Helmet mirror or handlebar mirror?

[Nanci]

It's very adjustable. (Take a look) The mirror is on a jointed wire thing, which hooks under plastic/velcro, which broke. Adjustment, even on the fly, was simple.

[Clare]

Thought I'd chime in on this thread. I've gone through just about every kind of helmet mirror that I can find. Some I've lost because they fell off, or they have broken. The best one yet that I have used and am using now is this one:http://www.kijkom.nl/docs/reflex-e.htm. It is so super adjustable that you can adjust it so that you almost don't have to turn your head to get the rear-view that you want. It is removeable for pictures. I guess what I like best about it, though, is the fact that it is so adjustable. With the others, I was constantly turning my head, or adjusting it, to get a good view of whats coming up behind me. This mirror has a bendable arm that really helps in its mobility and functioin.

Clare
p.s. I didn't buy it from this site. My LBS ordered it for me, and I think it cost me about fifteen dollars.

[HillSlugger]

I tried the glasses mirror but the field of view is so small that I spent too much time trying to figure out what I was seeing and it was preventing me from keeping my eye on the road. I've now got a mirror on the end of my flat bar, but I don't like the extra width. If anyone has another idea I'd love to hear it!

[eclectic]

I've used a handle bar mirror for a couple of years first on a leisure bike and now on my road bike.

I had the ones that velcroed on and don't care at all for them, I can never get them on tight enough and they seem always to shift, also it gets in the way when I go down in the drops. I am constantly adjusting it due to road chatter.

Advantage: wide range of vision when adjusted correctly, easy to look at

Bought a helmet mirror on Monday.

I am like the guy that wears both a belt and suspenders. I still have my handlebar mirror on until I get used to the helmet mirror

I think I will like the helmet mirror better in the long run because I'll have it no matter which bike I am on (I don't have a mirror on my old mtn bike and the road one doesn't fit), it is easy to adjust and stays in place

[mary9761]

This is the mirror I use and I'd be lost without it. I got it at my LBS, but they're made by an older gentleman in Ohio from used spokes. It's not in my way for line of sight, I can adjust it and it pretty much stays adjusted unless I bump it and I don't get a lot of jostle while I'm riding. I don't have the guy's name with me right now since I'm not at home, but I LOVE mine. It's even strong enough to pick your helmet up with (though I try not to do that) sorry about the size of the photo, I don't know how to adjust the size in this forum.

[Bike Goddess]

I used to have a glasses mirror, but then when I saw one of our elite riders in my club with a mirror on the drops, I decided to try that.

I now have these mirrors on both of my bikes. What I like is I can see behind me for probably 1/4 mile or more, so I know when traffic is coming. It's specially nice when they have their lights on!

When I am going to move into another lane to turn left, for example, I always look over my shoulder (as I do when I drive as well). It's easy to adjust which I will often do on the road.

[KnottedYet]

I've always had handlebar mirrors (Zephal), for years and on several different bikes. Finally, I couldn't take the sloppiness and the constant adjusting, and realized it was really distracting me.

Bought a mirror that hooks on my glasses (CycleAware) and really love it. Took about 1/2 hour to get used to it. The field of view is awesome for me, it doesn't go out of adjustment when I go over bumps, and it doesn't block my view.

I'm much happier with the glasses mirror. Your mileage may vary.

[mary9761]

I've had several people ask where I got my mirror. It's made by a gentleman in Ohio who's name is Chuck Harris.

This is from the paperwork that came with my mirror...
Ultra Light Rear View Mirrors For Cyclists
Continuously manufactured since 1970 by Chuck Harris. A Green product.

They are available in 1/4 inch, 1 inch, 1 1/4 inch, and 1 1/2 inch. You can get them for helmets or glasses.

He does make custom mirrors.

To contact Mr. Harris, here is the information

Ultra Light Touring Shop
P.O. BOX 363
Gambier, Ohio 43022
(740) 427-3404

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I got a "Third Eye" helmet mirror. I really like it! Takes a day to get used to it being there, then you don't really notice it unless you are checking it. As a new rider, I have a hard time looking all the way behind me long enough to get a really good look without starting to wobble. Now I can check my mirror first and get a pretty accurate wide scan, then take a quick last look over my shoulder to make double sure (as in driving a car, I would NEVER depend soley on a mirror when turning or changing lanes). Also, like with a car rear view mirror, I tend to check automatically more often while just riding along now, and that keeps me knowing what's generally around me even if I'm not planning to turn, and when I normally wouldn't be looking over my shoulder. I am learning to move my head just slightly to quickly scan around behind me with my mirror.

[SnappyPix]

We use this one on a couple of our bikes:



http://cgi.ebay.com/Italian-ROAD-BIK...QQcmdZViewItem

Works great.

I just wanted to thank SR500 for making this post, as I went ahead and ordered one of these mirrors for my road bike.
The service was excellent - arrived from the US to NZ in just a matter of days.
It's a bit fiddly to fit, but it really is the dog's baubles.
I've been out a few times now since I fitted it, and the field of vision is excellent - very wide angle and clear.
I'd highly recommend these over the type that strap onto the STI hoods - it's unobtrusive, has less dorky factor and does exactly what it says on the box.