Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - bike mirrors on road bike for a clyde

Soon I will have my new road bike (Specialized Sequoia). I am wanting to add a mirror to my handle bar.
On my hybrid with flat bars I ran into the problem of being too wide for my first mirror (Cateye) and ended up buying and using the Mirrycle mirror that sticks out further to the side.

For the road bike coming I am looking at these:

http://www.amazon.com/Sprintech-Road-Bicycle-Drop-Mirror/dp/B00110FHZQ/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1

Has anyone had any experience with this mirror, and/or can you give suggestions for a mirror for a wide rider.
Thanks.

Consider a helmet mirror instead of handlebar mirrors. You won't have to worry about seeing past your body, it's easier to get the angle right, and you can turn your head to change your view.

My experience with handlebar mirrors when I was younger and non-clyde was that while they did let me see past me, I had to constantly adjust it based on where I was sitting on the bike to get a view. Also, you have more chances of having the mirror smashed when you're locked to a bike rack, when you put your bike down, and just generally riding around in the city.

agree with Crast.. Get a Take a Look style mirror. With less effort you see more of the road behind you.

I bought the mirror that goes on the end of the bars. It works great, and unless I am not paying attention I see everything I need to see. It was cheap at the LBS. I didn't want something on my helmet.

Soon I will have my new road bike (Specialized Sequoia). I am wanting to add a mirror to my handle bar.
On my hybrid with flat bars I ran into the problem of being too wide for my first mirror (Cateye) and ended up buying and using the Mirrycle mirror that sticks out further to the side.

For the road bike coming I am looking at these:

http://www.amazon.com/Sprintech-Road-Bicycle-Drop-Mirror/dp/B00110FHZQ/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1

Has anyone had any experience with this mirror, and/or can you give suggestions for a mirror for a wide rider.
Thanks.

I used one of these on my CAAD9. It is small and aerodynamic, it does give me some visibility behind me, but it is not ideal and I would not recommend them. Your bars have to be at the perfect angle to be able to adjust the mirror to were your can get some good visibility out of it, but I eventually pulled it out and put my buzz kill back in and figured I could just turn my head and look to see what was behind me.

Just bought my second "take a look" mirror. I wear glasses so I use the glasses mount one. My first one lasted about 8 years and it was the plastic one. This time I got the metal one.
I have a bar end mirror on my hybrid but I like the take a look for the road bike.

I don't wear glasses (contacts). Can you attach a "take a look" mirror on a helmet?
If not which helmet mirror do you guys recommend.

If your helmet has a visor, you can mount the Take-A-Look on it. That's what I do, and I lurve it sooooooo much.

+1 for a helmet mirror. I'm finally getting used to mine, and it's nice to be able to keep the bars clean. It does take a few seconds of fiddling with it at the beginning of the ride, though.

I use a pair of those (left/right which each are tapered differently) that I got from biketiresdirect.com (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/psprbm/sprintech_bar-end_mirrors/pp.htm)on my road bike sometimes in addition to sometimes without a take a look mirror.
Problems:
I keep knocking them out of alignment sometimes even when I stand to climb and get a little sloppy.
I have to pivot them out because I have to pivot them out
New issues is going to potentially be I can't see behind me when I have a pannier*
Only really good for one position
Positives:
They give a really good field of vision especially with two. I can just glimpse down and see behind me even when the road vears to the right.
I can't forget them or drop them
Easy to adjust

I did find that I could only use them in the drop or on the hoods easily not both which is why I sometimes took the take a look also which I could never get to work for me in the drops so they complimented eachother well.

I also use a pair on my xtracycle cargo carrier. I find them handy to look down and check the load on each side of the bike and make sure nothing is getting loose or shifting.

*I've may yet go with a trunk rack. I tried to hold off putting a rack/bag on my merlin and I hate to do it but I'm a commuter and the merlin is going to be my backup/change of pace commuter bike. :cry:

I'm shocked that 9 out of 10 riders with mirrors jump out of their bikeshorts when I say 'onyerleft' when I pass!:eek: I always use a calm voice in order to prevent scaring someone off the road. While approaching, I look in their mirrors and seems that 90% that have them don't use them.

Few riders do 'use' them but I wonder why some even bother. Maybe they look cool?:D

I'm shocked that 9 out of 10 riders with mirrors jump out of their bikeshorts when I say 'onyerleft' when I pass!:eek: I always use a calm voice in order to prevent scaring someone off the road. While approaching, I look in their mirrors and seems that 90% that have them don't use them.

Few riders do 'use' them but I wonder why some even bother. Maybe they look cool?:D

I have two mirrors on my recumbent that give me a complete view at all times of the road behind me. During daytime hours I have been suprised by a couple riders because they are completely and total unexpected. I guess I'm like a car the site of a bicycle in a mirror just does not compute and it gets filtered out. At night they stand out because I'm wondering if they are a car with one lite out or a motorcycle so I pay attention more.
I got a litle better closer to the end of summer but coming up I am going to have at least another 5 months of not seeing any bicycles on the road to forget they exist again.

I'm shocked that 9 out of 10 riders with mirrors jump out of their bikeshorts when I say 'onyerleft' when I pass!:eek: I always use a calm voice in order to prevent scaring someone off the road. While approaching, I look in their mirrors and seems that 90% that have them don't use them.

Few riders do 'use' them but I wonder why some even bother. Maybe they look cool?:D

It's probably because they are watching for cars. Situational blindness rears its ugly head yet again.

Cool?:roflmao2::roflmao2: Nothing is more Fredly then a mirror.

Third Eye attaches better to a helmet than the Take-a-look

http://www.3rd-eye.com/S02.GIF

Guess I'm 1 of the 10. I always keep track of my 6.
+1 on the helmet mirror.

I guess I am just too Fred. I use the cateye you seem to be trying to get away from. It sticks out, but I can see a lot more with it. I never could get the angle right or my head turned right or something with the helmet mounted mirrors and do not like them. I have a 2 mile stretch of my commute that has no shoulder and 55+ traffic. Sometimes I think I will run into something because I am looking at my mirror more than where I am going.

I guess I am just too Fred. I use the cateye you seem to be trying to get away from. It sticks out, but I can see a lot more with it. I never could get the angle right or my head turned right or something with the helmet mounted mirrors and do not like them. I have a 2 mile stretch of my commute that has no shoulder and 55+ traffic. Sometimes I think I will run into something because I am looking at my mirror more than where I am going.

I wasn't saying there is anything wrong with being Fredly. It's just that the cool kids will look down on your mirror as being...well...Fredly;) I.e, not cool.

Whoa wait being Fredly is NOT cool.:eek::cry: When did that happen?:twitchy:

Thanks for the replys. I will be trying a helmet mirror. Also b young I am not trying to get away from the Cateye I just could not see well around my shoulder when I had it on my flat bar bike.

I don't mind being Fred - My son who is a road biker (lean and strong) already laughs at all the stuff I have on my bike - bell, lights, mirrors etc. he says my bike looks like Batman's utility belt.

I don't mind being Fred - My son who is a road biker (lean and strong) already laughs at all the stuff I have on my bike - bell, lights, mirrors etc. he says my bike looks like Batman's utility belt.

And look how many times that saved Batman's ass :)

Not to get off subject but I actually have a garage door opener on my bike. Its the number one comment I receive on my bike. Its the mark of a true commuter. Embrace your Fredness.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff168/cyclearkansas/100_1412.jpg

I have since added a second headlight, trekking bars and a cell phone holder.

I wasn't saying there is anything wrong with being Fredly. It's just that the cool kids will look down on your mirror as being...well...Fredly;) I.e, not cool.

Well gee, I would rather have a mirror and SEE the soccer mom in the SUV, yapping on the cell phone not paying attention to the road, and be able to get out of the way, then to end up on a metal table downtown with a tag on my toe......

BTW the term "cool" used in this context hasn't been cool since disco, an era thankfully long gone, although it was replaced with punk, not a big improvement, IMHO...... Speaking of the end of an era Frank Kerr (better known as Frankie Venom) died the other day, the lead singer of Teenage Head, (known as Teenage Heads in the US, because the censors in the US thought the name was dirty), I remember when "the Head" was a fresh young band that played at my high school circa 1977 (before they got famous, a few years later). Frankie died of throat cancer, he was 52....

......

BTW the term "cool" used in this context hasn't been cool since disco, an era thankfully long gone, although it was replaced with punk, not a big improvement, IMHO......

:eek: Disco isn't cool anymore? :eek:

not to get off subject but i actually have a garage door opener on my bike. Its the number one comment i receive on my bike. Its the mark of a true commuter. Embrace your fredness.


I have since added a second headlight, trekking bars and a cell phone holder.

where's the d@ng cupholder!?!?!

:eek: Disco isn't cool anymore? :eek:

Uh no, funny thing is, I have a couple of ABBA songs on my music player, actually one is playing on the computer right now. However I have moved on, for the most part. Then again there is stuff that was new releases a couple of years ago on the same music player, so go figure..... I need to find a Linux compatible music site, and get some newer stuff again.....

You know your music isn't cool anymore, when teenagers have never heard of the bands you like....

BTW the term "cool" used in this context hasn't been cool since disco

We use it all the time at work. But then I work with a whole bunch of social awkward eggheads. We don't get out much:rolleyes:

I use the following and find the optics to be great. Go to Google and look for:

Italian ROAD BIKE un-helmet MIRROR

I use one on both sides. When on my recumbent I used to end-bar mirrors.
Either way, I never turn without looking as well.
Bob

I have them, and like them a lot.

Could not get used to the one that clips on your helmet. I have a bad astigmatism, and have a lot of trouble changing focus from the distance ahead of me to an opbject that close to my head.

Only issue used to be that rough roads would knock them out of alignment. so i adjusted them to where I wanted them and then put a zip-tie in the pivot area to lock it in.

Vs. no mirror, the big advantage is seeing cars coming from behind at night. the light reflects up and you notice it way sooner

I use the following and find the optics to be great. Go to Google and look for:

Italian ROAD BIKE un-helmet MIRROR

I use one on both sides. When on my recumbent I used to end-bar mirrors.
Either way, I never turn without looking as well.
Bob

The problem with looking over your shoulder, is the same as it is in a car, but the consequences are not as risky, due to a lower speed (most of the time).

Read an interview with a guy who became famous as a race car driver, who then went into the whole advanced driving school thing. He said the two most important things about driving that everyone forgets are setting the mirrors properly, and doing a walk around of your vehicle before driving off. If your mirrors are set properly, then you don't need to shoulder check. The problem with the shoulder check is that while your looking over your shoulder, where are you NOT looking, exactly, straight ahead, so you don't see what your aiming at, until you look back and realise you don't have time to take evasive action to avoid th... CRUNCH

The proper way to set a car mirror, for those interested, is you just barely overlap what is in the rear window mirror (if applicable), if there is no rear window mirror then your probably driving a truck, having driven a courier curbside and a 3 ton cube van, I know they have a lot more mirrors then a car does, the curb side has 2 which get angled differently, one is angled in and the other is angled further out, and the 3 ton also adds a third mirror
the instructor when I cleared to drive the 3 ton, called it an idiot mirror, it allows you to see idiots coming up beside you, hiding from your regular mirrors. What I find interesting is that SUVs and vans often have just a car type mirror, even though the rear window mirror is pretty much useless.

NEVER pass a large truck on the right, stay behind it, if your going faster then it is, then pass on the LEFT and flip your headlight on first, the light will show up better then you will in the mirrors.