Advocacy & Safety - What is the best rear view mirror out there?

Helmet mirror? Handle bar mirror?

One that you'll use.

Some folks swear by helmet mirrors... others by handle bar mirrors.

Hate to say it, but spend some money and see what works for you.

One that you'll use.

Some folks swear by helmet mirrors... others by handle bar mirrors.

Hate to say it, but spend some money and see what works for you.


This is not the Droid I was looking for.

OK, I like my handle bar mirror... Mirrycle. Try that.

I use the Take-a-Look mirror attached to my sunglasses.

Don't leave home without it.

OK, I like my handle bar mirror... Mirrycle. Try that.

Second this. The Mountain Mirrycle rocks; if you want to try a handlebar mirror, you won't find a better one.

I use a handle bar mirror, but even if I wanted to change, I am forced into it. I have limited vision in my left eye, so mounting a mirror where I rely exclusively on my left eye doesn't do the job for me... I can look at the handlebar mounted mirror and get a better view.

This is the best i have found. I have used it for over 10,000 miles and would be lost without it. It is very rugged and looks better than most.

http://www.rei.com/product/2382.htm?

http://images.rei.com/media/605686Lrg.jpg

Second this. The Mountain Mirrycle rocks; if you want to try a handlebar mirror, you won't find a better one.
same here. I just got it cuz the bike shop that shipped my bike up to school broke my other mirror (got it at Wal-Mart). The MM seems to be pretty good.

I use the Take-a-Look mirror attached to my sunglasses.

Don't leave home without it.

I will second the Take-a-Look mirror recommendation and I'll tell you why. It stays relatively steady in relation to your eye. Both helmet and bar mounted mirrors vibrated and moved around too much. Other glasses mounted mirrors weighed too much. The Take-a-Look gives a wide field of view also.

The glasses mounted mirrors provide a wider field of view because slight movement of the head allows you to scan a wide angle behind you.

One more vote for Take-a-Look. Mine is helmet mounted.

I tried the helmet mounted mirrors, but just couldn't get used to them. They never worked for me.

There are quite a number of good and affordable mirrors for mountain bikes these days, but less for road bikes. I think that is ironic - mirrors for mountain bikes (watch out for that squirrel behind you).

Of course, road bike mirrors exist, but the selection is limited.

I've tried the Blackburn mirror that attaches to the brake hood and it vibrates too much to be usefull, tried the helmet mirror but my bifocals just can't focus fast enough with it even though I use the same mirror on a cap for running just fine. The bar end mirror mounted on the left works great on my road bike.

I have Zefal Spy mirrors on each of my bar extensions and a Chuck Harris Ultralite mirror on my helmet. None of them vibrate and all give me a good look behind. What I miss with one I can see with another.

Tried the Take-a-Look after reading numerous reviews here on the forums. Hated it. When positioned so that I could see behind me,it partially blocked my view when I would look back over my left shoulder. Plus I had to concentrate too much on that little spot and take my eyes off the road ahead for too long.

I'm looking into a bar-end mirror. I've used mirrors for years on motorcycles,so that's pretty much what I'm used to.

I will second the Take-a-Look mirror recommendation and I'll tell you why. It stays relatively steady in relation to your eye. Both helmet and bar mounted mirrors vibrated and moved around too much. Other glasses mounted mirrors weighed too much. The Take-a-Look gives a wide field of view also.

Depends. I bought a take-a-look mirror on recommendations here. However, for me it is so bouncy it's basically unusable. I wear eyeglasses with Flexon frames, the arms are almost round, very tiny and flexible. The mirror doesn't grab it well at all. I tried the helmet adaptor, but the mirror doesn't stay on well for me, plus in the winter the adaptor plastic gets too hard and the mirror keeps falling off. And the helmet positioning is too close, and my goggles hit it.

I've got a CycleAware Reflex coming tomorrow, I'm going to give that a try. It seems well liked as well.

I have a bar end mirror on as well; that way I always have a mirror on, even if I forget the top mirror, or if I just want to buzz down the neighborhood without having to go inside and find my mirror.

There are two versions of this mirror: regular and compact. The regular one is a little bigger in terms of mirror size and the "boom" length; it works well with helmet mounts; the compact works well with glasses and has a smaller mirror. I have had both of them mounted on my helmet visor and have had no issues in terms of rear visibility or blocked view. It takes a couple of days to get used to it though.

Tried the Take-a-Look after reading numerous reviews here on the forums. Hated it. When positioned so that I could see behind me,it partially blocked my view when I would look back over my left shoulder. Plus I had to concentrate too much on that little spot and take my eyes off the road ahead for too long.

I'm looking into a bar-end mirror. I've used mirrors for years on motorcycles,so that's pretty much what I'm used to.

I use the Take-a-Look mirror attached to my sunglasses.

Don't leave home without it.

Nice to agree with Helmet Head wholeheartedly for once. ;) Seriously, I'm a Take-a-Look convert. I originally got it to keep track of my better half during a recent century and took out commuting a couple of times for practice using it. I can't say that I've used it on rides with my road bike, but I take it every day for commuting, for sure!

Have not found a good only one mirror.

I use the mirror imaged by Ranger but it has problems: 1. hard to use when right eye dominant, 2. often needs adjustment during ride. It just doesn't hold position. I think it's the pop up option that is causing the slip. And 3, there are many blind spots. It is good for showing you how far away something is.

The second mirror I use is the ultra light from performance. It is great in mounting and no vibration. It gives you a view of the entire road. Disadvantage: it's a curved mirror instead of flat so distances are distorted.

Still looking for the perfect one mirror. It's fall now, one of my riding guys has take a look mirror, and looks ok, at least better than the one referenced by Ranger. But in fall I don't wear glasses, so no place to attach it.

And the search goes on.....

Depends. I bought a take-a-look mirror on recommendations here. However, for me it is so bouncy it's basically unusable. I wear eyeglasses with Flexon frames, the arms are almost round, very tiny and flexible. The mirror doesn't grab it well at all. I tried the helmet adaptor, but the mirror doesn't stay on well for me, plus in the winter the adaptor plastic gets too hard and the mirror keeps falling off. And the helmet positioning is too close, and my goggles hit it.I use the Take-A-Look and think its great. However, you're right, it doesn't attach well if you have wire rim glasses. I use the adapter. Had to eventually glue it to the side of the helmet shell using gorilla glue (the little glue tabs don't grip that well). This seems to work very well. I'm thinking that you may have to tweak the gripping elements for a tighter fit to accomodate those ultra cold Michigan winters.

Another thing is, that when properly adjusted, these mirrors (and the 3rd eyes) will show part of your face (usually an earlobe or sideburn). I think a lot of people using these expect to see completely around their head somehow. With just a slight head movement you can scan everything behind you.

What brand of goggles are you using? Where did you get them? Do they work well? Sometimes it seems like if you bike you're expected to have perfect vision or something.


I have a bar end mirror on as well; that way I always have a mirror on, even if I forget the top mirror, or if I just want to buzz down the neighborhood without having to go inside and find my mirror.The Take-A-Look pretty much lives with my helmet. And I don't leave home without the helmet

I have Zefal Spy mirrors on each of my bar extensions and a Chuck Harris Ultralite mirror on my helmet. None of them vibrate and all give me a good look behind. What I miss with one I can see with another.

I also have the Zefal Spy Mirror on my road bike. It's on the frame under the handlebars - all I do is look down and I get a view between my legs. I like it becasue it doesn't stick out far and gives me a good view behind. There is a blind spot, but it's about where my peripheal vision picks up.

There are quite a number of good and affordable mirrors for mountain bikes these days, but less for road bikes. I think that is ironic - mirrors for mountain bikes (watch out for that squirrel behind you).Maybe because the roadies are obsessed with weight?? Like spending $20 extra for a carbon bottle cage that weighs 20 grams less. I haven't figured that one out yet.

What brand of goggles are you using? Where did you get them? Do they work well?

I use VisorGogs from Lab Safety Supply. $7.50 each. They go over glasses well and don't steam up too badly.

www.labsafety.com - they have a bunch of goggles for cheap, including tinted versions.

Hey boozergut... see why I said "one you'll use?" The opinions vary widely here, but the bottom line is that a mirror you are comfortable with and will use, is the "best" mirror for you.

I just recently got a mirror, but it seems I'm spending all my time adjusting it and can't seem to get used to it.

Does this pass?

I just got a "take a look" helmet/eyeglass mirror. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018Z8A80/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00012343C&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0ERERRSJ9Y01Q3KVDC3Q) It was slightly disconcerting today, but the ride home was much easier than the ride out. I started feeling nauseous because I kept looking at it lol. Great view though, if you can get past the first ride of disorientation.

If you're riding a lot in commercial urban areas, the storefront windows make excellent mirrors, with a really wide field of view.

I use the Take-A-Look and think its great. However, you're right, it doesn't attach well if you have wire rim glasses... With just a slight head movement you can scan everything behind you.

What brand of goggles are you using?...

The Take-A-Look pretty much lives with my helmet. And I don't leave home without the helmet

10+ for Take-a-Look, but for me as an eyeglass mirror. I wear prescription glasses with flat wire eyepieces and the Take-a-Look works fine. IMO eyeglass mounted mirrors are the best because I think they require the least head/eye movement to take a rearview sighting and thus keep your vision most focused on the road ahead. Plus the rear view is always with you, unlike when you stand on the pedals with a handlebar mirror.

I am also a big advocate of safety goggles for extra eye protection in the cold weather. IMO, as opposed to ski goggles, they provide a wide, clear windscreen and are wide open with excellent ventilation to prevent fogging, and they have a rigid eyepiece to hold the eyeglass mirror, rather than the flexible elastic band of ski goggles. And they are much cheaper.

This one is awesome:

http://www.novitatech.com/Images/truck_mirror.gif

Handlebar mirrors vibrate with every little bump in the road, and you can't pan from side to side like a mirror mounted on your head.
Helmet mirrors move with the slightest movement of the helmet if its straps aren't tightly adjusted.
My favorite is an eyeglass mounted mirror, and this is my favorite. http://www.safetysportmirror.com/
This one is small and lightweight, and there is no vibration.
I may be biased; I like it so well I recently bought the company. Just read the review page.

Wayne Donohue

Take-A-Look for me (one for each helmet) (wet, dry, and spare). I add a rubberband to keep the thing from getting knocked off though. I wrap it around the helmet's visor several times until the mirror is firmly attached.

Especially if you ride a bent, the handle bar mounted mirror is probably better. They do not require you to re-focus your vision as much as a helmet mirror does.

I have a cheap-o handlebar (HB) convex mirror. I find that the convex radius is too much as the cars, when visible in the mirror, are too close to be able to do anything. I also have another HB mirror from Harbor Cycles (sp?) that is a plain mirror and the field of vision is too small at HB distance, even for a 3" dia mirror. So, the ideal mirror needs to be slightly convex to cover greater field of vision than a plain mirror. I am going to try the Schwinn HB mirror that fits around the grip with welcro.

I like this handle bar mounted mirror, and I don't own the company. Don't even know who made it, but bought it new in Germany over 10 years ago for 20DM (about $10.)

I started out with the Cycleaware Reflex which was good until it broke after much use. Now I use the EVT Safe Zone mirror which has a huge surface area which is nice. I adjust mine so it's not really close to my face, about 1/3 of the area shows my shoulder, and my ear is just out of the view. That gives me the most view with the least amount of head or eye turn.

I love my take-a-look mirror. It really needs a good, flat temple on your glasses to be stable. I tried handlebar mirrors, but could never get them to stay aimed correctly. With the TAL, just move your head to aim...

I use the Take-a-Look mirror attached to my sunglasses.

Don't leave home without it.

+1

They aren't much for looks but high on function.

I have the Take-A-Look type, and I use the EVO mirrors from Calhoun Cycle on my handlebars. I just got a Safe Zone helmet mount mirror. This is a large mirror, and I'll be trying it out on the new ProViz Saturn helmet I got today.

i've tried a bunch, and this is what works for me - http://www.amazon.com/Safe-Zone-Bicycle-Helmet-Mirror/dp/B003LVHZ4O/

no sharp edges to slice up my face in a crash, and it fits well on a skate/bike helmet. i highly recommend it. i feel naked without it.

that said, you'll probably buy a few mirrors that you hate before finding one mirror that you like.