Road bike mirrors: Worthwhile?

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

Quoted message said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility

of

Quoted message said:

such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be more useful? If mirrors are appropriate, which make
& model?

All opinions gratefully received.

I ride a Trek 1400 road bike, mainly on rural day tours.

Scott Leckey

How about that helmet with one built in ?

I like mirrycles: mirrycle.commirrycle.comOpen ↗ I have an original on my fixed wheel road bike. They may
not be compatible with some modern levers, I'm sure mirrycle would tell you if you emailed. I use
the mountain bike ones with adapters from ICE on various recumbents. A nice feature of mirrycles
(aside from they work well as a mirror!) is that you can get replacement parts if/when you crash and
break one. Helmet mirrors can be ok once you get used to them - and in certain places I've been glad
to have been wearing a helmet and able to see behind me *after* I've got off the bike - all a bit
robocop... The worst thing is that they go completely out of adjustment *every single time* you take
off your helmet.

ian

btw - not "rear view (obviously)". There was a product some years ago called the 10% (I think -
meaning 10% faster). The idea being ride fully tucked and use the mirror to see where you're going -
scary, eh?

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

Quoted message said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility

of

Quoted message said:

such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be more useful? If mirrors are appropriate, which make
& model?

All opinions gratefully received.

I ride a Trek 1400 road bike, mainly on rural day tours.

Scott Leckey

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

Quoted message said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility

of

Quoted message said:

such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be more useful? If mirrors are appropriate, which make
& model?

I've tried various mirrors over the years because I'm not very flexible and have lousy peripheral
vision so the glance behind is not as reliable as I would really like it to be.

That said, in between bouts of buying, trying and removing mirrors I do cycle most of the time
without a mirror.

I suppose I have simply never found a mirror that did enough to make me feel happier. I did have a
good one once -- when in Germany -- but somehow it never worked as well on the other side of the
bike (despite being, seemingly, ambidextrous) and finally was removed by Mondeo Man 🙁

T

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

Quoted message said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility of such mirrors?

I once had a myrycle mirror when I first started cycling, but I'd much rather look over my shoulder
now when switching lanes or turning as you get a far better view.

I use a helmet mounted mirror, which I prefer as I can move my head to scan a wider area, and
because it's less likely to get hurt _when_ I fall off.

I probably wouldn't bother with a mirror at all, except that I ride a recumbent (why I fell off so
often... It's happening less frequently now) and so can't move my shoulders to look straight back.
But it can be useful on big roads to keep tabs of whatever's behind.

Kit

Ian D said:

I like mirrycles: mirrycle.commirrycle.comOpen ↗ I have an original on my fixed wheel road bike. They
may not be compatible with some modern levers, I'm sure mirrycle would tell you if you emailed. I
use the mountain bike ones with adapters from ICE on various recumbents. A nice feature of
mirrycles (aside from they work well as a mirror!) is that you can get replacement parts if/when
you crash and break one. Helmet mirrors can be ok once you get used to them
- and in certain places I've been glad to have been wearing a helmet and able to see behind me
*after* I've got off the bike - all a bit robocop... The worst thing is that they go completely
out of adjustment *every single time* you take off your helmet.

ian

btw - not "rear view (obviously)". There was a product some years ago called the 10% (I think -
meaning 10% faster). The idea being ride fully tucked and use the mirror to see where you're going
- scary, eh?

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

Quoted message said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility

of

Quoted message said:

such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be more useful? If mirrors are appropriate, which
make & model?

All opinions gratefully received.

I ride a Trek 1400 road bike, mainly on rural day tours.

Scott Leckey

Scott Leckey said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility of such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be
more useful? If mirrors are appropriate, which make & model?

All opinions gratefully received.

Waste of money IMHO. Helmet mounted or not they are never in the right adjustment. On helmets its
because your head moves around so you look in the mirror and then have to spend time moving your
head around until you can see what you want to see. On the bars it changes as you move from the tops
to the hoods to the drops so each new hand position requires a readjustment of the mirror. In the
time you are doing that it is far quicker, safer and less distracting to glance over your shoulder
when the field of view of your eyes captures much much more information than the limited field of
view of a mirror.

Tony

--
raven-family.comraven-family.comOpen ↗

"I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them
their job."

Samuel Goldwyn

Scott Leckey said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility of such mirrors?

I gave handlebar-mounted mirrors a good go some years ago, trying various models and positions. It
is nice not to have to look round so much but there's three major problems with them:
1) They get in the way - even the Mirycycle (the best one) - of hands, or when leaning bike
against things, or when going through small gaps.
2) Can be distracting - can spend time focussing on and peering at the small vibrating distorted
image when you should be concentrating on the road ahead.
3) You'll never be happy with the position and angle and it'll move through vibration or
knocks or when folded for parking so you're forever adjusting the thing, trying to get a
better view.

Quoted message said:

Would a helmet-mounted mirror be more useful?

I would have thought so (although I've not tried one).

~PB

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

Quoted message said:

Scott Leckey said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility of such mirrors?

I use mirrors on my bikes. They are not a complete substitute for turning round to look, but are
useful for staying more aware of what might be approaching from behind in some circumstances. Also,
as our bodies age, turning round becomes ever harder....

It is difficult to find suitable ones. I've tried many, but currently use one with a flexible stem,
which seems to damp out vibrations. Unfortunately it's irreplaceable, as I bought it in a Japanese
'100 yen' (everything 60p) shop, and they didn't have any more on a return visit.

Tony Raven said:

Scott Leckey said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility of such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be
more useful? If mirrors are appropriate, which make & model?

All opinions gratefully received.

Waste of money IMHO. Helmet mounted or not they are never in the right adjustment. On helmets its
because your head moves around so you look in the mirror and then have to spend time moving your
head around until you can see what you want to see. On the bars it changes as you move from the
tops to the hoods to the drops so each new hand position requires a readjustment of the mirror. In
the time you are doing that it is far quicker, safer and less distracting to glance over your
shoulder when the field of view of your eyes captures much much more information than the limited
field of view of a mirror.

I agree with all the above. The funny thing is that now I drive so much more than I cycle, when I'm
on the bike I've caught myself looking for an imaginary mirrror to check behind!

Cheers! Stephen

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

Quoted message said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility

of

Quoted message said:

such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be more useful? If mirrors are appropriate, which make
& model?

All opinions gratefully received.

I ride a Trek 1400 road bike, mainly on rural day tours.

Scott Leckey

I have used a Reflex Cycleaware helmet mirror from SJS Cycles ( hawk, spit) for several years and
wouldn't be without it. I gave up with bike mounted mirrors. It gives a large field of view and
doesn't move in use. I also use it touring abroad and it's not necessary to mount it on the other
side as one can see perfectly well what's behind. It needs a flat area on the side of a helmet about
the size of a 10p piece. Many helmets have vents in the required area.

Marnie.

I never used a mirror until I switched to a recumbent. I'm not sure what sort of mirror it is, but it's invaluable as my laid-back attitude (beetle on its back, not cool dude) makes it difficult to turn my head and look behind. The field of view is good and it enables me to check that vehicles coming up behind aren't about to pass too close.

I suspect that a handlebar mirror might be less useful on an upright, probably because the position of your head with respect to the handlebars is more variable. Also, my view of the road ahead is just over the handlebars, so I can look in the mirror without moving my head.

Chris

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Scott Leckey
I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility of such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be
more useful? If mirrors are appropriate, which make & model?

All opinions gratefully received.

I ride a Trek 1400 road bike, mainly on rural day tours.

Scott Leckey

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

Quoted message said:

Waste of money IMHO. Helmet mounted or not they are never in the right adjustment. On helmets its
because your head moves around so you look in the mirror and then have to spend time moving your
head around until you

can

Quoted message said:

see what you want to see. On the bars it changes as you move from the

tops

Quoted message said:

to the hoods to the drops so each new hand position requires a

readjustment

Quoted message said:

of the mirror. In the time you are doing that it is far quicker, safer

and

Quoted message said:

less distracting to glance over your shoulder when the field of view of

your

Quoted message said:

eyes captures much much more information than the limited field of view of

a

Quoted message said:

mirror.

Get a convex mirror and replace that flat one on the end of your bars - then it doesn't matter if
they are turned a bit.

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

Quoted message said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility

of

Quoted message said:

such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be more useful? If mirrors are appropriate, which make
& model?

I'm a fairly late convert to mirrors. For 20-odd years of riding a drop-bar tourer I never bothered
with mirrors - can look behind and have ears to hear things coming up.

Then my partner learned to ride a flat-bar bike. She found cars creeping up behind a bit un-nerving,
so I fitted a myricycle bar-end mirror (from Edinburgh Co-op I think). She was much happier in that
she got advanced notice of things behind, though does look behind before manoevers.

A few years ago I learned to ride a motorcycle. In the training, use of mirrors, followed by
over-shoulder-checks ("lifesavers" in the jargon) are drummed into the learner rider. Having found
myself looking for the mirror on the pedal cycle, I decided to try a mirror, and now find it quite
handy to get a quick idea of what's behind. Its no substitute for a shoulder check, but very useful
to know what might be there.

I use a myrricycle for drop bars (from SJS who appears to have cornered the market in them).
Vibration isn't too bad (and depends on road surface). The view is fine on either the tops or drops.
Adjustment on-the-go is easy. It will only fit some types of drop bars; those with a traditional
brake-cable which flaps in the breeze after leaving the top of the brake-hood. There may be "bodges"
to make it fit the more modern types of brake lever.

I only have the mirror on my tourer which is used for longer road runs. I manage without on my
old-heap shopping bike, and it wouldn't bother on an off-road bike.

NC.

In article <[email hidden]>, junk@raven- family.com says...

Quoted message said:

Waste of money IMHO. Helmet mounted or not they are never in the right adjustment. On helmets its
because your head moves around so you look in the mirror and then have to spend time moving your
head around until you can see what you want to see. On the bars it changes as you move from the
tops to the hoods to the drops so each new hand position requires a readjustment of the mirror. In
the time you are doing that it is far quicker, safer and less distracting to glance over your
shoulder when the field of view of your eyes captures much much more information than the limited
field of view of a mirror.

Ditto that, *and* I'm surprised no-one else has mentioned this (unless I've got a [censored] feed), the
glance behind helps give other road-users an idea of what you're about to do... remember
M-S-(P-S-G) etc..?

Stephan
--
Stephan Bird MChem(Hons) AMRSC [email hidden]

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility

of

Quoted message said:

such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be more useful? If mirrors

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

appropriate, which make & model?

I'm a fairly late convert to mirrors. For 20-odd years of riding a

drop-bar

Quoted message said:

tourer I never bothered with mirrors - can look behind and have ears to

hear

Quoted message said:

things coming up.

Then my partner learned to ride a flat-bar bike. She found cars creeping

up

Quoted message said:

behind a bit un-nerving, so I fitted a myricycle bar-end mirror (from Edinburgh Co-op I think).
She was much happier in that she got advanced notice of things behind, though does look behind
before manoevers.

A few years ago I learned to ride a motorcycle. In the training, use of mirrors, followed by
over-shoulder-checks ("lifesavers" in the jargon) are drummed into the learner rider. Having found
myself looking for the

mirror

Quoted message said:

on the pedal cycle, I decided to try a mirror, and now find it quite handy to get a quick idea
of what's behind. Its no substitute for a shoulder check, but very useful to know what might
be there.

I use a myrricycle for drop bars (from SJS who appears to have cornered

the

Quoted message said:

market in them). Vibration isn't too bad (and depends on road surface).

The

Quoted message said:

view is fine on either the tops or drops. Adjustment on-the-go is easy. It will only fit some
types of drop bars; those with a traditional

brake-cable

Quoted message said:

which flaps in the breeze after leaving the top of the brake-hood. There

may

Quoted message said:

be "bodges" to make it fit the more modern types of brake lever.

I only have the mirror on my tourer which is used for longer road runs. I manage without on my
old-heap shopping bike, and it wouldn't bother on an off-road bike.

NC.

I wear varilux specs and looking behind in them is difficult - so I really like my mirrcycle mirror:
very strong never moves but can be folded out of teh way through bushes and so on.

I was intrigued to read this thread as I considering investing in some.

FWIW I have noticed that on Sheldon Browns website her appears with a helmet mirror.

I have also seen a fantastic idea (if not cheap) on Wiggle, which is some folding mirrors which are
built into bar ends.

--
Andrew

"Look laddie, if you're in the penalty area and aren't quite sure what to do with the ball, just
stick it in the net and we'll discuss all your options afterwards." Scott Leckey
<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently passed a roadie whose drop handlebars were adorned with a rear-view (obviously....)
mirror. What do people think about the utility

of

Quoted message said:

such mirrors? Would a helmet-mounted mirror be more useful? If mirrors are appropriate, which make
& model?

All opinions gratefully received.

I ride a Trek 1400 road bike, mainly on rural day tours.

Scott Leckey

I've been using a mirror for over 20 years and I would feel most unsafe without it. I began cycling
as an adult when I was nearly 40 and I didn't use a mirror at first but one day I had an experience
that made me decide that I needed one. I was cycling along a very quiet road and I heard a car
approaching from behind. Since I (and the driver) could see for a long way ahead and there were no
oncoming cars in sight I didn't bother to look back. As the car passed me I was startled to see a
fool leaning far out the wondow on the passenger's side. He had attempted to swat me as the car
passed but either had missed or had a late attack of sense. Perhaps he just wanted to scare me by
making me think he nearly hit me. It seemed to me to be one of those situations where there were two
young males in the car and though either one would have been perfectly sensible if alone, when
together each has to try to show he can do something dumber than the other. In any event in that
moment I decided that I wanted to keep very good track of whatever was behind. A mirror is the best
way for me to do this because I can make very frequent checks much more easily than looking back
over my shoulder. I use a mirror that mounts to the bow (temple) of my eyeglasses. It is only 1"
accross but it is said to have the same field of view as a mirror 9" accross mounted on the bars. I
can turn my head to increase the field of view anytime I like while you can't turn the handlebars
with as much freedom. In fact since I live in the US I have my mirror on the left side of my glasses
but when I come to the UK I just leave it on that side because it works just fine even though I have
switched sides of the road. (my good eye is the left one) The glasses mounted mirror is less prone
to vibration than a handlebar mounted one and less likely to get bumped out of adjustment. It also
doesn't get broken if my parked bike falls over. There is available a type of mirror that mounts on
a helmet but they vibrate more and besides some people wear helmets and some don't.

Alas I don't think that the eyeglasses mount mirror is sold in the UK. The last several times I come
over for cycling trips some of my cycling companions have liked the idea of my mirror but even when
we stopped at every bike shop we came accross we couldn't find one. I've always given the mirror
away at the end of the trip. They aren't expensive (about 5 GBP). I have heard the story that the
first mirrors of this type were made from the mirrors that dentists use. That would be a pretty
expensive way to produce one I should think.

I have been asked how I can focus my eye on a mirror only an inch or two from my eye. The answer is
that I can't but I'm not looking at the mirror but rather at the image reflected in the mirror. It
the object whose image is being reflected is 15 feet behind then it's the same as looking at
something 15 feet away.

Anyway, I feel lots more comfortable with a mirror but to each his own.

Bob Taylor

[email hidden] (Robert Taylor) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Alas I don't think that the eyeglasses mount mirror is sold in the UK. The last several times I
come over for cycling trips some of my cycling companions have liked the idea of my mirror but
even when we stopped at every bike shop we came accross we couldn't find one. I've always given
the mirror away at the end of the trip. They aren't expensive (about 5 GBP).

We can always get them by mail order. I like the look of these and am tempted to try one myself. A
bit more than a fiver though at USD
14.95.

teamestrogen.comproducts.aspOpen ↗

--
Dave...

Robert Taylor said:

Alas I don't think that the eyeglasses mount mirror is sold in the UK.

You can get a glasses mounting 3rd Eye mirror from Kinetics:
kinetics.org.ukmirrors.htmlOpen ↗

I keep meaning to order one. One day perhaps I'll get round to it.

--
Danny Colyer (remove safety to reply) ( juggler.netdannyOpen ↗ ) Recumbent cycle page:
speedy5.freeserve.co.ukrecumbentsOpen ↗ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." -
Thomas Paine