oboeguy

... but not for commuting, at least not necessarily. I'll be riding a century with my better half and she is a slower rider than I. I'd like to get a mirror to keep my eye on her when I'm ahead of her. However, I don't want something stuck to my helmet forever or to my bike at all. Any removable mirrors I might try? TIA.

P.S. Who knows? if I like it, maybe I'll use it while commuting too.

Stubacca

Take-a-look mirror. Glasses mounted.

BikeTiresDirect
REI

oboeguy

So that's what you guys have talked about before. Looks pretty nifty -- no sticky, right? I'm stopping by the LBS today to pick-up the commuter (with rebuilt wheel yay!) so I'll have ask if they have this little guy.

Stubacca

No sticky. It just clips on to your sunglasses, and clips off again when you don't want it. I find glasses or helmet mounted mirrors much easier to use than bar mounted mirrors. The don't vibrate much (if at all), and have a huge field of view - slight turn of the head and you've covered the whole area behind you.

I used to have one of these until I stupidly lost it - best mirror I've tried. I now have a helmet mounted mirror (third eye, I think) which isn't too bad, but it required a visor to mount properly. I use it when I commute sometimes, but most of the time I just go without these days.

lego

I definitely would avoid bar-end mirrors. I bought one recently from Nashbar, and if you ride a road bike they are almost useless in the lower position, as your wrist/lower forearm interferes with the view. Also, road vibrations make viewing difficult, and every pothole knocks the thing out of alignment.

I getting the mirror listed above by Stubacca, although I've seen it going for less than on REI.

Stubacca

The BikeTiresDirect link I posted is about as low as I've usually seen it, however... if you can get it locally and not pay for shipping, it may be cheaper at full price... hence the REI linky.

oboeguy

I guess the only question now is how am I going to Be Like Lance(TM) and slip my shades into the helmet vents upside down? That will look reeeally funny with a mirror hanging off the side.

Stubacca

Simple... pull the mirror off and put it in your jersey pocket first .

lego

Or slip the thing into your yellow LIVESTRONG (tm) bracelet

oboeguy

Now there's an idea...

...or as Stu suggested I could slip it into my jersey pocket... my LIVESTRONG(TM) jersey pocket (yes I have one!). But seriously, I'd think it would get kinda sweaty and gross in my jersey pocket (even in in the snazzy Livestrong jersey).

AndrewP

You will want it to check for other riders sneaking up behind you, so you can forestall a surprise breakaway.

oboeguy

Haha they don't need surprise to break away from me; it's not that hard to do.

MMACH 5

I ride with two mirrors, (I know, total dork). A bar-end that I use while on my parallel drops and a small one that is alligator clipped to my visor, for when I sit up.

lego

Again (see my post above), I can't see how you can find bar-end mirrors useful on drop bars. My view of mine is totally obscured by my forearm when I'm down in the drops.

I would think it's just a question of tipping your head up a little to use a helmet- or eyeglass-mounted mirror in both positions, however. No?

slvoid

Just loop a piece of electrical tape around that part of your helmet. Then attach the mirror, when you're done, peel off.
Otherwise, just ride behind her and enjoy the view.

oboeguy

Haha no comment there.

I checked at Toga today and they only had the "Third Eye" which looked to be of inferior quality compared to the Take-a-Look (based on the pictures) so I passed. I'll have to try another shop.

lego

I wish I could find the Take A Look Mirror in Canada somewhere. It seems silly to pay 13-15 USD for the mirror and then $8-9 US in shipping fees....

Anyone have a source? I've had no luck.

rugrat

This is the mirror I have. TOPEAK BAR N MIRROR. Folds away when you dont want to use it, kinda neet, the small size of the mirror takes a little getting use to, but otherwise i like it

https://www.phantomcycles.com.au/prod...cat=171&page=1

MMACH 5

Mine aren't your standard drop bars. The mirror is sticking off frame, but you can see the my "parallel drops".

Dchiefransom

So, is this mirror really for your wife, so SHE can keep track of how far back YOU are**********

A guy in my club makes mirrors like the one linked to. Somehow, my position has me looking into my shoulder when it's in the position shown. It can be rotated up for a higher viewpoint. I adjust it so I turn my head very slightly to look back.

JohnBrooking

I am nearsighted and wear a pair small, oval-framed glasses all the time. I always figured anything that I tried to clip to them would be too heavy for them. Has anyone found this to be the case, or definitely not the case, with Take-a-Look?

I tried a helmet mirror once, the sticky didn't work very well and it dug into my head. Maybe I didn't have it mounted right. Since I ride a hybrid, I've mostly stuck to bar-end mirrors and they've worked pretty well, except when the bike falls over on that side!

Longhorn

I have a Chuck Harris Ultralight helmet mirror that I bought from a guy in the Austin Cycling Association. I've only seen them sold by cycling clubs when I've looked for them online. It was $12 and is made of recycled materials. But also, it does not use adhesive to stick to your helmet. It has bent wire on the end that sort of clamps on. I put mine on months ago and it has never come off, even when I stick my helmet into my pannier.



Here's an address I found:
Chuck Harris
Ultra-light Touring Shop
P.O. Box 363
Gambier, OH 43022
740-427-3404

More information about mirror recommendations, including the Ultralight here .