pcrx

OK, after a few days of riding I know that one of the first accessories I NEED is a rearview mirror. I was never a fan of helmet ones, so I was considering this one:

https://www.altrec.com/shop/detail/13...roogle&other=1

for my EZ-Rider. Seems durable and a bit larger than some of the tiny mirrors out there at places like Target, etc. (?)

megaman

It says it's a wide angle view. IMO, it's a good idea. I bought a rear view mirror for my bent(EZ Sport). Got it from my LBS. It turns out I must move around in my seat a bit, cause the mirror is only effective if I sit in a certain postion.

Sensei

My Taiko has handlebars that look like a motorcycle chopper with the ends dramatically turning downward.

I don't think I'll be able to find handlebar mirrors so I'm going to try to get a helmet mirror to work out.

bentbaggerlen

Ive used the Mirrycle Mountain mirror on all my bents, tandems and trikes. Sometimes it can be hard to find a location to mount it, but I have always found someplace. The tandems all have two, the extra set of eyes can be a real help in traffic. I used it on Bike-E, Longbikes Slipstream, Longbikes Gulfstream, Vision R40, Rans Screamer, Rans Tailwind, Stratus, Greenspeed trikes as well as others. see

https://www.mirrycle.com/

steveknight

the bars will make a difference in what miror you can use. I need a bar end mount but it needs to stick out a bit to see past my shoulder. plus it needed to be higher then the bar level.

N_C

There is something you need to keep in mind when using handle bar mirrors on a bicycle. A lot of them work like the passanger side mirror of a motor vehicle. Meaning: "OBJECTS ARE CLOSER THEN THEY APPEAR" I suggest you use a helmet mirror to see vehicles in real distance with a handlebar mirror.

On my recumbent I use 2 handlebar mirrors, one on each end & a helmet mirror so I can see vehicles in real distance behind me as well.

johntolhurst

I dont' like the convex mirrors. One I had was 600mm radius and approaching cars appeared just as dot when in reality they were just a few seconds behind and closing fast. They might be good for tight traffic situations. I now look for a much more flat mirror surface. This is critical I think.
John

McHargue

I whole heartedly recommend the eyeglass/helmet mount mirror called "Take A Look", manufactured by Bicycle Peddler of Greeley Colorado. They are sold most everywhere. I can't say enough about this mirror.

One thing I believe that head-attached mirrors have over bike mounted ones is the ability to have a stable and wider field of view, and to be able to direct it where you need it. Example: riding along with a merging lane or road entering from an acute angle behind that I need to cross. If, say, the road were entering from the right (rear) then I can do a preliminary check by slightly turning my head to the left and looking in my mirror. I have not yet lost the forward field of view nor turned my head and thus effected my line of travel at this point, yet I can tell that it is not worth a full look behind. Once it APPEARS clear I then do a full head turn to double check--but then (usually) only once--and proceed if truely clear.

I've used mirrors of all sorts spanning 30 years. I never ride without one, and this is the best mirror I've ever found.

Cheers,

Bill.


(P.s., Here is a good bike mirror info page: Cycling Mirrors)

pcrx

Well, went riding today with ay cateye MTB bar end mirror in place:
https://www.altrec.com/shop/detail/13563/15/
And I am sold. Much better riding expereince, and the mirror is curved, but not radically enough to make it impossible to use. Perfect for knowing when folks are approaching!

Plus it looks awesome!!

BlazingPedals

Mirrycle makes a handlebar mirror that works pretty well, too. I saw quite a few of them when I loaded the bike trucks at the end of DALMAC.

steveknight

I have this one it's nice if you break the mirror you can get a replacement for only about 5.00
I broke three so far two when my bike fell over one I dropped (G)

LRtrike

Scott at Tandem and Touring Recumbents reccomended that I get a "Take A Look" glasses/helmet mirror rather than a bar end mirror for my Pocket. He said that the Take A Look would give a better view. Found one on eBay and ordered it. It came today and it is great. What ever is behind you, is behind you. No distortion.

John C. Ratliff

I use the Mirrycle mirrors on my Rans Stratus, with the older style bars (pretty straight) on both sides. I got it partly because I liked the way the bars held the mirrors. The mirrors on both sides are very nice, and give great visibility.

One hint on breaking mirrors in a fall--you don't have to. My mirrors are not tightened down all the way, so I can easily fold them getting the bike into my garage. In other words, I can move them pretty easily, but the wind cannot. In a fall (left side, three times so far) the mirrors simply fold and do not break. The arm of the mirrors also protects my hands so that they don't contact the ground.

John

Ric

I have two of the Busch & Muller Cyclestar mirrors on my Speed and they do vibrate a bit but not as bad as Mirrycyle Mountain mirror. Small mirror / Large range of vision about 2 inches. Light weight aluminium construction and Highly adjustable tilting mechanism and can be mounted anywhere.
I also have them on my Strada and they work very well. There a good choice, cost a little more but worth it.

TONY M

Give the new and innovative Bike-Eye mirror a try it's mounted against the head & down tube, a really solid fixing method,"virtually no vibration" It doesn't widen the profile of the bike, therefore no risk of snaging or mirrors being broken should the bike fall over. It works really well on both straight or droped bars as long as you are not carrying panniers on the side the mirror is fixed! & It's ideal in the group training rides, kepping in touch with fellow cyclists and added traffic awareness from a quick glance in the mirror. Have a look at Bike-Eye in more detail at www.bike-eye.com

jeff-o

The bike-eye is a little pricey at $35, don't you think?

DaveTaylor

The first lesson I learned from my first 'bent ride was that a mirror is a must. I have used a "Third Eye" mirror that attaches to my glasses for several years on my road bikes. Eyeglass mounted mirrors are difficult for some to get used to, but, IMHO they are the best solution since they eliminate all the mounting, vibration and distortion issues that bike mounted mirrors cannot completely avoid. In addition, they are cheap and you only need one since it follows you from bike to bike . Second best maybe helmet mounted mirrors, but, helmets tend to move around a bit and would definitely vibrate on rough roads. That's just my take and mirror discussions tend to go the way of threads on helmet laws, capital punishment and gun control so....each to his own

BlazingPedals

Not only is $35 a bit steep for a mirror, it's also not designed for bents. This IS a bent forum, right? On most bents it'd give you a great view of your crotch, but virtually no view of the road behind you.

megaman

Yeah, I'm wondering how it would fit on my EZ Sport or Catrike Road. But you'd still need another mirror for objects to the side and behind you.