Sofulofit

Hello all. First forum post from a newbie here.

I picked up my first road bike since the 70's last week. I must say...why the heck did I wait so long?!

Any way, here is my issue.
I have an old neck injury that prevents full rotation, especially to the left. In addition my left eye is almost useless, so checking traffic to my left rear is especially difficult.

For safety sake I avoid congested roadways, but there will always be a need to check behind before a lane change.

Anyone here have similar situation?

Will a helmet or glasses mounted mirror mounted on the left allow me to see across from my right eye? Same question with bar mounted mirror?

Thanks in advance!

JanMM

I doubt your right eye can make use of a left-mounted helmet or glasses mirror. Instead, those mirrors can go on the right side, too. My experience is that by turning my head just a bit, I can see behind me to the left and right both - with my left eye with a left side mirror.

Just now tried looking at my left side mirror (helmet visor) with my right eye only. Not while riding, but just standing in my garage. I don't think that would work.

fietsbob

Tried: stick on the inside ..outer-edge of your glasses, mirrors and needing bifocals to read.. are incompatible ..

My Old eyes dont focus that close any more..

John E

I have used a (left/traffic side) helmet-mounted mirror for about 10 years and now feel unsafe without it.

With compromised vision in the left eye, you have two options -- 1) try a right side mirror and experiment extensively with its orientation; 2) perhaps a rear-facing helmet camera, if you can figure out a usable display (Google Glass???).

practical

Maybe bikes will start coming with a rear camera like some cars do. I love having a mirror and wouldn't ride without one now, so it's worth it to keep finding a solution.

North Coast Joe

Have you tried a helmet or glasses mount mirror on the right side. Might need to be inverted to get the adjustments correct?

I have a fairly wide field of view with a left mounted glasses mirror. Enough to sweep view the right shoulder of the road without too much movement.

Lord, I feel naked without a mirror. I can't see how you do it. Depending on the bicycle type a right side bar mount may help, also. What's coming up from behind is of primary concern....you'd get that seen with a right side set-up, too, probably.

Sofulofit

Thanks for the responses! It's sounding like the LH mounted helmet/eyeglass mounted mirror is
out. If the LBS has one I may pick up both a RH mounted glasses mirror and a bar mtd mirror to try on the LH side.

Im thinking that a RH mounted glass or helmet mirror might give me a
good view to the rear but am worried about the blind spot created by the helmet itself.

Perhaps I will end up with both, given my situation. Will post back any findings.

jyl

The Take-A-Look mirror is good. It has a large flat glass mirror, is metal so you can bend the arm into the shape you want, and is not too expensive. I have not tried mounting one on the right side, but I suspect it can be done, just rotate the arm to put the mirror on the right side and bend the arm down.

GFish

A bar mounted mirror on the left side and either a visor/helmet or eye glass (my preference) mounted mirror attached to the right side should help with viewing traffic from the rear.

I have both types mentioned above, I find the eye glass mounted mirror is easier and safer to use and provides greater visibility.

Also agree with what others said on feeling naked without the mirror. I started a ride once without the mirror and thought I'd continue on. After just a mile down the road, couldn't stand not knowing or seeing oncoming traffic, so made a quick circle back to pickup the mirror.

good luck...

Daspydyr 

First, glad to have you here and congrats on getting the bike. Second, your concern for riding safely is an important asset. Keep following those instincts!

I would visit a local bike shop and ask them for options. They can probably do some trial and error fixes, hopefully. This sport is a blast and you are in a great part of the country. Enjoy and let us know what you find.

BobbyG

I've been wearing tri-focals for two years and biforcals for 8 before that and I haven't had problems with mirrors. What I did have problems with was progressive lenses' compromised peripheral vision.

Looigi

These generally don't work as well as mirrors for driving. Mirrors have the same brightness and contrast as the real scene, are sharp, can't have glare like a screen, and the eye focuses at the same distance as the object rather than having to shift focus to a screen (though head up projection systems conjugates the image at infinity). The principle disadvantage of mirror is their position is dictated by geometry. Rear view cameras in cars are now being mandated for backing so that you can see the blind area blind the rear of the vehicle which presumably will help prevent backing over little kids who otherwise not be seen.

Of course video systems can have other features which can be beneficial, like tick marks to help guide parking, infra red sensitivity for night vision, etc.. But these would be of very very little benefit on a bike.

VACaver

The Third Eye helmet mirror can be mounted on either side of your helmet. Putting it on the right may not give you the left-hand rear vision you desire, but a slight turn of the head would take care of that.

Jim from Boston

I perennially post about wearing both left and right eyeglass-mounted mirror, listing the advantages and compensations afforded by the right-hand one.

Here's how I orient them: left hand one in "landscape" position, right in "portrait."



In the above picture, the mirrors are attached to my winter goggles, but I use the same orientations with my eyeglasses.

Sofulofit

I went to my LBS and they did have the third eye glasses mount mirror which looked very well made.

The only bar end mirror they had uses a cheap plastic reflective surface. Amazon.com : Cycleaware Roadie Removable Bar End Mirror : Bike Mirrors : Sports & Outdoors

i was worried about the image quality with the plastic lens, but the Amazon reviews are favorable for the most part.
Will be doing a little more research, thanks again everyone!

doctor j

I've had good luck with the Third Eye Bar-End Mirror.

JohnJ80

This would work for you. No neck movement required. Either eye works just as well. Nothing on your helmet in the way.

Bike-Eye - Now selling internationally as well as the UK!

Works great.

J.

Leisesturm

Interesting product. However, just about any conventional mirror would work and may be easier to obtain. That said, my left eye has extremely limited field of view and acuity but my "Safe Zone" mirror is on that side and it works very well there. I think the fact that it is 2-1/4" in diam. helps vs other helmet mirrors @ .75" to 1.0". Seeing through it from my right eye is impossible, but I do use my left side mounted mirror to check for overtaking cars on the right side when I am riding on the left shoulder preparing for a left turn. So.... in theory a right mounted mirror could be used to monitor the left side. I think a conventional mirror would be better for this as you could use both eyes like God intended.

H

Leisesturm

They use plastic, not because they are cheap or think that you are, but because plastic is light. And it won't send dangerous shards into your brain if you go down. Only a very few mirrors are glass and you won't want them because they will be too small. There is simply no way to make a mirror of sufficient size for someone in the over 50 forum to use out of glass. I've used my SafeZone for years and the mirror surface isn't the best anymore but it is still quite useable. I have another waiting for if/when this one dies. They are that good.

H

Sofulofit

After a couple hours of study, I ordered the wide model Bike Eye. (thanks John) It is available though Amazon for 25.00 including shipping. If I don't like it at least I'm not out much. I'm not too keen on zip strapping things to my frame but in the name of safety......

I will supplement that with a Third Eye mirror on the RH side of my eyeglasses and see how it goes.

I'm fairly certain the Third Eye mirror is glass?

JohnJ80

It's not about the mirror, it's pretty much about the mount location. Presuming the left eye is the issue and this is riding on the right hand side of the road, then the close to the center line the mirror should be to permit the right eye to get into the action as much as possible.I also have neck issues and looking left is a problem for me. Eyes are ok. This mirror works well in that application. SO this works well or the Italian Bike Mirror (end of handlebar). The IBM, though, would be a bad choice given the issue with the left eye. Using the right eye with a mirror off the centerline far to the left is just not going to work well. This also solves the problem of trying to focus in close for those of us with the "too short arm" problem that occurs around the age of 45. J.

Road Fan

I think so.

dicktill

Sorry, but you're on the left shoulder********** Unless you are talking about a divided road, this sounds like riding the wrong way facing traffic! Hope I got that wrong ...

Leisesturm

Eye's are a couple of inches apart. Bar mounted and head-tube mounted mirrors are several inches away from both. Neither eye has an advantage when looking at a mirror even when it is on the opposite side of the bicycle. Before the one on the right side broke I used to have two Blackburn mirrors sticking out off the ends of my 26" wide handlebar cargo-cruiser tandem. When I looked in the right hand mirror the left eye went along for the ride and vice versa. Humans roll like that. Lizards don't, I understand, but people certainly do. Helmet and eyeglass mirrors are a different kind of animal entirely. But... the money's been spent. As the o.p. says $25 isn't that much money if things don't work out. I don't understand the fixation over a glass lens for the eyeglass mirror. Over in the commuting forum the debate was raging over the fact that they were glass and shouldn't be!! Go figure.

H

Leisesturm

There is a road I ride regularly that for a stretch has a left shoulder that is blocked to traffic. I use it to set up for the left turn I need to make at an uncontrolled intersection. I use my mirror to scan to the right of me to see what other left turning traffic is doing. As soon as I make the turn I am going to need to get over to the right side of the road and the mirror helps. There are other times when a cyclist might be in a left hand lane especially in Portland where bicycles are tolerated in traffic lanes far more than in other places I have had to ride.

H

EDIT:ahh... I see the confusion... there is no wrong way riding involved. This is a one way road, and all traffic is flowing the same way.