Mirrors
 

This may be an old topic and I hope it does not reflect badly on me. There used to be some very nice Myrrcle mirrors that worked on old style Shimano STI shifters. I have been looking for a replacement for those.

Zefal appears to have a large bar end mirror that appears effective. Any experience with these or another good mirror? Preferably for use with drop bars.

Mirrors on the Zefal page

I see what you did there.

I loved the Mountain Mirrycle mirrors when I had bikes with flat bars. Nothing comes close to the view those give you. For drop bars, I can't stomach the tacked-on nature of their offerings. The best I've found for drop bars is the Sprintech drop bar mirror.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...445e16f0_b.jpg

I've tried a couple of other bar end mirrors, and this one has the least distorted view IMO. The image is pretty small, but it's good enough to give you a hint as to what's behind you so you can decide whether or not it's worth turning your head and upper body to look directly.

There are mirrors for flat bars and for road bars, but what about the rest of us? I have a Jones loop bar on one bike, and north road bars on the other, and I can't seem to find a mirror that reflects anything but my arm.

I've never used a mirror on a bike.

Can you really see in a handlebar mounted mirror or do they vibrate so much that the mirror just has a blur?

I have never seen the value in a bicycle mirror. I will hear the traffic coming anyway and I'm not in control of the other vehicle, so what purpose does a mirror serve?

You put them on your helmet.




https://live.staticflickr.com/1937/4...ab3db7c7_o.jpgimage by Stuart Black, on Flickr


https://live.staticflickr.com/1776/4...e28440d4_o.jpgDSCN1243 by Stuart Black, on Flickr


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e3dd3c8a_o.jpgIMG_2283 by Stuart Black, on Flickr

Clear image?
 

I use the end mounted drop bar type-- I can at least see the color of the F150 that is squeezing me into the shoulder!

I like to use a mirror for the security it provides ev3n though the image is shakey. I once viewed an approaching vehicle that was taking up the entire mirror-I pulled off the road and stopped to let the house mover continue on his way unobstructed by a mere cyclist--there was no warning and no advance vehicle. Just a house traveling at 40mph taking up the whole road.

Bike-mounted mirrors often get in the way of grip location or controls, and are susceptible to damage from leaning the bike against a wall. More importantly, the mirror is often useless aside from one specific position/posture. This is particularly true with drop bar bikes - set up the mirror for rear view when riding on hoods, then when you're in the drops you lose the rear view.

Helmet-mounted mirrors work a little better than bike-mounted mirrors, because when you change position/posture you can usually tilt your head momentarily for a quick rear view. Additionally, a helmet mirror goes with you when you change bikes.

I've used the Cycleaware Reflex for years, it's a decent helmet mirror. If you leave the helmet in a hot car the 3M adhesive mounting pad will become unstuck, and the mirror falls off. A dab of Krazy glue will fix this. A hidden safety feature of this mirror is the mirror arm, which is steel wire covered by a thick layer of rubber. This rubber coating precludes the possibility of the wire arm causing a face or eye injury in the event of a bike crash. I starting using the Reflex mirror after someone posted a pic of their Take-a-look mirror dangling from their cheek, where the wire arm had been bent around and embedded into their face after a tumble on the bike.

Don't expect any mirror to give you a good rear view all the time - they are all a little fussy and work only OK in the best of times - but better than nothing, and safer than doing the "sorta looking backwards while moving forwards" thing.

I use a beer view mirror. It is invaluable.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5304fad2ef.jpg

I have the mirrycle bar end mirror on my drop bar end. Can adjust to virtually any position and very happy with it.

I have a Mirrycle bar end mirror on my drop bars and wouldn't trade it for anything. Clarity is 2nd to none. To answer the question of it vibrating, I have never had that problem - though a true road bike with high pressure skinny tires may be different

It appears that Mirrycle still makes the Shimano STI mount mirrors if that is what you're looking for. https://www.mirrycle.com/product/mirrycle-road-mirror/

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5854a284e7.jpg

Depends on your road. I used and loved my flat bar end mirror until I changed bars. There is some jiggling, but I'm not trying to read license plates, and I like being able to see what's coming, often before I can hear it.

I can see why people don't like mirrors. Most of them just don't work well.

The exception is a helmet mounted mirror. I can't commute without one. Get a helmet mounted mirror. Its the only way to go.

Commuting was fun, until they invented cell phones. Now I need to know what is going on behind me. It as if 1/10th of the drivers are drunk as being on a cell phone has the same effect.

I've used a handlebar mirror for many years, attaches to hoods. Works great, can see clearly, etc. Don't commute without it as it allows for much smoother interaction with other drivers.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...752b1969be.jpg

I ride in constant traffic. Either passing or getting passed constantly. A mirror would simply be a distraction but maybe you're conditions are different.

If I have parked cars on both sides of the street and two way traffic in addition, I don't have anytime for a rearward mirror.

Cap's off to you for the beer view mirror!

Well @acidfast7, while you did not actively discourage use of a mirror I accept your particular choice, but I actively tout using rearview mirrors.

Like some others here, I find the (Third Eye for me) helmet-mounted mirror a godsend. I see other commuting riders being very tentative with their maneuvers in traffic, not knowing what is coming up behind them; having good rear vision gives me much more confidence.

For myself and my riding, I would rather have a mirror than a helmet. Mirrycle on my hybrid. Bush and Mueller 901/2 on my drop bar.

I won't ride without a mirror. I probably look at the mirror just as much as ahead, if not more. Part of that is a function of the route I use.
On my drop bars I find the bar ends don't clear the pannier.
I use this, I can get it out far enough to see around the pannier. - https://www.treefortbikes.com/Axiom-...r-Mirror-Super
Yeah there's vibration, but as said earlier, I'm not trying to read license numbers, just see what's coming.
I tried a helmet mirror and didn't like it as well as it blocked some forward view.

Mirrors dramatically improve situational awareness. This one is my favorite:

EVT Safe Zone Bicycle Helmet Mirror https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003LVHZ4O..._mFl4CbR5FSCZW

I didn't use a mirror untill a year ago. Now i can say that it contributes to a more safe commute. I use it as a secondary level of protection. I still turn my head when for example i want to turn on a junction.

I use a Mirrycle mirror, quite pricey here in Europe. But it is solid. I quess there are other decent brands outhere.

That is definitely true.

There's something abnormal if that's the conclusion you came to. Mirrors aren't just useful they're required for motor vehicles by law. Unless you know something the rest of the world does not.You should have just returned them if they didn't work right bub. That's what I did.


No. At least I couldn't that's why I got rid of mine and switch to an eyeglass mount. I tried the helmet mount too (it was larger mirror) but it turned out to be too gangly.

Yes, I really can see all of the relevant traffic situation to my rear with the handlebar mounted mirrors on my several bicycles.

No, my handlebar mounted mirrors do not noticeably vibrate and the image is quite clear and not blurred at all.

You could try it and not take BF Enthusiasts'Conventional Wisdom as the final word on the subject.

I was about to start looking for a mirror for my new bike, I have the Mirrcylle on my road bike, when while picking up some new grips came across a mirror by EVO. It clamps on to the bar like the old motorcycle mirrors but is much lighter. I have mine on the outer edge of my bar and I wish the mirrors on my motorcycle gave as good a view.

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 :notamused:

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.

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.

+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.

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!!! '-)

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.