Rx Rider

thanks for the recommendation, just for the record I have to say I think the scientific community is the least corrupted of all the communities I rallied against. it amazes me how in recent decades so many advances in understanding our world have occurred because unrelated fields have been allowed to give their two cents worth on a problem or subject. I would have to look to the past for good examples of the scientific community excluding all possibilities because it differed from theories of common sense or negated the expert that had to remain relevant. where as all I have to do is open the newspaper to see examples of the other communities I mentioned closing the door to progress because a few experts have to remain relevant and right.

as I said before, I think mirrors are a good tool that are needed for some bikes, those with handicaps and those that endure the rigors of commuting. I've learned from many of you why mirrors are useful. and I've learned some of you just want to tell people they will die from ignorance if they don't do what you do, and are willing to bring mothers into as well. I have been car-free for 15 years and I've been hit several times in several ways and don't think focusing (so much) on what's behind you is the best use of your resources. go fast enough to mix with traffic and it's not an issue if you swerve from a pull out or a door. go slow enough and you can brake when a car turns in front of you or pulls out.

I think we could all learn a lesson on how to respectfully disagree from himespau, I know I have.

Rx Rider

yes, it has been explained that doesn't mean I have to concur, it just doesn't make sense to me. if I rode what you rode and did the way you did it, it might.

you say that like it's a difficult thing to do.

Sir-bikes-alot

I'm with you...mirrors are dumb. I too have ridden daily for 40+ years and see no reason to use mirrors.

genec

Gosh I have been riding for 40+ years, lived car free for 7 and I do see that a mirror can be handy at times... Now we've all done our testimonies... The bottom line is still... "it is up to the individual cyclist, and their riding environment, as to whether a mirror is handy or not."

I-Like-To-Bike

Ah, but you forget the testimony from the Guru of proper cycling. He has has said that those in favor of mirrors are "emotional" "fearful" and "confused." He has written, and the disciples of the one correct way respond as expected, it is so.

https://isocrates.us/bike/2009/08/i-h...onal-problems/

dynodonn 

After being nearly hit by a motorist while I was riding in a gutter bike lane, anytime I see a motorist driving down a bike lane, I give them the utmost scrutiny thanks to the use of my mirror. A little heads up info can make all the difference. Today, I had a motorist partially drive down the bike lane behind me, barely moves over enough to just put their tires back over into the inside line, then after passing me proceeds to drive down the bike lane again, and I was able to move a little more to the right ahead of time, giving a little more passing distance between the motorist and myself, in case the motorist didn't return back to their own lane.

Daves_Not_Here

Surprising to me that Forrester would not recommend using a mirror, given their usefulness to all the other "drivers of vehicles" on the road. I have not read Forrester's Effective Cycling so I'll have to take your word (and Andy Cline's) that that is his position. My use of a mirror when I drive a car or truck is not borne of fear or confusion. Why would using one when my vehicle is a bicycle be any different?

genec

Forester wrote originally that he objected to mirrors as people were staring at them vice keeping any eye on all traffic. He has since said here on BF that he now believes mirrors make sense. I don't have a citing; perhaps he will come on and give us his words.

I-Like-To-Bike

I believe he has come around on mirrors because his age has brought about a lack of head/neck turning flexibility, causing him to rethink his own previous inflexibility on the subject. In other words, now that John Forester has use for a mirror it is no longer a tool for "emotional and confused" cyclists.

vic303

rydabent is right--as a recumbent rider, I have to rely on mirrors on my bars (I run two). It is not feasable to look over your shoulder on a bent. I have tried a helmet/glasses mounted mirror, but with the option of using my headrest, this type of mounting requires constant adjustment as the positioning of it changes when using the headrest or not.

Also remember the body's natural tendency to steer in the direction you are looking--so as you turn around on a DF to check over your shoulder, your bike will subtly track toward the side you looked over...same thing in cars.

genec

While you can train yourself to not do this sideways tracking... (I actually used to look behind me by looking upside down from a tuck position) the other disadvantage of looking over your shoulder is the time it takes... not a big thing in slower traffic, but in higher speed traffic, that time disadvantage can be exactly when someone from behind comes right up on you.

dynodonn 

A few days ago, I happen to watch a cyclist, operating without a mirror, look over his shoulder when he moved back into the main traffic lane. After reviewing my video, his glance back lasted only for a second, and I guess some cyclists are really good at quickly assessing a large amount of info in that short amount of time. Unfortunately for me, I not able to process the amount of data needed to safely move back into the mainstream of traffic with only a second's worth of viewing it.

genec

Hey a second is a second... it takes a fraction of a second to glance at a mirror. And as I have noted before, in higher speed traffic one needs to look further back to see what traffic will overtake you as you change lateral position... and for that, you have to turn more than just your head, you need to turn your upper body.

It is all quite situational, and to fully grasp that, bear in mind that I don't use mirrors on all my bikes... so I do understand the differences.

dynodonn 

Agreed, and why I glance more than once into my mirror when merging back into the main traffic lane, and all the while in being able to keep a better eye on what's in front of me, plus generally I will do a very minor head turn when making considerable turning movements to clear the nearby space next to me

gregmxwll

I have always used this mirror, you can see it on www.gizmag.com. You can search it by typing "bicycle helmet mirror".

K'Tesh

Glad to see you're not using this "mirror" that gizmag was promoting...

gregmxwll

https://www.gizmag.com/isoteko-bicycl...23804/pictures
This one has no batteries.

stillatit

I'm with you, phodges. I don't like to ride without a mirror. My preferred type is attached to my sunglasses. Small tilt of the head and I have a clear view of behind.