... I've tried a variety of mirrors over the years... prefer to hone/use other senses (sight, feel, hear... even smell) to deal with obstacles (remember, not all issues are coming up your six)...
Bike mirror use and non use
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.
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.
21 - 40 of 93 Posts
Nobody has stated anything different than the "usual" arguments.
Ultimately, it boils down to preference.
Now, if someone could produce some statistics regarding a reduced rate of accidents in cyclists that use a mirror, the Pro-mirror group might have some traction for their cause.
Until then, my suggestion is to use a mirror if you like it and don't use a mirror if you don't like it.
There completely resolved, now back to your scheduled opinions...
Ultimately, it boils down to preference.
Now, if someone could produce some statistics regarding a reduced rate of accidents in cyclists that use a mirror, the Pro-mirror group might have some traction for their cause.
Until then, my suggestion is to use a mirror if you like it and don't use a mirror if you don't like it.
There completely resolved, now back to your scheduled opinions...
I love it how people who have never used mirrors are experts.
I spent decades riding without a mirror; now I have been riding with a small mirror on the bar end for 3 years; feel naked without it now. The mirror unquestionably helps with situational awareness and I would no more remove the mirror from my bicycle than I would the mirrors on my motorcycle; what is the difference; oh mirrors on motorcycles are not considered uncool.
I spent decades riding without a mirror; now I have been riding with a small mirror on the bar end for 3 years; feel naked without it now. The mirror unquestionably helps with situational awareness and I would no more remove the mirror from my bicycle than I would the mirrors on my motorcycle; what is the difference; oh mirrors on motorcycles are not considered uncool.
I use a homemade sunglass mount mirror. Works pretty well.
Maybe I just ride too fast, because with wind noise in my ears, I can't hear sh!t behind me. Cars are already passing me before I hear them.
If there is traffic in both directions, you don't know if you're hearing the car that just went in the opposite direction or if there is one behind you.
You can't hear if there are multiple cars behind you. They all sound the same.
Maybe I just ride too fast, because with wind noise in my ears, I can't hear sh!t behind me. Cars are already passing me before I hear them.
If there is traffic in both directions, you don't know if you're hearing the car that just went in the opposite direction or if there is one behind you.
You can't hear if there are multiple cars behind you. They all sound the same.
This x eleventy billion. I get so tired of the excuses for not wearing a mirror. Thanks for writing that. This comment is perfect "we simply didn't know that we needed to "turn our heads".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.
I've ridden with and behind lots of riders who turned their heads often and they turn their heads about 10% of the times I take a quick peek in my mirror. I see things happening way before the things catch them by surprise. It's laughable really. The "I use my ears" people really are funny. I can see cars & trucks approaching minutes before I hear them.
I just wish all the mirror poo-pooers could ride one ride with one of my home-made mirrors. I've ridden with one for decades (4?). Here's my latest one that I made last week for my new glasses. It's 3.5" long total, the glass is not quite 1.5cm square and it sits about 3mm from my sunglasses lens. It's so perfectly made for the glasses that it will go on that it will never need adjusting after I dial it in by bending the arm (two sets of needle nose pliers needed on a shake-down ride up & down the street).
No I won't (can't) make one for anyone reading this (I always get requests when I show one) as they are totally tailor fitted for each set of glasses and my position on the bike. This is the third frame I made until I got it dead right. I can see as much out of this as through my car rearview mirror. The pic of the mirror here is exactly the size of the real one.
It's also useful for checking out whether the guy sucking your wheel has hairy legs and a dork disc on his cassette. :thumbsup:I use one angled in such a way that I can check to see if my hydration pack is on straight!
:thumbsup:
My experience: About two years ago I had lasic eye surgery and now have 20/20 vision. Before that I wore contacts. However, for a little over a month before the surgery I had to wear glasses. I do not use a mirror.
During the period where I wore glasses, when I turned my head to look backward I could see next to nothing. I would turn my head just enough to look back, but my eyes were looking "behind" the lenses, and due to poor vision most of what I saw was a blur. In order to see I needed to really turn my head a lot further than I was needed to with contacts. After the surgery I was fine again looking rearward quickly.
If I wore glasses I'd probably use a mirror, as I really didn't feel that I saw much when I was looking back. However, without prescription glasses I'm comfortable without a mirror. I'm sure that people's preferences are partially based on how good their vision is.
During the period where I wore glasses, when I turned my head to look backward I could see next to nothing. I would turn my head just enough to look back, but my eyes were looking "behind" the lenses, and due to poor vision most of what I saw was a blur. In order to see I needed to really turn my head a lot further than I was needed to with contacts. After the surgery I was fine again looking rearward quickly.
If I wore glasses I'd probably use a mirror, as I really didn't feel that I saw much when I was looking back. However, without prescription glasses I'm comfortable without a mirror. I'm sure that people's preferences are partially based on how good their vision is.
I'd love to see a pic of yours mounted on the glasses.Here's my latest one that I made last week for my new glasses. It's 3.5" long total, the glass is not quite 1.5cm square and it sits about 3mm from my sunglasses lens. It's so perfectly made for the glasses that it will go on that it will never need adjusting after I dial it in by bending the arm (two sets of needle nose pliers needed on a shake-down ride up & down the street).
This is essentially what I do, custom fit to the glasses frame. I did the spoke/bottle cap design and can adjust the side to side angle.
This.Nobody has stated anything different than the "usual" arguments.
Ultimately, it boils down to preference.
Now, if someone could produce some statistics regarding a reduced rate of accidents in cyclists that use a mirror, the Pro-mirror group might have some traction for their cause.
Until then, my suggestion is to use a mirror if you like it and don't use a mirror if you don't like it.
There completely resolved, now back to your scheduled opinions...
Well said man, I was ridiculed on this site before, I mentionned I use a mirror because I am partially deaf, but hey its the same people that make fun of Oscar Pistorius, works for me, dont care about anything else.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...]
Whenever you are about to make a move that would potentially put you into the line of an approaching vehicle, you should turn your head and look. Mirror or no.
If using a mirror means that people get comfortable and forget/forgo the physical act of turning and looking - then that's a bad thing in my book.
If using a mirror means that people get comfortable and forget/forgo the physical act of turning and looking - then that's a bad thing in my book.
Here we go. The preload bend is very important and is, along with the exact fit of the wire to the arm, instrumental in the tightness of the fit which prevents it ever coming out of adjustment. As the mirror is so small, a tiny bit of movement would alter the view greatly.I'd love to see a pic of yours mounted on the glasses
I use the Take-A-Look on my glasses when riding my road bike. I have bar-end Mountain Mirrycles on my hybrid and utility bikes. I wouldn't ride without them. But like when driving, I always turn my head and check my blind spot before turning or changing lanes.
Thanks. That's essentially what mine looks like. I bent the rear "hook" into a loop. So if it gets bumped, it can't fall off the glasses. I'll have to post pics of mine tonight.Here we go. The preload bend is very important and is, along with the exact fit of the wire to the arm, instrumental in the tightness of the fit which prevents it ever coming out of adjustment. As the mirror is so small, a tiny bit of movement would alter the view greatly.
I like how your glasses have the red rubber on the arm. I'm sure that helps keep it secure as well. I have thought about putting a small piece of heat shrink on mine.
It helps having arms with some shape and size as too. I had a pair of glasses with basically thin round arms. There was no way to keep the mirror from spinning.
I use a mirror on long rides where eventually looking back will hurt, or when I'm riding with my wife and I don't want to accidentally drop her. Otherwise no. I find them distracting.
I had most of my neck fused last Sept. ('11) C3 to C7.This x eleventy billion. I get so tired of the excuses for not wearing a mirror. Thanks for writing that. This comment is perfect "we simply didn't know that we needed to "turn our heads".
I've ridden with and behind lots of riders who turned their heads often and they turn their heads about 10% of the times I take a quick peek in my mirror. I see things happening way before the things catch them by surprise. It's laughable really. The "I use my ears" people really are funny. I can see cars & trucks approaching minutes before I hear them.
I just wish all the mirror poo-pooers could ride one ride with one of my home-made mirrors. I've ridden with one for decades (4?). Here's my latest one that I made last week for my new glasses. It's 3.5" long total, the glass is not quite 1.5cm square and it sits about 3mm from my sunglasses lens. It's so perfectly made for the glasses that it will go on that it will never need adjusting after I dial it in by bending the arm (two sets of needle nose pliers needed on a shake-down ride up & down the street).
No I won't (can't) make one for anyone reading this (I always get requests when I show one) as they are totally tailor fitted for each set of glasses and my position on the bike. This is the third frame I made until I got it dead right. I can see as much out of this as through my car rearview mirror. The pic of the mirror here is exactly the size of the real one.
The fusion pretty much put an end to the 'no mirror' rides because turning my head side to side is somewhat limited now. Up until the surgery, I have been delaying using a mirror due to the 'Fred' factor despite being a safety 'Nazi'.
Well, those days of mirror-less rides are over because of my post-op condition and points that you've brought up and this thread in general. I've tried several mirrors in the past and they've all sucked due to quality issues. I've found a high quality mirror that has a 2.25" round mirror (Huge!). It screams Fred but so what. It's made by EVT (Efficient Velo Tools). There's a pic of an RBR member in another thread with one mounted on his helmet with him wearing it; it's huge arm and huge mirror. But once again, so what.
Because of this thread I'm picking up one today. Will poast pics when I mount it.
Here's a pic of it:
.
I don't use a mirror, and I don't doubt how useful they are... but around here they are very popular. What I don't like is that the type of cyclists that I've seen use them, all have very bad group etiquette, and are all over the road..I don't know if it's because the think they can see whats behind them??
So I do not want to be like them and will not wear one...and I'm also nervous about wearing a long metal spear beside my eyeballs when I'm riding downhill at over 60km;s per hour and then crashing .
I should mention that all the people that I know who have them buy them from some dude who reuses old spokes to make them.
So I do not want to be like them and will not wear one...and I'm also nervous about wearing a long metal spear beside my eyeballs when I'm riding downhill at over 60km;s per hour and then crashing .
I should mention that all the people that I know who have them buy them from some dude who reuses old spokes to make them.
That's because they're all freds.What I don't like is that the type of cyclists that I've seen use them, all have very bad group etiquette, and are all over the road..
What I do is right, what you do is wrong.
[\forum]
[\forum]
Good point.I use a mirror on long rides where eventually looking back will hurt, or when I'm riding with my wife and I don't want to accidentally drop her. Otherwise no. I find them distracting.
That's yet another reason why I'm buying a mirror. My son is now riding with me and I look back all the time to check on him and to see if I'm riding too fast. My neck starts to hurt half way through a 40 mile ride.
21 - 40 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.
Road Bike, Cycling Forums
A forum community dedicated to Road Bike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Recommended Communities
