Advocacy & Safety - rear view mirror

Can anyone recommend a rear view mirror that works well for a cyclist?

I tried a small mirror on my handle bars but I couldn't get a good view of the traffic behind me. I think my shoulder bag might have been in the way but it was so hard to adjust, was easily knocked out of adjustment and the field of view was so small that I don't think it is worth spending more time on trying to get it to work. The handle bars on my bike angle back towards the seat.

I think I've seen mirrors that attach to the helmet, how do those work?


Thanks for any suggestions,

The closer the mirror is to your eye, the smaller it can be and still give you a large field of view. I use a 1-inch diameter mirror clipped to my visor.

I use one of these.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/New%20Glasses/FSNMNG.jpg

The Take-a-look glasses mounted mirror has worked well for me.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3p40gcnaMsSfrlCm22o4bVM9l6hSjUt-auCb6Bw9bA7_ybzbE5Q

I've used two of the sunglasses/helmet mounted mirrors, one standard , one ultra mini, they work OK assuming you have the patience to keep tweaking. Generally, I think mirrors are dangerous gadgets; turn your head. It's amazing how much rotation you can get, even an old guy, if you work at stretching ...and practice on your bike.

With practice, you can turn and look behind you without changing your line.

The Take-a-look glasses mounted mirror has worked well for me.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3p40gcnaMsSfrlCm22o4bVM9l6hSjUt-auCb6Bw9bA7_ybzbE5Q

+1

The handelbar mirror that pivots, and screws in the bar ends work just fine, minor adjustment needed only, $ 14.00

I use a mirrcycle mirror, mounts into the barend of a flat bar, works great for me.

My two cents (http://doohickie.blogspot.com/2009/07/helmet-mounted-mirror.html).

+1 Take-a-look - attached to visor on mtb helment

The Take-a-look glasses mounted mirror has worked well for me.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3p40gcnaMsSfrlCm22o4bVM9l6hSjUt-auCb6Bw9bA7_ybzbE5Q

This is the mirror I use. I love it. You can turn you head slightly to get a broader look behind you. I also put some reflective tape on the back (front-facing) side of the mirror to possibly help with visibility at night (every little bit helps).

However, you still need to turn your head and look behind you before changing lanes or turning. The mirror is a convenience, not a substitue for a direct look.

I've got one that clips to the underside of the helmet, fully adjustable.
Shaped light a stop sign, first one I've ever used and I love it. Can turn head up, down, left, & right for any view I want.
Hand made by a guy (I don't know) Chuck Harris since 1970. The wire is bike spokes, very stiff.
(740) four two seven 3404

I ise this German mirror on my city bike. The only place I've seen it listed was Rivendell's website for $20.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmkOiRe4tWY/TXeVSWQO69I/AAAAAAAABUI/U2DE2BF6nFc/s320/IMG_0498.JPG
It provides a nice field of view for city riding.

I use one attached to my helmet for touring. It provides a better view for distances than the convex handlebar mirror.

I prefer the Cycleaware Reflex mounted on my helmet. Glasses mount only works if you don't have very thin temple pieces on your glasses (otherwise they won't stay put) and when I was using glasses mounts I was always forgetting them. On the helmet they're just always there.

I used a Take-A-Look and it works well, but when I got into an accident the sharp edge of the mirror and the stiff wire right near my face caught up to me to the tune of about 18 stitches. The Reflex is all padded and rounded and is even more adjustable.

Another vote for a Take-A-look.

Caveat, the mostly grey and sliver color of the mirror makes it hard sometimes for me to see it when it gets knocked off while I'm pruning along my bike route (Ok, so this isn't a proper usage issue). This resulted in me stepping on one, and losing another. Take-A-Look does offer repairs for damaged mirrors ($2 USD).

Because of the damage to the mirrors that I've had, I've taken to applying a rubber-band around the mount to make it harder to knock off, and putting a sticker of some kind on the backside of the mirror. After attaching the sticker, I carefully press the mirror down on my cutting surface, and trim the overhanging edges of the sticker with a new Xacto blade. I'm also sealing the edges of the sticker with CA Glue (aka Superglue) and use a CA Glue Accelerator to prevent that white fog from forming. The one time I didn't seal the edge, the sticker started to come loose. So, I went to peel it off to apply a new one, but the reflective material peeled off too. :(

(Perhaps I'll take some pictures tonight (when I'm home) to show what I've done, and then edit them into this post.)

. . . However, you still need to turn your head and look behind you before changing lanes or turning. The mirror is a convenience, not a substitue for a direct look.

This is not the case for all cyclists. I find an eyeglass mirror not only an adequate replacement for the best shoulder checks I can muster but also far superior. For me the mirror combines constant situation awareness with the ability to take the time to really study the roadway behind me when appropriate. The only downside is a certain side angle of sunlight causes enough image deterioration that a shoulder check seems required. No, that's not exactly true. There is another downside in that I feel naked riding sans mirror.

I use a MOUNTAIN MIRRYCLE. It's a 3# mirror that you can, with some inguniuity, mount to the lief of your drop handle. It gives a good view.

The ones that fit on the older STI shifters are even better. Too bad Schimano "improved" their product without making any attempt to either keep the Mirrycle accessory or invent one Shimano could sell. Shimano has crippled a great product without providing any alternative. Shimano didn't make any money -- they just injured a tiny "competitor" and hurt their oun customers. Stupid.

With practice, you can turn and look behind you without changing your line.
Yes you can, as you also can ride at night with no lights, not wear a helmet, run stoplights, etc; all inferior and less safe practices and similarly not ones that should be touted, as turning and looking back instead of a rear view mirror IMO. The OP's question was:


Can anyone recommend a rear view mirror that works well for a cyclist?...

Thanks for any suggestions,
Jim's Law of the Road is: "No matter how well-paved and lightly traveled the road is, a vehicle will likely pass you on the left as you encounter an obstacle on the right." So it's a good thing to have eyes looking backward and forward as simultaneously as possible.

+10 for the Take-a-Look; I wear both left and right ones.

Can anyone recommend a rear view mirror that works well for a cyclist?

I tried a small mirror on my handle bars but I couldn't get a good view of the traffic behind me. I think my shoulder bag might have been in the way but it was so hard to adjust, was easily knocked out of adjustment and the field of view was so small that I don't think it is worth spending more time on trying to get it to work. The handle bars on my bike angle back towards the seat.

I think I've seen mirrors that attach to the helmet, how do those work?


Thanks for any suggestions,

Take A Look is the best mirror out there but Third Eye is also good and works. When you set up the Take A Look on your glasses, you should see a very slight portion of your ear. That's the sweet spot and you should see most of the road behind you.

Here's some pics of the one I use, have it set so I can just see the edge of my ear.

Here's some pics of the one I use, have it set so I can just see the edge of my ear.

This (http://www.amazon.com/Third-Eye-Eyeglass-Bicycle-Mirror/dp/B000BDJP66) is what I use, and I'm happy with it. Small, fits in your pocket, provides a good view, and it's plastic; a possible benefit in a crash. $9.50. Get some other bike goodies and you can get free shipping.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/11CAK07K14L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

I've had very poor experiences with bar-mounted mirrors. It's always either eyeglass or helmet mount for me from now on.

This is not the case for all cyclists. I find an eyeglass mirror not only an adequate replacement for the best shoulder checks I can muster but also far superior. For me the mirror combines constant situation awareness with the ability to take the time to really study the roadway behind me when appropriate. The only downside is a certain side angle of sunlight causes enough image deterioration that a shoulder check seems required. No, that's not exactly true. There is another downside in that I feel naked riding sans mirror.

This.

I can actually even look to my right faster and easier by slightly tilting my head left rather than having to do a big shoulder check on my right. With a head-mounted mirror, there is no blind spot except to your immediate sides. Even then it isn't exactly blind, it's just easier to turn your head that way to check.

This (http://www.amazon.com/Third-Eye-Eyeglass-Bicycle-Mirror/dp/B000BDJP66) is what I use, and I'm happy with it. Small, fits in your pocket, provides a good view, and it's plastic; a possible benefit in a crash. $9.50. Get some other bike goodies and you can get free shipping.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/11CAK07K14L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

I've had very poor experiences with bar-mounted mirrors. It's always either eyeglass or helmet mount for me from now on.

This is the one I have too. The Third Eye is just a good as the Take A Look but it doesn't last as long because the plastic eventually breaks. However, I still buy two each year because the Take A Look is too big to fit in your pocket and really sticks out far from your glasses drawing a lot of attention. The geek effect!

I still use the Take A Look when my Third Eye mirrors break or get lost.