dimini

I totally understand and agree with this perspective. I just began using a mirror a year ago and I do not trust my life or health with a 52mm diameter fisheye mirror. What I find with daily urban/suburban rides in traffic is that the USA-default automobile colors of dark silver and black are pretty invisible while viewed in a small mirror unless their headlights are on. I never trust just the mirror--but am grateful for having one more perspective while constantly scanning the scenes I'm cycling through.

Steeler_fanatic

Another vote for the Take a Look mirror. I use the small size mounted on the visor of my helmet (it won't work mounted on my Oakleys as the arms are too thick). I very much regret the dork look (MTB helmet with mirror riding out on the road) but I won't go out without the mirror. I also have a Garmin Varia Radar which, after about 9 months of use has proven very reliable and accurate.

EthanBixby

I have tried all types of mirrors, and what works for me and my bride are the RearViz mirrors from Australia. It attaches to your wrist with a velcro band, and is fully adjustable. It is very intuitive to use, and you can move your wrist if you want to check a different view. We are on our 2nd set after about 5 years of use. Highly recommended, but your results might be different. We purchased on Amazon, but now they also sell almost exact knock-offs and you can't get the original. But order direct from: https://www.rviactive.com/ And when you travel to some place that rides on the other side of the road, it's an easy swap to the other side. I use one mirror for 4 different bikes!

10 Wheels

My Favorite one.

Sy Reene

Good point. It was along these lines that I quickly gave up bifocal sunglasses on the bike (ie. to make seeing the garmin a bit easier).. the eye refocus time was too problematic for me.

spelger

This actually just happened to me yesterday. i looked down to the mirror and ran over something. no idea what it was, sounded like a piece of flat metal but could have been a crazed chain saw wielding maniac for all i know.

Steeler_fanatic

I rely on a mirror as my primary means of keeping track of what's going on behind me. However, there have been a few times where the Garmin Varia alerted me to a fast moving, quiet vehicle I would not have picked up until it was right on top of me. So my opinion is the mirror is essential, but the Varia is highly recommended if you can afford the cost.

PaulRivers

I saw a rear light with a camera that connects to a cell phone on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088RB82F5/



You'd have to do some research on what phone to get to be able to see the screen in sunlight...I think some of the high end phones (like a samsung note) do well with that nowadays, whereas entry level phones are lacking.

My problem with mirrors is they don't show everything...something on the road is always missing the field of view...I'd rather know that I can't see what's behind me than think I can and miss something important.

Wes in Missouri

I tried many different mirrors but the ones I have liked best are these old ones from the early 90’s from Rhode Gear. They use a Velcro strap to mount them on the brake hoods. Very stable and still going strong after almost 30 years.
Edit: I had no idea I was sitting on a gold mine. I was just Looking online for these mirrors and They are going for $25 to $45 without the straps. I have 4 with the straps. Maybe I’ll be able to retire in the future.

sacr

I tried something like these, but the rubber mounting straps just don’t work for mirrors, they allow the mirror to vibrate. Yet to find solution myself, bar ends are not the go when one has bar end shifters, and everything else just looks too flimsy to stay rigid enough. I don’t really care if it weighs a pound of more, as long as there is a rigid connection to the handlebars.

woodcraft

I tried a couple but never got the hang of it- seemed distracting and you have to look anyway.

I do appreciate folks who have them on a group ride- they call out approaching cars, and know when you are overtaking them.

One that hasn't been mentioned has an velcro arm band and flip up mirror that you put on your wrist or arm. Also didn't work for me.

dkatz1

I wish I had a suggestion. I've tried a bunch of different kinds, and never liked any of them, and gave up on them.
I do wish there was one that worked better (at least for me, some people swear by kinds they use).

dkatz1

Gosh I don't don't know. Have you ever been riding on the right side of a road, and then wanted to turn left, one or two lanes over? You COULD just charge ahead, hoping for the best. Or you can look. Or look in a mirror (just a thought).

thejohnreyes

I can't bring myself to put mirrors on my bikes, but I haven't been run over yet. I will either learn the hard way or have the hard way learn me into the ground.

b_d

I'll second the Take A Look compact mirror. I find it a bit easier to adjust compared to the original model. I don't leave home without it.

steine13

I'll ride without a helmet and without gloves before I ride without a mirror. It's the most important piece of safety equipment for me.

I fully agree with this:
Out on the Michigan two lane roads without shoulder, it is essential to watch traffic coming up to see if they've noticed me. Just as described above, if they're reacting to me, great, we're no the same page.
If they're not, I can weave and wobble a little, which so far has always gotten their attention. Before they hit me, I may have a chance to get in the ditch.

I'm rather nearsighted and my glasses get too thick if they're large. GIven the size lenses I'm wearing, I have to turn my head waaay around to see behind me. Before I do that, I want to make sure there's nobody right on my tail, so the mirror really helps. And with my glasses, helmet mirrors don't work well.

The best mirrors are the old Myrricle ones that attach to non-aero brake levers. They're very sturdy that way. They're slightly convex, and the field of view is just about right.
https://www.mirrycle.com/wp-content/...mirror-rev.jpg

I've mounted them on aero levers, but it takes a certain amount of futzing, and they're easily broken.
If y'all are interested, I can post some pictures.

The same folks make a mirror that attaches to Shimano brifters, I have those on my road bike and they work quite well.

The last few years, I 've been relying on this:
https://www.rivbike.com/products/german-mirror
It is sturdy, doesn't vibrate, isn't too much in the way for riding in the drops,but is too convex for my taste, so it takes some getting used to. I'm happy to have it, though.

Bar end mirrors are not as good; too far away to keep my peripheral vision on the road ahead. Much better than nothing, though.

Must. Have. Mirror.

cheers -mathias

James1019

I am looking at buying a mirror now thanks to this discussion.

jon c. 

I just installed an Italian Road Bike Mirror. If you like bar end mirrors, the glass mirror on this one gives a much cleaner image than the plastic lenses.

work4bike

I just use one of these mirrors, which I can get from my LBS. https://www.amazon.com/Mirrycle-Moun.../dp/B07Z4VQFNB

I don't have a problem turning my head, but that doesn't matter, since I ride a lot in heavy traffic and need to always be checking behind me for cars wanting to make a right turn or if I need to change lanes for a turn or take the lane for numerous reasons. And I use the mirror for so many other things... I don't like putting total trust in people driving around in killing machines, when things are happening fast, you don't have time to listen up for a car behind you, much less look behind you.

That's the positive, but for the negatives. Yes the mirror does shake a little, but not much at least on the roads I ride on. However, if I'm on a road where there is some rattling of the mirror, I just remind myself I'm only looking for something coming up from behind me. I don't get distracted by trying to see it clearly, just look for something and use that information for whatever the situation requires. That's the worst thing about a rattling mirror, we want to see a clear image, but you can't always expect a clear image, don't get distracted by a non-perfect image.

Secondly, don't get distracted by what's in your mirror. This is a reason many say they don't use a mirror, because it's a distraction. And they're correct. However, that's true with a lot of things, especially here in Florida where there are tons of scantily-cladded women A mirror is a tool, just like a hammer - learn to use it properly. You don't avoid using a hammer, because you can smash your fingers. My eyes are darting all around when I'm riding a bike and I'm always looking into the mirror. It's now second nature, so it's not an issue for me.

Lastly, objects in a mirror are closer than they appear. This is true with all mirrors, but it's especially true on a bike, because the cars are usually moving at a far quicker pace than us. Don't ever tell yourself that a car is way back there and forget about them; they come up very quickly sometimes.



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2wheelwreck

I love my elcheapo (and admittedly ugly) Canadian Tire mirror. The exact #073-4218-6 posted by xroadcharlie.

To keep it snug and stop it from rotating on the handlebar I've wrapped a section of old inner-tube around the bar before slipping the clamp over it. This also protects the handlebar finish from the edges of the clamp. Didn't do this on a previous bar which ended up badly scored and the slightest press on the mirror post would shift it around the bar.

If there's a right handed version I might even add one of those and really up the ugly ante.

I've never tried the clip to helmet types but given my eyes delay of refocusing close/far would probably find them impossible to tolerate. I know that's not a problem for most but that's not a problem with the CT mirror.

As a motorcyclist for more years than I'd care to admit I couldn't ride a bike without mirrors. Be like riding naked. So many co-riders put small bar end mirrors or worse stripped mirrors off their machines altogether for that 'cool cafe / racer wannabe' look. Somewhere I've got 4 different bicycle versions around. They were barely adequate but did a great job of showing elbows.

I envy those who can use them but they were just not for me.

And I also have arthritis in my neck (C3 – C5?). The post mirror requires less head motion = no pain.

rydabent

On bents and trikes like I have a mirror is almost mandatory, at least one, and two is better. I use the mirrcycle round mirrors on the ends of my handlebars, and they work really well.

jadocs

Yep, that's what I used to use. Key is getting it dialed in to your position. Superb quality glass and FOV.

AlmostTrick

This is not a problem because you are focusing on objects in the distance behind you, not on the mirror itself that is only inches away. No refocus is necessary.

solman06

Cateye BM-45. Good bar end mirror. Small, unobtrusive, stays in place and gives me a good view of what's coming up behind me. I couple this with Garmin's RT-510 radar taillight.

Danhedonia

I haven't been turning left across mutliple lanes, no.

Mostly, just hanging out on the internet, posting false dichotomies to feel good about how superior I am.

See what I did there?