daredevil

How about 26 wheeled double trailer semis? I've maintained all along, if a person rides in scarce to no traffic, seeing behind may not be quite so crucial but the right thing to do when sharing the road whether driving or riding, is to be aware of your surroundings all the dang time, not just occasionally. Constantly turning around to look or adjusting a stationary mirror is not the way to do it, duh.

What is your riding situation. Highway? City streets? Bike paths?

I_bRAD

I said before I ride mostly in the city. When I do have the chance to get out of the city for a joy ride, typically the farther I get from the city the more respectful the drivers are even though the traffic is technically moving faster.

I don't argue that you can probably see more with a helmet mirror, but more of what? The ditch or the shops along the side of the road? I really can see the entire road behind me with the convex mirror mounted on my bar. technically there is a blind spot in front of the triangle of the mirror's FOV but cars would have to pass through my FOV to get there, and by that point I can hear them or see them in my peripheral vision if for some reason I missed them when they pass through.

Helmet or bar mount, you really should look before you change course though. Relying on a mirror is a defensive driving no-no.

Also, If I do take a helmet, often it gets thrown in a bag or onto a shelf when I arrive where I'm going. How easy is it to break off a helmet mounted mirror?

mechBgon

Given that they have a ball joint at both ends of the support arm (mine, anyway), it's quite hard. The last time I replaced mine, it was because I'd worn out the ball joints. I've been using them since what, 1988 or so? Definitely a keeper for me

The first thing I thought of was traffic entering the road behind me from side streets or ramps, a common scenario I encounter whenever I'm westbound on 2nd Avenue heading for Sunset Blvd. and/or Inland Empire Way. That's a dangerous area and I have to time a no-win-situation lane change if I want to get onto Inland Empire Way. Just one of many situations where it's great to be able the ability to sweep >45° of my rear approach while still seeing forward as well. If you want, I'll shoot you a video of that stretch at rush hour sometime. It's like being in a blender

Also, as I mentioned before, I often need to see stuff that's pretty far back. Convex mirrors don't work, especially not when riding on a rough surface that makes them vibrate.

Schwinnsta

I think I have tried them all. I could be wrong about that. If found this one to be the best. https://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=4599063

daredevil

head checks are necessary when blind spots exist, no question. The head check should be like scratching an itch. Thing is, with a head mounted mirror, there is no blind spot.

As far as what I need to see is concerned...one example. When there is a curve in the road, I can monitor traffic constantly. I can see exactly how much traffic is coming, where we are in relation to each other, I can see if they are separating themselves from me and oncoming traffic or if they are changing lane position for me. All pretty important stuff. Plus I can see if it's cars or one of those 26 wheelers. I want to know that as soon as I can like always.

Here's the real kicker for you brad, I completely close off my hearing with music. Surprised? The eyes are vital and I'm good with em.

AdamDZ

OK, and I don't use mirrors while riding in thick traffic at all. I tried all kinds and I have never found one - handlebar or helmet mounted - that I found helpful and effective. I find them rather distracting - requiring frequent adjustments - and I never had a problem looking back when I need to. Perhaps that's why I like to rely on my hearing more than others

On long club rides out of town I used a helmet mounted mirror and it was sufficient, but there is too much happening in traffic to rely on a mirror.

Adam

I_bRAD

haha. There's where the "daredevil" comes in! I don't ride with music, but more to be gentle on my ears than anything else.

xtrajack

I prefer a helmet mounted mirror, specifically, the Take A Look mirror. I wouldn't ride without it.

irclean

I have a bar mirror and it works well. I plan to eventually try helmet or eyeglass mounted mirrors but for now this is working out fine.

Randochap

+1

But depends on your bars. I use Sprintech bar end mirrors on my drop bar bikes.

Back up with shoulder checks though.

Andy_K 

Sure, that's why I carry a hand-held mirror in my car rather than rely on the stationary mirrors the short-sighted manufacturer provided, so I can get a fuller view of what's behind me.

reueladhikari

Sheldon Brown's recommendation got me into using helmet mirrors for the last 4 years, and I find it instinctively easy to monitor rear view and front view simultaneously. However I find that in aerodynamic/racer type riding positions the shoulder comes into view so I have to raise the head to see better. I have never used any other types of mirrors.

Tom M

I had a Take-a-Look for awhile but never got comfortable using it and had trouble adjusting it and keeping it adjusted. Switched to the little Italian mirror for one bike and the German mirror Rivendell sells for another and haven't looked back since .

daredevil

cars have more than one mirror last I checked. 3 to be exact...plus blind spots you must account for...you actually know how to drive? The hand held mirror example was to make a point that you are a bit too slow to grasp.

Answer the question, which is more effective, a mirror that moves or one that is stationary? As it relates to bicycles, not cars.

waynesworld

I have a mountain mirrycle on my Felt X City. It took a while to get it adjusted correctly, and to get used to using it, but not too long. Now I love it. I'd like to try a helmet mounted mirror sometime, but for now this one works really well for me. Especially since I don't always wear my helmet.

Andy_K 

Oh, I understood the point. I was just having some fun. Obviously a moving mirror is provides a more complete rear view than a stationary mirror. I haven't actually been disputing that. I'm just suggesting that there are reasons to choose something other than a moving mirror. I'm also suggesting that turning to look at what's behind me gives a more accurate view than swiveling my head around while looking at a mirror out of the corner of my eye.

Reviewing the objections I raised in my first post on this thread (#24):

1. Moving my head while looking at the helmet mirror takes my attention away from the forward view
2. I find it difficult to pick up the area of interest with a quick glance
3. A helmet mounted mirror requires speicifc concentration to use effectively (arguably a repeat of #1).
4. A helmet mounted mirror puts a metal or plastic stick in the vicinity of the rider's eye.

This last one is significant, in my opinion. I mentioned that I once had a helmet mounted mirror. My first three objections were immediately obvious, but I didn't stop using it until it broke off in a crash. I wasn't injured by the broken mirror beyond a red mark on my nose, but I don't like the though of it.

In any event, the only thing I said about range of view is that to get the full range of view you have to move your head, which I believe is what you've been saying.

daredevil

Review the points in bold.

2_i 

Schwinnsta, is the mirror above convex? Can you get such an overview of the rear as below? I am standing parallel to the road seen behind in the mirror.

mirror6.jpg

I doubt I could get converted to a helmet mirror, for a number of reasons, but it is worthwhile periodically checking.

CB HI

I use both a helmet mounted mirror and a convex bar end mirror.

Contrary to daredevil's claims, helmet/eyeglass mirrors do have a blind spot that is hard to check by twisting your head. With a left eye mirror, it is hard to see a cyclist that is riding close to your right rear quarter, and a right head check is well advised before turning right or moving right.

A helmet/eyeglass mirror is also a problem if you commute east about sunrise and west about sunset. It is hard to see anything when the sun is shining right in your eyes. Thus the bar mounted mirror.

Another advantage of the convex bar mounted mirror is that it is easier to tell just how close a motorist will pass you when deciding if you need to bail off the road, to avoid being hit.

I do depend on the helmet/eyeglass mirror most of the time, but daredevil should chill on his rant.

Schwinnsta

I doubt I could get converted to a helmet mirror, for a number of reasons, but it is worthwhile periodically checking.[/QUOTE]
The mirror is flat so the view is actual and not distorted. It has a view like you have shown.

It's very well made, quick to adjust and holds its position while riding.

It takes a while to get used to a helmet mounted mirror but once I did I liked it a lot more than handle mount mirrors. Both types have pros and cons. You get more "views" with a helmet mount.

I like this one much more than the "take a look" or ones that attach to the helmet with a wire frame. The only downside to mine is you need to have a visor on your helmet to mount it to but my Bell Citi has a visor and I clip it on. When I park and lock the bike I lock the helmet to the bike and take the mirror off and put it in my pocket. It adjusts fast when I put it back on.

ItsJustMe

The cycleaware plastic is very soft, rubbery plastic over a flexible wire coating. I think if you intentionally jabbed it in someone's face or even eye, it would just bruise.

I think the take-a-look would go straight through your skull and into your brain if you hit it just right. It certainly cost me some stitches when I wrecked a couple of years ago.

Engyo

Two Mirrycles on my 'bent handlebar. Haven't decided if I will add a helmet-mounted one yet or not.

I-Like-To-Bike

Your bogus requirement for "Total Awareness" of all visual traffic noise sounds as if it was ripped out of the Rule book of the anti-music player zealots who insist that cycling safety requires unimpeded "Total Awareness" of all aural traffic noise. Neither Xray vision nor looking backwards around curves is a requirement for safe cycling.

daredevil

If you paid attention you'd know I listen to music. Can't hear a thing.

and bogus my a** buddy...if one of these logging trucks were to surprise you on this 50 mph shoulderless, curvy, mountain road, you'd shake like a little school girl.
How is not knowing what these trucks are doing the entire time they are overtaking you being safe exactly?

Besides, my primary point all along has been that head mounted mirrors are more efficient than stationary ones. You gonna argue that??? I'm sure there's plenty of situations where your cute bar mirror would do fine...probably even the conditions you ride in.

martianone

Prefer Mirrycle mountain mirror on my commuting bike -