Mirrors - Which is best?
 

Just wondered if you prefer a mirror such as The Third Eye that attaches to the helmet or one attached to the bike. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

I ride a motorscooter so I was always looking for a mirror on my handlebars already so that's what I found to be best. The helmet kind never stayed aimed right for me.

I've found that the only one that stays in place well is CycleAware's Reflex Mirror. I believe Performance Bike carries them, or you can probably save shipping and pick one up at your LBS (better yet).

I have a third eye, for my sunglasses a round racing catseye brand mirror for my road bike, which fits on the left hood, and a more oval shaped catseye mirror for my hybrid. The trouble with handbar mirrors is that they get knocked out of place, more easily.
None of my mirrors replace, turning my head to the left to see for myself what's back there.

I'll second that. The Reflex is the way to go for a helmet-mounted mirror.

A helmet mirror does take a bit of getting used to, but once you do, you'll wonder why you ever rode without one. :crash:

For a bar mounted mirror, flat or drop, I really like the Zefal Cyclops. It has a great field of view, is stable, easy to mount and adjust, folds away for tight doorways or tight traffic conditions, and doesn't get the way of your hands like some other mirrors do.

http://www.zefal.com/AAA/page.php?no...eurs&langue=anhttp://www.deanwoods.com.au/store/im...al_cyclops.jpg http://www.deanwoods.com.au/store/im...ops_detail.jpg

The Third Eye barend mirror is good and very stable, but also fragile. I've gone through three in the last year. Helmet mirrors are too distracting.

Mountain mirrycle, assuming you've got straight bars, gets my vote. Vibration free and the only time it's ever moved has been when I've moved it in for tight parking on the bike rack.

Helmet mirror rocks. It doesn't bounce around, and gives you a view of the entire road behind you. If you have it setup just right, you almost don't even need to turn your head, just glance up and to the left and there it all is.

It might make your eyes feel weird for a week (but only when you're on your bike), but once you get used to it, it becomes second nature and you'll start trying to look into the mirror even when you're off bike walking around.

I've found the helmet mounted mirrors to be difficult to use so I use one that fits into the end of the handle bars.

The post covers many opinions about mirrors. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ghlight=mirror

I use the Bike Peddler 'take a look':
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/commo...DLook%20Mirror

It's easily adjustable, stays in place once set, gives a good field of view, and has had no problems after two years of weekday commuting.

The mtn mirrycle definately if you have straight bars. My road bike has a 10.00 pyramid round barend mirror. I can't deal with the helmet or eyeglass mirrors. I've tried, but the habit to look up, screws me up every time. I even tried to compensate the looking up part to no avail.

I had a Third Eye and loved it. Seemed to have lost it during my long layoff from biking. I finally went to the LBS today to get my bike after a tune up and asked about a new Third Eye for my current helmet (an old Vetta.) Well, he only had the Third Eye that glues on and I wanted the kind that screws on since I may upgrade my helmet soon and wouldn't be able to use it on my new helmet because of the glue.

I notice that at least two shops online do have it. Nashbar at a very attractive price. But I opted to get a mirror on the end of my handlebars and see how I like it. I may like it fine. If not, I'll go back to the Third Eye.

I can tell you that, in my opinion, The Third Eye was wonderful. Yes, it takes some getting used to. But in a few days you're lost without it and it's great to have it. But I guess it's all a matter of opinion and what works for the individual.

Not having a mirror was kind of dangerous for me; I couldn't turn my neck far enough to get the desired area within the view of my glasses and found myself trying to turn into an area that had only been cleared by blurred vision.
I tried contact lenses as a remedy but ditched them after a week.

So I tried a helmut mirror, and found that vibration would kill the view on rougher roads. But I liked the mirror. My solution: I braced the mirror with a second leg. It killed all vibration and the mirror works great for me now as a means of keeping track of the "big picturer" of traffic behind me.

It takes a moment to register your view of the mirror though. I've found it doesn't work for emergencies that require instant action such as a car backing into your path from a driveway. For those you've still got to crank your head around.

Mike

I use the topeak Bar N Mirrow. They fold into the handle bar when not needed. And having 2 mirrors increases my viewing range quite a bit. I love them!

Topeake Bar N Mirror:

http://www.yuccadune.com/product1712.html

+1 for the Take a Look. American made, too!

I used the Third Eye for the longest time and worked great until I change glasses with slightly larger arms and it didn't fit. I tried to force it and of course it broke.

My mirror broke last week and I've been doing fine without it.
In retrospect, I find that having a mirror attached anywhere near my head become more of an obsticle than an aid.
Doubt I'll get a new one.

I tried a bar mounted mirror on my recumbent trike, but found it of no use due to excessive vibration. Switched to a small third eye mirror clipped to my riding glasses. It was a small circular mirror mounted to a plastic stalk; better than the old bar mount mirror, but difficult to maintain adjustment after some use. Now, I use the "Take A Look" third eye mirror mounted to my riding glasses. Excellent. I use it on all my rides whether recumbent trike, recumbent LWB, or DF. It is made of an optically correct mirror and stainless steel and brass stalk. It is fully and easily adjustable. One of the best aspects of the third eye style mirror, is that it is easily used to see a wide field of view behind the ridder from four o'clock to eight o'clock simply by a turn of the head. These are available from the makers (by phone call; it is a mom and pop business - very nice to talk to) or through The Hostel Shoppe.

addendum: The Take A Look mirror is available for mounting to eyeglasses or to a helmet.

Jim

Mine attaches to my glasses-- a good thing if you don't always wear a helmet.

I adjust it so that I can just barely see my ear. This way I have a point of reference and can "scan" my head effectively to see behind.

Quoted thread is nice to see but has no useful information. Here's a list of my thoughts:

1. it's more dangerous to ride without a mirror than with one. It's better to be prepared for that traffic rush.

2. helmet mirrors help a bit if you can get used to them
2.1 They will never be very good for right eye dominant riders. They only give a hint of vehicles.
2.2 You don't look in the mirror, you adjust the mirror for most situations and move your head to see behind
2.3 details are very difficult to see in them
2.4 looking too hard in mirror can lead to unexpected results as riding into a hole

3. road bar end mirrors will not work at all if you reserve that spot for flash back type of handlebar safety lights

4. best solution? unknown, but here is what I plan to try:
4.1 keep on using the helmet mirror as a second mirror
4.2 I'm going to put on a handlebar mirror and see how that works out. Right now I'm looking at this
http://www.rei.com/product/47846426.htm? and planning to put on left side of handlebar, or on handlebar extender.

Helmet mounted Third Eye....always. Bike mounted mirrors require you to look down, taking your eyes away from the front. Also, bike mounted mirror vibrate with the bike.