Mirrors and Captain?
 

I installed a bar end mirror for my wife /The Stoker and I also installed one for my self. The problem is all I can really see is her mirror. So what do you folks reccommed? A helmet mirror?

I just tilt her mirrors lower. She's happy with that and I can see behind us.

I have been using a "Take a Look" mirror on my glasses for many years now and can't leave home without it.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...RL._AA300_.gif

+1 on the "take a look" glasses mount mirror. I use it on my singles and the tandem. Great field of view and once adjusted you don't have to mess with it.

I have been using the Blackburn helmet mirror for many years. It gives great field of view. You learn to slightly move your head to get a total picture.
http://www.blackburndesign.com/mirro...irror-210.html

I've tried helmet-mounted mirrors and I just can't get used to them. I use a bar-end mirror on the captain's bars and this mirror at the bend of the stoker's bars:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=232352

+2 on the take a look. With slight movement of the head you can see in all directions behind you.

Hubbub Mirror... Best I've found so far.

http://tandemgeek.files.wordpress.co...ror1.jpg?w=500

http://tandemgeek.files.wordpress.co...pg?w=500&h=250

My initial article on mirrors & review of the Hubbub Mirror:
http://tandemgeek.wordpress.com/2011...mirror-review/

My 8-week follow-up, noting that we're still thoroughly satsified by these mirrors.
http://tandemgeek.wordpress.com/2011...8-week-update/

Discussing mirrors is almost like discussing religion and chain oil, so I'll just mention that my preference is an eyeglass mirror--Take a Look, Third Eye, etc. I'm not too fussy, although the Third Eye doesn't stand up well to thick temples.

Every other mounting option is inferior. <snicker>

On our bike, the stoker doesn't have a mirror - she did not want one. I have Mirrcyle bar end mirrors on both the left and right sides.

Helmet mirror for me. Can't live without it.

Tandem Geek,
Thanks for your "Thumbs Up" on Hub Bub's mirror.
We bought our Co-Motion from them as thery are only 10 minutes from our home.
Will stop in this week.

Stoker/wife has a Myrrycle bar end mirror. Her responsibility is what is behind us and approaching, and navigation (she has the Garmin - I use a Flight Deck). I'm focused on what's ahead and gearing. I'll ask for clear if I need to move over for a left turn, or she will ask if she needs to call "car back" on lightly traveled back roads, and for calling out turns. If she trust me for safely captaining the route, I'll trust her for the safety of approaching traffic and navigation.

+2 on that. We've used junk helmet mirrors, then a series of helmet mirrors that started good but corrode. The Hubbub mirrors are light years better than the others we've used. We stock several, and sell them to friends or give them as gifts to close friends.

+3 Captain has used one for years.
Stoker has a Chuck Harris helmet mount.

Mirrors: Different strokes?

Been using eyeglass mounted mirror for captain since we started tandeming w-a-y back in 1975.
Tried one handlebar mounted one and did not find it user friendly
Original mirror was an old dental-type mirror clipped to left temple of glasses.
Progressed from there. Broke lots of the plastic-type ones like 3rd-Eye; then used Chuck Harris' mirror for years; now using Take-A-Look.
Stoker does not want a mirror; guess she trusts me after all those years/miles!
Pedal on TWOgether into 2012!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Discussing the choice and mounting of a mirror is like Freedom of Religion. Deciding not to use one at all is like Freedom from Religion I guess. :innocent:

We both use helmet mirrors. Stoker has a better view than captain, so calls out the cars and other dangers from behind. I much prefer helmet or eyeglass mirrors, as the whole field can be scanned quickly by rotating the head. Because the captain's head is constantly in motion, the mirror does not block any view from ahead.

We wish more singles we ride with used mirrors. So many don't seem to realize that riding with tandems is like sharing the Autobahn with Porsches. We come up awfully fast sometimes.

Was just at the LBS and noticed that Take A Look now has a helmet adapter kit for sale. So no need to argue helmet vs glasses!

What kind of mirror is in the picture?

http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/m5.htm

http://www.therandonneeshop.com/prod...ht_bike_mirror

I have one on my tandem and one on my touring bike. Works great. I'm a UPS driver .... I can't do ANYTHING without a rearview mirror!

Got my Hub Bub Mirror the other day. Today I put it on my helmet and my wife and I went out for a short ride to Walmart. I am going to go back to Hub Bub and ask them to help this fumble fingered Captain to get the mirror in the right place!

I purchased our second tandem (a CDale RT 2) a couple of months ago from Larry Black at Mt Airy. He uses the EVT SafeZone and strongly recommends it. I've used it for several weeks now and it works very well. It's very big, but the field of view is very good.

It appears the the mirror you mention is attached with zip ties. If this is the case be aware that any fixed protrusion on the outer shell can result in serve neck trauma in a crash. Helmets are designed with shells that slide along the ground to avoid this problem. Hopefully of course we never slide along the ground in our helmet.

Wayne

Wayne

A well-made point and one I hadn't considered. The mirror will break away at the ball socket, but that does leave a still a not inconsiderable mounting bracket "fixed" to the helmet. Maybe I'll have to try something with velcro...

Your point also brings up a larger question concerning the advisability of attaching anything (mirror, lights, video cameras) to your helmet. A quick perusal of both Bell and Giro Helmet websites makes no mention of attachments ...

I've emailed customer support at Bell asking the question -- but I won't be surprised if their legal dept advises that nothing be attached to their products.

Regards,
Dave