Mirror question

[Catrin]

Hi,
If you do a thread search here for "mirror" you will find a bunch of excellent threads all about various mirrors and why people like or don't them. Seems everyone has their own preferences. I myself absolutely love my helmet mirror. Others dislike helmet mirrors.

Do you happen to wear bifocals or progressives? I didn't think about this - my Oakleys don't have a bifocal, but it is possible that it would be far enough out that I could see.. hmmm

[OakLeaf]

I can't see a thing without reading glasses, but I don't have any trouble with focusing on my sunglasses-mounted mirror.

Somebody somewhere probably has a discussion of the optics that a layperson could understand, but my DH the photographer thinks that you're focusing on the light rays from the thing reflected, not on the mirror. He asked his optometrist and couldn't get a straight answer, oddly enough.

[Catrin]

After thinking about it, I decided to go with the same bar-end mirror that is on my Trek. I like it and it has stood up my learning how to ride (and the falling over that sometimes comes with that

It is the Mountain Mirrycle and you will note from the link that they have a new one just for road bar hoods as well.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Do you happen to wear bifocals or progressives? I didn't think about this - my Oakleys don't have a bifocal, but it is possible that it would be far enough out that I could see.. hmmm

I wear progressive glasses while biking...PLUS over-the-eyeglasses sunglasses. It presents no problems with my helmet mirror.

[Catrin]

I wear progressive glasses while biking...PLUS over-the-eyeglasses sunglasses. It presents no problems with my helmet mirror.

This is good to know for the future. My cycling sunglasses do NOT have a bifocal/progressive, they simply correct for distance. I suspect that the mirror being that close to my eyes would be a problem - but this is good to know should I choose to make my next pair of sunglasses progressives like my normal glasses.

[OakLeaf]

In a mirror, you're focusing on the thing reflected, not the mirror surface. If something's so close to your rear-view mirror that you can't focus on it, you've got worse problems than presbyopia.

Seriously, try it in your bathroom mirror. Wear whatever correction allows you to focus 10 feet or so away. Get close enough to your bathroom mirror that you can't focus on your own face. Now look at the wall behind you. Perfectly clear.

Same thing with a bicycle mirror. Same thing with your windshield-mounted car mirror, for that matter.

[Catrin]

In a mirror, you're focusing on the thing reflected, not the mirror surface. If something's so close to your rear-view mirror that you can't focus on it, you've got worse problems than presbyopia.

Seriously, try it in your bathroom mirror. Wear whatever correction allows you to focus 10 feet or so away. Get close enough to your bathroom mirror that you can't focus on your own face. Now look at the wall behind you. Perfectly clear.

Same thing with a bicycle mirror. Same thing with your windshield-mounted car mirror, for that matter.

Interesting, and it makes sense when you think about it. I may try a helmet mirror someday. This is an interesting discussion, and I did find a lot in the archives. I really wanted this for the Tour de Cure tomorrow, and it sounded like there is a learning curve for a helmet mirror - no time for that, this time

[withm]

I have had helmet mirror but found it hard to keep aligned, and fast descents would make the mirror shift. I have switched to eyeglass mirror. I wear progressives both regular and sunglasses. Works great. If you can use your drivers side mirror in your car, you can use eyeglass mirror.

Another point to consider - you lay your bike down on the left side (non-drive side) - thus a handlebar mounted mirror is more susceptible to damage. Also any crash will likely destroy a handlebar mounted mirror.

[Catrin]

I have had helmet mirror but found it hard to keep aligned, and fast descents would make the mirror shift. I have switched to eyeglass mirror. I wear progressives both regular and sunglasses. Works great. If you can use your drivers side mirror in your car, you can use eyeglass mirror.

Another point to consider - you lay your bike down on the left side (non-drive side) - thus a handlebar mounted mirror is more susceptible to damage. Also any crash will likely destroy a handlebar mounted mirror.

Thankfully my bar-end mirror on my Trek has survived several tip-overs - somehow I already have the same mirror on my new bike now, but will keep all of this information in mind for the future. Thanks everyone!