last fall i picked a fluid trainer from craigs list that came with a drop bar1986 bianchi strada. i got the bike up and running for street use. i have been on flat bars for some years, but found i can now use the drop bars once more, bianchi magic i reckon. on the flat bar bikes i use bar end mirrors but that will not work with drop bars because i have friction shifters sticking out the end of the bars. what is a good setup for a helmet mount mirror?

I actually have a drop bar bar end mirror. It inserts where the bar plug goes and works fine. I just don't care for helmet mirrors personally.

i have thumb type friction shifters hanging from the bar ends, so bar end mirrors would get in the way of shift operations. the bike came with downtube shifters that i did not enjoy and i had a set of friction shifters in stock, which work just fine.

Been wearing glasses since I was 4. Been using glasses mounted take-a-look mirror for 10 or 12 years. I like it better than handle-bar mounted mirrors. Never tried a helmet mounted mirror, but you might consider the take-a-look glasses mounted mirror. And if you don't wear glasses, consider wearing glasses-style safety glasses and put the take-a-look on them. But they do make handle-bar mount mirrors that clamp or velcro to the bar, and I've seen some that clamp to the brake lever on drop-bars...plenty of options. But even though I haven't used a helmet mount, I'd say I'd prefer that to handlebar mounted mirrors for the helmet-mounted mirror's ability to sweep the background behind you, like the glasses mounted mirrors do.

I used a helmet mirror and really liked it until I started riding with aerobars. On road bikes, when you change your body angle from riding on the hoods to riding on the drops or on aerobars, helmet and eyeglass mounted mirrors become useless. A while back, I remember seeing a bar end mirror with a pass through for bar end shifters, but I can't remember who makes it or where I saw it.

I don't ride with a mirror, but most of the people I ride with swear by these.

https://flcycling.org/store/helmet-mirror/

there is only a few places where a mirror would come into play, those are where i cross traffic lanes. at 70 the old neck doesn’t pivot so much anymore, so even if i had to sit up to use the mirror momentarily that would be ok. i think i will give the" take a look" a try. thanks

I've been using a Take A Look mirror mounted to the visor of my helmet for several (?) years and it works best of any of the helmet- or glasses-mounted mirrors I've used since about 1980.
Just about impossible to turn around to look behind me on the recumbent bikes that I ride, so a mirror is mandatory, not an option.

I use a Third Eye mirror on each of my helmets. What I like is the adjustability of the mirror-- back and forth and side to side. It has a pivoting arm post that I can also raise and lower. When I move from the hoods to the drops it's easy to make quick minor adjustments. Of course if I am in a deep tuck I must raise my head to utilize the mirror.

I just stuck the adhesive backing with the base onto the outside of my helmet, then attached the arm with mirror to the post and reattached my visor. I find I need a little more distance of the mirror from my eye to view the best. Also, it seems to stick the best on that surface.

https://www.amazon.com/Third-Eye-Helm.../dp/B0015ZZBM6

I feel naked without a mirror. Don't like surprises coming from the rear. Even in group rides a mirror helps with tracking other cyclist.

I too use the Take-a-look mirror, have this mounted to sun glasses. Properly setup, small eye movement provides a rearward view. A helmet mirror could do the same, but I have multiple helmets and one pair of glasses.

One bike has a bar end mirror, but it's not that effective. The distance from the eye keeps objects smaller plus it's not as clear that far away. And, I'm always adjusting my position to check out the mirror. I also see people with helmet mounted mirrors shift their head to see the mirror, too, perhaps these are not setup correctly.

Anyway, the take-a-look makes it simple and easy and provides great visibility behind you.

I use the Third Eye with the plastic clamp for the mirror but have never had good experiences using them as intended. I've been making a small fiberglass mount that is bolted to the helmet visor and that has a properly oriented surface for the clamp. Love it. Been using them for most of a decade now. Drawback is that I have to custom make them for each new helmet visor style. I would love to see Third Eye and say Bell/Giro sit down and talk out a standard.

Edit: (After seeing GFish's post.) Yeah I have to move my head. I have to do the same driving. Not a big deal. Plus is that a mirror that close gives you a really wide field of view.

Ben

Just started to ride again after 25 years and back in the day there were no Electric Hybrid cars on the road . Boy are those things quiet . So I bought a Third Eye helmet mirror and stuck it on the left side of my lid. So now when one of those really quiet autos come up from behind I can at least see them first !

I like the Third Eye mirrors too ... been using them for 25+ years now.

This one is my mirror of choice.

Robot Check

And yes ... mirrors rock. I would not ride without one.

+1 for the Take A Look Eyeglass Mirror. I use mine on my sunglasses.

I have used both the helmet and glasses third eye mirror. I prefer the helmet mount, but my new helmet does not ave an ideal place to mount it. So I went to the ones that mount on the glasses. It gets the job done.

I have been using the Cycle Aware Reflex Helmet Mounted Mirror for as long as I can remember.
Rear field of view is great when I am on the hoods (I rarely ride the drops.)
The only point of concern is that you need to have a helmet with sufficient flat surface
to stick the mounting base onto the helmet.
With today's vented helmets that is no easy feat.

I have a CycleAware mirror on my Giro helmet. I had to carve a notch in the side of the visor (no big deal), and I had to re-engineer the adhesive system when it wore out (again, pretty simple), but I have been absolutely delighted with it. Like the other mirror evangelists, I now hate to ride w/o a mirror. I even miss it when I am walking or jogging along the road and want to see traffic coming up from behind.

I use a bar end mirror up here in the NE with the traffic in a tourist area in the afternoon you'd be crazy without one. i tried the helmet mount mirror but didn't care for it. But like anything else with biking it really comes to personnel preference, try a few till you fin done you like.

There's an Australian company that sells a mirror that attaches to your forearm with a strap, I haven't tried one but it seems like a pretty good idea. RearViz - Rearview Bike Mirror - No vibration or distortion

Here's the replacement for that. I think this is the best helmet mirror out there. I have one and have used it.

HubBub Helmet Mirror | HubBub Custom Online

It's a good mirror, but it drives me crazy having a mirror in my line of sight or peripheral vision all the time. I like either the Italian Bike Mirror or the Bike Eye. Both work well. The Italian Bike Mirror looks better and is a little more fiddly to set up. The Bike Eye gives a clearer and larger view.

With ANY mirror, you still need to turn your head and take a solid look if you are turning to cross traffic. The mirror gives you the advantage of only needing to do it after you're pretty sure nothing is there.



J.

Mrs. grouch and I both used a Chuck Harris mirror for several years and liked them. Once you get it right it attaches solidly, adjusts easily and then it holds it's adjustment. I'm fairly sure I still have them around here someplace.

Look at these : EVT | Safe Zone Mirror

Have utilized a TAKE-A-Look mirror for many years.
Mine mounts on the temple of my eyeglasses and is very adjustable and easy to use.
They last for years; have used 3rd Eye years ago, but the plastic stuff kept breaking and I'd be buying several replacements per year.
TAKE-A-LOOK are handmade in Colorado by disabled folks; no plastic to break or wear out.
The Chuck Harris handmade mirror was also a good choice; unfortunately Chuck died a couple years ago ; he made the mirrors out of recycled stuff including old spokes and bottle caps to hold the glass, etc.
Pedal on!
Rudy/zonatandem

+1 for the Take-a-look mirrors, I have faithfully used mine for 3½ years now.

Bill

A link for take a look mentioned above.
Do you wear glasses when riding? The following works well for me:
Bike Peddler Take A Look Cycling Eyeglass Mirror (Compact) | Amazon.com: Outdoor Recreation