Mirrors!?!

[b.moe]

I have been trying different types of mirrors. I've tried a helmet mirror, but the adjustment sucks and even tilting my head is not working - so I gave up on that. Then, I tried a mirror for my glasses, which works okay but I'm still forced to tilt, which is annoying and distracting. I know there are mirrors that actually mount to the bike, but I've been told those are incredibly shaky and somewhat useless...bad information??

I don't want to keep buying things and returning them!

[Cyclo Kitty]

On my MTB, the bar-end mount mirror (Mirrocyle?) was fantastic! Not shaky, adjustable, good view, easy to get used to. Highly recommend it. The clamp-on mirror for the handle bars of my 3 speed worked well too, not shaky, adjustable, and very handy. The only caveat is that "objects in mirror are closer than they appear."

I haven't tried the bar end mirrors for road bikes yet, so if anyone has, I'd love to hear how they work.

Still working on one for the road bikes, though. Helmet mirror was useless for me too.

[Kathi]

I wanted a mirror for Ride the Rockies. I opted for the handlebar type because I thought it would be more practical for the ride.

I had a hard time adjusting it. I needed to see both cars and cyclists. If I got it where I could see the cars I couldn't see the cyclists behind me, if I adjusted to see the cyclists I missed the cars.

On a tour like RTR, when you stop at sag stop there is no place to put your bike so you have to lay it down. I lay mine on the non drive train side, which is the side the mirror is on, so the mirror would move out of adjustment, which meant that everytime I stopped I had to readjust it. Sometimes, I bumped it with my with my knee and got sunscreen on it, which made it all smeary, then I couldn't see anything. While riding in my drops I couldn't see it which made it useless in downhill situations.

By the end of the week I totally forgot it was there except to move it out of my way when I was riding.

It stayed in position while riding and didn't seem shaky. I have yet to try it on a club ride or a bike path. I'm leaving it on this weekend to see if it has any value.

I wonder if some of my issues with it were due to the narrowness of my handlebars (34 cm). I suspect it was designed for wider handlebars. And I would not use it on a tour again simply because the bike has to be layed on its side and the mirror readjusted so often.

So now I'm back to looking for a helmet mirror.

[Kathi]

One more thing, whenever I wanted to look in it I had to look down and slightly to the side which meant I took my eyes off the road. I wasn't to secure with that situation with other riders ahead of me, so I didn't use it when I had others around me.

The type I'm talking about fits in the plug in the handlebar. You remove the plug for your handlebar tape, insert the mirror plug and snap the mirror into it. It looks cool but.......

[b.moe]

Well, I guess it's the bar end mount that I'll try. I don't like to wear glasses all the time, which keeps me from opting for the glasses mirror. I'm a little intimidated by the handlebar mirrors, just because I can be clumsy and ridiculous on the handlebars and I hate adjusting them (maybe just because I'm so fed up!)

Guess I'll just have to take a deep breath and try again!

[Kano]

Glasses on the bike are a good thing -- you're out in the world, get bugs and grit in your eyes while zipping along at high speed, UV rays in your eyes are another not so good thing, so it really is nice to have glasses on while biking.

I've been wearing my regular prescription glasses, but didn't like the coverage they gave, so recently decided to start wearing my contacts for riding, so I could pick up some "sport" sunglasses at the bike shop. This is better -- not quite sealed to my face, but not much wind in there to dry my eyes, and definitely no grit!

To keep to the mirror thing -- I've been using a "glasses mirror" this year, and I like it! It's easier to get adjusted the way I really wanted to have it sit on the new sunglasses than it is on my "regular" glasses.

Karen in Boise

[maryellen]

I tried "attach to glasses" mirrors and found them to be useless until a friend suggested I try "Bike Peddler Take A Look Mirror" (available at rei and some bike shops). Its design permits easy adjustment.

It still took some getting used to and it's not like having a car rear view and side mirrors but it's definitely useful. It can also be attached to a helmet visor but I've never tried that. (I always wear glasses even if just clear lenses in order to keep debris out of my eyes.)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Helmet mirrors are great but they take 2 or 3 weeks to get used to.
After that you get good at adjusting them, and also learn where to position them so that your normal vision is not blocked much. At first it seems annoying to have it hanging there in the upper left corner in your field of vision, but after a couple of weeks your eyes adjust and just sort of "see through" it. The tiny bit you tilt your head each time you look becomes easy and automatic.
If you have gotten used to checking your car rearview mirror without panicking at taking your eyes off the road- well it's the same thing with the bike helmet mirror. It becomes easy and automatic to check your mirror frequently.
I have gotten two "Third Eye" helmet mirrors for my two different helmets. I wouldn't ever want to ride without them now. I ride a lot, and sometimes I catch myself checking my helmet mirror when I'm not biking at all, but just walking down the street.

[b.moe]

I have gotten two "Third Eye" helmet mirrors for my two different helmets. I wouldn't ever want to ride without them now. I ride a lot, and sometimes I catch myself checking my helmet mirror when I'm not biking at all, but just walking down the street.

I have the "Third Eye" mirror - but is it possible that the mirror may be too far in the front of my helmet? I find that no amount of tilting or adjusting brings the road into my field of vision. Do you have the pad closer to the front or the side of the helmet?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have the "Third Eye" mirror - but is it possible that the mirror may be too far in the front of my helmet? I find that no amount of tilting or adjusting brings the road into my field of vision. Do you have the pad closer to the front or the side of the helmet?

The pad should be placed near your left ear area, so that you see the mirror in the general area of the upper left most corner of your vision within your eyeglass left lens field of vision. The mirror will hang about an inch or two in front of your glasses, but to the side. Here is a picture of my mirror:
http://harmonias.com/LisaBike_4.jpg

Pull at the sticky and remove the whole mirror from your helmet. Put your helmet and glasses on and hold the mirror til you get it where you want it where you want it, then press the sticky to the INSIDE (not the outside) of your helmet edge, on the styrofoam, in such a way as to have the mirror in that upper left corner of your left eyeglass lens area. This muight be easier if you stand outside and try to see the rear mirror view as you locate where the sticky will go. Once you have it in a good position where you can see behind you, hold the sticky in place as you remove the helmet, then carefully put a dot of epoxy to re-inforce the weak/lame sticky they provide, and clamp or tape while it dries.
When dry, adjust your mirror so you just barely have the edge of your left ear show in the mirror, and play with getting it tilted to give you a good rear view of the road in back of you. You'll get really good at adjusting the mirror with practice.
The cheapo sticky stuff the mirror cam with sort of melted on me in the hot weather and now I always reinforce it with epoxy when I have to right spot picked out.
Hope this is helpful.

[b.moe]

Absolutely helpful - thanks a ton! I'll work on it this weekend.

[SnappyPix]

I use a bar end mirror, which is absolutely fantastic (it was actually on the recommendation of a TE lady!):



I've converted several other riders into getting one - it's discreet and has a very wide angle of view.
It's great for group riding, as you can intermittently check what's going on behind - and if you're at the front, you can check that your pace is ok.
Initially club riders laugh at the geekiness factor, but then start asking where I got it from!

I should point out, though, that the mirror doesn't just pop into the plug at the end of the drops, you need to partially unwrap the bar tape (but only partially).
It's also advisable to get someone to help you fit it (to tape up the mirror while you check the angle).

The mirror is available from a company called Aspire Velotech:
http://www.aspirevelotech.com/Mercha...ry_Code=MIRROR

The service is excellent - delivery was very speedy, even when I was living in New Zealand.

[Triskeliongirl]

I use the aspire velo tech mirror above and really like it. I like it keeps its position as you ride, but it only works on road bikes. I also noticed terry now sells a similar mirror that does pop on the end and doesn't require unwrapping the tape, but I don't know if it works as well as the aspire velotech one. I just tried to find you a link on the tery mirror but don't see it anymore. I never adjusted to helmet mirrors.

[Kano]

I've got a "Heads Up Mirror" that I found at REI a couple of months ago. I wasn't very fond of it -- didn't like where it "sat" -- but recently I decided to take advantage of the contacts I save for ski season and got some Oakley sunglasses. I'm not sure which model at the moment. The mirror sits better on these.

The other day, I came in from a ride, and my daughter laughed at my look. She said I looked like a Borg in my very dark glasses with the mirror coming off the side!

Trekkies -- you gotta love 'em!

Karen in Boise

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The other day, I came in from a ride, and my daughter laughed at my look. She said I looked like a Borg in my very dark glasses with the mirror coming off the side!

I get the Borg comments too with my helmet mirror and sunglasses.