I haven't seen a single person advocate that. On the contrary several people said you need to still look back as well when using a mirror. Just like when driving a car.I don't use a mirror and never have. I don't know if I could ever trust a mirror enough to cross into a lane or make a turn exclusively with one,
Hmmm swerving sounds quite dangerous. Esepcially if you're riding in a group and someone is crossing your tire.Turning your head does make the body and the bike swerve at times, even to the most seasoned veteran.
You're sort of getting it, but change "occasional glances back" to "frequent checks so you always know what's behind," and you may see the usefulness.I don't use a mirror and never have. I don't know if I could ever trust a mirror enough to cross into a lane or make a turn exclusively with one, I am used to turning my head. Turning your head does make the body and the bike swerve at times, even to the most seasoned veteran. I won't comment since I have never used one, but I can see where it would help with those occasional glances back in addition to turning your head to look.
I do!I haven't seen anyone claim they use a mirror to avoid a car coming up behind them.
This is an excellent point! Mirrors are great for lane control. You can take control of the lane way before you'd ever hear a car. If you can hear the car, it's likely too late to take control of the lane.Here's a story, and it has happened to me many times. I'm riding on a road with a narrow lane and little shoulder, so I'm riding in the middle of the lane to discourage overtaking motorists from passing too close for safety. I'm checking the mirror frequently, so I know if a car is coming up behind. On a blind spot (curve or hill), a car begins to attempt a pass, but I can see that there's oncoming traffic in the other lane. I put out my left arm, palm facing back, and move even further left in the lane. The overtaking car understands the "don't pass now" signal and stays behind me. As soon as there's a safe spot for the pass, I move over a little and signal them to come around. Often, I get a "thank you" wave from the driver. If they still try to pass too close for comfort, having the mirror allows me to move over at the opportune moment to create more space (if you move right too soon, some drivers will follow you over.)
What's really disturbing is the number of people who've never used a mirror, yet insist they're pointless.YMMV. I don't try to persuade experienced riders that they should use a mirror, but I do get annoyed when people discourage new riders from even trying them, when they base their arguments on false premises.
:thumbsup:Another thing I like about mirrors is that they allow me to be aware of what's behind me without having to constantly turn my head. This comes in handy on popular cycling routes, because if I notice a faster cyclist approaching me from the rear, I can move over and out of their way before they have to swerve around me.
I really liked having the mirror when another female cyclist slowly caught up to me on a climb and sat on my wheel for quite a while before passing. I'm not sure I would have noticed her without the mirror. If someone is on my wheel I want to be aware of it at all times.
I'm actually a female cyclist myself, but usually get passed by men much more often than women. Most women around here don't seem to be interested in suffering up hills like I am, so being passed by another woman on a climb is a rarity.:thumbsup:
I'm not a fast rider, and consequently get passed regularly. Without a mirror I wouldn't know an unannounced rider will suddenly be right next to me. "On your left" seems to be the exception, rather than the rule.
I get passed by female cyclists, too. Some of them are pretty damn fast!
Why wouldn't you be riding as far to the right as possible, consistent with safety, to start with?Another thing I like about mirrors is that they allow me to be aware of what's behind me without having to constantly turn my head. This comes in handy on popular cycling routes, because if I notice a faster cyclist approaching me from the rear, I can move over and out of their way before they have to swerve around me.
I really liked having the mirror when another female cyclist slowly caught up to me on a climb and sat on my wheel for quite a while before passing. I'm not sure I would have noticed her without the mirror. If someone is on my wheel I want to be aware of it at all times.
Because that's where all the glass and rocks wind up.Why wouldn't you be riding as far to the right as possible, consistent with safety, to start with?
ditto....Make no decision about cycling based on what anybody thinks about how one is supposed to look. Unfortunately too many are worried about what someone else thinks instead of safety or common sense.
I think a mirror is a necessity, but I'm also the guy who runs flashing front and rear lights at all times. I'm sure some laugh at me, but I'd rather look stupid to some cyclists than not be as safe as possible.
Umm no that is completely contrary to safety and contrary to the law.Why wouldn't you be riding as far to the right as possible, consistent with safety, to start with?
Generally there are bicycle-specific statutes requiring us to ride as close to the right as practicable. “Practicable” means that, if the law in your area requires it, you must ride as far to the right as can reasonably be accomplished under the conditions. It does not mean that you must ride as far to the right as possible, although police will often interpret it that way. “As far as possible” may not be reasonable, because it may not be safe, whereas “as far as practicable” means essentially “as far as is safe.”
In the Uniform Vehicle Code (a suggested standard for states; actual state laws may vary), cyclists are required to ride “as close as practicable” to the right if they are riding “at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing.” So if a cyclist can keep up with traffic, then he or she can legally ride in any lane. If a group of cyclists are the only vehicles on the road, then they are setting the speed of traffic. But for common courtesy and good public relations, they should ride as close to the right as is safe when cars would like to pass.
There are exceptions to this rule—for example, when the cyclist is passing another cyclist or preparing to make a left turn. And the code elaborates on hazards that make riding to the right less feasible, such as “fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard-width lanes.” Also, on a one-way road with two or more lanes, a cyclist may choose instead to ride as close to the left as practicable.
So who decides how close to the edge is safe? You do, although your decision needs to be reasonable. For example, near parked cars, you determine how close to the “door zone,” the area where doors would be a hazard if suddenly opened, you can safely ride. You determine if broken glass or a narrow lane poses a threat that justifies riding farther to the left. You are not required to ride to the right and weave at the last moment to avoid hazards; that would be unsafe. Instead, choose a road position that allows you to ride a straight, predictable line, as close to the right as is safe.
What happens if a police officer decides that your road position is not legal? Because the officer’s determination is as subjective as yours, a court will need to make a judgment. State laws vary, but one thing is clear—you have the right to the road, and with that comes the right to make reasonable decisions about your safety.
Where You Belong | Road Rights | Bicycling.com
According to the PA bicycle drivers manual.
Bicycle Information, Pennsylvania Bicycle Driver's Manual - Chapter 2: Where to Ride on the Road
WHERE IS THE ROAD EDGE?
Normally, slower traffic keeps to the right, and faster traffic passes on the left. Since your bicycle is usually slower than other traffic, you usually ride near the right edge of the road. But how far to the right?
Generally, the usable width of the road begins where you can ride without increased danger of falls, jolts or blowouts. A road may have a gravel shoulder, its edge may be covered with sand or trash or the pavement may be broken. Don't ride there. Closer to the center, there's better pavement, which is swept clean of sand and debris by the passing cars. The right side of the road begins here.
I am when there's traffic anywhere near, but on a MUP or very lightly traveled road, I will move over a little more to the left. On MUPs people typically ride in the center of the lane.Why wouldn't you be riding as far to the right as possible, consistent with safety, to start with?
replace 'possible' with 'practical' and you might be on to something...Why wouldn't you be riding as far to the right as possible, consistent with safety, to start with?
Excellent point.replace 'possible' with 'practical' and you might be on to something...
Yes, the negative mirror people almost always have to resort to cheap put-downs to make themselves feel good about their choice. Then they come out with negatives that don't even make sense as they haven't any knowledge based on actual experience. I've been using my home-made stealth mirrors for very close to 40 years of riding, training and racing and I've yet to find one actual negative with their use. How come the negative put-down artists can come up with all kinds of negativism based on no usage and personal experience? Kinda tells us just how much their opinion are worth doesn't it?The most telling aspect of this thread is those belittling a mirror or negating its utility mostly admit to never using one, never seeing the need for one, and never intending to use one, while those who are proponents of using mirrors appear to be cyclists who have used them.
Yeah, we spend about 10% of the time the "head turners" use don't we? A quick glance in the mirrors is all that's needed. Actually, unless they have necks like owls, they can't look behind with just a neck swivel. All they can do without turning the whole upper body is a "shoulder check" and that only tells them who's on their hip.With this thread in mind, as I rode 35 rural miles this morning, I gave thought to how momentarily my vision was diverted to my mirror, giving me complete situational awareness of the 1/4 mile behind me, without any real distraction regarding the riders, road and conditions in front of me. When I turned my head I spent considerably more time unable to observe to my front.
I ride in an area with trailer trucks and roads having dual lanes on each side. Posted speeds in some areas are over 50 mph with really terrible debris and high storm drains and gutters. It's as if they paved one pass of tarmac and forgot to repave at the height of the storm drains themselves. [Storms stick up 3-5 inches above road line] Very dangerous sections of roadway. I use the dot mirror on the inside of the eye wear too. Excellent. Amazingly transparent and seamless while riding. I dare not to turn a head around because of the bad road shoulders in front of me. In these cases this type of mirror warns me of up coming trailer truck traffic. We've has cyclist killed on these roads many times over the years.This. Best $15 I ever spent on cycling gear. Stealth and works like a charm. No dental tool hanging off my helmet or goofy bar-end mirror. I thought it might be distracting to my forward vision before I tried it but it is no more so than the rear view mirror on your car's windshield.
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"possible, consistent with safety" = "practical" IMO.replace 'possible' with 'practical' and you might be on to something...
