mirrors are dangerous
#1
Still can't climb
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
mirrors are dangerous
i just put a handlebar mirror onto my get about town bike and took it out for a test ride yesterday evening. here are my first impressions:
i can't just glimpse at the mirror briefly
it isn't always pointing the right direction so i have to change direction/turn handlebar to point it
i swerve when i look at it (turning the bar or just not looking ahead)
it only tells me there are cars in the lane way back which is useless info
cars right up close that affect the riding are close enough to hear and don't always show up in the mirror
generally it is very distracting and takes my focus away from looking where i should be looking.
i can't just glimpse at the mirror briefly
it isn't always pointing the right direction so i have to change direction/turn handlebar to point it
i swerve when i look at it (turning the bar or just not looking ahead)
it only tells me there are cars in the lane way back which is useless info
cars right up close that affect the riding are close enough to hear and don't always show up in the mirror
generally it is very distracting and takes my focus away from looking where i should be looking.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#3
Senior Member
I always had the same experience with mirrors.
A long time ago, I taught myself to be able to turn my head to look behind me while holding my line. An ever-so-slight lean of the bike away from the direction I'm turning my head and voila, no swerve.
Depending on the traffic behind me, I do this as much as every few seconds, or as little as every few minutes.
A long time ago, I taught myself to be able to turn my head to look behind me while holding my line. An ever-so-slight lean of the bike away from the direction I'm turning my head and voila, no swerve.
Depending on the traffic behind me, I do this as much as every few seconds, or as little as every few minutes.
#4
Still can't climb
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
that's exactly what i have always done ever since i started to ride. i had this mirror lying around which i didn't see the need for on the regular road bike but since i started to use a different bike for town riding i thought it might be useful. it isn't.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Boone, North Carolina
Posts: 5,094
Bikes: 2009 Cannondale CAAD9-6 2014 Trek Domaine 5.9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
what about helmet mirrors? I see lots of people around here using those (admittedly tourists on their beach cruizers though)........ actually don't think I've seen a roadie using one.
#7
Still can't climb
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
never tried helmet or glasses mounted mirror, but i am now a mirror sceptic after initial experience.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#8
Senior Member
#9
Live to ride ride to live
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 4,896
Bikes: Calfee Tetra Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Mirrors on handlebars are useless. I have been using the Bike Peddler, glasses mounted, mirror for three years. It looks dorky but it works. I will not ride without it. If you are making a lane change across two or three lanes of traffic, it is a life saver. I glance very quickly at the mirror and then tend to not look at it at all if I am riding straight with not plans of turning or changing lanes.
#10
Peloton Shelter Dog
No, mirrors are a key safety device that every cyclist must adopt.
It's iPods that are dangerous.
Get it straight or I'll have no choice but to report you to the Fred Authorities.
It's iPods that are dangerous.
Get it straight or I'll have no choice but to report you to the Fred Authorities.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Lake Quinsigamond, MA
Posts: 87
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I love the mirror on the end of my hybrid handlebar. I have no problem with quick glances and it is a significant contributor to situational awareness. I'll be looking for something similar for when I get my new bike with drop handlebars.
#13
Still can't climb
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
already happened. sentenced to life hard labour
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 1,272
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm been using a bar-end mirror (Italian Road Bike Mirror) for a little over a month and I think it is a great tool. I tried the Bike Peddler first and liked it OK, but found the field of view pretty small and I had to admust my head to get a good look anyway. The IRBM is convex, so it is very easy to get a quick look at everything behind you with a quick glance down without any head movement. For me, it is a tool to get a quick assessment of my surroundings, not a replacement for turning my head and taking a look. If I want to change lanes and see a bunch of traffic in my mirror, there is no point in turning my head 10 times until it is clear. Once it clears up in the mirror, it's just a quick head turn as a final check. I also like the IRBM because it is a solid mount (vs. messing with glasses/helmet mount) and it's real glass (vs. plastic).
#15
Live to ride ride to live
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 4,896
Bikes: Calfee Tetra Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Take a look at this mirror. This is the one I use and it's great, but it will make you look like a Fred.
https://tinyurl.com/myfd44
https://tinyurl.com/myfd44
Last edited by Carbon Unit; 09-02-09 at 08:45 AM.
#16
Beausage is Beautiful
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Saitama, Japan
Posts: 5,504
Bikes: Nabiis Alchemy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
8 Posts
I briefly had a sunglasses mirror, but it died along with the glasses when I dropped them in the street and an obliging SUV killed them off. In general, I would say shoulder checks are more than adequate so long as you can do them without swerving, etc. That said, in heavy/fast traffic a mirror could be very useful.
#17
Still can't climb
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
when making a turn, the car just behind is what matters. i found i didn't always see this car in the mirror. seeing that there were cars in the lane further back was no help at all. if it was clear immediately behind i would move out anyway and those further back would just have to slow down.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#18
Still can't climb
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
Take a look at this mirror. This is the one I use and it's great. It will make you look like a Fred.
https://tinyurl.com/myfd44
https://tinyurl.com/myfd44
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#19
he said member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: is everything
Posts: 13,801
Bikes: yes please
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2789 Post(s)
Liked 1,950 Times
in
1,206 Posts
Hi, my name is Fred, and I use a helmet mounted mirror...... well ok my name isnt really Fred, but I do use a helmet mirror. I like that a quick flick of the eye's and I have a reasonable Idea of what is going on behind me. I use it primarily to keep an I dea of what is coming from behind. That way motorists dont supprise me when they sneek up and lay on the horn, and I can have a finger ready for them. I still look before turns.
#21
Senior Member
I just put a bar-mounted mirror on my touring bike. Seems like the way to go! The mirror is much larger, so you can see a lot more with a quick glance. Unlike the OP, I can move my head without swerving which allows me to easily change where I'm looking in the mirror. Vibration can be an issue, however. I've yet to have it get so bad that I wasn't able to see what's behind me, though. You might not know what brand/model of car is about to run you over, but you'll know that something is there...
#23
Still can't climb
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
looking cool isn't an option for me. fred through and through here.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
#24
Señor Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 3,744
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey R380 Ti | 2011 Hampsten Travelissimo Gran Paradiso Ti | 2001 De Rosa Neo Primato - Batik Del Monte, Genius | 1991 Eddy Merckx - Motorola, TSX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
7 Posts
Look in bike mirror
Car going fifty is fast
Mirror does not help
Car going fifty is fast
Mirror does not help
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,080
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3370 Post(s)
Liked 5,491 Times
in
2,844 Posts
i just put a handlebar mirror onto my get about town bike and took it out for a test ride yesterday evening. here are my first impressions:
i can't just glimpse at the mirror briefly
it isn't always pointing the right direction so i have to change direction/turn handlebar to point it
i swerve when i look at it (turning the bar or just not looking ahead)
it only tells me there are cars in the lane way back which is useless info
cars right up close that affect the riding are close enough to hear and don't always show up in the mirror
generally it is very distracting and takes my focus away from looking where i should be looking.
i can't just glimpse at the mirror briefly
it isn't always pointing the right direction so i have to change direction/turn handlebar to point it
i swerve when i look at it (turning the bar or just not looking ahead)
it only tells me there are cars in the lane way back which is useless info
cars right up close that affect the riding are close enough to hear and don't always show up in the mirror
generally it is very distracting and takes my focus away from looking where i should be looking.