Rear-view mirrors

[Joeblake]

I am yet to find a satisfactory mirror for any of my bicycles. The few times I did have a mirror, I found myself constantly having to adjust it.

I use the Cat Eye style which mounts in the end of the bar. I have no difficulty with having to (occasionally) adjust the mirror, because I've found that having the thing screwed up TOO tight has resulted in my breaking the mirror stalk when I hit it with my leg or arm getting on or off (the 'bents). It's just a matter of trying to find the right balance between rigidity to give a constant view and flexibility to prevent damage.

http://www.amazon.com/Cateye-Round-Bar- ... y_sg_img_b



The round ones can go on either the left or the right side.

And they're just about cheap enough to be disposable. (Almost).
Joe

[zues]

When I started riding again the first thing I bought was a mirror. I find doing 40km/hr I cant hear whats coming up behind, especially some of the new 4WD. Anyway it wasnt long before I found it to be a distraction so I took it off.
However I like the look of Wombats mirror sitting above the STI.
Wouldnt mind trialling one.
Henry

[il padrone]

I am yet to find a satisfactory mirror for any of my bicycles. The few times I did have a mirror, I found myself constantly having to adjust it.

I use the Cat Eye style which mounts in the end of the bar. I have no difficulty with having to (occasionally) adjust the mirror, because I've found that having the thing screwed up TOO tight has resulted in my breaking the mirror stalk when I hit it with my leg or arm getting on or off (the 'bents).

+1

They break IME.

I prefer the B&M Cyclestar short stalk mirror



or the no-stalk model for the drop-bar end



Very sturdy construction and a ball & saocket joint that doesn't move too easily. Good German engineering

[il padrone]

Since reading this 19 days ago I have watched and counted bikes with mirrors. In the city (Mel), suburbs and on trails I must have checked hundreds of bikes and have to date seen only one mirror, and that was on a MTB on a trail!

I could look around the streets at night and see many bikes (majority?) with no lights. That doesn't mean lights are not a wise idea.

Most people are generally too caught up in the TdF 'racer wannabe' image to demean themselves with a mirror!!! That or it's just more $$$ to throw at a bike that was supposed to be a money-saving cheap transport ie. $80 for new tyres will be overcapitalising on this bike

[Dial]

Each to there own but I found mirrors a distraction. It's best staying focused on what's happening out front and let the traffic behind you sort it out for themselves.

[gavinr]

I have one of these and find that it is remarkably stable, and doesn't move about much at all of its own accord (at the hands of the four year old in my house is a different story ). It does protrude a bit further than is occasionally comfortable, but that's about its ownly (minor) fault.

I have some back/neck problems which can make it uncomfortable for me to look behind, so this means I can keep an eye on what's following me without turning round too often.

In my opinion, it's all about getting as much info as possible about the space you're travelling in. If you can see more of what's going on around you, front or rear, surely that's an advantage?

[wombatK]

In my opinion, it's all about getting as much info as possible about the space you're travelling in. If you can see more of what's going on around you, front or rear, surely that's an advantage?

It's illegal to drive a car or motorbike on a road without a rear-view mirror. So they obviously contribute to road safety.

Why should bicycle riders be allowed on roads without the same safety measure ? Cyclists are pretty quick to claim the right to use the road like any other vehicle - what about using mirrors like any other vehicle ?

Cheers

[elantra]

In my opinion, it's all about getting as much info as possible about the space you're travelling in. If you can see more of what's going on around you, front or rear, surely that's an advantage?

It's illegal to drive a car or motorbike on a road without a rear-view mirror. So they obviously contribute to road safety.

Why should bicycle riders be allowed on roads without the same safety measure ? Cyclists are pretty quick to claim the right to use the road like any other vehicle - what about using mirrors like any other vehicle ?

Cheers

ditto, and i love my mirror (zefal) mounted on the drop-bar bike.

but i suspect i use my bike mirror a lot more than some motorists use their car mirrors.

[Fletcher]

I have a bar end mounted mirror on R handlebar, but can't find a pic of the precise one. It's pretty sleek, doesn't look dorky. It's rectangular, with rounded edges, and doubt it catches much wind. It is very useful, and no, it doesn't stop me from head checks. I use it for a few reasons. First, I ride on the road a lot, and find it handy to know what's coming from behind. I usually glance a few times before the head check and only then do I change lanes. Secondly, I have been hit from behind by a car when I rode a motorbike years ago, and I'm a bit fearful of it happening again (not that it would stop it happening, but it might help). Finally, when I'm riding a bike path, on the very rare occasions that I get overtaken , it's handy to glance in the mirror and know when it's going to happen.

[just4tehhalibut]

Before I start, there was a more recent thread on this, now locked. viewtopic.php?f=12&t=24244

Here's hope that there's a convergence of technologies as like in the mobile phone where we now have camera, GPS, MP3 player and apps for obscure things like digital calipers. So far I've come across this bike computer that incorporates a rear LED light and within that a rear-view camera for display on the computer with a spin-off recording facility for capturing rear-end collisions, http://www.cerevellum.com/ . Doesn't look good enough for me to shell out US$349 with present capabilities but it offers promises. Simply as a rear-view it would perform better than most mirrors as the shake factor is eliminated.

Keep your eye out for future products of this kind (if your eye isn't stuck in the rear-view). Maybe someone will simply invent a mobile phone app to plug your bike-mounted phone directly into that rear-view LED/camera module and we cut out bike computers altogether, as well as mirrors?

[CommuRider]

]

So, bottom line for mine? Mirrors: Definitely beneficial, but not essential, and also do not eliminate need for appropriate riding, checking of traffic, and signalling.

Thread needs reviving.

I agree with that esp when riding with someone who is slower. I don't have to worry about how far behind they are constantly.

[GraemeL]

I'm glad you revived it

We currently have MTB and use Cat Eye bar end mirrors and find them to be very good. But we are upgrading to road bikes (not flat bar road bikes) but with flat bars with bar ends and I was wondering what mirrors would be suitable?

Graeme

[breezer1]

G'day

All my bikes with the exception of Julia have mirrors. The two I ride regularly have Zefal Spy Mirrors. Great for the Ergo 500



Regards
Andrew

+1 these are great for drop bar road bikes, the best i have found!

[Comedian]

G'day

All my bikes with the exception of Julia have mirrors. The two I ride regularly have Zefal Spy Mirrors. Great for the Ergo 500



Regards
Andrew

+1 these are great for drop bar road bikes, the best i have found!

Does anyone find these zefal spy mirrors keep turning in? I tightened it up, but mine keeps blowing in which is a little annoying.

[Mulger bill]

The Italian road bike mirror from Aspire Velo Tech.
A bugger to set up right, a dream thereafter.

[Oxford]

Does anyone find these zefal spy mirrors keep turning in? I tightened it up, but mine keeps blowing in which is a little annoying.

Yep, I found it useless as it kept turning on the bars no matter how tight I had the strap. I dumped it in favour of a glasses mounted mirror which I find absolutely brilliant, its constantly looking just past my ear so a little swivel of the head has it looking at whatever I need to view. Very stable as I have good solid glasses to mount it on and allows me to pan wherever I want.

[Comedian]

Does anyone find these zefal spy mirrors keep turning in? I tightened it up, but mine keeps blowing in which is a little annoying.

Yep, I found it useless as it kept turning on the bars no matter how tight I had the strap. I dumped it in favour of a glasses mounted mirror which I find absolutely brilliant, its constantly looking just past my ear so a little swivel of the head has it looking at whatever I need to view. Very stable as I have good solid glasses to mount it on and allows me to pan wherever I want.

Linky?

[il padrone]

Here's one

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/ ... ist-mirror

US seller though, so shows it on LH side. The mirror does seem to be adjustable, maybe able to reverse the side you view it from

[Aushiker]

Does anyone find these zefal spy mirrors keep turning in? I tightened it up, but mine keeps blowing in which is a little annoying.

Not for me unless I bump it and really that dosen't bother me. Quick and easy to re-adjust. I have just ordered a third one so guess I am pretty happy with them

Andew

[Oxford]

Here's one

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/ ... ist-mirror

US seller though, so shows it on LH side. The mirror does seem to be adjustable, maybe able to reverse the side you view it from

Yep that's the one I have, I got it from the Cycle Centre and they in turn picked it up at a trade fair, so had no idea where to source them from as I bought the only one the Cycle Centre had. I have to admit I was sceptical at first being on the glasses, but after the first ride I was a convert. Previously I had helmet mounted mirrors again so the mirror moved with my head, but they were hopeless as your helmet does move on your head and I was constantly adjusting it. This mirror I have now I only ever adjust if I happen to bump it, otherwise it never gets adjusted, no need to.

It is 100% adjustable, the long arm twists so you can change it to "Aussie" mount, then you can tilt forward and backward on the swivel above the mirror, then side to side on the swivel in the side of the mirror.

[eeksll]

I agree with that esp when riding with someone who is slower. I don't have to worry about how far behind they are constantly.

I think they could also be useful when riding side by side, then I would not have to constantly look behind to see if I should convert to single file to get out of the way of cars.

The Italian road bike mirror from Aspire Velo Tech.
A bugger to set up right, a dream thereafter.

i saw these a while ago but don't know if i can actually see what i want to see since its so small.

[bosvit]

The Italian road bike mirror from Aspire Velo Tech.
A bugger to set up right, a dream thereafter.

+1

The lens in these is glass so they are clearer than the average mirror.

A MAJOR pain to set up so make sure you are happy with your handle bar setup and you are not planning to change.

Also remember you will need to remove and reapply/replace your bar tape.

Little to no vibration and no where near as susceptible to "knock" damage as most other mirrors.

When mine eventually dies I will buy another for my commuter and will buy a second for my weekender when I need to replace the bar tape.

[njg02]

I bought this from these guys.http://bagear.com.au/Take-a-Look-Mirror-p-1913.html..
A bit dearer but I was able to pick it up at lunch time. I've attached it to my visor on the lhs and I have short shaft round jobby from Germany as mentioned earlier on the rhs. I ride bent and turning the head is a bit tough.
Neil

[Mulger bill]

i saw these a while ago but don't know if i can actually see what i want to see since its so small.

It's bigger than it looks. It's also proper glass so it's very clear and slightly convex to increase the FOV.

[Mustang]

The Italian road bike mirror from Aspire Velo Tech.
A bugger to set up right, a dream thereafter.

+1

The lens in these is glass so they are clearer than the average mirror.

A MAJOR pain to set up so make sure you are happy with your handle bar setup and you are not planning to change.

Also remember you will need to remove and reapply/replace your bar tape.

Little to no vibration and no where near as susceptible to "knock" damage as most other mirrors.

When mine eventually dies I will buy another for my commuter and will buy a second for my weekender when I need to replace the bar tape.

Absolutley a fantastic safety item, eg cars parked in your bike lane, a quick glance and you can swing out if all is clear, love it.