Mirrors

[europa]

My Toscana arrives later this week. Graeme's already warned me I'll need a mirror on her - he described the riding position as being like a 'praying hampster'.

So, I'll need a mirror.
I had a look in the shops yesterday and they are all short stemmed jobs - basically just hanging right on the end of your bars, which won't help a lot.

Any thoughts on what to get? An online link to a good unit would be useful if you know one.

I've got a helmet mirror but it annoyed me enough to pull it off - it worked on the road but you have to readjust the thing everytime you ride and can't just put your helmet down so I don't really want to go that route again.

Richard

[Kalgrm]

It was a "begging hampster", but that's beside the point.

Try a few different LBSs. I really think you need to pick these things up and examine them in person.

Cheers,
Graeme

[Hotdog]

My Toscana arrives later this week.

Exciting!

Graeme's already warned me I'll need a mirror on her - he described the riding position as being like a 'praying hampster'.

So, I'll need a mirror.
I had a look in the shops yesterday and they are all short stemmed jobs - basically just hanging right on the end of your bars, which won't help a lot.

The need for a mirror is pretty general for 'bents, when you're sitting back in the seat you can't twist your body to see right behind you. You can of course still turn your head, but that only gets you so far and it would rapidly become annoying to have to sit up everytime you wanted to see what's going on behind.

Any thoughts on what to get? An online link to a good unit would be useful if you know one.

My bike came fitted with a Busch & Muller CycleStar mirror with a medium length stem (second one down on this page). It can mount either in the bar end, or as on my bike via a clamp around the handlebars. It does sometimes move a bit when riding over bumpy surfaces but you can tighten up the base of the stem to restrict movement to the ball joint at the mirror end, and it's easy enough to adjust on the fly while riding. It's a decent size mirror and gives a good view directly behind and towards my right.

As you've got the 'praying hamster' handlebar style rather than the 'tweeners' of my bike your needs might be a little different, but the medium or long stemmed CycleStars may do the trick, if you can find someone selling them.

If you're having difficulty finding suitable mirrors locally, or you just want the ultimate in recumbent mirror technology then you could try ordering in from Calhoun Cycles in the US. They're a recumbent/folding/transport cycling shop and have got lots of mirrors. I'm tempted myself to order a pair of their custom 'Evo Lite' mirrors which are pretty much perfect for Bacchettas. I want a second mirror anyway, you see, to fit on the left side to make crossing slip roads when riding motorway shoulders and the like easier.

[europa]

Having had a good look at the pictures of Graeme riding my bent, bar end mirrors are NOT the go - I can see them getting in the way. So I went looking for something that clamped onto the bars. Five shops - they all had bar end mirrors and not clamp on mirrors.

Internet shopping here I come.

I'm very tempted to fit two mirrors. I know that's not 'bike like' but a bent isn't 'bike like', it's more like riding a motorbike and two mirrors are darned useful there (as Hotdog has already commented). Any thoughts?

Richard

[Mulger bill]

Only ridden a 'bent once for about 600m many years back but I'd agree with Hotdog here. You can't really do a proper head check from the standard riding position.

Shaun

[europa]

Only ridden a 'bent once for about 600m many years back but I'd agree with Hotdog here. You can't really do a proper head check from the standard riding position.

Shaun

Yeah, which is why I'm thinking about fitting at least one before I start riding it on the road.

BTW mate, I notice you're still using your dago stealth mirror. Like to give us a full run down on it? There's a good chance the Jamis will grow a reflective bar end

Richard

[Mulger bill]

Only ridden a 'bent once for about 600m many years back...

Did I mention I got a bollocking from the security guard in Box Hill Central for doing it...

Dago Stealth mirror hmmm Nice!

I'm pretty sure I covered it in the original thread, but what the hey, an update won't hurt.

IMHO this device should be compulsory on non racing roadies, you get all the functionality of a mirror but none of the "geekcycle" comments that a stalk mount will bring , in fact only one other person has mentioned it's existence, this was with Deni parked inside the 'Box at work, he was inclined to poo poo the idea as likely to be obscured by the riders knee, until I let him ride the bike up and down the 'Box, approx. 30 m long. He then asked where I got it from, so I think I made a sale for the ebay shop that day.

OK, it's a gently curved convex mirror, oval in shape, made out of optical quality glass. While it's fairly small, the FOV is quite good and clarity is excellent, giving a very useful view of what's about behind you. I wouldn't trust it fully, but then I wouldn't trust any mirror fully, always swivel the scone before committing to the move people!

Installation really needs three or four hands, so unless your last name's Beeblebrox, a helper is a damn good idea. Unwind the last 13cm or so of tape, place the unit over the bar plug and get your helper to be ready with sparkies tape. Tweak the positioning from your usual riding position, then get said assistant to wrap the tape around the rubber flanges to secure it in place, retape the bars and you're away. Minor adjustments once wrapped are as simple as a gentle twist of the wrist. Vibration is not an issue, tho' some may not like the extra meat under the palm when on the drops.

I'd seriously recommend this unit to anybody doing miles in traffic.

Shaun

Here's the original thread, with a link to the seller

[europa]

It's good to know you're still impressed with it. Often the good feelings fade with use. One'll be going on the Jamis at some point.

Richard

[John Lewis]

G,day Richard,

Glad to hear you now have the bike. Be interested in what you have to say about you experiences as you begin the bent journey.

Mirrors. I've tried various. Bar end types on the trike "Mirricycles, and a helmet mirror for the two wheelers.

What I like about the helmet job is that it doesn't use a convex surface and so doesn't give a false impression of distance. I must admit it took a fair while and no little frustration to get used to it.

I've seen some mirrors on a long stalk that seem to be used here on some of the folders that might work. Or get in the way.

As you have apparently the praying hamster style bars you may be stuck with a helmet mirror.

John L

[europa]

I'd like to do without the helmet mirror. It worked nicely when on the bike, but is a right pain off the bike and always needed adjustment when you got back on. Sure, simple enough but just extra stuffing about.

I don't have the bike yet. I'm hoping it'll be in the depot tomorrow. And guess what, they're talking about heavy rain tomorrow so the 'box on the roof racks' doesn't sound like a good idea, and rain on the weekend so learning to ride it might be problematic.

Of course, there's also the probability that it won't turn up tomorrow and/or the forcast is wrong

Richard

[Hotdog]

I don't have the bike yet. I'm hoping it'll be in the depot tomorrow.

Darn it, I'm not going to be on the forum during your first forays into 'bent riding. Heading off to cold and wet Brisbane (well it was cold and wet this time last year) later today for xmas and New Year with the girlfriend's family. Very intermittent internet access for me for the next fortnight, and I won't have my bike with me either...

[europa]

Just had a phone call from the transport depot. The bent's here. I can pick it up. I'm lucky I've got good roof racks because a quick measure suggests the box won't go in the car.

IT'S PITHING DOWN.

Yup, and they're predicting thunderstorms for the weekend too.

Maybe I'll just scrape off the sodden cardboard, wipe her down and spend the rest of the weekend dreaming

re the car - if I remove the spare tyre, and the cargo barrier, the box might slip in past the mount for the spare tyre ... but it's too wet to go out and find out at the moment.

Richard
turning's life's little dramas into daytime television

[europa]

re the car - if I remove the spare tyre, and the cargo barrier, the box might slip in past the mount for the spare tyre ... but it's too wet to go out and find out at the moment.

Don't even have to remove the spare wheel as it happens, just remove the cargo barrier and drop the rear seats. Getting the box in won't even be a challenge. Good thing too considering the thunder that continues to roll around the place (my dog is not happy).

Richard

[Hotdog]

Get on with it man, I want to see photos by 4.30pm!

[europa]

Get on with it man, I want to see photos by 4.30pm!

You'll be lucky to have a photo of a box by then. I drop the lass off at 2:30 and then head on to get the bike. Typically, the depot is the other side of town

Richard

[Kalgrm]

I see an all-nighter ahead .....

[europa]

I see an all-nighter ahead .....

Oo, I didn't think of fitting lights Knock off a century before dawn?

Richard

[John Lewis]

Curse the weather Richard. Hope you manage to make the pick up.
Can't wet the new bike!

Mirror. If you wear glasses there is a version of the mirror that clips to the specs. There was a site on net showed how to make one but I've lost the URL. They are commercially available anyway.

John L

[Mulger bill]

Just had a phone call from the transport depot. The bent's here. ...

Richard
turning's life's little dramas into daytime television

Can we safely assume that the Gilette is now to be put in storage?

'Grats on the new baby mate, now where's the piccies?

Shaun

[Leigh_caines]

Trip to the local Motorbike shop and got a long stem mirror
It works well

[europa]

Following up on Hotdog's link for the Evo Lite, I bought two of them and here they are


Sorry about the photo, but it's pithing down and apart from a quick dash out between showers to check the adjustment of the mirrors, I'm stuck under the carport

Calhoun Cycles have a problem on their site making international sales difficult, but a quick email solved that one (on their advice, I pretended I lived at the shop and was collecting the mirrors from the shop, then in the 'notes' section, gave them a delivery address ).

The mirrors look really good. As you can see, they are very short but on my bike, neither my shoulders nor my head get in the way. I've got a broad and clear vision of the whole road behind me with the right hand mirror, and good coverage plus overlap on the left. The left mirror is possibly overkill but you can't have your bike with only one Mickey Mouse ear can you

There aren't any ball joints in the system, just bolt together joints so I reckon they're going to be very secure. Short stems are good because they won't get in the way as much.

With my bars so close to my chest, I may find they annoy me, but we'll see. It's raining heavily so I'm not going riding to find out.

Richard

[Hotdog]

Following up on Hotdog's link for the Evo Lite, I bought two of them and here they are


Sorry about the photo, but it's pithing down and apart from a quick dash out between showers to check the adjustment of the mirrors, I'm stuck under the carport

Blimey, that photo's getting dangerously close to being reflectoporn

Calhoun Cycles have a problem on their site making international sales difficult, but a quick email solved that one (on their advice, I pretended I lived at the shop and was collecting the mirrors from the shop, then in the 'notes' section, gave them a delivery address ).

What a coincidence, I've attempted to buy a pair of these mirrors (and a handlebar) myself just yesterday and ran into the same problems with the useless rubbish that is the UPS shipping calculator in their site. I contacted them about it and am now waiting for my shipping quote and the secret instructions for successfully making an international order...

The mirrors look really good. As you can see, they are very short but on my bike, neither my shoulders nor my head get in the way. I've got a broad and clear vision of the whole road behind me with the right hand mirror, and good coverage plus overlap on the left. The left mirror is possibly overkill but you can't have your bike with only one Mickey Mouse ear can you

There aren't any ball joints in the system, just bolt together joints so I reckon they're going to be very secure. Short stems are good because they won't get in the way as much.

Sounds good, the B&M mirror I've got on the bike at the moment stays put when riding (provided you keep the bolt tight) but it sticks out a long way and the ball joint at the end is always getting knocked out of position when handling the bike. Shorter, solidly attached mirrors would an improvement.

I'll be attaching two as well, partly for symmetry but I do think I will make use of the left hand mirror. I do occasionally ride motoroway shoulders, and it'd be really nice to have a mirror to help with checking for traffic when crossing the end of merging sliproads.

[europa]

If nothing else, the LH mirror will help when riding with other people. You could argue that it'd help when crossing the mouth of a left hand turn slot, but I suspect that the RH mirror will tell you their coming and by the time you don't need the RH, they're too close anyway. I might be wrong. We'll see.

Richard

[Mulger bill]

Nice tanline that

Shaun

[Hotdog]

Just ordered a pair of Evo Lites of my own from Calhoun cycles. While I was at it I ordered a Bacchetta Aero handlebar, more on that later (and probably in another thread).

I took the opportunity to suggest that they might want to try fixing their online shop so that it works with non-US addresses, or at least put a note on their webpage warning that it might not work for dirty foreigners and telling potential customers what to do if not. I actually would have bought the mirrors from them ages ago, but when I tried i hit the error and just gave up. I swear, some companies don't seem to even want any extra business...