Recumbent - Mirror suggestions for an USS bike? And computer

Like the title says I'd really love a mirror as i do a little riding on expressways and lots of city riding. A mirror would make me feel alot more comfortable. I have a vision R50 USS bike. Do they make mirrors for these? or would you simply suggest a helmet mirror? if so which one?

Also i would like a basic simple computer. NON wireless. The only one that ive really heard good things about is catseye. Do they have a very basic reliable model?

And finally I have a rear LED light and a LED light on the back of my helmet. In the front i just have an LED light...but it doesnt seem too bright....as ive tested it out with friends....and they says they can only see the front of me when i get close. Does someone have a nice bright front light they can suggest on top of this?

Best mirror I have ever found is the Take a Look mirror. http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=take+a+look+mirror&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=2846413801&ref=pd_sl_571y4i9x8k_b

Can't imagine riding a 'bent of any sort without a mirror. I use a Take a Look clipped onto the visor of my helmet.

My #1 headlight is the Cateye Single Shot. Very eye-catching flash mode.

If you have twist shifters on your bike you can put a Mirrcycle mirror on the end of the bar. That and a Take-a-Look mirror work well together.
I use the Cateye Single Shot Plus for a headlight. The Planet Bike Beamer 3 is the one I use for a flasher.
Planet Bike Super Flash on the back as my main tailight, with a Planet Bike Blinkie 7 on the side brackets.

As far as mirrors go, I buy what works well for me.

I have a cheapo $5 mirror on the right side I got off ebay, but on the left I have a Blackburn 'Multi Mirror' I paid $20 for at my LBS.

I have a SWB USS and I have found that using bar-end mirrors works great. Just that when you buy one you need to make sure it will stick out far enough to see around yourself. I commute on my bike and can not ride without a mirror - too much traffic. I can get by without the right mirror but not the left. Recently busted the left one and stuck the right one on that side 'til I got home and pulled out the spare I keep.

If you have bar-end shifters, then ICE (http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/trikes/accessories.htm#Mirror) do a mirror mount so that you can still mount a Mirrycle Mirror. Alternatively, I've used the Cycle Star 901 from Busch & Müller (http://www.bumm.de/index-e.html?docu/spiegel1-e.htm)

The thing about mirrors on the bar is i have a vision R50...and the grips are not horizontal...they are verticle..as in they run alongside the frame...so unless the mirrior sticks straight out to the side then my hand would obviously be in the way. Or can these mirrors u mentioned twist any which way?

and the grips on the vision USS are in s spot where they are just about as far back at the back rest...so i actually would not even be able to see the mirror if it was on the end of the grip...

i guess someone with an USS vision would get what im saying...as im prolly not making sense lol. I know some USS bike have the horizontal handlebar/grips. Mine isnt :(

Im not sure if u can see the bars clearly here....but heres a pic

The mirrcycle comes with parts that can be swiveled 90 degrees so it is possible the install it in a vertical bar end have it come out sideways. The downside is that if you drop the bike on the mirror, you can break the mount.

I'd use a helmet mirror or an eyeglasses mirror with your bike. Take-a-look is good quality. Also, if you can find one, Chuck Harris helmet mirrors are great.

Best mirror I have ever found is the Take a Look mirror. http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=take+a+look+mirror&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=2846413801&ref=pd_sl_571y4i9x8k_b

Me too, in particular the eyeglass mount. It's looks are a bit on the crude side but after a bit of use it becomes a real beauty.

Some riders have problems at first seeing the mirror and find it useful in the beginning to momentarily close the right eye to get the backwards scene in focus. I started out this way but within a few weeks my only problem is remembering to remove the mirror when finished riding.

Unlike fixed mirrors, a TaL or similar allows you to turn your head to sweep the area behind you.

Theres so many take a look mirrors on there. What are those tiny ones that look like the size of a dime that appear to stick to the inside of your glasses? Do those work well?

Theres so many take a look mirrors on there. What are those tiny ones that look like the size of a dime that appear to stick to the inside of your glasses? Do those work well?

Sometimes they work. You can't use them with prescriptions, for obvious reasons. Also, you can't use them if your sunglasses lenses are too close to your cheek, as is the case with many wrap-arounds. For that matter, wrap-arounds are a problem because the lens may end up behind your eyeball. The image doesn't go through your sunglasses, it comes from behind. So you've got this bright spot in your eye. And from what I've seen they get out of adjustment easily. At least they're unobtrusive.

Dime? They're more like 1/4". You get a full view only because they're so close.

If you wear a hat or helmet or eyeglasses, you can get a cheap convex mirror a couple inches in diameter from NAPA and affix it to a stick that you attach to your hat, helmet, or eyeglasses stem. Works well.

Hi. Have posted this elsewhere on bikeforums. For you to pattern or see signature link. 1/3 the cost of T-A-L brand. Thanks

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

[QUOTE=bikeideas;9572480]Hi. Have posted this elsewhere on bikeforums. For you to pattern or see signature link. 1/3 the cost of T-A-L brand. Thanks

Cool! Elegant. Great price.

I'd be concerned that the combination of the fabric attachment and the glass mirror would lead to bouncing around. Do you see any of that problem in actual use?

Cool! Elegant. Great price.

I'd be concerned that the combination of the fabric attachment and the glass mirror would lead to bouncing around. Do you see any of that problem in actual use?

I appreciate your comments, gcottay. Thank you for Elegant.

The mirror vibrates a tiny bit. There was a 3-way trade off in designing it; having a one-piece, flexible temple piece to work with various eye/sunglass frames, that also held the mirror arm, that also "hinges" in case of a fall.

If the temple piece is kept taut, its pretty darn steady, if the arm happens to touch the frame (as with my Oakley XXs) then it is solid. If you "post" when glancing back, the vibration is minimal... employ a sweeping motion (or a "no" nod) when doing so, it smooths out the vibration. I find that I don't need to see the car clearly, just see it. I also still make eye contact with the driver (the mirror helps me time it) and I look back often like non-mirror users.

The idea was 1) more compact than anything I've seen - easy to see past it, 2) simple design, basic materials, 3) keep it super cheap since I think a $15 plus shipping (Take-A-Look, Third Eye) is way too much to pay.

Thanks for your interest. A few comments here: http://urbanvelo.org/messenger-mirror/

Just picked up a cycleware reflex mirror that sticks to the helmet...and i love it. Works great and easy to set up. Much more comfortable riding in traffic now. Also picked up a cateye velo 5 computer. Works great so far. Had a question about setting it up which i started a new thread for....

I appreciate your comments, gcottay. Thank you for Elegant.



If the temple piece is kept taut, its pretty darn steady, if the arm happens to touch the frame (as with my Oakley XXs) then it is solid. If you "post" when glancing back, the vibration is minimal... employ a sweeping motion (or a "no" nod) when doing so, it smooths out the vibration. I find that I don't need to see the car clearly, just see it. I also still make eye contact with the driver (the mirror helps me time it) and I look back often like non-mirror users.


Don't see the need for any head-turning look-backs if a functional mirror is being used.
Currently using a helmet visor-mounted Take a Look - it and various previous mirrors have given me all the info I've needed about what's behind me.
Looking back over the shoulder isn't an option for me, anyway, as most of my riding is on a recumbent or as the captain on a tandem.