mirror on a road bike?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 201
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From: Southern California
mirror on a road bike?
I have been used to riding a hybrid. The hybrid is a great workhorse loaded down with all kinds of dweebie cool stuff including a Berlin ampelman reflector I attached to the seat bag-

-and one of those industrial sized mtb mirrors. I have been riding the road bike without a mirror and turning my head to check behind me and listening carefully. I miss the mirror on the road bike. I just can't do that one that hangs off the helmet. I can't do the huge one that hangs off the handlebar on the hybrid.
Do any of you use a mirror on your road bike? I don't even have reflectors on the road bike. I did buy an LED seat stay blinky light for safety in traffic (that thing is blinding!). Do you get used to looking over your shoulder or under your arm? I seem to have been doing fine with that, but an inconspicuous mirror would be nice. Do they make such a thing, would you use one and where would it attach without getting in the way? Do you think they are necessary? I really don't want one on the bike, but at the same time they are pretty handy.

-and one of those industrial sized mtb mirrors. I have been riding the road bike without a mirror and turning my head to check behind me and listening carefully. I miss the mirror on the road bike. I just can't do that one that hangs off the helmet. I can't do the huge one that hangs off the handlebar on the hybrid.
Do any of you use a mirror on your road bike? I don't even have reflectors on the road bike. I did buy an LED seat stay blinky light for safety in traffic (that thing is blinding!). Do you get used to looking over your shoulder or under your arm? I seem to have been doing fine with that, but an inconspicuous mirror would be nice. Do they make such a thing, would you use one and where would it attach without getting in the way? Do you think they are necessary? I really don't want one on the bike, but at the same time they are pretty handy.
Last edited by outwest5; 03-08-11 at 01:13 AM.
#2
Galveston County Texas
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: In The Wind
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
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Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#7
There is another by mirricycle that looks like this. The early generation of these were known to break your shifter housing in a crash however. It does put the mirror in a very useful place though, and the mirror is huge. Now I wonder how aero it is and how many rodies will hate it. I believe that it may be shifter specific as well.
#8
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Bikes: Canyon Aeroad, CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX, Guru steel & Guru Photon
The Italian Road Bike Mirror: https://www.aspirevelotech.com/Mercha..._Code=RBM_1001
I use these on my Masi and my gf's Fuji. The mirror is glass and totally unobtrusive. You do have to check them from time to time because the adhesive for the mirror can lose it's grip. In general I like them a lot.
And a comparison with pic on the bike: https://www.signatureride.com/PRtwomirrors.html
I use these on my Masi and my gf's Fuji. The mirror is glass and totally unobtrusive. You do have to check them from time to time because the adhesive for the mirror can lose it's grip. In general I like them a lot.
And a comparison with pic on the bike: https://www.signatureride.com/PRtwomirrors.html
#10
Council of the Elders
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,759
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From: Omaha, NE
Bikes: 1990 Schwinn Crosscut, 5 Lemonds
There is another by mirricycle that looks like this. The early generation of these were known to break your shifter housing in a crash however. It does put the mirror in a very useful place though, and the mirror is huge. Now I wonder how aero it is and how many rodies will hate it. I believe that it may be shifter specific as well.
#11
just keep riding
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,560
Likes: 44
From: Milledgeville, Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Black Mountain Cycles MCD,2017 Advocate Cycles Seldom Seen Drop Bar, 2017 Niner Jet 9 Alloy, 2015 Zukas custom road, 2003 KHS Milano Tandem, 1986 Nishiki Cadence rigid MTB, 1980ish Fuji S-12S
The Italian Road Bike Mirror: https://www.aspirevelotech.com/Mercha..._Code=RBM_1001
#13
The only problem that I had with the eyeglass mounted mirrors was the distortion up in the corner of my glasses when using progressive lenses. This may only pertain to those with big correction factors. Since my cataract surgery this has been less of a problem
#14
Plays in traffic
Joined: May 2006
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From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4

Mirrycle Road Mirror for STI. I have them on all four of my bikes.
The point about them being shifter-specific is well-taken. They fit only Shimano, but not the newest ones (7900, 670X and 570X).
#15
Take A Look mirror works well for me. Have to have a wide enough temple to mount.
It looks a bit like a high school Design & Technology project, but it works very well.
#17
The mirror is "right there" regardless of which bike I'm riding and moving my head slightly allows scanning a wide full-scale view rather than a demagnifed view convex mirrors provide.
#18
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,571
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From: Oxnard, CA
Bikes: 2009 Fuji Roubaix RC; 2011 Fuji Cross 2.0; '92 Diamond Back Ascent EX
I use the Third Eye mirrors (both helmet mounted and eyeglass mounted depending on application) and they work great. Allow scanning to get a huge field of view. Wouldn't ride without one.
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 707
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From: Toronto
Bikes: Specialized SL2 Roubaix Comp
Take-a-look and progressives here and it works great for me. Mirror is high enough to be in the distance zone of the glasses outside of any distortion. But my prescription is moderate and individuals with stronger prescriptions might have issues I don't.
The mirror is "right there" regardless of which bike I'm riding and moving my head slightly allows scanning a wide full-scale view rather than a demagnifed view convex mirrors provide.
The mirror is "right there" regardless of which bike I'm riding and moving my head slightly allows scanning a wide full-scale view rather than a demagnifed view convex mirrors provide.
Something like what BluesDawg is using might work.
#20
Century bound
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Mesa Arizona
Bikes: Felt AR4 and Cannondale hybrid
#21
Senior Member
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From: Far, Far Northern California
Bikes: 1997 Specialized M2Pro
I use this one.
It works well, but I had to glue some parts that wore out, and I need a tiny zip tie to keep the ball joint tight.
I used to have one on my glasses, but it makes the glasses heavier, and you have to put it on each time. Since I'm already blind in one eye, I'm leary of having rigid wires near my eye (in case of a crash).
The helmet one is on all the time. Looks dorky, though.
The advantage of the helmet one I use is that I can flip it up to do a one-nostril nose blow. If I don't flip it up, it gets stuff on it.
It works well, but I had to glue some parts that wore out, and I need a tiny zip tie to keep the ball joint tight.
I used to have one on my glasses, but it makes the glasses heavier, and you have to put it on each time. Since I'm already blind in one eye, I'm leary of having rigid wires near my eye (in case of a crash).
The helmet one is on all the time. Looks dorky, though.
The advantage of the helmet one I use is that I can flip it up to do a one-nostril nose blow. If I don't flip it up, it gets stuff on it.
#22
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 707
Likes: 1
From: Toronto
Bikes: Specialized SL2 Roubaix Comp
I use this one.
It works well, but I had to glue some parts that wore out, and I need a tiny zip tie to keep the ball joint tight.
I used to have one on my glasses, but it makes the glasses heavier, and you have to put it on each time. Since I'm already blind in one eye, I'm leary of having rigid wires near my eye (in case of a crash).
The helmet one is on all the time. Looks dorky, though.
The advantage of the helmet one I use is that I can flip it up to do a one-nostril nose blow. If I don't flip it up, it gets stuff on it.
It works well, but I had to glue some parts that wore out, and I need a tiny zip tie to keep the ball joint tight.
I used to have one on my glasses, but it makes the glasses heavier, and you have to put it on each time. Since I'm already blind in one eye, I'm leary of having rigid wires near my eye (in case of a crash).
The helmet one is on all the time. Looks dorky, though.
The advantage of the helmet one I use is that I can flip it up to do a one-nostril nose blow. If I don't flip it up, it gets stuff on it.
#23
just keep riding
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,560
Likes: 44
From: Milledgeville, Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Black Mountain Cycles MCD,2017 Advocate Cycles Seldom Seen Drop Bar, 2017 Niner Jet 9 Alloy, 2015 Zukas custom road, 2003 KHS Milano Tandem, 1986 Nishiki Cadence rigid MTB, 1980ish Fuji S-12S
#24
#25
I need speed
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Bikes: Giant Propel, Cervelo P2
I'm sure I wasn't the only cyclist laughing when Tiger Woods got in trouble for spitting during a golf tournament. I kept thinking "he only spit? Sheesh, you don't even have to drift out of the paceline to spit. It's not like he hit a spectator with a snot rocket." Of course, pro cyclists have to be careful where they spit or launch snot rockets, for fear of someone collecting it and sending it to a testing lab.








This is a bicycling forum. Use the correct terminology, please. You are referring to "launching a snot rocket".