Road Cycling - How do I mount & adjust a helmet mounted mirror?

I just got a helmet mounted mirror.

Usually, I use handlebar mounted mirrors which are nice.

On my favorite road bike with drop style handlebars, I can't mount a mirror because I have end mounted shifters.

I am trying a helmet mounted mirror for the first time. It is difficult to get just right - in fact, I can't seem to get it just right.

Can anybody give me some pointers on getting it mounted in the correct position and adjusting it correctly.

Hoping for some help on this one.

Well, all I can tell you is what worked for me!
I mounted my mirror to the inside of the helmet, left side, forward of where my ear is. As far as adjusting it goes, I have it set so I can just see the edge of my ear, and the mirror is just left of my straight ahead field of view. I wear glasses, and the mirror is all the way up in the upper left hand corner of the left lens. For me, it makes sense to be able to see your ear or your back or something in the view so you have a visual reference of exactly where something is in relationship to you.
Hope this helps!

Nebill's got the straight scoop, as usual.

The big (actually tiny) problem with helmet-mounted mirrors is that when you go into Burger King and put your helmet down on the table, it's apt to louse up your positioning. But that's why it's on swivels.

If your helmet mirror mount fails eventually, don't despair. Just reglue the thing into the helmet with contact cement, hot glue, or double-faced foam tape (available at Radio Shack or hardware stores).

If it's got the Velcro mount, I'd go ahead and change over to glue at the very beginning. The Velcro mount, in my opinion, is next to worthless. Too much jiggle potential.

Why not use an eyeglass-mounted mirror? I like those ever so much better than the helmet kind, even though they give a much smaller field of view.

mike,

I adjust mine like nebill except that mine mounts outside of the helmet with an adhesive pad. The key is "just barely" being able to see the edge of your ear when lining up the road/traffic behind you.
BTW, where did you buy it? Didn't they offer any explanation?

Ron

In case any elephant cyclists read this thread, it should be stated that elephants may have to adjust so that they view more than just the outer edge of their ear.

The big problem I have is that sometimes I wear glasses. When I do and adjust the mirror, it falls outside the field of vision.

I am having a terrible time with this contraption. Nebill's advise of putting the mount close to my eye helped.

Is it normal to have to move your head position to see, or are you supposed to be able to just glance at the mirror and see all the heavenly glory behind you?

Actually Mike, I have adjusted it both ways. As a longtime driver, I am used to looking to the left to use the rearview mirror, so for a while I had it adjusted that way. Now, I just set it so I can look at it and get the view without turning my head.
Speaking of heavenly glory, the other morning I was riding, and the sun was already up a little way. But, as I was rocketing (well, for me!) down a hill, I looked in the mirror, and got to see the sunrise all over again! Ir really looked great, and made the ride just a little better!

Mike, since your glasses are causing a problem, I really hope you will try an eyeglass-mount mirror, preferably an all-metal one (the plastic ones break almost immediately and have to be jury-rigged together again).

As for adjustment (either helmet- or eyeglass-mounted) I freely change my adjustment depending on traffic conditions, or just to give me a change of pace. Sometimes I have the mirror where I don't have to turn my head at all, and sometimes where I have to move my head slightly to the left to get the view. I usually find it most comfortable to have a fairly large portion of my ear visible, and part of my shoulder as well. I can still see everything that counts, because the road immediately in back of me doesn't matter--I was just there a split second earlier!

Hi Mike,
Forget the helmet mirror and get a glasses mounted one. I break off the part that mounts on the glasses and this leaves just the main arm and one swivle in front of the mirror. I use electric tape to tape the arm to the side of my glasses. This makes for a very stable mount without a lot of room for the mirror to move. I have used it this way for 8000 miles and its works great. Several others have gotten rid of the silly weak mounts and taped em to the glasses .
I would not anymore ride without a mirror than a helmet.

Ride Safe....Dudley