HiYoSilver

Looking for a mirror to put on bike. Which would you recommend?

Rhode Gear Road Mirror
https://bicycletrip.com/site/itemdeta...g=39&sort=Pric
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...egory_ID=6700#

Evo Mirror $30
https://www.calhouncycle.com/productc...=9&idproduct=7

zefal spy mirror $15
https://www.velotique.com/mirrors.htm

Rhode Gear
-- link #1, seems like older style and may not fit on Shimano STI shifters
-- link #2, would fit, but your hands would be on the velcro
-- Rhode Gear home site does not list mirrors as a product, only carriers, etc

Zefal spy mirror looks like it might fit. But don't know if could see past me.
Evolution mirror looks it has the best potential for being a great mirror. It does have 2 different
extensions, but is a tad pricey.

Any experience with any of these? Any recommendations?
[Yes I have a helmet mirror, but I need a non-helmet. And with road bars, would like not to use a handbar end mirror. ]

Eggplant Jeff

I have the handlebar-end version of the Rhoad gear mirror. The joint (hidden by the rubber boot in the picture) does NOT stay tight... I have to readjust it every single time I ride, often more than once. Maybe this is a problem with all handlebar mirrors, I dunno, but I'm not super-satisfied with this one.

Plus it didn't fit my handlebar ends either so I had to ghetto it.

michaelnel

If you must have a bike-mounted mirror, the Mountain Mircycle is the best, IMO. But I agree that the Take A Look mirror is the best way to go.

HiYoSilver

Changed mind. I think there are two better options.

The ultra lite is now recarried by performance for $20
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...cfm?SKU=15318#


The other mirror that came back into consideration is the blackburn road mirror, $18
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...cfm?SKU=14656#

It seems like people don't like trying to put the blackburn on the brake hoods, because
too many like ridding on the hoods. One cyclist reports success mounting on the downslope
of the bars under the brake levers but a bit above the lowest curve of the drop.

The ultra lite seems more secure and more adjustable with no velco to mess with.

goddyn

I am VERY HAPPY with an <A HREF="https://www.calhouncycle.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=9&idproduct=7">Evo Mirror</A> mounted on my drop bars just below my brake levers.
It is out of the way for both braking grips, does not shake, and swings out of
the way for narrow places. The Evo Mirror is just a Mirrycle mirror with a tube mounting.
Calhoun cycle makes these, but charges $13USD more than a plane Mirrycle for the solution.

genec

Agreed with the Mircycle.

HiYoSilver

I need a second mirror. The helmet mirror needs constant adjustment and I'm missing too much. I just want to set it and forget it. The bar ends I've replaced with lights in the tubes for winter riding. Thus it sounded like the best solution was to put a mirror under the brake levers. LBS don't have in stock so net shopping time.

michaelnel

I bet you're using one of those plastic crap things. Try a Take A Look mirror and your problems are over.

jur

How about those bar-ends with built-in mirrors from Topeak? Anybody try them? I am thinking about getting both, so here seems a solution to both in one go. Looks sexy, but is it practical?

HiYoSilver

Using https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...e.cfm?SKU=847#

The problems with it are:
1. surface area is too small
2. need to adjust at start of ride and once or twice during ride

Longhorn

I really like the Zefal Spy mirrors. I have one on each extension (flat bars) and I can see everything behind me with just a glance. The Zefal mirros can go anywhere and are easy to adjust, yet they stay put throughout my ride. I also have a helmet mirror that is great when my bike is at such an angle that I can't see the road.

podman

the blackburn model i just bought is a mount in the bar end type that works with drop bars.
i picked it up because a friend stated how much he liked his and i don't think i really do like it but have little experience with anything else.
my gripes are that it is positioned right under my arm when i am riding on the hoods and that the road vibe often shakes it to a blur making rendering it useless.
my friend says it may grow on me as i become accustomed to it.. we'll see i guess.

HiYoSilver

Let us know how you feel about it after a couple of weeks. That is interesting.
I thought at least the outside 1/2 would not be blocked by arm when on the hoods.
Maybe the pictures make it look bigger than it actually is.

I decided to go with the ultralite. It has good flexibility for trying to find a good position, but probably has zero vibration dampening. After I have it for a couple of weeks, I'll post a reaction. Some sites I found really liked it but they may have had a high tolerance for vibration as a trade off for field of view.

Eggplant Jeff

The blackburn is the exact same as the Rhoad mirror, check out the pictures. Same product, two brand names.

HiYoSilver

Take A Look specs are a square mirror 1 7/16 x 1 1/16. My mirror is oval at 1 3/4" and 1 1/4". The surface area difference is probably not significant. It's user can't adjust with weak left eye.

HiYoSilver

Eggplant,
Thanks for the clarification of the Rhodes and Blackburn labeling.

HiYoSilver

FYI- update. Installed the ultra lite. They are really super light. If you mount on side of drops without the extender there is very little vibration. With the extender there is a little vibration, but not too much for me. Biggest disappointment with the mirror is it is wide angle. Good news: no suprising, opps here's a car. Bad news: hard to judge distance.
Hopefully I'll get use to it. Super sized mirror. I just wish it was in a stardard flat mirror.

CTBiker1001

I know this thread is getting a little old, but wanted to add this. I bought a Zefal Spy Mirror based on opinions in various places (including this thread) and it's been great. I tried one of those mirrors that velcroed to the brake hood, but didn't like it because it didn't stay in one place and vibrated a lot - very difficult for me to use.

The Zefal Spy Mirror can be mounted in various locations. I have mine mounted on the tube below the handlebars and my view is back through my legs. I was amazed that my left leg is very rarely in the way and there is a great rearward view (can glance at the mirror and cyclometer with same position of my head). There is a blind spot to my left, but it's just about where my peripheal vision picks up anyway. No vibration at all (and I've tested on some rough roads) and once it's adjusted, just tighten an Allen screw and it's been rock steady. One of the best things I've purchased for the bike and it would be hard to ride without it now.

dynaryder

I remember seeing some mirrors somewhere,either in a motorcycle magazine or catalog,that strapped to the back of your hand. Anyone ever see these? I think they would solve both the mounting and vibe probs of handlebar mirrors,while being larger than helmet/eyewear mirrors.

rat_factory

Mirrcycle is bulletproof and will fit in any handlebar with a wedge type expander. I dropped my bike on it at least 50 times (juggling books, locks, and other college crap).
and i think i saw that hand-mirror technique in bicycling magazine or something.

markg

I found that the the blackburn does not interfere with riding on the hoods if your fingers are down on the front of the brake lever - the mirror sits forward and above your fingers. Your hands do ride on the velcro, however it's the soft side so it's not uncomfortable. I'm using the Campy-style Cane Creek levers, and the mirror looks like it would fit better on thinner levers. I don't know how well it would work with STI. It does vibrates a little too much for me, but I also don't want a glasses or helmet mount mirror.

Zero_Enigma

Sorry to cast the neuromancer spell but I'm in the market for 1-2 mirrors right now. Kinda found this while looking for the Zefal on Google.

For those with mirrors can I see how you have them mounted and what types you have and how good they are holding up over all this time?

I have a velcro one which works on one bike but on the other bike it does not work because of the moulded grips which make mounting that mirror a little hard and not that tight so I have some vibration. I have been thinking of the Zefal spy mirror as I kind of like the idea of the underbar mount which kinda looks a little cleaner to me.

Thanks in advance.

Capt_Sensible

Has anyone tried mounting a mirrycle to drop bars and if so can they post some pictures?

noamb

I just mounted mine on my new drop bar bike (first ride today. Sorry - no pictures yet.), but I don't like the fact that my left arm always seems to be blocking my view.

harleyfrog

These mirrors look nice. Top of my list, anyways.