REVIEWS EDITORIAL DEALS

Bike mirror use and non use

12452 Views 92 Replies 49 Participants Last post by mmlee, Aug 16, 2012

Bill Bikie

Discussion Starter · Aug 13, 2012 (Edited)

Whether I'm cycling on a highway shoulder, in urban traffic, or on a group training ride, I find a cycling mirror to be indepensable. When I'm on a group ride I'm surprised by the few riders that use them.

Before totally bashing the idea of wearing one, see if you can try one first. you may have to borrow a friends.

Ok now, let's hear your pros and cons. I'm curious and eager to respond.

1 - 20 of 93 Posts

ddimick

· #2 · Aug 14, 2012

Is it time for this thread again? I guess it's been a couple months. All the arguments for and against I've seen can be boiled down to this:

Pro: You tend to see whatever is behind you more frequently than you would by turning your head, and you can do so without completely losing sight of what's in front of you.

Con: It's not necessary because you have a neck. Turning your head and looking may communicate your intentions better.

Both are correct. Weigh your choices according to preference.

woodys737

· #3 · Aug 14, 2012

My Dad and a few of his riding buddies use mirrors that stick into the bar end. The only thing it's good for is to see whether or not you are dropping the guy behind you or not. Using it for traffic was useless ime. Some use them attached to the helmet which seems to be a little better.

I ride urban and suburb type roads with tons of cars and debris on the road. I don't ride on roads w/o a lane and have found the most dangerous facet to my type of terrain is parked cars, cars blind spots and debris. Too long to explain but looking ahead and anticipating traffic is really important. I believe seeing a car in a mirror does nothing to help safety im my situation as well as my Dad's. I really have no idea why they use them as the majority of incidents they encounter are self made like overcorrecting for a twig and swerving needlessly into traffic or causing a buddy to swerve. Not looking where they are going and hitting a pot hole. Not making small line corrections soon enough for gravel/sand avoidance. Assuming cars see them. Assuming a stopped car will stay stopped. Not being able to properly use their equipement like clipping into a pedal at a stop light and holding up traffic needlessly. On and on. It would be comical but many of the mistakes they make are dangerous. For these riders and many more I suspect mirrors are a distraction. In general they ride with the mindset like they are a car and are unable to understand there are times when it's safest to ride offensively and others very defensively.

Just my opinion. Be careful out there!

See less See more

Lije Baley

· #4 · Aug 14, 2012

It's not like we're using the mirror to comb our hair, or watch the kids in the back seat. I picked one up (Take-a-look) a few months ago, when I returned to riding. It attaches to my glasses, and with a quick upward look to the left, I can see what's coming up behind me. I barely take my eyes from the road. I find it far safer than rotating my head to look over my shoulder. On our rural roads, it's indispensable.

N184PM

· #5 · Aug 14, 2012

I have one on my helmet. I've had it for 52,000 miles now. I like it and I don't care what others think about how I look.

Schlitzer

· #6 · Aug 14, 2012

ddimick said:
Is it time for this thread again? I guess it's been a couple months. All the arguments for and against I've seen can be boiled down to this:

Pro: You tend to see whatever is behind you more frequently than you would by turning your head, and you can do so without completely losing sight of what's in front of you.

Con: It's not necessary because you have a neck. Turning your head and looking may communicate your intentions better.

Both are correct. Weigh your choices according to preference.

^^^ 'zactly

Oxtox

· #7 · Aug 14, 2012

neither I nor any of my riding partners use a mirror.

my eyes, rotatable head, and hearing provide all the situational awareness needed to assess what's behind me.

Mr. Versatile

· #8 · Aug 14, 2012

I never used one for the 1st 20-25 years after I started riding. Now, after wearing one for 20-25 years I wouldn't want to be without it. They're easy to mount on your helmet, glasses, or bars. About the only thing that can be said against using them is that some people think that a mirror makes you look like a geek.. Ignore them and do what you want.

Camilo

· #9 · Aug 14, 2012

I've never used one and have no reason to try one. 40 years road riding.

AndreyT

· #10 · Aug 14, 2012

You will get the standard barrage of false logic, claiming that a mirror cab be replaced with "turning your head". This hopelessly fake logic ignores the simple fact that turning your head is a conscious action, which you have to initiate yourself. This alone already negates most of its usefulness: unfortunately problems often catch up with us at those moments when we simply didn't know that we needed to "turn our heads". If the cyclists had this sort of divine foresight, the number of car vs. bicycle accidents would've been at least a million times smaller.

The point of the mirror, on the other hand, is to be present in your peripheral field of view at all times. A mirror, even a small one, very reliably warns a bicyclist about a car approaching from behind in situations when the car is easily discernible on the background. It works especially well for cars with daytime running lights. This sort of detection requires no conscious action on the cyclist's part, which is the whole point of a mirror as a warning device.

Insisting that it can be somehow replaced with "turning your head" is an obvious and rather laughable demagogy. The only way to achieve the same level of backward awareness by "turning your head" is to look backwards at all times. Needless to say, this is not the healthiest way to ride.

The only thing that can replace a mirror on a bike ridden on public roads is that proverbial magic "crystal ball", which can tell when you need to "turn your head". Unfortunately, the don't seem to make these in any noticeable numbers.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Peter_Klim

· #11 · Aug 14, 2012

I don't have one, but have been thinking about getting one for a while.

I have a herniate disk in my neck, so turning my head back puts a lot of stress pain there.

It's pretty funny when people post these questions about Fred stuff and you get replies from people who don't do the Fred stuff. It's like you can tell in their tone that they think it is stupid and they are better than those who do the Fred. Should all car manufacturers remover rear and side mirrors from vehicles just because you can turn your head to look out the rear windshields???

uphillcrash

· #12 · Aug 14, 2012

Tried a friend's helmet mirror year's ago ,rode up the road with his helmet on checking the mirror saw a car with its indicator on behind me driving out by the center line and the side street not 20 meters in front of me ,so I slowed down and shore enough he turn into the side street before I got there ,had I not slowed down I would of been taken out by that car .I turned around an went back to my friend's house and gave his helmet back and went to the bike shop for my mirror .Now after having my neck broken I need my mirror as I have limited movement in my neck .There are lots of mirror options out there helmet mirror , bar end or down tube mirror try them they do bring another safety dimension to cycling

cda 455

· #13 · Aug 14, 2012

AndreyT said:
You will get the standard barrage of false logic, claiming that a mirror cab be replaced with "turning your head". This hopelessly fake logic ignores the simple fact that turning your head is a conscious action, which you have to initiate yourself. This alone already negates most of its usefulness: unfortunately problems often catch up with us at those moments when we simply didn't know that we needed to "turn our heads". If the cyclists had this sort of divine foresight, the number of car vs. bicycle accidents would've been at least a million times smaller.

The point of the mirror, on the other hand, is to be present in your peripheral field of view at all times. A mirror, even a small one, very reliably warns a bicyclist about a car approaching from behind in situations when the car is easily discernible on the background. It works especially well for cars with daytime running lights. This sort of detection requires no conscious action on the cyclist's part, which is the whole point of a mirror as a warning device.

Insisting that it can be somehow replaced with "turning your head" is an obvious and rather laughable demagogy. The only way to achieve the same level of backward awareness by "turning your head" is to look backwards at all times. Needless to say, this is not the healthiest way to ride.

The only thing that can replace a mirror on a bike ridden on public roads is that proverbial magic "crystal ball", which can tell when you need to "turn your head". Unfortunately, the don't seem to make these in any noticeable numbers.

Well said :thumbsup: .

RJP Diver

· #14 · Aug 14, 2012

I use one angled in such a way that I can check to see if my hydration pack is on straight!

:thumbsup:

Rip Van Cycle

· #15 · Aug 14, 2012

ddimick said:
Con: It's not necessary because you have a neck.

More than a (functioning) neck, I think it's significant that you have (functioning) ears. Spend any consequential time out on the road and you quickly develop a preternatural ability to hear traffic approaching from behind- even fellow cyclists. [Assuming, of course, you have the good sense to leave the i-pod at home.]

That said, if a mirror works for you, Bill, and makes you feel more secure, carry on. I won't sneer at you. [Well... I might sneer at you if I see you with ear-buds... but otherwise, rock on...]

looigi

· #16 · Aug 14, 2012

Mirrors on a bike serve the same purpose as on motorcycles and cars. They facilitate maintaining awareness of the traffic behind which helps when you need to move into the lane to avoid obstacles or debris on the shoulder, avoid the door zone, take the lane in preparation for turning left, etc.. They are required by law in motor vehicles but not on bicycles. Whether you chose to avail yourself of their capabilities is up to you.

NJBiker72

· #17 · Aug 14, 2012

Bill Bikie said:
Whether I'm cycling on a highway shoulder, in urban traffic, or on a group training ride, I find a cycling mirror to be indepensable. When I'm on a group ride I'm surprised by the few riders that use them.

Before totally bashing the idea of wearing one, see if you can try one first. you may have to borrow a friends.

Ok now, let's hear your pros and cons. I'm curious and eager to respond.

I have one on my winter/rain/Fred bike.

I thought it was a great idea for traffic and to keep an eye on my teammates in a charity ride.

Can't stand it.

Everytime I get out of the saddle I bump it. Then need to adjust it. Plus it is a different angle in the drops vs hoods or if upright or on a deep tuck.

Just glance back and stay alert.

scorchedearth

· #18 · Aug 14, 2012

Lije Baley said:
It's not like we're using the mirror to comb our hair, or watch the kids in the back seat. I picked one up (Take-a-look) a few months ago, when I returned to riding. It attaches to my glasses, and with a quick upward look to the left, I can see what's coming up behind me. I barely take my eyes from the road. I find it far safer than rotating my head to look over my shoulder. On our rural roads, it's indispensable.

I bought the same mirror for commuting a couple of months ago and find it quite useful. It isn't distracting and serves its purpose well.

JCavilia

· #19 · Aug 14, 2012

I use them; I like them; I find them useful.

My advice: try one, and give it a fair test (several rides, of varying lengths, in varying traffic and road conditions) before you decide whether it's useful to you. It takes some practice to use them effectively. I think it's worth the effort.

I suggest trying the helmet- or glasses-mounted type first, as they give the best field of view and are not affected by position on the bike. They're best, IF you can get the hang of them. I can't, because my strong nearsighteness causes too much distortion at the edge of my glasses. So I use one mounted on the end of the drop bars. Even in that relatively awkward position, I find it very useful, and it makes me a better and safer rider in traffic.

If you decide you don't like them, or find them unnecessary or a nuisance, it's your choice. But give it an honest test.

larryinpa

· #20 · Aug 14, 2012

I'm legally blind in my left eye, which makes turning my head useless. The mirror attached to my helmet also doesn't work as its needed on the left side. Having a mirror on the bar end is my only viable solution and a necessity.

1 - 20 of 93 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.