spinnaker

Actuality I guess I did, calling you out for such an ignorant statement in the first place.

It's obvious you don't recognize sarcasm when you see it.

PeterMike

Since I've mounted mirror on my commute bike I can imagine to take it off from my handlebar.

jon c. 

I agree. Looking behind you is a sign of weakness and marks you as a novice.

f4rrest

I'm sure you meant this.

sweeks

This ^^ summarizes my point of view. Many cycling fatalities occur when the rider is hit from behind by an overtaking car.

A few years ago, the League of American Bicyclists did a survey ("Every Bicyclist Counts", here: https://bikeleague.org/sites/default/...port_final.pdf). On page 6 of that report is a list of the relative frequency of different kinds of fatal collisions. The most common type, by far, is the "rear end", where the cyclist is hit by an overtaking car. These collisions were 40% of all reported collisions. Unfortunately, there was no data collected about whether or not the riders were using rear-view mirrors, so the hypothesis that effective rear-view mirror use reduces rear-end collisions goes un-tested.

The "Rides of Silence", memorial rides to honor cyclists killed by cars, were started in 2003 in response to a cyclist's death from being struck by a school bus mirror (see: ::Ride of Silence:: History). While I think this is a worthy effort, I was disappointed that there was no mention of an effort, beyond public awareness, to reduce such collisions.

I have heard arguments from others that the cyclist can hear vehicles approaching and this makes mirrors unnecessary, or that a look over the shoulder is adequate to evaluate any given situation. There are no data to support or refute these hypotheses. But once you're used to using a mirror, it's a matter of a fraction of a second to see what's behind you, and this can be done many times a minute without turning the head. It won't surprise me, if this is ever studied scientifically, to learn that rear-view mirrors reduce rear-end collisions. Meanwhile, I'll continue to use a mirror in traffic and recommend others do the same.

One last point. Most if not all states require cars and motorcycles to be equipped with rear-view mirrors (Mirror Laws by State (U.S.) - EcoModder). Bicyclists in traffic have the same issues with visibility.
I rest.
Steve

sweeks

No, you just fried his sarcasm detector!
Steve

BobbyG

+1000

one4smoke

Wonder if these work well on drop bars?
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/...nk-left-573031

https://www.amazon.com/Hafny-Handleb...ct_top?ie=UTF8

wphamilton

I can't stand the handlebar mirrors on drop bars because they only work if you're in the exact right position that you've adjusted them for. But this thread spurred me to replace my lost wearable mirror - I've duck-taped one onto my helmet visor.

Picks in case you don't believe me:

DrIsotope

Uh oh, another thread almost certainly A&S bound after someone had to present the baseless opinion that riding without a mirror is unsafe.

coffeesnob

My mirror has proved to be very useful.

FBinNY 

Like so many things, mirror debates are skewed by selection bias.

Those who don't use them tend not to care much either way. But those who do, tend to be firm believers in them. After all, if they weren't believers to some extent they wouldn't use them, would they.

So, expect to hear from very defensive true believers, who are insulted by those who say mirrors don't make a big difference.

This isn't to argue against mirrors, since we can count me among the "don't care either way" folks. It's only to offer an explanation why emotions may run high on this, like with so many "critical safety" issues.

WNCGoater

Yep, helmet mirror here. Wouldn't go out on the road without it. I watch every car as it approaches from the rear. I find when riding a mup with the family, or the Virginia Creeper this summer I miss not having it.

linberl

I use one - because in the time it takes to turn your head to look behind some idiot ahead of you can swerve out of their lane and kill you. So I prefer to use the mirror until the vehicle gets in my peripheral vision (which is quite good at this point in my life) so I can still watch out for morons ahead of me who are reading their email while driving. I've an Ortlieb bar mount currently but just ordered a Sehen mirror to try one on my sunglasses.

cycloaptrgangr

Nah, not an ignorant statement. Just factual based on some of the replies in this thread that are dripping with fear.

Sometimes it's difficult to separate the defensive idiocy from sarcasm.

rachel120

I have a handlebar mirror. Dirt cheap and being dirt cheap actually gives it an advantage as I can move the vertical alignment while riding to adjust for hills and how upright/bent over I am.

As I ride on a 4 lane divided highway, it makes it easy to track traffic behind me when I'm trying to time my movements with them to cross the left lane and make a left turn.

And while I can hear traffic come up on me, I can't tell from the sound alone if it's one car or more than one, I can't tell what lane they are in, I can't tell if someone is pacing me in anticipation of a right turn ahead and (a biggie) I can't tell from sound if someone needing to pass is moving over to the left behind the car on the left, or if they are taking the right turn only lane to pass me on the right instead of waiting the few seconds for the guy on my left to parallel me. With my mirror, when I hear cars behind me, I can quickly glance down to get a car count/movement while still focusing on the road conditions ahead of me, such as rocks on the road or the guy sitting in the oncoming left turn lane or the side road on the right.

bruce19

FWIW having broken my neck in a crash and having had C1 & C2 fused my ROM is compromised. So, there's no looking behind without a mirror.

Machka 

One of the reasons that both Rowan and I use mirrors is to see each other. We cycle together, usually one in front of the other, and we like to cycle within mirror sight of each other.

Skipjacks

Is that mirror mounted to the stem? Or is that just a deceptive photo?

If it's mounted to the stem how do you see behind you? Wouldn't your body be blocking the view backwards?

I have been thinking of getting a mirror but having it out to the sides too far makes it a non starter as I run into bushes and low hanging tree branches enough that it would get thwacked off. (I'm not a crappy rider. I just have a lot of growth along the sides of my commute and sometimes I can't avoid it)

If your way works somehow it's perfect for me.

Machka 

It is mounted to the end of the right side of my handlebar, and yes, it does stick out ... if I want it too.

In the photo it is folded in a bit so I could lean the bicycle. At times, I've also tilted it vertically so it doesn't stick out as much.

Same mirror on a different bicycle ...

spinnaker

You are showing your ignorance again

Show me the "fear". People are discussing best options for mirrors.

spinnaker

The other photo does look like it is in the center. Many of us are used to looking for the mirror on the left side where we ride on the right side of the road.

spinnaker

I say the same about mirrors on your glasses. I just can't seem to figure out how to turn my head to see what I want to see. But I have only tried the ones on the glasses. I should try one for the helmet. Don't know if there will be a difference or not.

Machka 

We move them to the left side only when we visit North America or Europe.


Here's another shot of the titanium bicycle in my first photo. You probably can't tell, but the way the bit that inserts into the handlebar is designed, I have quite a bit of flexibility with the placement of the mirror. I can tilt it ... what would that be ... 90 degrees downward so that it stands vertically. I quite like it!

spinnaker

My mirrors on on my bar end too. I had a couple of mirrycle mountain bike mounts and used one of those brackets that hold the front reflector that you throw away when you buy a bike to mount it to the handlebars. Works great.