Helmet Mirror
 

Does anybody have a suggestion for a good helmet mirror? I have used the search method here and didn’t come up with a real good answer. Thanks in advance:thumb:

I use a Cycleaware Reflex.

Many people swear by the Take-A-Look mirror, but I can show you a picture of my face with 18 stitches in it, mostly from a gouge made when the mirror was slammed into and along my face in a wipeout last year; it has a square edge which is not sharp but is square enough to cause damage. Also now that I think of it, having a long very stiff piece of steel wire near my eye and face probably aren't the best idea, either.

The only downside to the Reflex is that the adhesive doesn't work well with some kinds of plastic. I had to rough up a small patch on the visor of my Bell helmet to make it stick.

I use one that is all plastic. I got it at REI. It was about $15.00.

Google Take A Look Bicycle Mirror.

I use a Third Eye Pro helmet mounted mirror. The adhesive it comes with is strong, but unless you have an old helmet, the attachment patch is gigantic and will overlap into one of your vents. My solution to this was to attach it with the adhesive and use a couple of zip ties to hold it all snugged down.
The mirror is fairly large and presents a wide view of what's behind me, and the adjustments are very secure so the mirror doesn't jostle around even over extended sections of rough roads or at high speed. (which was the problem with my old one: Over 30mph, it would get out of alignment.)

http://img.artscyclery.com/big/99436-1.jpg

+1 Take-A-Look Mirror (Mounted on helmet visor)

I have used several Third Eye glasses mount mirrors, and like their ease of adjustment. However I had breakage of the plastic parts. I have now switched to the Take-a-look, I prefer the rectangular shape, but it is harder to adjust to get the right field of view.

I use a 3rd eye, eyeglass mounted mirror. They make helmet mounted ones, and this one fits on my helmet visor ok (I use it on my glasses though). I like this one because if it gets hit hard enough it just pops off and flexes pretty easily so I don't worry about it damaging my face if i were ever to wreck.

I use the Take A Look and the Cycleaware, both equally effective.

One advantage to the Cycleaware is when glasses start fogging up. Then the Take A Look is a pain.

+1
I have a Cycleaware Reflex on both of my helmets. Been using this brand for 5+ years. :thumb:

I have a Cycleaware, and secured it with contact cement - which permanently changes the helmet, but provides for a very strong mount.

Cycleaware reflex here. I would like it to be a little beefier -- it seems that I have to adjust the position often.

The oval mirror is oriented portrait mode rather than landscape. The latter might be better.

I moved it to a new helmet, and used JD Weld epoxy -- worked fine.

I've used the Cycleaware Reflex as well and always wished for stronger adhesive. It would sometimes fall off the helmet but it could be stuck back on. It was nice that it swiveled up and down easily and the size of the mirror itself was pretty good. Having that swivel built in to the attachment point made it kind of thick at that point.

Now I'm using a Bell Metro with their mirror attached to the visor.
http://www.bellhelmets.com/images/pr...%20MirrorT.jpg

This mirror is a bit oddly shaped but works pretty well. I just wish it was a little larger. My main complaint with this one is that the pivots are steel pins and they get rusty and hard to move.

Exactly, now imagine that crammed into your face as you kiss pavement; it gets shoved in hard and then slid along and through the skin. I wouldn't wear one of those again if you paid me. You really don't want to see the picture of my face after that encounter.

Cycleaware Reflex is almost exactly the same thing (assuming you're helmet mounting) except safer and a more secure mount. Anywhere that the Take-A-Look works (other than eyeglass mount) the Reflex will work as well. Mirror size is pretty much identical, and they're both very adjustable. The mirror on the Reflex will pop out of its socket and not cause trouble on impact.
http://media.rei.com/media/605686Lrg.jpg

I love my sunglasses-mounted Take-A-Look mirror. Never leave home without it........... In fact, I catch myself looking for it to see what's behind me even when I'm not riding and not wearing it. It's embarrassing, really............:)

I have the Take-A-Look too. Like it a lot. Used to have it on my glasses, then moved it to my helmet visor and secured it with a couple of zip ties. No more problem with taking off or changing glasses. Great mirror.

If I crash, the visor comes off, by the way. Not so with the glasses.

I use the glasses-mounted Take-a-Look which gives me a great view behind me with little, easy adjustment. IJM's experience certainly gives me pause, however. I also have the Bell Metro, which works pretty well, but I can't use it with my (prescription) sunglasses because they slide down my nose when I sweat so I'm looking at the mirror over the top of my glasses and can't see it clearly. The Take-a-Look doesn't have that problem because it slides along with the glasses. Is there a good, plastic glasses-mounted mirror?

Alternate Attachment for the Take-a-Look
 

It's partly because of my concern about having this stiff wire so close to my eye that I now mount my Take-A-Look on the brim of a cap that I wear underneath my helmet. This places the entire assembly a bit further away from my face and a bit higher (out of line of my eye).

If you choose to use a plain old baseball cap (not a bad choice if you get wool or dri-fit), be sure to remove the rivet at the top of the crown; it can act as a center punch if you were to land square on the top of your head.

I've found the brim to be a great boon; it helps keep crud off of my glasses in the winter, reduces wind stress on my face and eyes, and--golly--keeps the sun out of my eyes in the summer.

I understand the concern about the mirror gouging your face, but really: anything that happened to be where your face was when you wiped out could have caused a similar type of injury, if you struck it at just the right attack and angle; I'm not quite ready to ascribe a particular danger to the mirror design. Think of what gravel would have done under the same circumstances....

Same problem with the Third Eye mirror, which I otherwise love.

http://www.3rd-eye.com/(02).htm

After my mirror fell off several teams in high heat conditions, I went with the Redneck Chic solution -- duct tape. Works like a charm. :)

Oh, the gravel had its way with me too. I had 4 or 5 stitches from gravel, plus a few dozen random abrasions, but 14 stitches from the mirror. My helmet took most of the impact. The visor snapped off on the left side where it impacted and turned into a few pieces, but they were all still attached. The TAL mirror was taped to the visor (it wouldn't stay put otherwise) and it bridged the gap between the road and my face and left deep compound cuts (two cuts, one from either side of the plastic, meeting at one point) all along my nose. Had the mirror not been there, I would have had a bit of an abrasion on the tip of my nose and no cut. Had it been a Reflex mirror, I'm pretty sure it would have gone flying into the ditch.

I've used the Cycleware Reflex for over a year now. I have'nt had any problems with it. It holds up good in frigid temps. I like the versatility of it. I can adjust it anyway I want. But any rear view mirror is going to make your ride that much safer. I've ridden for twenty years without one, and I would'nt be without them now. GET A MIRROR !

The knob that forms the swivel of the mirror I used to wear put quite a dent in the side of my helmet when I had a fall on ice last year. It concentrated the force through the foam and cracked it all the way through. That helmet has been retired.

I like the Metro Mirror now that I'm used to it's smaller size.

It's out on the visor. It folds out of the way when not in use. It poses no danger in a crash.

It's specific to the Citi and Metro helmets though; at least I do not think it works with any of Bells other helmets.

I'll use the Take A Look - either compact of fullsize - when not using a visor.

Or helmet. :o