Good, cheap, convenient mirrors at Target
10-13-02 | 07:11 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,391
Likes: 2
From: Snowy midwest
Good, cheap, convenient mirrors at Target
Target just started carrying the new Schwinn line of bikes and accessories.
Not bad for department store grade. If Schwinn keeps it up, they may have found a good niche. I wouldn't buy a bike there, but the accessories are interesting.
ANYWAY, one of the best things I found was a handlebar mounted mirror. It has a sturdy, convenient velcro attachment system - no screws, no messing around.
The thing I like best is that the mirror is flat and wide. You can see most of the road behind you. It is NOT convex, so the view is not distorted.
Price is $6.00 compaired with $16.00 to $20.00 for comparable stuff from Road Gear, etc.
Check it out at Target.
Not bad for department store grade. If Schwinn keeps it up, they may have found a good niche. I wouldn't buy a bike there, but the accessories are interesting.
ANYWAY, one of the best things I found was a handlebar mounted mirror. It has a sturdy, convenient velcro attachment system - no screws, no messing around.
The thing I like best is that the mirror is flat and wide. You can see most of the road behind you. It is NOT convex, so the view is not distorted.
Price is $6.00 compaired with $16.00 to $20.00 for comparable stuff from Road Gear, etc.
Check it out at Target.
10-13-02 | 07:46 PM
#2
feros ferio
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,417
Likes: 1,883
From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Thanks for the tip, Mike. I think I have noticed an increase in mirror use by cyclists, and for $6 I am tempted to give one a try.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
10-14-02 | 01:45 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,391
Likes: 2
From: Snowy midwest
REVIEW UPDATE!
I found that the mirror, sadly, does not work on road bikes with drop style handlebars. The mirror swivel has a limited range and is not appropriate for drop bars.
It will work on mountaing bikes and comfort bikes if your grips are mostly of an even tubular shape.
I found that the mirror, sadly, does not work on road bikes with drop style handlebars. The mirror swivel has a limited range and is not appropriate for drop bars.
It will work on mountaing bikes and comfort bikes if your grips are mostly of an even tubular shape.
10-14-02 | 09:06 PM
#4
It's in my blood
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, Ga
Funny, I just got a new mirror after many moons of swearing off.
My old helmet-mount eventually lost it's "stiffness" so that a headwind or steep hill would blow it out of position! But I got a new one from the same company ("Third Eye") that is slightly different: instead of having three swivel joints, it has only one.
Anyway, even if it gives out eventually, I can't complain since I spent more on pizza tonight than on the mirror.
I forgot how much I like being able to give a quick, sweeping view of the road behind me. (I just have to re-train myself not to use it too much--the road in front is more important!)
My old helmet-mount eventually lost it's "stiffness" so that a headwind or steep hill would blow it out of position! But I got a new one from the same company ("Third Eye") that is slightly different: instead of having three swivel joints, it has only one.
Anyway, even if it gives out eventually, I can't complain since I spent more on pizza tonight than on the mirror.
I forgot how much I like being able to give a quick, sweeping view of the road behind me. (I just have to re-train myself not to use it too much--the road in front is more important!)
10-26-02 | 09:01 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 90
Target doesn't sell these, but I have found the best line of sight, most versatile (for eyeglasses) mounting and easiest adjustment from a mirror called "Take a Look." None of the Frankenstores sell it, you will have to bite the bullet and go to a real bike store.
Bonus; if you live in or are fortunate enough to travel to a country where you must ride on the left side of the road, this mirror can be completely inverted to work on the right temple of your glasses.
Bonus; if you live in or are fortunate enough to travel to a country where you must ride on the left side of the road, this mirror can be completely inverted to work on the right temple of your glasses.
10-27-02 | 08:53 AM
#6
I saw some cheap "Bell" brand bike mirrors at the local K-Mart the other day. The flexible support was so thin and noodly that i doubt it would keep the mirror in one place over a bump. Can't figure what they were thinking when they designed this piece of #@!%. Absolutely useless.
__________________
Je vais à vélo, donc je suis!
Je vais à vélo, donc je suis!
10-27-02 | 08:25 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,391
Likes: 2
From: Snowy midwest
Originally posted by D*Alex
I saw some cheap "Bell" brand bike mirrors at the local K-Mart the other day. The flexible support was so thin and noodly that i doubt it would keep the mirror in one place over a bump. Can't figure what they were thinking when they designed this piece of #@!%. Absolutely useless.
I saw some cheap "Bell" brand bike mirrors at the local K-Mart the other day. The flexible support was so thin and noodly that i doubt it would keep the mirror in one place over a bump. Can't figure what they were thinking when they designed this piece of #@!%. Absolutely useless.
First of all, it was impossible to adjust. Second, it would not stay in place once you half-ass adjusted it. It broke in half the first day I used it. The "noodly support arm" tore off of the handlebar mount when I was trying to adjust it.
The bell mirror at K-Mart and Walmart is a Barbie Doll toy. Leave it for the kiddies.
The Target mirror from Schwinn is reasonably legit.
10-27-02 | 09:09 PM
#8
53 miles per burrito
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Bikes: Land Shark, Trek 1000, Iron Horse Rogue, Novara Randonee
Whew...Thanks guys. I thought I was the only who felt the need to check out the bike stuff at those stores. It's always fun to see how the bikes are set up and wonder how many people get hurt because the brakes aren't functional.
It's also a fun to check out the full suspension bikes for 8-year-olds. Now I know why kids don't ride anymore, those 45 pound bikes have to be hell for a kid to push uphill.
It's also a fun to check out the full suspension bikes for 8-year-olds. Now I know why kids don't ride anymore, those 45 pound bikes have to be hell for a kid to push uphill.
