Papa Tom

Just got back from the Bike New York Expo in Manhattan, which I had hoped would be geared a little more toward the growing number of bike commuters here. As usual, though, much of the stuff was either strictly for pedal mashers or way too expensive to be practical for anyone.

One cool thing I did see was a rear-view camera that clips to the back of the seat post and projects an image onto a small screen mounted on the handlebars. This enables the rider to view what's lurking behind at all times. It seems like a neat toy for those among us with disposable income, but not a whole lot more effective than using a rear view mirror or simply turning your head around, in my opinion. The price was reasonable, though; $199 retail and $179 at the show.

So am I missing something, or is there really a major advantage to having one of these?

ItsJustMe

I don't think I'd take one for free. I don't use bike mounted mirrors for the same reason - I have to take my eyes off the road for too long to look at the bars. With the mirror on my helmet I can see behind me in a fraction of a second and look back just as fast.

Some people claim not to be able to get used to using a rear view mirror, I suppose this is an option for them.

1nterceptor

I agree

CACycling

There was a prototype of this talked about around BF a year or two back. It was a cyclocomputer that had the screen for a rearview integrated into it. Kind of cool gadget but I'm with ItsJustMe, I prefer helmet or glasses mounted mirrors.

JanMM

If you want a video record of someone rear-ending you, then the expensive, complicated camera might have an edge over a mirror. Does it record?
Otherwise, a simple mirror has the edge.

kardar2

wonder. if it is like trying to see a cell phone screen in full sun light?........ No Thanks I like my $20 mirror

monsterpile

Honestly it sounds cool, but I would never buy it because of price. My favorite mirror was like $5.

linus

No mirror, no camera.

alexaschwanden

Interesting idea though, practical maybe.

cjewett65

Sounds way too gimmicky. I personally would prefer not having one of those, in fact I probably would not use it if it was given to me. I dont even use a mirror. Im not going to rely on the 1in. X 1in. mirror on a helmet to tell me if a nearly silent hybrid car is a few feet off my rear wheel. I only trust myself turning to look.

billyymc

No heads up display? Lame.

AdamDZ

I might stop on the way home today, but I was afraid of the same thing: expensive stuff for show. And yeah, that camera is a gimmick. My Take A Look mirror works great, thank you.

I guess you never used one or had it set up wrong. It takes less time to look in the mirror than to turn your head around to look behind you. A small head movement covers everything behind you in a panoramic view.

1nterceptor

https://www.cerevellum.com/hindsight.aspx

[h=3]The Features:[/h]
[h=2]Video Recording[/h]The systems records video in a continuous 5-minute loop, stopping automatically if the bike is laid over.




[h=2]Lithium-Ion Battery[/h]Rechargeable internal battery offers over 5.5 hours of run-time (*set at highest-resolution)



[h=2]3.5" Transflective LCD Screen[/h]The 3.5-inch transflective color screen presents crystal clear, real-time rear views and is readable in bright conditions.



[h=2]Modules[/h]Downloadable upgrades will be available for Hindsight 35 so you will always be on top of the latest technology.




[h=2]Cyclometer[/h]Includes wireless speed, max speed, average speed, trip distance, odometer, stopwatch, and time. Heart-rate and cadence are optional accessories.








*

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ItsJustMe

Mirror doesn't run out of battery power, has essentially infinite resolution, if on head it has a very wide field of view and covers a large angular sweep from your point of view so it's easy to see detail. A tiny screen on a bar a couple of feet from your head in the sunlight would probably be almost completely useless. It sounds like one of those things that seems cool on the showroom floor and is complete junk on the road.

MK313

I wouldn't buy one for $180, but if it comes down in price, I would probably pick one up. I currently use a bar mounted rear view mirror, but like the fact that this doesn't stick out from the side of my bike, or need to be adjusted. Overall, I think it is a nice product. Certainly not a necessity, but a nice-to-have, for me at least.

locolobo13 

I dunno. That sounds like something better suited to cars or trucks where you need to see directly behind the vehicle.

fietsbob

It was a gadget sellers expo, so what do you expect
they were looking for buyers of their
" next best thing"..

Fishing lures are designed to first catch fishermen.

Leisesturm

Rear view camera's are soon to be mandated in automobile's because of the public's present awareness of toddler and child deaths from being backed over by drivers that could not see them. If you are flat-footed at a stop light and about to be rear ended by a driver that is busy texting or worse, it is doubtfull that a camera would save you. As someone pointed out it is perhaps useful to record the license number of the car that hits (kills) you, but not much use as prophylaxis. I'm all for prevention. Position yourself out of the traffic stream when stopped, if possible. As for mirrors being useless... really? You haven't tried one then. Helmet mounted or bike mounted is up to the individual rider. I use both, sometimes on the same bike. I also turn my head and look. It's not an either or... honestly... what is it about cyclists as a breed, that makes some so fanatically anti anything that smacks of safety, utility, progress, efficiency or plain good sense?

H

bud16415

I was a big fan of having my iPhone bar mounted and running a cycle app the last couple years. Over the winter I thought a lot about things on the bike and came to the conclusion it’s more of a distraction than a help. I also feel it’s a useful tool to have along and have modified my bar bag to keep it close but out of sight until pull over to use it.

I would say this will next be integrated into the smart phone for that market or the GPS units and will be equally distracting. To me I love a mirror and like a bar mounted mirror best. Mostly because the type of riding I do I only need to see what’s coming up on me on my left, one narrow line is about it. I can sway my head slightly side to side to pan a bit and turn around if I ever need to get the right side view. I haven’t ruled out helmet mounting but haven’t tried it enough to say.

Mirror for me is a yes. Display is a no as more distraction.