Mirror mirror
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
I know others love them, but I just don't care for mirrors. I don't find them helpful...knowing there's a guy behind me isn't likely to stop him from hitting me. Am I supposed to pull over at the first sign of a car? I ride mostly in the city, there's ALWAYS a car behind me. It's a distraction and useless weight IMO.
#27
alleged person
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 465
Likes: 1
From: Lost in Space
Bikes: 1970s Royal Scot 3-Speed, 2005 Breezer Villager 7-Speed IGH
the Take a Look Mirror claims that it can be attached to the helmet visor but that doesn't work. It's designed for glasses and VERY effective installed on glasses. It's easy to install if you need to switch glasses (takes maybe 10-20 seconds tops to put them on the glasses and adjust them). ...the fact that you can simply pivot your head slightly with the TAL glasses mirror to scan what's behind you makes it difficult for me to believe there's a handlebar mirror that can trump them.
#28
Fat Guy on a Little Bike


Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 15,946
Likes: 371
From: Philadelphia, PA
Bikes: Two wheeled ones
The only time I've found them useful is when riding in a cycling lane on a slower bike...I have a mirror on my Schwinn triplet. Usually I'm moving faster than bikes behind me and I try to avoid lanes. I guess I've never had an issue looking over my shoulder when making lefts/merging, but that's why they make different flavors.
#30
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
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Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#31
#32
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
I have a Take a Look attached to the side of my helmet visor and it works fine but I don't use drop bars and that may be a factor. Used to have it on my glasses but I got tired of having to put it on and take it off for each ride, not to mention occasionally losing one...
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
I use two mirrycle end mounts on my flat bar both turned down and in. Driven a car too many years to trust my other senses. I like to scan constantly who is coming up behind me and if I feel they may not give me much extra space. Will still shoulder check even if I'm certain no one is there, but I also stop at stop signs and red lights when other bikes fly throug so maybe I'm overly safe.
I'd get a helmet mirror but I'm sure I'd break it.
I'd get a helmet mirror but I'm sure I'd break it.
#34
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 253
From: Minnesota
Bikes: N+1=5
Here's the mirror I use. Better than anything else I've used. THat said, I got hot and cold on mirrors. Any of the bike mount ones I just don't trust enough to rely on them and prefer to use the Mark I eyeballs instead.
J.
J.
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
#36
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
Can anyone recommend a helmet mirror that can be easily and quickly be attached to my helmet? I normally use a Take a Look mirror on my glasses but when it rains, I have to take my glasses off... hence no mirror which I would like to have.
#37
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 253
From: Minnesota
Bikes: N+1=5
#38
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
#39
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
#40
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: 05 Trek 5200, 07 Trek 520, 99 GT Karakoram, 08 Surly 1X1
The one that seems to be the most durable and adjustible can be found here. Good surface area compared to many others.
These do take some getting used to finding the sweet spot. Sort of like getting bifocals for the first time - a bit of head bobbing until you hit it.
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
I think over the years I've tried most of them.
The one that seems to be the most durable and adjustible can be found here. Good surface area compared to many others.
These do take some getting used to finding the sweet spot. Sort of like getting bifocals for the first time - a bit of head bobbing until you hit it.
The one that seems to be the most durable and adjustible can be found here. Good surface area compared to many others.
These do take some getting used to finding the sweet spot. Sort of like getting bifocals for the first time - a bit of head bobbing until you hit it.
Do you keep it on the glasses or helmets? If on the glasses, what do you do when it rains? I take my glasses off which sucks because I like the mirror. I do wish the arm was longer though.
#42
alleged person
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 465
Likes: 1
From: Lost in Space
Bikes: 1970s Royal Scot 3-Speed, 2005 Breezer Villager 7-Speed IGH
It has a plastic ball and socket type mount which makes it easy to detach the stalk and mirror from the helmet. The adhesive that holds the ball piece to the helmet will eventually fail, at which point you whip out a tube of your favorite variety of super glue, which should keep it stuck on for good. This is a helmet-only proposition, won't go on glasses.
I've also used the Take a Look on my helmet visor and it works fine too, but I found that I have to zip tie it to keep it from falling off.
#43
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
I've had good luck with the CycleAware Reflex mirror - Amazon page is here
It has a plastic ball and socket type mount which makes it easy to detach the stalk and mirror from the helmet. The adhesive that holds the ball piece to the helmet will eventually fail, at which point you whip out a tube of your favorite variety of super glue, which should keep it stuck on for good. This is a helmet-only proposition, won't go on glasses.
I've also used the Take a Look on my helmet visor and it works fine too, but I found that I have to zip tie it to keep it from falling off.
It has a plastic ball and socket type mount which makes it easy to detach the stalk and mirror from the helmet. The adhesive that holds the ball piece to the helmet will eventually fail, at which point you whip out a tube of your favorite variety of super glue, which should keep it stuck on for good. This is a helmet-only proposition, won't go on glasses.
I've also used the Take a Look on my helmet visor and it works fine too, but I found that I have to zip tie it to keep it from falling off.
#44
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,441
Likes: 235
I happened to have just lost it today, but I took an old badge/button (like an election button with a long pin across the back) and glued a small wide-angle mirror on it. Then I pin the button to my left glove and I can adjust my hand to see anywhere I need to see behind me. It actually works very well and I have thought about marketing it, but I'll leave that up to you guys!
#45
Papaya King
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,640
Likes: 2
From: Columbus, Ohio (Grandview area)
Bikes: 2009 Felt X City D, 1985 (?) Trek 400, 1995 (?) Specialized Rockhopper, 1995 Trek 850
I have to make a left turn across a busy 5 lane road just over a on/off ramp system with service roads. I bought a mirror because it enhances my situational awareness in a busy, chaotic intersection. I rode the same route without one, and just find it easier to manage with the mirror. I've found it to be nice to have, if not essential in other situations. I'm one of those riders that tends to lose the line when looking over my shoulder, though.
I still have a Mountain Mirrycle on my hybrid. I like it while riding, but it gets in knocked all over the place, and is really in the way when going through any doors. I tried to not use a helmet mirror for a long time, but eventually did, and will probably continue to. Though I must say, I've been intrigued by drop bar end mirrors, and that Zefal Spy mirror.
My Bell (Citi or Metro, whichever is newer) has provisions for mounting their own mirror, which just snaps into place. It's small, but it's sufficient for me. I also have a Bottle Cap Bike Mirror (helmet mount), and another glasses mounted mirror (cycleaware, maybe?) that I haven't tried out much. I'm not even sure why I have both, or where one of them is. If I ride on the street, I usually use the Bell helmet and its mirror. Recently, though, I got a Specialized Echelon, which is a very comfortable helmet. I need to see how the other mirrors work with it.
After using them, I much prefer helmet mounted mirrors. Or the ones that mount to glasses (the one I can't currently find).
#46
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 13
From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
I don't know about y'all but this looks pretty ingenious to me. I want one!
https://www.bike-eye.com/
https://www.bike-eye.com/
#47
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: 05 Trek 5200, 07 Trek 520, 99 GT Karakoram, 08 Surly 1X1
My preference is on the glasses. I wear contacts so I have two pair of non-perscription glasses; dark and yellow for low-light/rain. Unless it's absolutely torrential, I've never found the rain to effect seeing the mirror. On a side note, $15 sport glasses work fine and keeps the wind off the contacts. (Not paying $$$ for Oakleys!)
#48
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: Eugene, Oregon
Bikes: 2014 Specialized Dolce Triple, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 2012 Windsor Kensington 8
I've tried several mirrors, but the end result always seems to be that I just can't see what's coming up on the left front because it's blocked by the mirror.
#50
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
I happened to have just lost it today, but I took an old badge/button (like an election button with a long pin across the back) and glued a small wide-angle mirror on it. Then I pin the button to my left glove and I can adjust my hand to see anywhere I need to see behind me. It actually works very well and I have thought about marketing it, but I'll leave that up to you guys!



