Seeing behind me
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Seeing behind me
As I get older, a few things are happening. I am more paranoid when riding due to people texting. I am also not as flexible.
I need options to see behind me. I have seen bikes with rear view mirrors and helmets with rear view mirrors. Pluses and minuses of both systems? What else is out there? Any help would be appreciated.
I need options to see behind me. I have seen bikes with rear view mirrors and helmets with rear view mirrors. Pluses and minuses of both systems? What else is out there? Any help would be appreciated.
#2
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,027
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22571 Post(s)
Liked 8,918 Times
in
4,152 Posts
You will get all types of answers. The best answer is to try them and see what works best for you.
Personally, I like the "Sprintech" rear view mirror....easy to pop into your bar end.
Others swear by the fredly ones that go on your helmet/glasses.
Personally, I like the "Sprintech" rear view mirror....easy to pop into your bar end.
Others swear by the fredly ones that go on your helmet/glasses.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Anyone use: https://www.mirrycle.com/mirrycle_mirrors.php
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Perth, Australia and sometimes Penang Malaysia
Posts: 1,916
Bikes: Litespeed L1r, Litespeed Ghisallo 07, TCR Advanced Team SL 0 ISP, Giant TCR Advanced SL, Giant TCR Advanced Team - T-Mobile, Giant Propel Advanced SL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#7
Senior Member
I started last year on an empty bike trail and have never used a mirror in my life (way back when I was a kid prior to last year.) Now that I'm on the roads with the new bike, I bought the recommended Take-a-Look eyeglass mirror and put it on my helmet visor. I really like it, except the time I was easing down a very narrow and steep sandy road and kept looking in the mirror to see when the car was going to catch and pass me. When I finally turned my head, I realized it was parked in front of a house and was never going to catch me, LOL.
#8
Portland Fred
I like glasses mounted mirrors best because you can easily see behind you at any angle, use on any bike with any helmet, and it mounts well -- some helmet mounted mirrors are difficult to mount effectively on certain helmets.
The Take-A-Look is the official mirror of the Freds and I consider it more essential than a helmet.
The Take-A-Look is the official mirror of the Freds and I consider it more essential than a helmet.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 2,745
Bikes: S-Works Roubaix SL2^H4, Secteur Sport, TriCross, Kaffenback, Lurcher 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Italian Road Bike Mirror is my favorite by far. Slightly convex, real glass mirrror with a terrific reflection. They are a little finicky to set up because they are not too adjustable and they go under the bar tape.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,951
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
12 Posts
+1 on Take-a-look. Excellent wide and clear view. Very little vibration mounted to the glasses and you can scan a very wide angle behind by moving your head a bit.
#12
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,027
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22571 Post(s)
Liked 8,918 Times
in
4,152 Posts
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: On my bike...
Posts: 409
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Anyone use: https://www.mirrycle.com/mirrycle_mirrors.php
As of now I have the kind datlas posted on my road and touring bikes, and they're okay (I'd prefer the mirrcle on my commuter).
Last edited by cvskates; 04-18-14 at 11:54 AM.
#14
Hanging On
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 872
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I find this to be the best bar-end mirror because it doesn't move much. The others get cockeyed when you go over a bumpy road. They are apparently only available from Aspire Velotech.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times
in
38 Posts
I was looking for the same thing, but was interested in a rear camera + screen, but sadly no one seems to make anything solid that will work well in direct sunlight -
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...seems-m-i.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...seems-m-i.html
#16
don't try this at home.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,933
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 972 Post(s)
Liked 509 Times
in
349 Posts
I've never used a bar end mirror, but it's field of view must be pretty small, and some are convex, so "objects are closer than they appear"
Even with a mirror, I'm still regularly surprised by cars passing. Unless they have loud tires, I don't hear them due to wind noise, and I have to move my head a little to see behind, so I don't do it continuously.
I don't think mirrors are a solution for texting drivers. Last weekend, I watched 3 or 4 (non-texting) drivers stay in the lane, on a course to miss me by just a foot or two, and wait until the last seconds to move over the center line. They all actually passed with 4 or 5 feet of clearance, but it's really annoying.
My main mirror uses:
--Keep track of other group riders. Are they falling behind, or right on my wheel?
--Left turns in the city. It's great, I can keep track of a break in traffic to smoothly slide over to the left lane.
--Taking the lane in the city, well away from parked cars. If nobody is stuck behind me, I'll ride in the left tire track.
--"Managing" passing cars. On country roads, there's normally not too much traffic. So I've gotten in the habit of looking in the mirror if a car is ahead, coming in my direction. I don't want to be surprised by cars trying to pass with oncoming traffic. I'll move out into the lane to "block" a car behind if I think they will be trying to pass right when an oncoming car is in the other lane--and then I can see if the car behind is actually slowing down.
I'll do the same thing, take the lane, when sharp blind turns are right ahead. Drivers can be really dumb when passing.
--Riding out in the middle of the lane when I have the road to myself. I can get away from the right side of the road, away from torn up pavement, when there's no cars visible behind. That can be much smoother riding.
--avoiding potholes and torn up roads. Can I safely move over to the center of the road?
--Tracking cars way back. If I happen to see a car way back in the distance, I can easily keep track of it. Some of them need a helping wave to get them to pass even with good sight lines.
Last edited by rm -rf; 04-18-14 at 06:47 PM.
#17
Senior Member
#18
don't try this at home.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,933
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 972 Post(s)
Liked 509 Times
in
349 Posts
I've started running my new Cygolite Hotshot more often, even in the day. I want inattentive or texting drivers to see a blinking light way up the road, so they can at least attempt to pay attention until they pass me.
It's really bright. Way brighter than my old Superflash.
It's really bright. Way brighter than my old Superflash.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times
in
395 Posts
Most roads around here are narrow with little to no shoulder so I like to know when a car is coming up behind me. You can see my small mirror on my bar to the left of the stem. Does the job and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Healdsburg & Los Angeles, Ca.
Posts: 433
Bikes: 1998 Amp Research dual suspension mtn bike; 2012 Ridley Orion full Carbon (Ultegra)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
A second for this mirror. Easy to install and more reliable then my helmet mirror ever was, which I kept having to readjust. With the mirror shown here, you just look down to get a great view behind you, especially of oncoming traffic. Harly notice it's there. Fredliest? Whatever.
#22
Portland Fred
Generally agreed with this post except this point. I check behind constantly and manage distances with passing cars down to less than a foot. There's nothing scary about it if you're paying attention. Always ride like everyone's trying to kill you -- but don't take it personally.
Btw, one major advantage of helmet and glasses mounted mirrors over bar mounted aside from being able to view at any angle without distance distortion is that you can eliminate road buzz. I've used virtually every type of mirror over the years and for me the clear choice is Take-A-Look
Btw, one major advantage of helmet and glasses mounted mirrors over bar mounted aside from being able to view at any angle without distance distortion is that you can eliminate road buzz. I've used virtually every type of mirror over the years and for me the clear choice is Take-A-Look
#23
Still can't climb
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
i do not use a mirror but i think i should. reason i don't is that my handlebar mounted mirror was more trouble than it is worth. i think avoid bar mounted mirrors.
__________________
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
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Brentwood, TN
Posts: 139
Bikes: Novara Trenta Road, Trek ZX6000 MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I really like the Bike-Eye mirror. It mounts to the frame and is very stable. The new wider version allows you to see more to the left of you.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,139
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
Something that might prevent the problem... instead of correcting it are neck exercises.
However.... mirrors on cycling glasses seems to be good too (I use them).
However.... mirrors on cycling glasses seems to be good too (I use them).
Last edited by Dave Cutter; 04-22-14 at 06:41 AM.