This. It's just like backing up in a car; never assume that nothing in the mirror means there's really nothing there, but when there's something in the mirror, you can save yourself the hassle of looking back until it goes away.

I also have this one on my non-Bell helmet: http://www.bottlecapbikemirror.com/

It's a pretty cool idea, IMHO. It did fall off once, and it's kind of a pain to get in the correct position, but that may just be me, or my particular helmet.

And I have a Mountain Mirrycle on my hybrid. It works very well, but I keep banging it while taking my bike in and out of buildings.

And anyone who says a mirror gives a false sense of security, just isn't doing it right. It's a tool, just like a car mirror. It isn't intended to replace head-checks.

I have bar-end mirrors on 2 of my bikes, but can't use them on 2 other bikes that have bar-end shifters or brakes. I prefer mirrors and use them just like I do when driving a car -- to keep tabs of traffic around me. I was taught to frequently check mirrors in driver's training, and think it's an important part of being a good driver. However, I have learned to ride without a mirror on some of my bikes, out of necessity, and just try to be more aware of the sound of approaching vehicles. I have tried helmet mirrors and they didn't work for me. I could never keep them adjusted and found it very distracting trying to focus on such a small mirror.

+1 a mirror is a tool, not a crutch. A mirror helps to enhance your situational awareness and is not a substitute for a head check when changing your position on the roadway.

I normally use a glasses-mounted take-a-look, but also have bar-mounted mirrors on the bikes that I sometimes just get on and ride without having to change clothes or hunt down glasses - my Big Dummy for example. Sometimes I don't use a mirror at all...like I said, it's just a tool, not a crutch.

I have Ergons and Mirracycles on all my commuter and family bikes, I have them mounted upward and slightly forward, with no visual blockage by an arm.

I rock a Take A Look mirror on my helmet, and 2 Winkuu turn signal mirrors on the handlebars (primarily for the turn signal function, as opposed to the mirror aspect).

The primary mirror is the Take A Look. I wouldn't ride with out it. I can do a shoulder check for a short period of time---unfortunately not long enough to actually get and process any useful information. With the TAL I can determine everything I need to know with a glance up and to the right, slight turn of the head increases the field of view.

I have my TAL adjusted so that I just see the edge of my left ear and my shoulder on the right side and bottom of my mirror, gives me a reference point to gauge what and where things are behind me.

I wouldn't drive a car without mirrors (plural).

My thoughts.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ing/mirror.gif

I have a similar setup on my road bike, plus I see you have a Contour attached to your bike, do you have a rear mounted Contour as well?

TakeALook on the glasses plus a bar end mount on my Cannondale and my Univega.

Mirror: Always, even on the fast group rides. Helmet mounted. While pricey, this may possibly be the One True BESTEST HELMET MIRROR EVAH! http://www.hubbubcustom.com/store/pr...sp?prod=helmir I own 2 (one for the helmet with lights and one for the helmet without).

I add head turns primarily to communicate with drivers ("yes, I see you, and I know you have seen me.") and as needed if I am unsure what's behind/alongside.

I echo what others have said; the mirror serves to enhance my safety. First I look in the mirror, then I do a shoulder check (just like they taught me in traffic school :D).

Looks nice. This appears to be identical to the bottle cap bike mirror I linked to above, except for the mirror itself, which is of a different shape. And they're both made in Ohio.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html...=AELTOGH7BXCM2

It's a helmet mounted mirror, but it's about the size of a handlebar mirror. I love the field of view, and being on the helmet means that I can sweep the entire field behind me by turning my head a very small amount.

Because it's a helmet mounted mirror, it's fred. Because it's the size of a handlebar mirror on your helmet, it's not just fred it's !!!FRED!!! That's either a bug or a feature, depending on your outlook. Somehow I think that with my hairy legs, sandals, thick wool socks and Camelbak, the cool kids are never going to let me in their peloton anyway, so what the heck.

I'm adverse to mirrors because I'll always turn my head anyway...not much point if I'm doing a double take no matter what.

Though I use my ears more than my eyes for stuff behind me.

It looks eerily similar to a Chuck Taylor mirror...I'd bet that it probably is. Best helmet mirrors evar!

Take a Look mirror on my helmet. No one should ride a recumbent without a mirror.

Amen! Hammocks are for sleeping! :p

I have a Bell Muni helmet with the bell flip-up mirror that attaches smartly to the visor. Flip it down when I need it in traffic, and flip it up when I don't need it and its out of the way.

It really works, becomes second-nature in a day or two, and it makes you much less paranoid about what's coming up behind you when you take the lane. Your head should be on "full swivel" when changing lanes and approaching intersections, but constantly turning your head 180 degrees to see what's behind you when you're just going straight in a lane is just unreasonable and silly when a good mirror will tell you everything you need to know with just a quick and small head-shake.

I love it so much I rankly wish I had a rear-view mirror for walking around anywhere.

-Warr

+1 exactly how I feel. I use the CycleAware "Reflex" helmet-mounted mirror. http://www.cycleaware.com/index.php?...&products_id=1

Never heard of Chuck Taylor mirrors. Does it look like a shoe? :)

I like my Zefal Dooback which I have two bikes and my MEC mirror which switches easily between my other two bikes.

Just bought and installed the MOUNTAIN MIRRYCLE. Very well made, easy to adjust and looks like its built to last. I loved the ride into work today, with an easy eye on the back traffic.

I require a mirror because I'm entirely blind in my left eye and can't swivel my head far enough around to see behind me without one. I had a Mirrycle mounted on my bike last year, but I was never very confident in it; it vibrated too much to provide a clear picture of what was behind me, and took too much time and attention to discern things in it. Also the field of view was pretty poor because it was fixed to the bike.

This year a LBS employee recommended an EVT helmet mounted mirror and I love it. It's nice and big and I can position it on the left side of my face and look through it with my right eye. That way it's entirely out of my forward field of view and acts a lot like a side mirror on a car with the advantage of head tracking. I'm now entirely confident about what's going on all around me all the time. I miss it when I'm walking down the sidewalk!

I agree that the helmet mirrors are quite freddly, however, I'm lost without my blackburn helmet mirror. They are extremely helpful when cycling in traffic. I use the mirror in conjuction with turning my ahead to look behine m prior to turning. The helmet mirror is very convenient to see what's coming up behind me though

This is a completely asinine, non-sequitur. The OP is asking about one's thoughts on the use of mirrors while cycle-commuting. There's no reference at all to what one does while operating a
motor vehicle. It's apples and oranges. If you're going to flame someone on a post by acting smug, superior and dismissive at least don't reveal yourself to be lacking in reading comprehension skills. :rolleyes:

I use a helmet mounted mirror that's really close to the bottlecap mirror myself, and like others here, find myself glancing up and turning my head a fuzz even walking around at work! I wouldn't trade it for anything, and embrace its Fredliness proudly!

I often use a Take-A-Look eyeglass-mount mirror, but recently I tried out an Italian Racing Bike Mirror and really like it. It works well on a regular drop-bar street bike handlebar, and since it's rigidly-mounted (hard t get it adjusted right, though) it doesn't get knocked or vibrated out of adjustment.

No. I am thinking of a rear mounted camera but. Just need to decide the best way to go.

Andrew

I made my own mirror for about $4. It's awesome for bullhorns.

Cycleaware Viewpoint for many years now. Unobtrusive, inconspicuous, doesn't get bumped out of place like a helmet-mounted or bar-mounted mirror. Some people can't figure out how to position it, though. Press very lightly onto a clean lens when trying to find the position. Press hard to activate the pressure-sensitive adhesive once you have the right spot. It also won't work for others who need prescription glasses.