Mirrors and Captain?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,913
Likes: 250
From: NE Ohio
Bikes: 1992 Serotta Colorado II,Co-Motion Speedster, Giant Escape Hybrid, 1977 Schwinn Super Le Tour
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?
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti, Santa Cruz Heckler, Santana Visa TAndem
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.
https://www.blackburndesign.com/mirro...irror-210.html
https://www.blackburndesign.com/mirro...irror-210.html
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
From: Machias, WA
Bikes: Rodriguez Toucan tandem, Rodriguez Rainer Lite sport/touring
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:
#8
Hubbub Mirror... Best I've found so far.


My initial article on mirrors & review of the Hubbub Mirror:
https://tandemgeek.wordpress.com/2011...mirror-review/
My 8-week follow-up, noting that we're still thoroughly satsified by these mirrors.
https://tandemgeek.wordpress.com/2011...8-week-update/


My initial article on mirrors & review of the Hubbub Mirror:
https://tandemgeek.wordpress.com/2011...mirror-review/
My 8-week follow-up, noting that we're still thoroughly satsified by these mirrors.
https://tandemgeek.wordpress.com/2011...8-week-update/
#9
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 871
Likes: 115
From: Minnesota
Bikes: Cannondale '92 T600 '95 H600 '01 RT1000
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>
Every other mounting option is inferior. <snicker>
#10
Nigel
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,991
Likes: 7
From: San Jose, CA
Bikes: 1980s and 1990s steel: CyclePro, Nishiki, Schwinn, SR, Trek........
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.
#12
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,913
Likes: 250
From: NE Ohio
Bikes: 1992 Serotta Colorado II,Co-Motion Speedster, Giant Escape Hybrid, 1977 Schwinn Super Le Tour
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.
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.
#13
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.
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
+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.
#15
rebmeM roineS

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,230
Likes: 363
From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#16
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,013
Likes: 24
From: Tucson, AZ
Bikes: Custom Zona c/f tandem + Scott Plasma single
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
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
#17
Used to be Conspiratemus

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,520
Likes: 247
From: Hamilton ON Canada
#18
just another gosling


Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,555
Likes: 2,667
From: Everett, WA
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
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.
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.
#20
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Noblesville,IN
Bikes: Giant Rapid, Trek T1000, Giant Dash
#21
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Central Valley CA
Bikes: '04 Serotta CIII, '01 Lemond Poprad, mid 90s Burley Rock N Roll Tandem, Old School Specialized HardRock, '15 GT Grade alloy
https://www.rivbike.com/product-p/m5.htm
https://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!
https://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!
#22
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,913
Likes: 250
From: NE Ohio
Bikes: 1992 Serotta Colorado II,Co-Motion Speedster, Giant Escape Hybrid, 1977 Schwinn Super Le Tour
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!
#23
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 6
From: Colorado Springs
Bikes: DaVinci Jt Adventure
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.
#24
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 4
From: Ft Worth, TX
Bikes: Custom 650B tandem by Bob Brown, 650B tandem converted from Santana Arriva, Santana Noventa, Boulder Bicycle 700C, Gunnar Sport
Wayne
#25
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 6
From: Colorado Springs
Bikes: DaVinci Jt Adventure
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
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




