a 'well duh' moment
03-24-15, 06:00 AM
#1
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a 'well duh' moment
Just bought some more cycle gear including a rear view mirror that sticks to the helmet. As I've stated before, I worry about what's behind me and I have poor peripheral vision and limited neck movement.
The packaging says that the mirror can be mounted to either side of the helmet. Well, I naturally mounted it to the left as that is the side that cars will pass on in the US. Why would anyone want to mount it on the right, right?
I put the helmet on my head, looked in the mirror and saw nothing useful, just an indistinct blur. Is the darn thing defective? Wait a minute, I'm legally blind in my left eye. The eye doctor asks which is the smallest line on the chart that I can read and I ask "what chart". derrrrr.
I moved the mirror to the right and found that I could adjust it to see what I need to see. My head is in the way and creates a blind spot, but just turning the head slightly lets me see in that area. I took it for a ride this morning before light and sure enough a car came up fast behind me to allow me to test it out.
The packaging says that the mirror can be mounted to either side of the helmet. Well, I naturally mounted it to the left as that is the side that cars will pass on in the US. Why would anyone want to mount it on the right, right?
I put the helmet on my head, looked in the mirror and saw nothing useful, just an indistinct blur. Is the darn thing defective? Wait a minute, I'm legally blind in my left eye. The eye doctor asks which is the smallest line on the chart that I can read and I ask "what chart". derrrrr.
I moved the mirror to the right and found that I could adjust it to see what I need to see. My head is in the way and creates a blind spot, but just turning the head slightly lets me see in that area. I took it for a ride this morning before light and sure enough a car came up fast behind me to allow me to test it out.
03-24-15, 06:16 AM
#2
Zip tie Karen
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Good job. You'll get used to using the mirror and hopefully it'll help your confidence. Happy riding!
03-24-15, 06:39 AM
#3
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some folks do not like mirrors, I have them on all my bikes. Oh, we all have those moments.
03-24-15, 06:52 AM
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I also have limited neck movement. Makes peeking behind me difficult. I attached a mirror to my cycling glasses. really makes riding feel safer.
I also tried some neck exercises to increase mobility. I was a little surprised that I was able to get a lot more mobility with very little effort.
I also tried some neck exercises to increase mobility. I was a little surprised that I was able to get a lot more mobility with very little effort.
03-24-15, 06:56 AM
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Mirrors rock.
I can see fine out of my left eye, but do the same head swinging trick when riding along a road that has on-ramps ... I can wag my head over enough to see over my right shoulder.
I can see fine out of my left eye, but do the same head swinging trick when riding along a road that has on-ramps ... I can wag my head over enough to see over my right shoulder.
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03-24-15, 06:59 AM
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+1 for mirror use, always use the Take a Look, glasses mount.
Bill
Bill
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
03-24-15, 07:20 AM
#7
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Glad to read that you have joined the mirror in use club. Much safer than turning head around.
03-24-15, 08:47 AM
#8
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Nice that people find ways of adapting. I had a helmet mirror once. I didn't like the way I had to look in it with one eye and tilting my head in all sorts of angles just to see wider angles. I rather turn my body to look.
Now I have handlebar mirrors. I get big 4inch mirrors that cost only $5 from Canadian Tire. Those are the type of mirror you usually find on kid's high riser bikes.
Now I have handlebar mirrors. I get big 4inch mirrors that cost only $5 from Canadian Tire. Those are the type of mirror you usually find on kid's high riser bikes.
03-24-15, 09:22 AM
#9
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I like my bar mounted mirrors, I do have a helmet mount one but have yet to try it.
When they ask me to read the smallest line, I say "m a d e i n u s a" just to mess with them.
When they ask me to read the smallest line, I say "m a d e i n u s a" just to mess with them.
03-24-15, 11:41 AM
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Recumbent riders REALLY need some kind of mirror because you can't rotate your torso very well to look back.
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03-24-15, 01:29 PM
#11
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Welcome to 50+, where the "well duh" moments seem to come fast and furious.
Count me among the committed mirror users. I prefer the Take-a-Look, but also have a hub bub (or something like that) helmet-mounted mirror for use when using my winter cycling glasses (too flexible for the Take-a-Look).
Count me among the committed mirror users. I prefer the Take-a-Look, but also have a hub bub (or something like that) helmet-mounted mirror for use when using my winter cycling glasses (too flexible for the Take-a-Look).
03-24-15, 08:01 PM
#12
feros ferio
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I glued a CycleAware mirror to my helmet about 10 years ago and wish I had done so years earlier. I had bad luck with some of the primitive eyeglass mounted mirrors of the early 1970s, but now hate to ride without a mirror. I have become an obnoxious mirror evangelist.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
03-24-15, 09:02 PM
#13
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+1 on the CycleAware mirror. I tried others and this one seems to be the one that works the best for me. Now I also do not want to ride without a mirror. I ride country roads and the mirror allows me to ride in the middle of the lane instead of constantly hugging the side of the road.
03-24-15, 09:07 PM
#14
Senior Member
I have a beer view mirror attached to my sunglasses. Love it!
03-24-15, 09:41 PM
#15
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Seems like I should be buying stocks in the company making mirrors. Until this spring I've put them on all my bikes, and with this winter's recent additions I need to buy more. Now when I ride a bike without a mirror it feels like something's wrong - out of habit I keep looking at where the mirror is supposed to be and it's not there. The burgeoning baby boomers are going to keep the bike mirror companies in business for a few years to come!
