I put a significant effort to try and get an eyeglass mirror to work . Even used one for 2mo straight on my daily commute. But in the end that mirror was too much of a peripheral vision distraction for me that never went away - like that feeling someone has their hand next to your head and may slap you any second, or on a bicycle the feeling of a car approaching from the left when there wasn't one.
But also and equally problematic is I could never adjust it so I could glance at it and see behind me without contorting my head each time to see over shoulder. I was told it was not usable when in low position, so what is the point if I need to sit up right to see behind me?
With bar end mirror all it takes is a glance and no need to change positions. Still have a Take-a-Look in my storage bin in case I wish to try another time.

Take it off when you get to the trailhead and stash in bag.

This morning while riding I scrutinized my usual comfortable mirror viewing on my well-placed mirrors, and I could not detect any change in in visual accomodation as I glanced from the road to the mirror. I seemed to focus on the mirror. When I look at those magic vision posters, I do have to conscientiously vary my focal planes to achieve success.

When I suggested drawbacks to an eyeglass-mounted mirror, these were speculative considerations, though subscriber @ItsJustMe has posted about a facial injury. I’ve never felt threatened by my mirror, though I do admit that my right hand mirror position is a “blind spot” on my right to sideways traffic, but it’s easy to look forward of it, as it continuously changes its relative position.

Yeah, I'll come up with a thumbscrew arrangement to make it easy. Damn helmet mirror fell off again. :notamused:

At the bike shop in Portland (Beaverton actually) where the inventor used to work the EVT mirror doesn't cost any more than any other mirror of its type.

I use one. At first, it made me feel cross-eyed, lol. I made myself focus by looking at the color of the second car behind me. Once I started to try to focus on something further back, my "focus" on the mirror shifted and all was good. Make sure it is good quality glass or whatever as aberrations will drive you crazy.

It took me a while (weeks) to figure out my helmet mirror, but once I did I realized how much more effective they can be. I found (and this sounds counter-intuitive) that if I mounted the mirror so that it was closer to my eye. I moved the mount point to the rear of my helmet to effectively reduce the arm length, but not so much that I lost the angle necessary to see around my helmet. My old eyes won't focus on anything that's less than 2 feet away, but I have no issue looking at the distance reflected off a mirror only 2" away.

You know, now that you mention it, after my first Take-A-Look mirror, I've used the shorter version. I forgot, because it's been a while. It's better closer for me, too.

I couldn't make a helmet/eyeglass mirror work for me either. Similarly, it was too damn close to me face. I now use a glass mirror that straps onto my left brake leaver with Velcro (I have drop bars). Would it work to get a mrror that's easy to take off wen you don't need it? Then I suppose you'd have a storage issue....

Velcro would be nice... but not sure how it might work on my flat bar mountain bike. This is a trails bike actually a Giant Trance X2. Full suspension. Wonderful ride for the on and off sidewalk, roadways, path, and trails riding I am doing right now. My only disappointment is that it does not have a lockout rear shock... means if I don't do it just right, getting out of the saddle to accelerate is just absorbed by the shock.

My favorite mirror for my other flat bar bike (my heavy duty "commuter") is the Mirrycle mirror. The darn thing is perfect... and yeah, I've snapped it off a few time going through a narrow gateway... I replace them ASAP. It is a great mirror.

I'd love to find a velcro version... I'd probably just strap it to the center of the bars when not in use out on the left grip. I've been going without a mirror as of late... and avoiding the open road for the most part, due to the availability of paths and "sidewalks." The streets I am riding right now are about 25-30MPH roads... and I'm just looking back.

I would NEVER have commuted without a mirror... I was always on 45 and 55MPH roads... and keeping awareness of all the traffic around me required a mirror.

Here's the flat bar version of the Blackburn mirror I have. In both versions, the Velcro wraps where your hand goes on the bar, but I don't mind that and don't really notice it after a fw minutes of riding.

Link:
https://www.performancebike.com/blac...041498/p380736

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b44b84f774.jpg

Hey, is this a flat mirror... not convex? If so, I may have found my next mirror. :D

Or rather, you found it. Thanks.

The mirror is flat. It's large enough for a full view of the road behind you. The glass and mirror surface are very good; clear and durable. I've had mine for two years and about 2,000 miles of touring, taking it on and off and having it bounce around in my handlebar bag when not in use and it doesn't have a scratch on it. Another good thing about the Velcro is that it's easy to take off when my bike is just leaning on the porch. It can't get torn off if it's not on the bike.

One thing about it though is since it is a real piece of glass (which has some mass to it), it tends to vibrate itself out of adjustment over prolonged bumpy sections of road. But that's rare in the riding I do. And it never goes out of adjustment enough not to be useful. You can see in the picture it has a ring between the accordion boot and the mirror frame that can tighten down on the ball socket to keep it set where you want it. If you screw that down good and hard, it takes quite a bit of jarring to make it budge.

I bet a bit of bungie cord would add that extra tightness... :D

Initially tried the Take-a-Look several years ago. At that time, didn't care for it and switched to EVT Safe Zone Mirror, or similar. Over time, didn't care f o r how much view it blocked to my left.

Because of this thread, tried the Take-a-Look again. I like it. I do forget it's there occasionally and a hand movement, such as wiping my brow, knocks it out of alignment. Learning though. :)

Pull it off when you get to the trail


https://www.ebay.com/p/Axiom-Fastfla...nid=1907933686

I'm awfully nearsighted, but I took to a helmet mirror quite easily. I'm constantly looking in the mirror to see if anyone's behind me. And more than once while walking, I've looked up and to the left to see if anyone was behind me before getting ready to cross the street, only to realize that I was walking, not riding, and wasn't wearing my helmet with mounted mirror.

NO-LINE Progressive Tri Focal glasses and have used the following mirror for longer than I can remember. I mount it reversed - upside down - and it works great.

https://www.amazon.com/CycleAware-He.../dp/B000UVCP52

Plus I like that it is all plastic.

Finally got this mirror... WORKS GREAT!

Not really a bother with hand position. And due to the grips I use, it really hangs on. Works quite well. Far better than any helmet mirror... for me. Those may work for others, or I never found the right one.

This DOES work... for me.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Bottom line... use what works, but use a mirror in traffic.

This is the very reason I don't use a mirror. My family was so sure a handlebar mirror would work. I showed them that, a mirror couldn't attach to my handlebars. Then they wanted to use a mirror on my helmet. I had to show them that, a helmet mirror would not only be, like trying to focus on something the diameter of a penny. But also, the movement of the mirror would be seen in my peripheral vision. Causing it to become a real distraction. Not something, I want to try to get used to in traffic.

Your choice.

I find a mirror very handy... I just could not get used to a helmet mounted mirror. Handlebar mirrors work fine for me. I have found a very suitable solution.

I am not going to convince you to use a mirror... good luck.

I haven't seen a handlebar mirror. That works with curved handlebars. So, I just use my eyes n' ears.

"curved handlebars?" As in drop bars, mustache bars, or longhorn steer bars... don't know what you mean by "curved bars."

But I do suspect that a suitable mirror is available... if you desire to use one, you will find it.

Back in the 80s I bought a "Third Eye" helmet mounted mirror and was generally pleased with it. But last week I encountered a swarm of gnats on the trail and as I swatted them away from my face I also swatted away the mirror, and destroyed it. After 30+years it was like I lost an old friend . . . .

I looked at possible replacements, decided to try the "Take-a-Look" mirror, and after the first ride I am sold on it. Far better field of vision and much more stable than the helmet mount. The old mirror would vibrate and sometimes shift out of place on larger bumps. It will take a bit of getting used to attaching it to my glasses each time but I like the result.

I second the Take-a-look mirror. I too used to use a helmet mounted mirror. I like the Take-a-look when it's mounted on my glasses or sunglasses due to the far less wobble. Btw, a Take-a-look mirror can be mounted on a helmet visor but I found that it vibrated a lot more and could slip off. I used a zip-tie to hold mine in place after it fell off once whilst I was riding on what would have been a very busy road if earlier or later in the day. I was able to recover the mirror and then I put it on my sunglasses instead of the helmet visor.

Cheers