Commuting - Alternatives to take-a-look mirror?

I am looking for an eyeglass mounted mirror with the following requirements:

1) Not be made of metal
2) Modifiable to work in both right-hand and left-hand drive countries

My take-a-look sort of meets the second requirement, but it is a pain to twist it out of shape for that.

Maybe this?

http://www.cycleaware.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2

I might add that I use a Cycleaware on the helmet when I'm not wearing glasses. On the glasses, it's always the Take A Look, best mirror out there.

I use a Third Eye (http://www.thirdeyemirrors.com/) Pro mirror and like it a lot. They make an eyeglass mounted mirror, too. Nylon clip and mirror frame, reversable mount.

I am looking for an eyeglass mounted mirror with the following requirements:

1) Not be made of metal
2) Modifiable to work in both right-hand and left-hand drive countries

My take-a-look sort of meets the second requirement, but it is a pain to twist it out of shape for that.

Out of interest, why #1? Every plastic mount I've seen makes me think I'm spending $15 for a week or two of use before the mount breaks.

Out of interest, why #1? Every plastic mount I've seen makes me think I'm spending $15 for a week or two of use before the mount breaks.

I've seen some people voice concern over the Take a Look mirror and the damage it might cause in a crash (sharp corners, metal wire next to your face, etc.)

I've seen some people voice concern over the Take a Look mirror and the damage it might cause in a crash (sharp corners, metal wire next to your face, etc.)

Ah, makes sense. I guess since I never crash and never will I didn't think of that... :innocent:

I use the Take a look mirror, attached to the visor on my helmet. i expect that in the event of a crash the mirror would fall off in the confusion,as opposed to going in my eye. I could be wrong--- I have been wrong before.

The Third Eye meets you requirements. I used them for several for years, but have now switched to take-a-look because of breakage of the plastic parts.

Every so often, I do think about the possibility of having my face torn up by my Take-a-Look after reading about it happening to one of the posters here.

I wonder if some small diameter clear silicone tubing that has been cut only through one side and wrapped around the edges of a Take-a-Look might offer enough protection to minimize that risk?

I think the version I came up with is good yet wire arm is metal (per your concerns, duke_of_hazard). The flexible temple piece will allow the mirror to rotate away from face in a fall... at least that's was in my mind when designing it.

http://www.messengermirror.com/mmfullview.jpg

I think the version I came up with is good yet wire arm is metal (per your concerns, duke_of_hazard). The flexible temple piece will allow the mirror to rotate away from face in a fall... at least that's was in my mind when designing it.

http://www.messengermirror.com/mmfullview.jpg

you designed that? Wow, trés bien!

I use the Take a look mirror, attached to the visor on my helmet. i expect that in the event of a crash the mirror would fall off in the confusion,as opposed to going in my eye. I could be wrong--- I have been wrong before.

I can post photos of facial stitches that show that a Take-A-Look can easily lead to over a dozen stitches. But I don't think you want to see it.

I can post photos of facial stitches that show that a Take-A-Look can easily lead to over a dozen stitches. But I don't think you want to see it.

In all fairness, I'm sure you run the same risk of being cut up wearing sunglasses or even nothing at all... it all depends on the particulars of how you wreck.

you designed that? Wow, trés bien!

Merci beaucoup, DanBraden. Your comment is very much appreciated.

In all fairness, I'm sure you run the same risk of being cut up wearing sunglasses or even nothing at all... it all depends on the particulars of how you wreck.

I doubt that the risk of being cut by something with fairly sharp, square corners and no break-away is "the same" as being cut by either nothing or by the Cycleaware reflex that I use now, which has all rounded corners, has no rigid wire, has a support covered with thick rubber and is mounted on a pop-away ball mount.

I sustained a serious gouge to my cheek from the mirror. There was no way for my cheek to have come in contact with anything else; my chin and upper lip hit the pavement, as did my helmet, but my cheek up near my eye couldn't possibly have touched pavement without first breaking my jaw and half my teeth.

If that's "the same risk" then it's a very wide definition of "the same".

Really, I've found the take-a-look and the Cycleaware Reflex to be totally equivalent mirrors when it comes to using them, and the Reflex is clearly safer, so I don't know why so many people go to such lengths to defend the Take-A-Look.

If one goes to such lengths to attack something, surely one can expect people to go through such lengths to defend in kind. It's just the way it is

I doubt that the risk of being cut by something with fairly sharp, square corners and no break-away is "the same" as being cut by either nothing or by the Cycleaware reflex that I use now, which has all rounded corners, has no rigid wire, has a support covered with thick rubber and is mounted on a pop-away ball mount.

I sustained a serious gouge to my cheek from the mirror. There was no way for my cheek to have come in contact with anything else; my chin and upper lip hit the pavement, as did my helmet, but my cheek up near my eye couldn't possibly have touched pavement without first breaking my jaw and half my teeth.

If that's "the same risk" then it's a very wide definition of "the same".

Really, I've found the take-a-look and the Cycleaware Reflex to be totally equivalent mirrors when it comes to using them, and the Reflex is clearly safer, so I don't know why so many people go to such lengths to defend the Take-A-Look.

Relax; I'm not defending the Take-A-Look at all. I have absolutely zero interest in what mirror anyone uses. Injuries happen to lots of people, and because someone has been injured using a particular product doesn't make it dangerous.

We can obsess over what sort of accident may result in what sort of injury due to what sort of cycling product, but what's the point of arguing over anecdotal evidence? Obviously, everyone should use whatever they want and evaluate the risks for themselves.

ItsJustMe, My sympathy to you on the whole ordeal you went through, are going through. I've followed your story for sometime. I have awake nightmares about someone injuring themselves on the mirror I have produced.

Do you have any comment on whether my mirror (photo above) would be better, the same, worse, or no way to predict... in event of a fall?

If you don't mind.

Thanks

I've found the take-a-look and the Cycleaware Reflex to be totally equivalent mirrors when it comes to using them,

So, how do you mount the Cycleware Reflex mirror on you glasses? The only information I found on the Web was for a helmet mirror. That certainly is not equivalent to the Take-a-look mirror i use mounted on my glasses.

Maybe Google missed the Cycleware glasses mounted Reflex. I'm certainly open to an equivalent glasses mounted mirror that could be saver.

So, how do you mount the Cycleware Reflex mirror on you glasses? The only information I found on the Web was for a helmet mirror. That certainly is not equivalent to the Take-a-look mirror i use mounted on my glasses.

Maybe Google missed the Cycleware glasses mounted Reflex. I'm certainly open to an equivalent glasses mounted mirror that could be saver.

You're right, it does not mount on glasses. I wasn't using the take-a-look on my glasses, so I spoke a little too quickly there. My glasses have round arms and the take-a-look simply spins around and won't stay still on them. When I wear glasses that they will stay put on, I tend to forget them because I take the mirror off of the glasses when I get home/work, then forget to put them on when I go out again.

Since I never get on the bike without my helmet, and the mirror on the helmet is exactly the same as the mirror on my glasses, and the mirror can stay on my helmet forever, that's a better solution for me.

ItsJustMe, My sympathy to you on the whole ordeal you went through, are going through. I've followed your story for sometime. I have awake nightmares about someone injuring themselves on the mirror I have produced.

Do you have any comment on whether my mirror (photo above) would be better, the same, worse, or no way to predict... in event of a fall?

If you don't mind.

Thanks

Looks better to me ASSUMING that mirror is acrylic, not glass. My injury was from the edge of the mirror being pushed into my face by the pavement.

The wire makes me nervous but that wire looks a lot less stiff than that on the take-a-look. The brass tube on the take-a-look could probably be shoved right through the skull if hit right.

Looks better to me ASSUMING that mirror is acrylic, not glass.

It is glass yet recessed and glued in the plastic housing. Possibly since it is small (1/2"), round and encapsulated, it could be safer. I needed glass for optical clarity since it is so compact.

ItsJustMe, I can imagine that any wire in front, or to the side, of your face must make you nervous now. Again, so sorry for your injury. All of us here have to empathize though we can't begin to understand your pain. Thanks for your opinion on this safety aspect of my mirror and the cycling mirrors already mentioned.

you designed that? Wow, trés bien!

This kind of DIY mirror has been around for a long long time. The other bike rider in my office uses an old homebrew one just like that and it's almost identical to the M2Racer mirrors I have.

This kind of DIY mirror has been around for a long long time. The other bike rider in my office uses an old homebrew one just like that and it's almost identical to the M2Racer mirrors I have.

Oh.... you've seen this before??? Trés bien!;)

ItsJustMe, I can imagine that any wire in front, or to the side, of your face must make you nervous now. Again, so sorry for your injury. All of us here have to empathize though we can't begin to understand your pain. Thanks for your opinion on this safety aspect of my mirror and the cycling mirrors already mentioned.

It didn't hurt that bad, it was just a cut and about 12 stitches. I didn't even bother with anasthetic (I was getting hungry and they told me it would add 30 minutes to my ER stay to wait for anasthetic to work). It does worry me that a piece of stiff wire in an accident might do anything, and my eye is right there. Stiff plastic would be as bad I think. Cycleaware's use of gumby wire (flexible metal wire covered with rubber) seems about as safe as it's likely to get.

This kind of DIY mirror has been around for a long long time. The other bike rider in my office uses an old homebrew one just like that and it's almost identical to the M2Racer mirrors I have.

I'll be darned, never saw that before making mine. Does it work on wire framed glasses (below) like the MM? Can you still buy them* - how much dinero (or argent for DanBraden)?

DIY sketch for a DIY tool...

http://www.messengermirror.com/mmframeshorz.jpg

thanks bkrownd!

* Later: Here (http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-408363.html) it says they're out-of-business. Hmmm, maybe few people bought them... gulp.

So, how do you mount the Cycleware Reflex mirror on you glasses? The only information I found on the Web was for a helmet mirror. That certainly is not equivalent to the Take-a-look mirror i use mounted on my glasses.

Maybe Google missed the Cycleware glasses mounted Reflex. I'm certainly open to an equivalent glasses mounted mirror that could be saver.

I'm assuming he meant that they work equally well and they do. Why the sarcasm? He's trying to be helpful.

Not knowing what type of bars you have - if you have semi/straight bars, you might consider the Mountainmirracle(sic).

Mine is rock solid, completely away from my face/eyes, and gives an excellent (wide ) picture of what is behind you. An added plus, is that you can see it in your peripiral vision when you are looking forward. Any movement catches your eye.

I know it's not what you asked for, but worth consideration.

Never having used one of these before, I'm wondering about something: how hard is it to aim a beam of sunlight directly into your retinas with one of these things?

I like the idea and practicality, if not the looks. But the thought of giving myself laser eye surgery has stopped me from giving it a go...

pubb

Never having used one of these before, I'm wondering about something: how hard is it to aim a beam of sunlight directly into your retinas with one of these things?

I like the idea and practicality, if not the looks. But the thought of giving myself laser eye surgery has stopped me from giving it a go...

pubb

Have you ever done it with the mirrors in your car?

Never having used one of these before, I'm wondering about something: how hard is it to aim a beam of sunlight directly into your retinas with one of these things?

I like the idea and practicality, if not the looks. But the thought of giving myself laser eye surgery has stopped me from giving it a go...

pubb

It's no worse than accidentally looking in the direction of the sun. Just don't stare at it. The mirrors are flat so they don't concentrate the sun at all, so it's exactly the same as just facing in the direction of the sun.

Have you ever done it with the mirrors in your car?

Yes. I've had to flip my rearview mirror to the 'brights behind you' position because of the sun being directly behind me.

Yes. I've had to flip my rearview mirror to the 'brights behind you' position because of the sun being directly behind me.

Did that harm your eyes before you changed the position of the mirror?

No, but they aren't concave/convex either. I imagined that being so close, the mirrors would be convex (like most side view mirrors) to give you a wider view.

I'm sure you've never gotten a stray reflection from somebody's watch crystal...

No, but they aren't concave/convex either. I imagined that being so close, the mirrors would be convex (like most side view mirrors) to give you a wider view.

I'm sure you've never gotten a stray reflection from somebody's watch crystal...

I have, and my eyes were not damaged in any way. You're waaaaaaaaaaay overthinking this.

I think we need a little levity here. Here's a cycling mirror with a Cupid-mount...

http://www.bkremer.com/misc/venusatamirror.jpg

OMIGOSH! Her helmet, it's a VAMPIRE!

* Later: Here (http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-408363.html) it says they're out-of-business. Hmmm, maybe few people bought them... gulp.

M2Racer made all sorts of weird titanium and carbon fiber weight weenie bits. Silly things like ultralight pedals, spacers and skewers and such. Odd business idea.

Here's an example of a similar old mirror idea that looks a bit more clunky than the M2Racer version: http://www.momentumplanet.com/blog/walker/chuck-harris-mirror-man-people-nahbs-2009

The M2Racer is very similar to yours: http://www.menayan.com/portfolio/m2racer-07.html

M2Racer made all sorts of weird titanium and carbon fiber weight weenie bits. Silly things like ultralight pedals, spacers and skewers and such. Odd business idea.

Here's an example of a similar old mirror idea that looks a bit more clunky than the M2Racer version: http://www.momentumplanet.com/blog/walker/chuck-harris-mirror-man-people-nahbs-2009

The M2Racer is very similar to yours: http://www.menayan.com/portfolio/m2racer-07.html

The M2Racer is very nice, slick... but as mentioned, I can't see it working at all on wire eye/sunglass frames like the MM. If you could find one.

Mine is DIY as you said, but as the CH octagon/spoke model is clunky, I hope you feel the MessengerMirror is somewhere in the middle.

A review today (31 August) on www.cyclelicio.us

Thanks

The M2Racer works fine on a wire rim. The only problem with the M2Racer design is their choice of material for the gripping loops was wrong. The grip part that loops around the glasses frame is a gummi substance with no structural loop inside it to reinforce it. Because of this it is not quick or practical to frequently install and remove from glasses, and eventually the gummi stuff goes bad and breaks. They meant it to be installed and seldom removed. What I did with my glasses is I used one of those small steel binder clips. After clipping it onto my glasses frame ('wire' in my case) I removed the clip arms, and if I want to take the mirror off I put the clip arms back into the clip to detach the clip and mirror. (the steel 'binder clips' with swing arms for clipping a thick stack of papers - they come in small sizes as well)

Your reviewer failed to explain the principle of using the mirror, which unfairly makes it sound inadequate to the casual reader. The "small field of view" is quite adequate because you scan the rear view with the mirror by moving your head, instead of trying take in a single wide field view. Just as effective, but more efficient. Your detailed central vision has only a limited FOV anyhow. The mirror is quite close to the eyes, so the FOV of the small mirror is fine, and you don't want a larger mirror that creates extra peripheral blockage. I'm glad to see another compact mirror out there, BTW - thanks.

No, but they aren't concave/convex either. I imagined that being so close, the mirrors would be convex (like most side view mirrors) to give you a wider view.

No, BECAUSE they're so close, the mirrors don't HAVE to be convex. It's when mirrors are far away that they have to be convex to give you a wider view. A 3 inch flat mirror 3 feet from your face will only give you 3" * 50/3 = a 50 inch wide view at 50 feet behind you. A 1 inch flat mirror 3 inches from your eye will give you 1 * 50/.25 = 200 inch (16 foot) wide view 50 feet behind you, plus when it's mounted on your head, you can turn side to side to see anything you like.

Plus, convex mirrors would reduce the amount of light from the sun hitting your eye, rather than concentrate it.

Nobody uses concave mirrors to see behind them, that would be silly.

Compared to a flat helmet mounted mirror the convex bar mount mirrors are a PITA IMO. Many vibrate excessively. The Mirrycle MTB barend mount mirror is the best I have tried from a vibration standpoint but is so convex that cars approaching are too small. This makes it difficult to judge distance compared to a flat helmet or glasses mounted mirror. It may be what you get used to however.

I like my helmet mounted mirror even if some consider it to look dorky or Fred! Sometimes I think that some bicyclists consider any practical bike or rider accessory to fall into that category.

Never having used one of these before, I'm wondering about something: how hard is it to aim a beam of sunlight directly into your retinas with one of these things?

I like the idea and practicality, if not the looks. But the thought of giving myself laser eye surgery has stopped me from giving it a go...

pubb

Yes. I heve gazed directly into the sun setting behind me in my rearview mirror and am happy to report that, thankfully, my vision is still intact. The sun's rays were focused by the mirror into an ultra-bright, laser-like beam, which scored a direct hit on my unsuspecting retina. Fortunately, I had the good sense to avert my gaze and did not continue to stare directly into the blinding light. ;)

Compared to a flat helmet mounted mirror the convex bar mount mirrors are a PITA IMO.

The view in my convex handlebar mirror is far inferior to the glasses mounted mirror for me so it is strictly for secondary use, such as when rain and mist prevent me from raising my head to use my glasses mounted mirror. The only thing that would make me switch is if in my old age my eyes lost the ability use the glasses mounted mirror for some reason. Together they make a good "team".