Road bike mirror: Do you use one?
05-25-16, 07:46 AM
#27
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My neck works fine for that. When I was learning to drive, I was taught to actually look back before changing lanes, and I do the same thing when cycling.
05-25-16, 07:47 AM
#28
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"I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are, in case you don't know
I'll be the wind, the rain and the sunset
The light on your door to show that you're home"--The Velvet Underground
Reflect what you are, in case you don't know
I'll be the wind, the rain and the sunset
The light on your door to show that you're home"--The Velvet Underground
05-25-16, 07:50 AM
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I use my Take A Look eye glass mounted mirror while riding / commuting in the city. Otherwise I do not use one. I know that many people like to snicker at these or those using mirrors because you look like a "Fred." Who cares? Better than some ****** bag hipster riding the wrong way on the street or bike lane with no hands.
05-25-16, 07:50 AM
#31
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If you have the neck flexibility of an owl, then if that works for you....sure. A mirror takes much less time, doesn't distract/detract from holding your line.
05-25-16, 08:14 AM
#34
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I used to do like you. Mirror is easier and faster, and in hectic traffic conditions that extra split second required to snap your neck to look behind and back is the difference between seeing a car pulling a lane change or not.
05-25-16, 08:15 AM
#35
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Just like with driving your car: DON'T trust your mirror and ALWAYS check your blind-spots. The difference between cars and bicycles is the closing speed of other traffic. Mirrors make more sense on a car/motorcycle/truck, because they help increase awareness of other traffic that is, in relative terms, going roughly the same speeds. I've found that a mirror on a bicycle does not increase my awareness of my surroundings, and I still have to double-check what I see in it, taking time away from my eyes forward.
Instead, my priority is with being seen as much as possible. The mirror doesn't help me to be seen, and in my experience, has only provided a false sense of security.
For the record, I will never advocate against someone getting a mirror, but just want to stress that you shouldn't place too much faith in it.
05-25-16, 08:21 AM
#36
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I had mirrors (Sprintech bar ends) for a month or two. I found them helpful on the road to see incoming traffic and also to see what's going on in the pack behind me when riding with a group. They were also helpful while racing for the same reason. I wouldn't say it was a 'night and day' difference or anything of the sort, but in some situations they helped and I can't think of a single circumstance in which they were detrimental.
Then I had to take the plugs out to change the bartape and the plugs broke, so I'm back to being mirrorless. No big deal either way.
Then I had to take the plugs out to change the bartape and the plugs broke, so I'm back to being mirrorless. No big deal either way.
05-25-16, 08:29 AM
#37
Farmer tan
Yes, Third Eye attached to helmet.
And my neck has excellent flexibility too.
In my car, I use both. Same on the bike.
And my neck has excellent flexibility too.
In my car, I use both. Same on the bike.
05-25-16, 08:38 AM
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i had a mirror on my first road bike. It took the spot of a bar end plug and was adjustable to get the right angle. It definitely let me know there was a car coming up, but at the same time looking into it didn't give a very good representation of exactly where the car was - I would still have to look behind me. It was fine if it was just to let me know it was all clear, but if there was actually a car it wasn't enough to accurately gauge where it was, how fast it was coming and if I could still make my move to cross lanes. Also, since it was adjustable, it went out of adjustment fairly easy.
In the end, when I sold the bike I decided to just leave the mirror on it and not replace it with anything.
In the end, when I sold the bike I decided to just leave the mirror on it and not replace it with anything.
05-25-16, 08:44 AM
#39
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Me too, but you wouldn't do without a rearview mirror either inside or outside your car...would you? It is very helpful to me.
05-25-16, 08:49 AM
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05-25-16, 09:22 AM
#41
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Road bike mirror: Do you use one?
Nice summary of these perennial mirror threads, @mcours, but IMO, “increased awareness of your surroundings” can anticipate, and “prevent getting hit from behind.”
Frankly, with gratuitous posts like this one, I was going to announce No Más after replying to so many previously, but since I recently posted this one to the thead, ”Close friend hit by pick-up truck,”
This particular topic has been discussed ad nauseum over at the commuting forum. Lots of people swear by them. A few claim they are useless and do nothing but add stress and anxiety seeing cars approaching from behind. Most agree that they do little to prevent getting hit from behind, but they increase your awareness of your surroundings…
Frankly, with gratuitous posts like this one, I was going to announce No Más after replying to so many previously, but since I recently posted this one to the thead, ”Close friend hit by pick-up truck,”
As an experienced year round commuter and road cyclist in Boston for about thirty-years, and a previous cycle-tourist, including a cross country ride, I was hit from behind in 2012 with six weeks in the hospital, three months off work, and five months off the bike….
I frequently post that having a rearview mirror makes for all the confidence, and I look rearwards more then ever to feel safe.
I frequently post that having a rearview mirror makes for all the confidence, and I look rearwards more then ever to feel safe.
Thanks for your reply, @Jerrys88. When I was hit from behind, it was on a wide, low-volume, well-lit residential road at about 9 PM in June, by a “distracted driver.” The route was so calm that I was not closely monitoring my rearward view. In fact, though perhaps I could have ditched the bike, I’m glad I didn’t see it coming if I was going to get hit anyways.
I once read a comment that one should practice doing "bunny hops" so at least you could jump a curb if present on your right.
Obviously that’s the ultimate use of a mirror, and now I monitor rearwards more frequently. So hopefully being aware of the situation behind, even when not in immediate danger, allows the rider to avoid a dangerous situation, even by pulling off the road. And other than my accident, I’ve never had the need to bail out.
IMO, besides routine monitoring rearwards with the mirror, a most important use is to make quick decisions when encountering an obstacle in front of you, such as a car door, pothole, car entering your path, etc. Can you immediately veer left?
Mirror threads are often popcorn threads, and I’m always dismayed when subscribers blithely write, often directed towards newbies, that you don’t need a mirror and it doesn’t help anyways. Why discourage such a simple piece of equipment? I’ve tried to think of the dangers of a mirror, and the best I’ve come up with is poking your eye with an eyeglass or helmet mounted mirror; or being too distracted by it, for example if you can’t really get used to it.
Personally, I use an eyeglass mounted Take-a-Look mirror that allows me to maintain a forward-looking head position with just a sideward glance to see the rear. I really don’t want to turn my head for an over shoulder glance away from the line of travel when speeding downhill on a pothole-strewn road with heavy traffic to my left and parked cars to my right. Furthermore, wind noise can sometimes obscure the sound of a passing car.
I find mirrors so easy to use, and so helpful that I wear both right and left.
I once read a comment that one should practice doing "bunny hops" so at least you could jump a curb if present on your right.
Obviously that’s the ultimate use of a mirror, and now I monitor rearwards more frequently. So hopefully being aware of the situation behind, even when not in immediate danger, allows the rider to avoid a dangerous situation, even by pulling off the road. And other than my accident, I’ve never had the need to bail out.
IMO, besides routine monitoring rearwards with the mirror, a most important use is to make quick decisions when encountering an obstacle in front of you, such as a car door, pothole, car entering your path, etc. Can you immediately veer left?
Mirror threads are often popcorn threads, and I’m always dismayed when subscribers blithely write, often directed towards newbies, that you don’t need a mirror and it doesn’t help anyways. Why discourage such a simple piece of equipment? I’ve tried to think of the dangers of a mirror, and the best I’ve come up with is poking your eye with an eyeglass or helmet mounted mirror; or being too distracted by it, for example if you can’t really get used to it.
Personally, I use an eyeglass mounted Take-a-Look mirror that allows me to maintain a forward-looking head position with just a sideward glance to see the rear. I really don’t want to turn my head for an over shoulder glance away from the line of travel when speeding downhill on a pothole-strewn road with heavy traffic to my left and parked cars to my right. Furthermore, wind noise can sometimes obscure the sound of a passing car.
I find mirrors so easy to use, and so helpful that I wear both right and left.
I don't know how much safer I am with a mirror. One thing I definitely like about a mirror is that I can tell when I can let my guard down. I enjoy getting on nieghborhoods roads, seeing nothing behind me, move more into the lane and cruise…
+10, @WalterS; nicely put. Earlier this thread I wrote what I considered an exhaustive note about the utility of mirrors, but I forgot to mention the freedom they provide as you described.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-25-16 at 09:29 AM.
05-25-16, 09:42 AM
#42
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+1 If people see you are looking/signaling to do something, they'll have a better idea of what to expect. You are less likely to surprise each other. Most people don't want to hit cyclists.
05-25-16, 09:43 AM
#43
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05-25-16, 09:48 AM
#44
Vain, But Lacking Talent
But seriously, if I'm choosing to go helmetless on a ride, it's only because I have a near zero chance of traffic-interaction, which would render a mirror useless.
I do not currently use a mirror. Ask me again in 20 years.
05-25-16, 10:06 AM
#47
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Road bike mirror: Do you use one?
Nice summary of these perennial mirror threads, @mcours, but IMO, “increased awareness of your surroundings” can anticipate, and “prevent getting hit from behind.”
Frankly, with gratuitous posts like this one, I was going to announce No Más after replying to so many previously, but since I recently posted this one to the thead, ”Close friend hit by pick-up truck,”
Nice summary of these perennial mirror threads, @mcours, but IMO, “increased awareness of your surroundings” can anticipate, and “prevent getting hit from behind.”
Frankly, with gratuitous posts like this one, I was going to announce No Más after replying to so many previously, but since I recently posted this one to the thead, ”Close friend hit by pick-up truck,”
I understand your point of view, but I don't share it.
05-25-16, 11:10 AM
#48
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I don't use a mirror. I haven't found it necessary.
05-25-16, 11:24 AM
#49
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I use one. It increases my awareness since I am hearing impaired. It's either a mirror or a Garmin Varia, and the mirror is cheaper. Nice to check how my family is doing as I pace for them.
I also find it useful to to monitor wheelsuckers without having to turn my neck.
I also find it useful to to monitor wheelsuckers without having to turn my neck.
05-25-16, 12:06 PM
#50
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