Geekage

I use a helmet mirror. That way I only have to buy one for each helmet instead one for each bike

Seriously, my rationale is that a helmet mirror:

• Works with any bike
• Can be smaller for the same field of view, because of the distance to your eye
• Gives a better overall view since it's easier to rotate your head a little than it is to move your position around a bar mirror
• Has less vibration

One drawback is that if I'm in a tuck, all I see is my shoulder. I could adjust the mirror more to the side and have to turn my head more, but instead I just pop my head is a bit.

I tried eyeglass mirrors since I figured they would also give a pretty wide field of view, but the problem is that they were too close to my head, so if I set it so I couldn't see my ear, I'd have to turn my head more.

Also, I wasn't too keen on having to remove the mirror from my glasses after every ride. Though every now and then as I'm walking along, I look up and off to the side trying to see behind me in the mirror that isn't there. Or maybe I was just giving someone the side-eye

The generic helmet mirrors I got, something that looks just like this- there are many sellers- may be a bit finicky to install depending on the helmet. I like that the ball joint is easy to adjust while riding since it is easy to knock out of place too. The hook and loop attachment could be stronger, but that's more because the mounting area is flat and it's usually on a curved part of my helmet.

Interestingly, the convex surface of the mirror does a pretty good job correcting for my nearsightedness, so I can see behind me even if my glasses slip down my nose.

KraneXL

That's just it, its the simpler of all the mounts since its easiest to instantly adjust on-the-fly. You simply tilt your head to change the view.

Bob N.

+1

Adjusted so I barely see my ear and I can see right over my shoulder without hardly turning my head. It IS huge though. Great for getting the advance warning on traffic coming up behind you so you can plan ahead.

chas58

That is the beauty of having a helmet mounted mirror. If I'm tempted to ride without a helmet (short slow safe rides) I think - but I'll miss my mirror - I need to take my hemlet!!! '-)

chas58

I've long admired those. But having met someone that had her face/eye gouged out from those serrated edges after falling - well I'll stick to the helmet mirrors that have easy breakaway and no sharp edges.

jimincalif

It actually pops off my glasses really easily. Sometimes I inadvertently pop it off when putting on my helmet or something. Occasionally I think about taping it or otherwise making it harder to come off, but then remind myself I want it to pop off easily in case of a fall. Lots of people in our club have used them for years (a member used to make them before he passed away) with no injuries that I’m aware of. But definitely should be rigged to breakaway easily.

Second Mouse

Got one of these Hafny bar-end mirrors from Amazon for about $15:


I used to poo-poo mirrors until I started commuting semi-regularly. This thing is fairly small but very adjustable and stable, not much vibration and gives a surprisingly good view of the road behind me. My knee doesn't bump into it very often and I rely on it a lot - probably too much sometimes - to see what's approaching from behind.

https://www.amazon.com/Hafny-M0nday-...-1-spons&psc=1

rumrunn6

beer goggles?

tdonline

Is this the same mirror or a different model from the same company?

https://www.amazon.com/Hafny-Mirror-...7NCAYT57P09P29

Mirrcyle converted me and I have two of them now. Bought a 3rd bike this year and haven't outfitted it with a mirror yet. Will do soon, was dismissive of mirrors but once you go mirror, you can't go back!

But I'm interested in the one I linked--because apparently it can be tucked away when not in use. I sometimes wish I could do that with my Mirrcyles. Anyone have this mirror? If it can be tucked away, I wonder how well it holds its position when in use?

Second Mouse

It looks like the same mirror to me. Here's mine:



I tightened it down pretty firmly so it wouldn't move around, so I haven't tried to tuck it away or anything.

noglider 

Andy @ascherer, how do you like your mirror? I think I've become a mirror proselytizer.

ascherer 

I've made peace with it. I don't use it as religiously as I do a helmet. It's also true that my neck isn't as flexible as it used to be. Thank you for persisting in that conversation!

noglider 

I'm the other way. Sometimes I put my mirror in my pocket because I *might* take Citi Bike, but I don't take my helmet because of the off-chance.

ascherer 

I haven't found it useful commuting in traffic. By contrast, I use mirrors heavily when I drive. That's due to early training so I guess I'm not yet adept at looking at a mirror quickly in fast-paced circumstances. I find the mirror most effective when I'm on a shared path to know if another rider is coming up behind me, and when I'm riding with others to keep check on how far apart we are.

For those keeping score, I'm using a Bike Peddler eyeglass mount mirror. My wife used an STI-mounted mirror until a fall broke the mounting lug off the top of the brifter. She tried a helmet-mount but it wasn't working for her. She's mirrorless for now.

noglider 

I also evangelized to @johnlink to get a mirror. He tried a Take-a-Look mirror on his glasses and didn't like it. He now has a handlebar end mirror on EACH end of his handlebars. He is about to embark on a 4,000-mile trip around the USA, so I'm eager to hear how they work out for him.

On Wednesday, in NYC traffic, I saw in my mirror a patrol car behind me with its flashing lights. I quickly pulled over, and the car went on. So that's good.

no motor?

I wish the Mirrcycle mirror would fold away too. I've had a couple of them break since I started to use them, it seems no ride is complete without hitting the mirror on something and tucking it out of the way would make things easier when coming in'out of the building etc...

no motor?

I got spoiled by a mirror on each end of the handlebar while riding motorcycles, and miss than on my bicycle. But a second mirror would make it even harder to get it through doors, making it harder to bring my bike inside when I get to work.

baldilocks

I use a small Zefal mirror on my Jone h loop bars.

RidingMatthew

I love the mirror on my glasses but when bopping around with my son sometimes I wish that I had a mirror on my bike vs glasses. I have thought about something like this for the two of us. I just need a mirror to mount on drop handlebars and his flat bars.

Jim from Boston

Is your son a young'un, that is short, riding a short bike?

I once rode with a recumbent companion, low to the ground, and I was able to see him well.

noglider 

I say try it and let us know how it works!

RidingMatthew

@noglider someday I will get some. For now he is just working on using gears, which he did wonderful yesterday around town. Second real ride on his geared bike.

MAK

I have Take- a-Look mirrors taped to each of my glasses. I never ride without glasses because I've had numerous pebbles and bugs bounce off them. The mirrors don't shake or get blurry and even if they did, I don't need to read license plates or even know the make and model of approaching cars, I just need to know that there's a car behind me. (Same with head badges and approaching cyclists.)

fietsbob

On your helmet perhaps?

Korina

Just ordered this for my Pretty Purple Princess Penelope (aka '92 Rockhopper w/north road bars). It's in keeping with the Velo Orange look I'm going for; let's see how it works as a mirror.