mconlonx

I run a mirror fixed on my bike, so it has blind spots, like any car does. So I do a headcheck in addition to checking my mirror when making some kind of lane change or turn, or confirming what I might have just merely glimpsed in the mirror.

Also, a holdover from motorcycling, and like himespau commented on--drivers recognize a headcheck as a precursor to a rider doing something and have a chance to act accordingly. Sometimes, I'll check my mirror and see a car traveling in a manner where if they stick to their course, they'll pass too close to me -- many times in such a case, when I do a physical headcheck, they'll move to give me more room. Especially when I'm using a helmet mounted light...

Didn't used to use a mirror, but decided to check it out. Love it, wouldn't remove it from my commuter bike. Thought I could hear plenty well and then headcheck to see cars. What I found was that by the time I can hear a car, they are usually nearly right on top of me -- mirror alerts me to approaching cars much further out than hearing alone; much clearer than relying in many cases on peripheral vision.

Chris516

I don't use a mirror and ride in traffic. Because I am constantly looking and listening for traffic.

daredevil

First off, nobody has a 360 view without a mirror and secondly it's called peripheral vision.

rydabent

I really find it amazing that just like the anti helmet people there are anti mirror people too. It seem really dumb not to use available safety equiptment that is available and low cost.

bud16415

I’m not wishing to get into the discussion of mirror or no mirror it’s a personal thing and I know as I get older flipping my head back 180 is not like it used to be. It requires a bit more body turn and in my case I have loss of stability when doing that. But like seat belts I say use or don’t use them as you wish.

I will explain how I use my mirror and why. The type of riding I do I don’t need 360 visibility in my close to 3 inch bar mirror. I have a very narrow area behind me I’m trying to keep track of. I want to look just off my left hip and as far back the road as I can for vehicles approaching at my 6. I’m on the white line or the berm I know what approaching traffic there is and how much room the passing car is going to have. I don’t assume they will slow and pass when it’s safe I assume they will pass safe or not when they get to me. I know about when they pick up on the blinker lights and I need to see they are making a slight reaction to me being at the side of the road. I actually feel safer riding in the dark than during the day for two reasons. First I pick up the headlights in the mirror sooner and they react to the blinkers sooner. They might not see me but they see something and react to it.

I set my mirrors on all my bikes to compromise between the upper and lower hand position on the bar and so it’s looking right where I need it to be when my head is centered. If I need to scan a little shifting my head side to side gives me a wider view. Of course you have to use your hearing also and be looking around as much as you can especially in city riding. Hand signals and all that play a part in overall safety. For me I’m ready to take it off the road anytime the car passing is even slightly in question. And I tend to error on the side of safety when there is a chance of getting pinched with cars parked along the side or narrow shoulders and curbs. The mirror for me plays a part in riding safer.

gcottay

Most of the good riders I know use a mirror or mirror of their choice. A few reply on shoulder checks. Me, I'm one of those who feels naked without the Take-a-Look.

If I were the high grand potentate of cycling all new riders would use mirrors unless and until they judged shoulder checks adequate in meeting their safety needs.

noisebeam

I would instead require new cyclists become proficient at shoulder checks and riding straight while doing so and after this could be done comfortably they would use mirrors.

Roustabout

I use the clip on mirror, https://www.amazon.com/Bike-Peddler-C...235138&sr=8-31, it works extremely well and clips onto my sunglasses. Wouldn't leave home without it.

Don in Austin

Cars and trucks have to have mirrors because there are so many visual obstructions beside and behind you. Turn you head in anything except a convertible with the top down and you see a bunch of pillars. Totally different riding a bike.

Don in Austin

CommuterRun

I covered that earlier, but I will again.

Sure, you can see ahead and behind at the same time; using your peripheral vision. You're not focusing in both directions at once. That is impossible.

It's called turning your head and looking. Anyone who does not have a preclusive medical condition can do that on a bike. All motor vehicles have blind spots. That is why there is a mirror requirement for motor vehicles. Not so for bikes. Trying to compare cars and bicycles on this is just ridiculous. The seating position on some recumbents prevents being able to turn far enough to see behind.

A mirror is just a convenient aid. It's no more necessary to riding than a ham and cheese on rye with a slice of dill pickle.

noisebeam

Correct. This line of argument was a poor one and distracts from the real reasons mirrors are beneficial.

daredevil

Would you admit that not turning around is more efficient?

PeaceVegan

Wow, before reading this thread I never would have guessed how passionate mirrored riders are. There are a lot of opinions here about its efficacy. Before I am willing to see them as necessary I would like to peruse some scientific data. Besides opinion does anyone have any data?

What about when walking or jogging? Do you use them then also for the same reasons?

CommuterRun

Depends on how much you want to see. No mirror can reveal the detail that turning and looking in the desired direction can, nor can any mirror give as wide a field of view. It also depends on how much you want to communicate with other road users. I have found that doing a shoulder check seems to tell motorists "watch me; I might be looking because I intend to move over." If I'm viewing them in my mirror they have no way of knowing what I'm looking at.

CommuterRun

Even a convertible with the top down has blind spots at the "A" pillars and quarter panels. A bicycle doesn't, cannot, have that.

noisebeam

I find my mirror essential for my commute. I understand why some may choose not to use one and while I don't care what others do and won't argue with the choice they make, I will argue with a justification of the choice if the justification is poor or incorrect.

They are not necessary. One can cycle with reasonable safety without one.
I doubt there is any data, plus I suspect it would be very difficult to structure a study that could eliminate other factors.

I don't walk where there is a need to keep track or be aware of faster traffic from the rear. When I walk on a shared path with cyclists I can keep to far edge of path and am willing to trust the faster cyclists will see and respond to me and accept the risk/severity potential of being hit.

noisebeam

That is the beauty of using a mirror. It separates the act communication with other drivers from the method of being aware of surroundings which greatly helps reduce miscommunication of intent.

CommuterRun

Sure, shooters can keep both eyes open. I can. But unless you have compound eyes you can only focus on one thing at a time. Everything else you are seeing with your peripheral vision. A scope gives the illusion of having the crosshairs superimposed on the target. Shooting with open sights is completely different, and a better example. I do the peripheral vision thing all the time at work. Mowing I'm looking at the line from my last pass to keep my current line straight with no gaps, but I'm also seeing the upcoming edge where I am going to have to lift my reels so as not to cut into grass that should not be cut with that mower. It is physically impossible for the human eye to focus on more than one object at a time. All knowledgable shooters know this.

CommuterRun

The value of that is debatable. If I were going to actually change lanes with a motor vehicle behind me it would be silly of me to rely on just a shoulder check to negotiate for space.

noisebeam

I don't see both in front and behind me at the same time when using a mirror - another overstated argument from the pro-mirror crowd.

However when using a mirror I can switch between front and rear view much faster than by turning my head to look behind me.

noisebeam

The value is huge to me. I can prepare for a merge without having drivers responding to me when I am just checking for traffic conditions and determining the ideal time to start negotiating/merging.

Before I had a mirror it was frustrating on a daily basis when in turning back to asses conditions fro a merge, a driver would think I was about to suddenly merge and slow for me. If I merged then it would mess up traffic flow (then sometimes making it even harder to prepare for the next lane merge, for example the driver behind the one that slowed would then merge left and pass them, etc.)

Now with a mirror I can plan the optimum place to merge freely or most effectively timing to start to negotiate one. I can fit in far more smoothly with the flow of traffic.

PeaceVegan

[QUOTE=noisebeam;13947583]I find my mirror essential for my commute. I understand why some may choose not to use one and while I don't care what others do and won't argue with the choice they make, I will argue with a justification of the choice if the justification is poor or incorrect.

In order to judge someones justification as poor or incorrect facts would be needed. This thread only includes opinions.

CommuterRun

Now this statement makes sense. And is what I have found in using a mirror. I can see ahead or behind just by changing my point of focus. But, for me, that doesn't make a mirror a requirement to my riding. If I somehow break my mirror I can still get home without walking or calling for a pick up.

noisebeam

That is not correct. There are several facts sprinkled throughout this thread.

noisebeam

Of course.