VeganRider

Just got back from a rather cool 35 mile ride in urban traffic,(19.7 mph average with 16 mph head wind on the way back) kind of tired. Mostly 4 lane roads going through two towns and two shopping malls (the worst IMO). I ride with a mirror on my sunglasses, and always look to see if the cars in the right lane see me. I can tell because they either slow down move left, or put on their left signal and if they don't I veer over to my left and watch for a reaction that they did see me. Today my son told me "why do you worry so much, they see you just get over it." I'm 28 yrs older than him (he rides too) and thought maybe I should lighten up but I can't and I know what being hit by a car is like. On most group rides of around 30 riders maybe 4 have mirrors. I don't get it.

dcvelo

Don't use a mirror....check 6 by turning my head from time to time. And don't wear ear buds....

SlowSpinner

I cann't use the mirrors. They block part of my field of vision and the blur of images from it cause me to have motion sickness.

Snuffleupagus

Last time I said I didn't like mirrors I was roundly attacked by a ton of people...lets see how this thread goes

Seems to me that it makes sense to rely on:

A. Lane positioning
B. Hearing
C. Looking back on occasion
D. Visible clothing and good lights - particularly in low light conditions

In all seriousness, if I'm going to get plowed because some inattentive person decided to go floor fishing for that lost Krispy Kreme and swerves into me, I very much doubt that having a mirror would help me avoid it.

YMMV.

rich007

It's healthy to turn head back from time to time and be aware of what's going around you. I can hear cars way sooner before I see them in 'any' mirror...

recneps

+1

Venganrider do you wear pocket protectors also, honestly?

f1 8430173

look and see how lance armstrong looks back right before he does a breakaway and apply that to your riding. its worked for me. i just put my mouth on my right or left shoulder and i can see everything behind me.

nobrainer440

I don't use one. I just don't think it would be very useful. I've become really good at hearing cars behind me, so I already know when they're there. Even if I had a mirror, if a car's going to hit me, I probably wouldn't be able to tell in time to ditch, unless I'm staring in the mirror the whole ride.

bikingMILF

i use a mirror and it gives me a little more secure feeling. i use my rear view mirrors all the time in my car, so it just seems natural to have on one my bike. i use it frequently, and also check over my shoulder periodically, and never ride with headphones.

for those of you who can hear cars behind you, how do you hear over all that wind buzzing by your head? just angle your head a bit to change the way the wind hits? id love to be able to hear all the time without positioning my head differently.

rog

I understand if you give the car that is about to splatter you "the look", it won't hurt nearly as much when you get creamed.

waterrockets 

16 years w/out a mirror, and never wished I had one. Learn to look over your shoulder and under your arm and hear the traffic. Also, ride predictably and you'll have less concern for what's going on behind you.

In general, I'd rather not see how close someone is approaching, as they still will make adjustments before they get to me, and my reacting would mean less predictable behavior on my part.

Doggus

Why the hell do you need a mirror on a group ride? If a car can't see a group you're screwed with or without a mirror. I do use a mirror when I'm alone.

Shemp

I don't believe this is true in a lot of conditions.

Saturday, for instance. I was riding east into a stiff (19.6 mph) and gusty (28.8mph) ENE wind. So at head on, my ears were useless with sound of air. If I cocked my head to the side to listen, the NE part of the ENE wind kept me from hearing anything. I admit to riding with one ear bud, and as the day went on, thhe wind was overpowering the music. The rush/roar of the wind was enough I couldn't hear the music from an earbud. How the hell does someone really think I'm going to hear any sedan coming up from behind before I can see it in a mirror if I can't hear the music from an earbud?

Either a lot of you ride in ideal conditions every single day or you want to make excuses to not have to use a mirror. "Oh, but I can just look back!" To which I reply, with a mirror, one can just glance down and not take his eyes off the road in front of him.

Everyone wants to be a safety nazi up until they start thinking they may end up crossing the fred line.

MillCreek

Oh, how I chuckle at the advice to 'just listen for the traffic'. Those of us with hearing loss cannot, so I will continue to use my mirrors, heedless of what others may think of me.

cbaronzzi

I am anti - mirror for many of the reasons posted above. I think mirror users will be more likely to be injured by overreact to close calls with cars and hurt themselves by riding off the side of the road or riding erratically than if they never knew the close call was coming. I focus on riding predictably and safely by staying alert and looking around when I have to change my line. If a car nails me, that is the risk I take everyday. At least I will have someone to sue and blame for my death....rather than saying, "yeah, I saw a car in my mirror and I think he was going to hit me so I rode off the cliff to avoid that car."

Bottom Line:
Ride safe, be predictable and focus on what's ahead of you and you don't need a mirror.

CUE THE RABID PRO MIRROR LOBBY....

WCroadie

Don't believe it if you don't want to but I agree with him. I can hear cars coming before I can see them.

How do you know the winds were blowing 19.6 and 28.8 mph? Seriously?

You will criticize us cause we don't use mirrors yet you will ride with music?

FWIW I never used a mirror and I listen to music when riding solo.

Shemp

Well, I rode by an airport, and I found the data recorded from the time I was in the area. Pretty easy, really.

I was being critical to those who say hearing and head turning always trumps a mirror, not to those who ride without a mirror. I simply don't believe it from personal experience having ridden with and without music, with and without a mirror, and with and without noise from wind/traffic/etc over thousands of miles.

Retro Grouch 

I don't like to ride without a mirror anymore. At least part of the reason for that is, as I've grown older, my range of motion has stiffened up somewhat. It's a lot harder (and more painful) for me to turn to look behind me than it used to be. I hope that's OK with everybody but, if it's not, too bad.

As I've read the other posts, the thing that struck me the most is how opinionated and downright insulting some of the posters have been toward people who simply hold an opposing opinion.

urbanknight

I tried a mirror for a while, and it seemed that even if I could tell someone didn't see me, it wouldn't allow me to avoid a horrendous collision should the car veer into me. The image was tiny and blurry anyway, so when I put the helmet it was mounted on to good use, I didn't bother getting velcro to put it on the new helmet, and I've been fine ever since. It's more important to take a commanding presence, which means deciding whether the right, middle, or left of the lane gets the best results, ragardless of what the other drivers think (honking tells me I am being seen, which is good )

Bolo Grubb

a mirror is just another tool that if used correctly can help, but not absolutely needed.

Not a tool for everyone, but good for some.

FrankBattle 

Don't see a need for a mirror. I have never had a problem hearing cars or turning to see if/when there is a car behind me.

But yeah, YMMV.

I'm not sure there is a need to start a thread about it; use it if you like it. obviously, what others think doesn't bother you. that said, glad the thread is here .. I think? now you know how I feel; I hope this helps you in some way.

dekindy

Sprintech mirror on the left handlebar end and Zefal Spy on the down tube. I would not ride without them.

januarytwenty

Have a bar-end mirror but I don't really trust it as much as actually taking a quick glance over my shoulder. Unfortunately I didn't realize that the times I could really put it to use (cycling downtown in heavy traffic) the roads are pretty rough and it vibrates and is practically useless. Most of the time when I think to use it, it tends to take more effort to focus and make sure I'm seeing a wide enough field of view to actually be safe (so then I usually do a shoulder check anyways). Pretty much useless for me. Next time I replace my bar tape it won't be going back on.

RussB

I use a mirror. True you can hear a car coming from behind before you see them in a mirror. My main reasons for using one is I have back and neck issues and have trouble looking all the way back. I can turn enough to see the blind spot the mirror can't see. But I use it for the cars I can't hear. Like the ones behind the one you hear. And when a car is approaching from the opposite direction I can't always hear the one coming from behind at the same time. I like to know if they will be passing each other close to me.

oldokie

+ 1 on mirrors. When all you young studs get over 60 and find out your hearing is not what it used to be and you cannot look over your shoulder like you once did, you will be sporting mirrors too.