Helmet mirror or handlebar mirror?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Which is better?
I don't want anything on my prescription glasses, so that's out.
I'm going to have taped drop bars on my road bike- are there mirrors made for drop bars, or does that not work well? I have no clue about mirrors. Are there good and bad helmet mirrors?
Advice from you experienced riders out there please...

[tulip]

I had a handlebar mirror on my commuting bike (flat bars), but I found two problems with it: it widened my bars to the point of making it difficult to negotiate tight traffic, which I must do in the streets of DC, and it kindof got me off balance. I decided that I was safer without a mirror, that I am better off paying attention to what is going on in front of me.

I can't use one of those helmet mirrors because I am blind in my left eye and the mirror wouldn't do much good on the right side! Plus, it would block my good eye, and then we'd all be in trouble.

But you'll have to decide for yourself what is just right for you.

[Kano]

There are handlebar mirrors for drop bars -- I saw several styles today. Bought one -- mine aren't drop bars, but I put it in the end of my "flat" bars. I haven't tried DH's eyeglass/helmet mirror, but the placement looks to me like it would drive me nuts! That and his glasses, which are old and loose to begin with, keep falling off him when he's using it. (can't convince him it's time for new glasses, though...)

I had one on my handlebars before, and it worked out pretty well for me. The one I picked up today will fold back onto the handlebar when I need it to, which is an improvement over the one I had on my old bike until my kids decided it wasn't "cool" and chucked it.

Karen in Boise

[mimitabby]

some of us just can't get used to helmet mirrors!! i just bought the coolest little mirror at Freerange cycle for my tandem. i like it so much that i am going to buy one for my single bike too.

[Fredwina]

i;m going to be weird and admit that I prefer a helmet mirror. By twisting your head, you do get a lot more visibility.

[Kano]

i;m going to be weird and admit that I prefer a helmet mirror. By twisting your head, you do get a lot more visibility.

I love the idea of these things -- MY problem with it is that I'd fixate on it, since it's right there... I'd probably get over that eventually, but I'm concerned about what sort of trouble I could get into in the mean time!

Karen in Boise (who's looking forward to being able to see backward with the new mirror!)