Finally got around to securing mirror to helmet visor.
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Have been using similar mirrors since about 1981.
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I just bought a cheap Bar End mirror and mount it on my bar extensions. Doesn't stick out, and tells me if there's a car behind, when I want to turn right (we drive on the left here) and it saves my ageing neck..
It's well adequate. Would be better mounted higher, or with a stalk, but that would vibrate; as it is, by the time I've finished checking it, I'm usually uncomfortably close to the kerb. . . .

had a nice long road ride yesterday. since it was going to be bright & it's springtime I broke out the sunglasses. these have the "compact" Take-a-Look (I think). also, of course made good use of the cheap bar end mirror I got at a consignment shop for $5

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took some pics of the setup in case it helps anyone

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[QUOTE=bruce19;21357672]Depends on what you like but I use the Italian Road Bike mirror.

QUOTE]

Yep same here, absolutely superb bit of kit. Unobtrusive but really clear, doesn't scratch or distort/wobble. Best cycle accessory I've got, wouldn't ride without it.

I used a couple kinds of 'mount to your glasses' type mirrors. They were OK. I ended up trying a dropbar mounted mirror and much prefer that. This is the one that I use (it clamps onto the very end of my drops and is (barely) not in the way).


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dave

FWIW the Italian Road bike mirror is glass not plastic.

I've been using Blackburn Helmet Mirrors for many years. It's a perfect mirror. I set it so that I have to turn my head slightly to see directly behind me. The only hassle I've had is that it's possible for the sticky-back mounting pads to get weak over time, so I add superglue to the sticky-backs. It's very useful to be able to scan the road behind just by moving my head slightly.
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This has been a helpful read. THANKS! My neck has been sore lately so I just purchased a mirror based on these recommendations.

+1 except - you can get the same field of view and relative mirror location with the far smaller, trimmer and less likely to snag on things Third Eye Hard Shell Helmet Mirror but to get to get a mount that is nearly as bulletproof and the Safe Zone you have to make your own. I do every time i buy a new, different helmet. I cut out sheet aluminum and bend the top to fit the inside of the helmet visor nicely. Have it come down say 3/4" then I bend the bottom out in an "L". Try the mirror on for location and adjust as needed. Fiberglass both sides with thin fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin. (Do one side, trim to the metal with a sharp trim knife when 3/4" hard, flip and do same on the other side. Sand if necessary to get the nice fit again. Drill matching #2 screw size holes in visor and mount. Find some small screws that look good (Ace Hardware has many choices). Install and screw on mirror. A lot of work, yes, but this mount will outlast as many helmets of that model as you can find, puts the mirror in the perfect place, does very well on rough roads, looks good (I paint them black with model paint). And when you do snag and break one, the next mirror is like $17, That mount isn't breaking. Edit: and other plus is that the mirror clamp unscrews as intended so taking it off to clean the helmet or store or transport is easy.

I started this 15 years ago and I've made three. (Three models of helmet.) Why helmet manufacturers and the mirror people cannot talk to each other and come up with a system like mine (that requires a standard and two tiny holes) is completely beyond me.

Ben

How do you manage to get ahead of your wife.....????

She encourages me to go on ahead. Sometimes I do, mostly I don’t.

mirrcycle. drilled a hole in bar end and attach with zip ties

I have been using Springtech for years, and highly recommend them- take care.

Bar end mirror FTW

+1 for the Take-a-Look glasses-mounted mirror. It's small and light, and a slight turn of my head scans everything behind me; no blind spot. The slight neck turn to scan isn't enough to aggravate the arthritis in my neck.

Here is my setup.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6df530889c.jpg
CycleAware mirror on my Giro XEN helmet.

Yes I use mine all of the time. I am looking out for the behavior of passing cars mostly. I expect cyclists to exercise some courtesy and give some warning on roads or paths, even though they often do not.

I feel quite vulnerable if I forget the mirror (glasses) so I have attached it to my helmet now.

I think maybe your expectations are too much. I certainly do not have my eye glued on my mirror all of the time, if that is what you mean. I doubt you could see my eye in my mirror though it is set up properly - it is only a little bigger than my eye. if I am warned a cyclist is passing, I take a quick glance in the mirror and make sure I am steady on the right. I don't look back after that momentary glance.

It is really irksome when a fellow cyclist passes closely with no warning.

Wow. I have never in my recollection in my many years of cycling encountered anyone like that when I have passed them. Maybe I had but just shrugged it off. Must be a local thing I guess.

Maybe we need a special place on the forum for a thread for proper biking etiquette. I am sure we all know (maybe don't use) proper hand signals to notify drivers behind us of our intentions, but there are likely rules to tell fellow bikers our intentions.

One thing to know about using the take-a-look mirrors is to be careful of turning into low sun angles in morning (and afternoon).

I’ve used mirrors for many years and generally speaking, almost never ride without one. The ones I’ve used have all been the plastic/composite type. I’ve had issues (on several) with one of the three clips that allow mounting to the temples of my eye pro frames breaking off. Rather than scrap them, I’ve punched holes into the lower edge of the helmet and glued the remaining clips into the helmet foam. Seems to work fairly well :thumb:.
I’m liking the metal construction of the “Take-A-Look” mirror and may order one today.
I have used the type of mirror that mounts to the bike before but find them lacking. I do have one that mounts on the top tube up near the head tube and pretty much looks straight back at the seat post. It’s a convex mirror tho so it kinda looks “around” the the seat post. It gives a surprisingly good view to the rear! The main drawback is that the mounting system isn’t very secure and it tends to move out of adjustment easily. I suppose I could make it more stable but it’s a bit more of a novelty than a true asset. Mirrors that are positioned up nearer to my eye (either helmet or glasses mount) seem to work best for me :).

I’ve used the Garmin Varia radar/light for around the last 4,000 miles. I’ve found it to be 100% accurate identifying vehicles coming up behind me, whether at moderate or high speed and it also visually represents how far back each of the cars/trucks are.

Do I still visually check before switching lanes or turning left? Yep. But I’ve never found the Varia to be wrong. Not once.

I think this is the best safety item after a helmet.

Your "issue" is your expectation that every rider you intend to pass should physically and/or verbally acknowledge your presence.

I have been using a CycleAware helmet-mounted mirror since the mid-1990s, and I would now no sooner ride without a mirror than without a helmet. I use it very frequently when riding in traffic.

I use my mirror for knowing where approaching vehicles are, motorized or not, far back of me long before I can see the whites of the drivers'/riders' eyes. I do not usually need to continually track them until they pass.
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Sometimes I use the mirror to hang my ball cap when not in use, or in the past year, a face mask.
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Other riders use their mirrors for whatever reasons they have and not necessarily for the reasons deemed correct or important by other cyclists; reasons which may not include making eye contact or otherwise communicating with every bicyclist who passes by.