads that average about 2 cars per minute? In town there
is always somewhere safe to ride on the proper side. As
for the rest of the group, all I am saying is that the law
is not always the best thing to obey under ALL
circumstances when it comes to riding a bike. I do what is
needed for 'situational awareness', including listening to
the cars in my vicinity and not a radio, whoops, that was
another post, but relevant to my style of riding. I am
just in favor of rider safety, not motorist pacification.
Bill Baka

Bill,

Reading your post reminded me of all the times I've gone
ahead and zipped through a stop sign or done something
similar with the rationale being that, "hey, those cars
won't know what to do with me at a 4-way stop" or some such
thing. And it's really true, unfortunately. The mere
presence of a bike can fluster some motorists completely.
Even though I ride 10,000 miles or more a year, when I'm in
the car and I encounter a cyclist, I can appreciate the
motorists' dilemma in many cases.

All that is to say, though I've never ridden on the other
side of the road, I have exercised "situational awareness"
plenty of times and blown through a stop sign just to get
away from an encounter with cars. So I guess I do know where
you're coming from.

I've been caught riding into a rising or setting sun a time
or two and never considered using the other side of the
road. As I can do a 50 mile ride where I live and maybe see
5 cars, that might be a trick worth trying in a pinch.

Peace.

Bob C.

Tom Keats said:

You say it's a 2-lane. I assume the lanes are narrow.
Those are the most uncomfortable roads to ride on, when
the traffic is thick. If there are plentious opportunities
for traffic behind you to pass you, I'd say take the lane.
If there isn't, and there's nowhere to ditch, I'd say find
an alternate route. If there's no alternate route, I don't
know what to say.

Try to wobble. An ordinary bicyclist is nearly invisible
(see other thread), but a wobbling bicyclist might suddenly
wobble out in front of you and scratch your paint.

--
Cheers, Bev
**********************************************************-
**********
Organized people will never know the sheer joyous ecstasy of
finding something that was believed to have been
irretrievably lost. -- D. Stern

Michael said:

About the dork factor: You don't see the guys on the Tour
de France using mirrors. I'm just saying...

Ah, those Tour de France guys are just a bunch of dorks. You
don't believe it? Just wander into the local NASCAR bar and
ask the guys there.

But about the mirrors: I make my own eyeglass mirrors. My
technique for _slightly_ reducing dorkiness is to make them
as small as feasible - roughly 1/2" x 1" mirror surface -
and to have them sort of a light grey color so they're a tad
less visible.

Another possible technique is to go for maximum
dorkiness. Maybe hang streamers on it? Fashion's pretty
incomprehensible anyway. You might find yourself a
fashion leader.

--
--------------------+ Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove
rodent and vegetable dot com, replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael said:

About the dork factor: You don't see the guys on the
Tour de France using mirrors. I'm just saying...

they don't ride in traffic so it doesn't apply 😉

I've seen plenty of clubbers around here using mirrors for
safety in the paceline--most of them using a small convex
rectangular bar-end in the drops. I don't know what brand
or I'd steer you toward it.

snip

Quoted message said:

😄

Third Eye makes a bar end mirror that I've used on several
different bikes with drop bars that works very well. No
vibration problems and clear view to the rear. Does not
extend beyond the bike. Allows you to keep track of what's
coming and "manage" the safe use of your space. <www-www-Open ↗
.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=Bar+End+Mirror&-
vendor Code=Thirdeye&major=3&minor=4> Bill (not the wrong
side of the road idiot)

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael said:

About the dork factor: You don't see the guys on the
Tour de France using mirrors. I'm just saying...

they don't ride in traffic so it doesn't apply 😉

I've seen plenty of clubbers around here using mirrors
for safety in the paceline--most of them using a small
convex rectangular bar-end in the drops. I don't know
what brand or I'd steer you toward it.

snip

Quoted message said:

😄

Third Eye makes a bar end mirror that I've used on several
different bikes with drop bars that works very well. No
vibration problems and clear view to the rear. Does not
extend beyond the bike. Allows you to keep track of what's
coming and "manage" the safe use of your space.

<excelsports.comnew.aspOpen ↗
End+Mirror&vendor

Quoted message said:

Code=Thirdeye&major=3&minor=4> Bill (not the wrong side of
the road idiot)

This works better tinyurl.com3yf9bOpen ↗

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:vuVBc.15789$OB3.9843@bgtnsc05-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net...

Quoted message said:

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 15:06:55 +0000, Michael wrote:

> About the dork factor: You don't see the guys on the
> Tour de France using mirrors. I'm just saying...

they don't ride in traffic so it doesn't apply 😉

I've seen plenty of clubbers around here using mirrors
for safety in

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

paceline--most of them using a small convex
rectangular bar-end in the drops. I don't know what
brand or I'd steer you toward it.

snip

Quoted message said:

😄

Third Eye makes a bar end mirror that I've used on
several different

bikes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with drop bars that works very well. No vibration
problems and clear

view

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to the rear. Does not extend beyond the bike. Allows you
to keep track

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

what's coming and "manage" the safe use of your space.

<excelsports.comnew.aspOpen ↗
End+Mirror&vendor

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Code=Thirdeye&major=3&minor=4> Bill (not the wrong side
of the road idiot)

This works better tinyurl.com3yf9bOpen ↗

That's the one I wrote about and said it was by Rhode Gear.
Oops. This is a very good mirror!

Bob C.

"Michael" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael said:

Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a
mirror on the handlebars?

It's all about how you pull it off--only you can make it
"dorky".

Y

Snip

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Take concept, apply to helmet mirror.

Thanks, everyone, for the information. The riding tips are
especially helpful.

About the dork factor: You don't see the guys on the Tour
de France using mirrors. I'm just saying...

Quoted message said:

Best, Mike

And you don't seem them with lights or a spare inner tube or
even a reflector. They are elite professional atheletes.
It's a bit like you don't see an Olmypic runner carrying a
water bottle and a rain coat the way a jogger in the
neighbourhood may. Or NASCAR drivers probably don't have a
coffee holder in the car.

BTW I like helmet mirrors or even better if you can find it,
a California company makes a small mirror that affixes to
the lens of your sunglasses. Very convenient and, I suppose,
no dork factor at all.

J Kane Perth Ontario

"Michael" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael said:

Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a
mirror on the handlebars?

It's all about how you pull it off--only you can make it
"dorky".

Y

Snip

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Take concept, apply to helmet mirror.

Thanks, everyone, for the information. The riding tips are
especially helpful.

About the dork factor: You don't see the guys on the Tour
de France using mirrors. I'm just saying...

Quoted message said:

Best, Mike

And you don't seem them with lights or a spare inner tube or
even a reflector. They are elite professional atheletes.
It's a bit like you don't see an Olmypic runner carrying a
water bottle and a rain coat the way a jogger in the
neighbourhood may. Or NASCAR drivers probably don't have a
coffee holder in the car.

BTW I like helmet mirrors or even better if you can find it,
a California company makes a small mirror that affixes to
the lens of your sunglasses. Very convenient and, I suppose,
no dork factor at all.

J Kane Perth Ontario

"Michael" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael said:

Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a
mirror on the handlebars?

It's all about how you pull it off--only you can make it
"dorky".

Y

Snip

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Take concept, apply to helmet mirror.

Thanks, everyone, for the information. The riding tips are
especially helpful.

About the dork factor: You don't see the guys on the Tour
de France using mirrors. I'm just saying...

Quoted message said:

Best, Mike

And you don't seem them with lights or a spare inner tube or
even a reflector. They are elite professional atheletes.
It's a bit like you don't see an Olmypic runner carrying a
water bottle and a rain coat the way a jogger in the
neighbourhood may. Or NASCAR drivers probably don't have a
coffee holder in the car.

BTW I like helmet mirrors or even better if you can find it,
a California company makes a small mirror that affixes to
the lens of your sunglasses. Very convenient and, I suppose,
no dork factor at all.

J Kane Perth Ontario

In article <[email hidden]>,

The Real Bev said:

Try to wobble. An ordinary bicyclist is nearly
invisible (see other thread), but a wobbling bicyclist
might suddenly wobble out in front of you and scratch
your paint.

LOL

I guess that's one way to effectively widen one's bike.

I do find it interesting though, that while so many riders
are quick to suggest taking the lane and occupying space, so
many are also loathe to widen their bikes with wider
handlebars, let alone adding a handlebar mirror to 'em, and
occupying space. And yet, some go for those dookie li'l
orange pennants on bendy sticks protruding horizontally
leftward from the rear rack.

Another option to 'the wobble', is to lower your saddle as
far is it will go, wear those old fashioned, grey, grotty
sweats, and stick your knees out at 45 degree angles
(which adds further width to bike & rider.) Actually, I've
seen many riders like that, goin' ta beat hell. Maybe
they're onto something. Fabrizio doesn't like 'em, 'cuz
they do so well.

cheers, Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

JRKRideau said:

"Michael" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]-
kc.rr.com>...

Quoted message said:

About the dork factor: You don't see the guys on the Tour
de France using mirrors. I'm just saying...

And you don't seem them with lights or a spare inner tube
or even a reflector. They are elite professional
atheletes. It's a bit like you don't see an Olmypic runner
carrying a water bottle and a rain coat the way a jogger
in the neighbourhood may. Or NASCAR drivers probably don't
have a coffee holder in the car.

Are you sure?

I mean, all they're doing is driving a car. How hard could
it be? Heck, I wouldn't be that surprised to see them
sipping coffee with one hand while talking on a cell
phone. ;-)

--
--------------------+ Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove
rodent and vegetable dot com, replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

They also make mirrors that mount on sunglasses, as well as
ones that replace the bar-end plugs in your drops.

"Michael" <[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
kc.rr.com...

Quoted message said:

Which is less dorky: a mirror on the helmet or a mirror on
the handlebars?

I've resisted mirrors all my life, but I must ride a two
lane road with a 55 mile an hour speed limit with
absolutely no paved shoulder. I hug the white line right
now, looking back sometimes but with the chance of going
into the road or into the gravel.

Thanks,

Mike

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bill said:

Quoted message said:

There is never a reason for riding against traffic.
You're only

confusing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the motorist, egregiously breaking the law, and adding
to the potential impact speed vs. subtracting from it.

Survival is a real good reason.

Sorry man, THERE IS NEVER A REASON TO RIDE AGAINST
TRAFFIC.

Survival is not a reason, doing it increases your odds of
getting smooshed. If you feel that you must ride against
traffic to be safe, then you're being illogical and should
walk, rather than both break the law and risk harm to
yourself and others.

That is one of the stupidest replies I've ever seen. Are you
serious that you advocate someone placing themselves in a
life-threatening situation just to avoid breaking the law?

James Calivar said:

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bill said:

> There is never a reason for riding against traffic.
> You're only confusing the motorist, egregiously
> breaking the law, and adding to the potential impact
> speed vs. subtracting from it.
Survival is a real good reason.

Sorry man, THERE IS NEVER A REASON TO RIDE AGAINST
TRAFFIC.

Survival is not a reason, doing it increases your odds of
getting smooshed. If you feel that you must ride against
traffic to be safe, then you're being illogical and
should walk, rather than both break the law and risk harm
to yourself and others.

That is one of the stupidest replies I've ever seen. Are
you serious that you advocate someone placing themselves
in a life-threatening situation just to avoid breaking
the law?

Learn to read, James.

Bill "hint: 'risk harm to yourself and others' " S.