Mirrors
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Mirrors
Postby europa » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:02 am
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
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Postby Kalgrm » Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:54 pm
Try a few different LBSs. I really think you need to pick these things up and examine them in person.
Cheers,
Graeme
---------------------
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Re: Mirrors
Postby Hotdog » Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:00 pm
Exciting!europa wrote:My Toscana arrives later this week.
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.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.
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.Any thoughts on what to get? An online link to a good unit would be useful if you know one.
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.
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Postby europa » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:49 pm
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
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Postby Mulger bill » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:08 am
Shaun
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Postby europa » Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:25 am
Yeah, which is why I'm thinking about fitting at least one before I start riding it on the road.Mulger bill wrote: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
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
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Postby Mulger bill » Thu Dec 20, 2007 3:00 am
Did I mention I got a bollocking from the security guard in Box Hill Central for doing it...Mulger bill wrote:Only ridden a 'bent once for about 600m many years back...
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
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Postby John Lewis » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:32 pm
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
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Postby europa » Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:52 am
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
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Postby Hotdog » Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:52 am
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 wrote:I don't have the bike yet. I'm hoping it'll be in the depot tomorrow.
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Postby europa » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:01 am
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
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Postby europa » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:34 am
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).europa wrote: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
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Postby europa » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:49 am
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 townHotdog wrote:Get on with it man, I want to see photos by 4.30pm!
Richard
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Postby John Lewis » Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:54 pm
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
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Postby Mulger bill » Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:14 pm
Can we safely assume that the Gilette is now to be put in storage?europa wrote:Just had a phone call from the transport depot. The bent's here. ...
Richard
turning's life's little dramas into daytime television
'Grats on the new baby mate, now where's the piccies?
Shaun
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Postby Leigh_caines » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:19 am
It works well
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Mickey Mouse Ears
Postby europa » Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:16 pm
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
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Re: Mickey Mouse Ears
Postby Hotdog » Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:50 pm
Blimey, that photo's getting dangerously close to being reflectoporneuropa wrote: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
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...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 ).
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.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.
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.
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Postby europa » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:18 pm
Richard
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Postby Mulger bill » Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:12 pm
Shaun
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Postby Hotdog » Sat Jan 19, 2008 5:41 pm
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...
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