Mirror question

[Miranda]

I own a set of these and have been happy with them...

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/psprb...mirrors/pp.htm

[marni]

although if you have drop style handlebars an or aero bars, a bar end mirror will not work. I have astigmatism so I bike in a pair of semi srap dark glasses which allow me to see from 10- 100 feet clearly but fuzzy otherwise and use a glasses mirror. I tried a helmet mirror but could never find a good adjustment, but the eyeglasses mirro I hardly ever notice and glancing up at it has become so instinctula I often find myself trying to do the same thing in the cr insted or remembering Ihave to use my side mirror for traffic coming up behind. Just don't forget that you also have to turn your head and check visually as well.

marni

[OakLeaf]

Lots of people I ride with have bar end mirrors on their drop bars.

They do seem to need frequent adjustment, but that's not a big deal.

[chicagogal]

I've quickly become a roadie purist, so I don't recommend riding with a mirror

Learn to look over your shoulder or under your arm to check for traffic/cyclists behind you. If you are riding with someone, learn to put your arm on his/her shoulder as you look back since this will keep you steady and help you hold your line.

It's kinda crazy, but there are so many little faux-pas that roadies use to identify other "real" roadies. As in, real roadies don't wear camelbacks, don't have reflectors, don't have mirrors, don't wear cotton, don't have tri bars, etc, etc. Show up on a group ride with any of these things and don't expect to feel very welcome. I know, it doesn't really seem fair That being said, the "discrimination" is partly because group riding requires so much trust of the riders around you, that often times, these faux-pas are red flags that a rider is new to the road . . .

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Why is a mirror 'impure' ?

Show up on a group ride with any of these things and don't expect to feel very welcome.

Roadies like you describe are also known to ride in a dangerous manner (dangerous to themselves and to others) and to sometimes be downright rude and inconsiderate. They can stop worrying- no chance I'd ever 'contaminate their purity' with my faux-pas helmet mirror, saddle bag, and bike bell!

There are plenty of roadies/group riders around who are safe and considerate cyclists, they put in serious mileage year after year, and they don't put clothes, gear, and status before people and safety.
I consider them to be the actual 'real' roadies, and I deeply respect them. Just my own opinion.

[tulip]

Chicagogal, you are falling into a slippery slope with the "real" roadie talk. I'll agree with you on the aero bars--they do not belong in any sort of group ride because they are simply dangerous in a group situation.

I have been riding for over 25 years, including racing when I was in my teens and 20s. I hardly consider myself unsafe in a group ride. I will, however, avoid self-proclaimed "true roadies" like the plague because they are typically rude and dangerous on the road.

But mirrors?? C'mon! I have a mirror on each of my CUSTOM ROAD BIKES (is that good enough) and if someone makes snide comments, that's a real good sign that I don't want to ride with them for alot more reasons than a mirror. Or Camelbaks.

Pul-eeze! I'm sorry you've fallen into an intolerant crowd. I hope that someday you will realize that showing up to a ride with a mirror or a Camelbak does not make a rider less-safe. Less cool according to some, perhaps. But not less safe.

---

Back to Catrin - helmet/glasses mirrors are cheap. If you feel like trying one out in the future, just get one and see how it goes. Everyone is different. I find mirrors (handlebars; I can't do the helmet/glasses type) very useful.

[Catrin]

I....It's kinda crazy, but there are so many little faux-pas that roadies use to identify other "real" roadies. As in, real roadies don't wear camelbacks, don't have reflectors, don't have mirrors, don't wear cotton, don't have tri bars, etc, etc. Show up on a group ride with any of these things and don't expect to feel very welcome. I know, it doesn't really seem fair That being said, the "discrimination" is partly because group riding requires so much trust of the riders around you, that often times, these faux-pas are red flags that a rider is new to the road . . .

I guess that I will never be considered a "real roadie" then, that's ok. I love my Camelbak and my bar-end mirror. I feel much safer/comfortable with both - and pretty soon my lovely steel touring steed will have fenders and a rack (and eventually a bag of some type)- and he is meant for and will get some serious mileage. If this means that some won't consider me a real cyclist, oh well, that's ok. I am having fun and learning a lot as I go along I will show up for our club grand touring rides in the country, for that is what interests me. Probably not the club dinner/breakfast rides as I don't care for urban riding - though that may well change in the future.

Thanks to all for their different perspectives on mirrors!

[OakLeaf]

What Tulip and BSG said.

Real riders are the ones who ride safely, both in traffic and in their own bodies. That means knowing what's coming up behind you and staying well hydrated.

I know plenty of people who have bar end mirrors on their $10,000+ bikes. Not that what you spend makes you a "real" rider either, but these are people who earned their chops, knew what they wanted and that they would be getting a good value for their money.

The only jerseys I wear are hi viz yellow.

I don't normally wear a hydration pack, but that's for comfort reasons, and if conditions and distance warrant, I absolutely will wear one. I've had heat exhaustion. What if you pass out when someone's behind you in a paceline? They go down, too. Does that seem fashionable to them?

There are rides when I know I might get a little disrespect, but that's because I'm SLOW, not because of what I wear.

And when one of your "buds" is stranded 40 miles from nowhere because they didn't bother to bring a chain tool or a couple of links of chain, I hope you let them know about it before you open up your seat pack to offer them yours.

[PamNY]

It's kinda crazy, but there are so many little faux-pas that roadies use to identify other "real" roadies.

On what planet is it a faux pas to be safe and well hydrated?

As far as being a "real" roadie, I've seen way too much arrogant and unsafe riding by people I'm pretty sure would call themselves roadies to be very interested in what they think of mirrors or anything else.

[Kubla]

[QUOTE=PamNY;514880]On what planet is it a faux pas to be safe and well hydrated? [QUOTE]

+1 I've been wondering the same thing. Personally, I'd rather live to ride another day - even if it means being shunned or labeled "uncool".

[Owlie]

Oops. I guess between the SPDs on a road bike, the lights, wheel reflectors, seatbag full of stuff and the Camelbak, I don't qualify as a roadie. Oh well.

[zoom-zoom]

there are so many little faux-pas that roadies use to identify other "real" roadies. As in, real roadies don't wear camelbacks, don't have reflectors, don't have mirrors, don't wear cotton, don't have tri bars, etc, etc. Show up on a group ride with any of these things and don't expect to feel very welcome. I know, it doesn't really seem fair That being said, the "discrimination" is partly because group riding requires so much trust of the riders around you, that often times, these faux-pas are red flags that a rider is new to the road . . .

Replace "roadies" with "snobs" and I think you're onto something... It's that cyclist snob attitude that has a lot of non-cyclists very unfond of anyone in spandex.