FlamsteadHill

You mean:

Machka 

No, it's not almost rubbing the tire.
I love that bag! It's my favourite of the collection of Carradice bags I have.
No, it is not too wide, it is the mid-sized Carradice.
No, it does not make it difficult to mount and dismount ... it doesn't even factor into mounting or dismounting.



I've got one of the Bagman Supports as my "rack".

https://www.carradice.co.uk/products...fixing-systems

jefnvk

Yep, that is what I though!

How do you like that? I like my bag, but I've only got one saddle with the bag loops, and to be honest they aren't the quickest things to use. I've been thinking about getting the support system, both so I can use it on multiple bikes and so I can take it on/off easier.

autonomy

I got a mirror when I started out cycling to keep track of how far my wife was falling behind

I won't ride without it, I get anxious not knowing what's behind or how close a car is going to pass. Even on the bike trail there are people who will silently ride up fast, draft behind for a second, then decide to double-pass without announcing.

It's not fear, it's situational awareness. Just like driving defensively, try to have an escape plan.

I think it's unreasonable to expect someone to just know you're there. Do you expect drivers to know you're there and to move aside? I don't look in the mirror every 5 seconds so if you silently come out of nowhere I won't know. I also find it unreasonable that you expected someone to move aside. Now, as for the fella taking you to task, the question is - did you pass safely, or not? If yes, then he was unreasonable in saying anything.

noglider 

I think using a mirror is smart. I see mirror usage increasing rapidly in New York City, and I take it as a good sign. This comes along with increasing usage of lights and bells on bikes.

Jerrys88

Aside from the safety enhancement, I find it a pleasure to ride with my helmet-mounted mirror. It allows me freedom to avoid potholes, change lanes, take the lane, etc. with just a quick glance in it. So used to having it, I hate riding without one.

I will say this. If I'm in a club ride and you're riding in the middle of the road ahead of me and don't have a mirror, or have one and don't use it (always at least one such rider), don't expect me to yell car back. Did it consistently for the first year of club riding and then decided no more. First of all, 99% of the time there's no good reason for you to be riding in the middle of the road, secondly, at least half the time people ignore the warning, and thirdly, if you like to ride in the middle of the road, fine, but get yourself a mirror and use it. I'm not your mirror.

PaddleFoot

Finally decided on a helmet mirror. Hated it at first, but I won't ride without it now. If my life is on the line, I do look back before making a move.

rachel120

For those who don't understand the need to count cars, what if you have a lot of cars behind you? I think it very important to count (example) six cars so when #1-5 pass and #6 is not on my left, I can reasonably assume getting in the right turn lane is a very bad idea, I should scoot over to the left if I'm not already 3 feet from the right line and I should slow down so if car #5 decides to change lanes to be in front of me, I won't be hit by debris when the car illegally passing me on the right using the turn only lane collides with him.

caloso

In my experience, cars drive one behind the other so that once you get past the first car or two, it's hard to get an accurate count. So I focus on holding my line and if I need to come off my line, I'll check over my shoulder.

BobbyG

+1

FlamsteadHill

What if there is a continuous line? In "leaf peeper" season here in VT often you can't see the end. Where do you stop? How many cars will you take the time to count? There must be an end. Or not.

caloso

Maybe these mirrors give x-ray vision to see all the cars blocked by the first one in line.

rachel120

It's actually easy to get a count, just as easy as when you are in a car. Roads are never perfectly straight, and cars don't line up perfectly. Between even slight curves or slight drops and cars shifting a bit in the lane, you can figure out what is behind you.

Machka 

If I'm going straight, I don't care how many cars are behind me. I just worry about those who are behaving oddly or could be hazardous (i.e. oversized loads).

If I'm turning across traffic, and I determine that there are more than 2 or 3 cars, I stop, turn around and have a look.

fietsbob

I prefer to keep my regrets in the rear view mirror, if I can.

Machka 

It's all right, but I do use the loops on my saddle and I don't remove the rack. All my bicycles have some sort of rack and all have saddles with loops, so I just shift my bags between them.

rydabent

With the terrorist attack on the bike path in NY today, there is your good reason to have a mirror, and use it.

enes13mes

if you are a commuter you definetely need a rear view mirror.

caloso

I've commuted year round since 1999 and have never needed a mirror.

SylvainG

Yesterday, because of the hood of my rain jacket blocking it, I though I lost my helmet mounted mirror half way through my ride. Didn't like the feeling of not knowing what's happening behind me by a quick glance into that mirror. Boy was I relieved when I remove my helmet at destination and find the mirror was still attached to it

woodcraft

I tried once, but didn't get the hang of it- found it distracting,

but I like riding with folks that have them- they call out the cars, and known when you are pulling ahead.

FlamsteadHill

Getting back to the original, actual question, Yes, "People DO use [rearview] mirrors".

Not all people, and maybe some use sideview or forwardview.

But yes, there ARE riders who use [rearview] mirrors.

Does it matter if People do or don't? Then again, I'm a bit of a non-conformist. Not for the sake of it, but feel that form should follow function in all but hang-on-the-wall art.

noglider 

I commute on the Hudson River Greenway which has lots of commuting cyclists. I'm seeing a lot of rearview mirrors lately, and since I have a Take-A-Look mirror, I'm noticing plenty of other people with the same mirror. I'm glad.