Commuting - How would you solve this problem?

1. I need a mirror. I ride in traffic and make lots of left turns.
2. Helmet mirrors do not work for me.
3. I do not want to lose any hand positions.
4. I do not want to feel anything mirror-related under my hands when I ride. In other words, I don't want to know I have a mirror unless I'm looking at it.
5. I ride without gloves.
6. I have bar-end shifters and drop bars.

So far I have not found a product that works for me. May need to DIY. Any ideas?

I like this mirror. The nylon strap will be under your left hand when riding on the hoods, but it's inconsequential. Nice wide field of view, and you won't lose any hand positions.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=14656&item=40-1172&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

Odd to see "Blackburn" and "fragile" together. I found a similar one, made by Rhode Gear, at Goodwill once, and it's a great drop-bar setup. You can see it in this picture:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/boysrus/185_8504.jpg
Don't know where you'd find one, though.

Take-A-Look mirror made in the USA. Fits on the temple of your sun/glasses.
Fully adjustable. Been using one for a dozen years.

I tried the blackburn road mirror that commuterrun recommends, and personally really disliked it. It seemed not to mount securely, and limited my comfortable hand positions.

I really like the Mirrycle but I notice you have bar ends...

The only thing I can think of that fits your requirements is a frame-mounted mirror.

http://www.pedaltheplanet.com/mmPTP/Images/MIRR0012.jpg
Ortlieb Ultra Lite Bike Mirror

I would say the Delta Insight mirror. It mounted to the top tube or the down tube, but I don't think they are still made.

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Extras/product_86259.jpg

I tried the blackburn road mirror that commuterrun recommends, and personally really disliked it. It seemed not to mount securely, and limited my comfortable hand positions.


I almost always ride in the drops but when I do ride on the hoods, I don't even notice its there (I do not ride with gloves either). If you had the little piece that the velcro loops through on the top of the hood, I could see how it would be uncomfortable. If you position the loop on the inside of the hood, you wont notice unless you're looking for it. It wobbles a bit if your ride is bumpy, but doesn't lose its position unless something actually hits the mirror. I broke one in a mild wreck and bought another. I like it.

It also comes off (and goes on) in about two seconds. Good for sharing between bikes or if the bike needs to be in a narrow spot.

There's only one...the Take-a-Look (http://biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=TLEGM&gclid=CMX1opHsnY8CFRI5agodJGXTfQ).
http://biketiresdirect.com/Images400x267/TLEGM-1.jpg

That Ortlieb Ultra Lite looks nice.

Reading through the list of requirements, my options got eliminated one-by-one. Hmm...

I seem to remember reading on BF about a mirror that somehow installs into the brifter.

Ah!
http://www.mirrycle.com/originalmirrycle.htm

If you use plain brake levers (and NOT a brifter, as I mistakenly remembered in that last sentence), this could be an option.

*edit* Hmm, maybe it would work on the inboard side of a Shimano brifter, too...

*edit edit* I'm not sure how to fit it to your Surly, though.

I bought a take-a-look yesterday. Since I can't ride all I have used it for is a test walk around my house. No four year olds jumping me from behind! :p
Seems pretty solid, very light, and flexible.

1. I need a mirror. I ride in traffic and make lots of left turns.
2. Helmet mirrors do not work for me.
3. I do not want to lose any hand positions.
4. I do not want to feel anything mirror-related under my hands when I ride. In other words, I don't want to know I have a mirror unless I'm looking at it.
5. I ride without gloves.
6. I have bar-end shifters and drop bars.

So far I have not found a product that works for me. May need to DIY. Any ideas?

This set up works for me and meets #1 -#5 of your requirements; couldn't say about #6 since I don't use those kind of handlebars. Mirror was bought in Germany over 6 years ago for about the equivalent of $10. They might be available in this length at motorcycle shops in the U.S.

I use one of these (http://www.panaviewfmm.com/)

I've got one of the Rhode Gear mirrors that fit over your brake hoods. I've had it for years and don't use it any more, but it works fine. If you ride on your hoods, you will notice it's there but no big deal. Unlike some mirrors, it stays in adjustment well and doesn't get out of whack every time you hit a bump.

I use one of these (http://www.panaviewfmm.com/)

Does that have a blinker? That mirror is pretty frickin' sweet.

There's only one...the Take-a-Look (http://biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=TLEGM&gclid=CMX1opHsnY8CFRI5agodJGXTfQ).
http://biketiresdirect.com/Images400x267/TLEGM-1.jpg

Actually there are two...it comes in a compact version too. ;)

Out of curiosity I decided to ride on the hoods all the way home today. I know the mirror strap doesn't bother me in short intervals, but I rarely ride in the hoods. I found that the velcro strap, if positioned right, was actually more comfortable. It added a little bit of padding, and the fuzzy/soft side of the velcro was exposed.

http://ebayimages.goantiques.com/dbimages/NPI2720/NPI27206931.jpg

It has wheels.

^it doesn't have cranks.

This is what I did. Minoura space bar has the same inner diameter as most bars so just unplug one of the bar plugs and insert a bar end mirror. I used a cateye mirror and you can probably see it says "Swing grip" but that's because I took the swing grip bar and did a Frankenstein with a space grip.
I think it works okay, but I wouldn't say it's the best setup. I'll try and figure out something better soon. The mirror keeps moving when I hit rough pavement.

There's an added advantage that you can do this on both sides without loosing any hand position.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/Miyata/DSC01493.jpg
the mosaic is there because it's an unflattering picture of my reflection :D

drop bars + brifters + cross levers + too much stuff on bars = above solution.

I use my neck, but after seveal hours on the motorway it got neck pains, in the city its fine.

I like this mirror. The nylon strap will be under your left hand when riding on the hoods, but it's inconsequential. Nice wide field of view, and you won't lose any hand positions.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=14656&item=40-1172&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

I had this mirror on my bike but not mounted as advertised. It was on the bar drop, wrapped under the handlbar tape. Worked well until a third grader at the school where I teach accidentally broke it. (It was my fault, I had asked her to move my bike for me).

http://www.pedaltheplanet.com/mmPTP/Images/MIRR0012.jpg
Ortlieb Ultra Lite Bike Mirror

I would say the Delta Insight mirror. It mounted to the top tube or the down tube, but I don't think they are still made.

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Extras/product_86259.jpg

Yep, I'm starting to convert to this one. Much more secure than the Blackburn (I've had that one fall off).

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=15318&item=40-1315&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

http://www.pedaltheplanet.com/mmPTP/Images/MIRR0012.jpg
Ortlieb Ultra Lite Bike Mirror

I would say the Delta Insight mirror. It mounted to the top tube or the down tube, but I don't think they are still made.

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Extras/product_86259.jpg

Does a mirror work mounted inboard like that? I'd consider rigging something to that effect.

Please don't take this wrong but, lose the mirror and turn your head, be alert. You really need to know what's around you and not get dependent on a mirror. People here in So Cal drive like idiots while talking on phones, a very small percentage of them take a quick glance in their side view mirrors and come crashing over into the other driver's lanes. They never look around and over their shoulder. Please don't ride your bike like you drive your car.

You really need to know what's around you and not get dependent on a mirror.

Don't take this wrong, but that's a surprisingly ironic statement (heard it before, too, so don't take personally).

Please don't take this wrong but, lose the mirror and turn your head, be alert. You really need to know what's around you and not get dependent on a mirror. People here in So Cal drive like idiots while talking on phones, a very small percentage of them take a quick glance in their side view mirrors and come crashing over into the other driver's lanes. They never look around and over their shoulder. Please don't ride your bike like you drive your car.

What makes you think one can't use a mirror and a look? Are you addicted to bad habits that easily?

Please don't ride your bike like you drive your car.

Am I supposed to be confused by this statement?

What makes you think one can't use a mirror and a look? Are you addicted to bad habits that easily?

Wait....are you telling me that I am allowed to do <gasp> both?! :eek:

One uses a mirror on a bike for entirely different reasons than in a car. When I look in my car mirror, it's to see if there is anything occupying the immediate space into which I'm going to merge. If there are cars behind me in the lane into which I'm merging, I'm not too concerned unless they're really close or I'm going very slow.

On a bike, I know if there's someone in my "blind spot" because I'm not in a steel cage and have much better periphal awareness. What I need to know when I merge into a traffic lane on a bike is whether or not there's anyone barreling down on me so fast that they would run the risk of hitting me if I got in front of them. In order to do that, I need to be able to look long enough to make a judgment as to their speed.

I like mirrors because I can look long enough to get an idea as to whether or not there's a hazard 100 or 200 yards back.

I like mirrors because I can look long enough to get an idea as to whether or not there's a hazard 100 or 200 yards back.

Plus, with a mirror, you can get that look without diverting all your attention away from what's happening in front of you.

Besides, a hundred yards only seems like a long distance "on paper". In a car, that space gets eaten up pretty quickly by the time a decision is made to change course.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/AEObikes/Miyata/DSC01493.jpg
the mosaic is there because it's an unflattering picture of my reflection :D

drop bars + brifters + cross levers + too much stuff on bars = above solution.

Maybe its my spatial sense but I cannot see how that mirror would show you anything except a good reflection of yourself. Doesn't it need to be much further out on the bike to be useful?

I was also convinced I needed a good solution of where to mount a mirror on my drop bar bike but after having bought a sunglass-mounted Take-a-look mirror, I love it way more than a bike-mounted mirror. Easy to get the full range of the road with a quick sweep of the head. The only problem is having to change the mirror or my glasses after it gets to be dusk and the sunglasses are too dark to wear.

Well, I call it a "side mirror" and not a "rear view mirror".
And no, it doesn't need to stick out too much, I get the same view I get from looking under my arm.

I'll try and take a picture at my head position :)

you can use a mirror and still look but the look over the shoulder combined with traffic noise is all I've ever needed and something you pretty much have to do all the time anyway.

Nothing beats the eye. A reflection just doesn't come close to showing what's behind (or beside) you.

you can use a mirror and still look but the look over the shoulder combined with traffic noise is all I've ever needed and something you pretty much have to do all the time anyway.

Nothing beats the eye. A reflection just doesn't come close to showing what's behind (or beside) you.

But for situational awareness and planning for Murphy, nothing beats a mirror.

Are people really arguing against the usefulness of a mirror, or just being contrary for the fun of it?

...
2. Helmet mirrors do not work for me.
...

Can you explain this a little better? My experience is that the mirrors made for helmet mounting are only as good as whatever sticks them to the helmet, which isn't good enough. Glasses-mounted mirrors are okay unless they interfere with the helmet, but they only work if you're wearing glasses; and I usually don't. My solution is to mount a glasses-type mirror to the lining of my helmet; it works pretty well, but I wish the arm was longer.

That said, the best helmet-mounted mirror I ever had was the first one I had, which I got about 1979. It was one piece of strong springy steel wire, with a couple of bends to attach it to the helmet shell at one end and at the other end a disk of mirror made from lucite or something. It mounted to the rim of my Bell helmet and it almost never went out of adjustment. I had to stop using it when Bell changed the way they made helmets, in the mid 80's, and have never found another mirror that was as good.

Maybe its my spatial sense but I cannot see how that mirror would show you anything except a good reflection of yourself. Doesn't it need to be much further out on the bike to be useful?

Um, yeah, if you have the mirror tilted towards you, that's all it'll show. Mirrors have this amazing function where, if you angle them, they show you a view of something off to the side. :rolleyes:

Maybe its my spatial sense but I cannot see how that mirror would show you anything except a good reflection of yourself. Doesn't it need to be much further out on the bike to be useful?

Apparently, a mirror can be as close as this:

http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=40565&page=CYCLE+AWARE+VIEW+POINT+MIRROR

http://www.cambriabike.com/Images/product/cycle_aware_view_point_mirr.jpg

While I learned to ride without a mirror at all, I now consider one indispensible--particularly when taking the lane. On my hybrid, I have a bar-end Cateye mirror which effectively sits just above and outboard of my left hand when riding. This gives me a stellar view of traffic directly behind me and behind me in the lane to my left. I can easily update what's passing behind me several times a minute without looking like Linda Blair in The Exorcist. Hard for me to imagine riding in traffic without one now.

I'm putting together a drop bar bike now, and have a Blackburn for it (fits real nice on my old Shimano 600 aero levers). The mirror should be in just about the same position either in the drops or on the hoods. Just hanging it on the lever for fit and position is a load off of my mind--and I don't even have the handlebars yet! :)

Are people really arguing against the usefulness of a mirror, or just being contrary for the fun of it?

Yes, there's a side that argues against the use of a mirror. It's a lot like being anti-helmet (doesn't do much anyway, encourages unsafe riding) or anti-bike lane (false sense of security, dangerous at intersections, etc).

I'm another rider that went for years without a mirror, and when I got one (at the urging of my uncle, a family doctor), I couldn't believe how nice it was. I use them whenever possible now.