Kat12

I'm trying again to get used to my Take-a-Look mirror. I have it mounted on my helmet. I bought it because I have a friend with a tandem and I thought it might make it easier for me to see past her than turning to look. Maybe I should try it on my glasses, but since the point is to have a view as far out to the left as possible, I figured helmet was better.

When riding on my own, I'd rather not use one and have to worry about it and risk losing it (I don't want it permanently mounted to my helmet, so it's on the visor sort of precariously and reinforced with paper medical tape-- IOW, not very robust), and it's not as difficult to turn and look behind when on my own. But I'll try wearing it when on my own to get used to it.

I can't say I can get used to it. I can get it adjusted... but then it only works with one very specific head position. I found myself spending a lot of time moving my head around trying to get to the exact position I had adjusted the mirror to. I figured that was more dangerous than just turning to look quickly. Also, this time around, I've discovered that yeah, I can see out of it... barely. If I cant my eyes all the way to the side so I'm practically using my peripheral vision. Maybe I need to adjust it in a certain way so I can turn my head a bit and see more out of the front of my eye.

The other problem I find is that to get it into the correct position, I have to have it in 'portrait' orientation. I can't figure out a way to adjust it so I can use it in 'landscape' orientation instead, which I would much prefer.

And finally, having to keep adjusting it. "Aha, think I got it. Oops, nope, not quite right. How about now? Nope."

Her other captain also put a bar-end mirror on, but I've not even tried that yet. We would have to be riding for me to be able to adjust that, and I just don't want to be looking at the mirror rather than the road, especially with only one hand on the handlebars (because the other will be fiddling with the mirror). That sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Vintagerose

😅 thank you! And I have a hard time searching for specific threads. It never really shows the keywords I put in. Got a bar end one coming to replace bar mount one I have. Gonna scoop of for the helmet soon too. If I wore glasses I’d be down to try that

Warbird21

I have a bar end on a stalk, and while it works, its in the way and gets bumped all the time.

These "Corky" bar end mirrors popped up on Facebook. Anyone use them?

Milton Keynes

That's a pretty neat design but I'm betting those mirrors will be too small to be very useful. Think about the size of an average bar end cap and put that a couple feet below your eye. I doubt you'll be seeing much in those mirrors. Better would be the convex mirrors that go into your bar ends.

rumrunn6

I agree it takes some time getting used to it. dug up some mirror pics yesterday. maybe you can glean something helpful about setup from them

rumrunn6

I like the drop bar mirror too


for the OP, I find a bike strobe on the left drop bar gets some additional courtesy room. meaning they wait another 1/2 second before moving back right, in front of me. just a little reminder they haven't passed me quite yet

GamblerGORD53

They belong on your bar, like in the old days and on motorcycles. See how expertly I hang my grocery bags on it and my bells?? LOL
The 8 mm arm is very solid. The swivel parts kind suck tho. I can see stuff pretty clearly a 1/4 mile back, in daytime anyway.
All the other ways can impale you in a crash. Happens in a milli sec.

zandoval 

Ya got to try a few. As much as I like the mirror attached to glasses method it was not for me. But I would say that it is my runner up. Personally the best method for me has been one used by "10 Wheels". That's where you take the lens out of an old pair of reflective sunglasses and fix it to your ridding glove. It has been great for me; but then again I don't ride in traffic. If I was ridding in traffic I would additionally use a mirror attached to my glasses.

Warbird21

I thought as much, however I thought the same thing about helmet mirrors, but learned to make them work. I was curious if anyone here tried one.

Kat12

Thanks! That confirmed what I think may be part of the problem-- because I'm mounting on the helmet visor, the mount is upside-down (prongs facing upward, rather than downward as on glasses), and that is probably why I have to orient the mirror the way I do.

Yeah, it's time to try it on my glasses. The only thing is that the side arm of my glasses is very narrow, but maybe it'll work on my (fit-over) sunglasses, if the arm isn't too thick.

Milton Keynes

But these bar end mirrors appear to be about the same size as a helmet mounted mirror, but they're going to be a lot further away from your eye. You might be able to see a little bit in those mirrors but not much, I'm guessing.

rumrunn6

it appears the diameter of the mirror is not the same as the diameter of the bar end. it is much larger

Warbird21

Exactly, I was hoping someone may have tried one. Seems, no, just speculation. I might have to be the guinea pig.

rumrunn6

if you do, please come back & share!

Warbird21

Well, I thought I had it but now perhaps back to the Corky. I picked up this drop-bar mirror at my local LBS today, $20. It looked less in the way than my L-shaped bar mount. But, after install, (It just friction fits), it didn't feel very secure, it was real loose and easily moved and the mirror surface was terrible, so field of vision was far worse. I'll return it next week. Perhaps I'll take the Corky plunge.

Warbird21

I'll let the group know on Sunday, ordered a Corky via Amazon. Easy return if it doesn't work well. The mount does look quill-style and secure.

fooferdoggie 

I wish I could find a bigger mirror for this setup this is a zefal spy mirror but it is really too small. all I can find is some cheap Chinese ones made from plastic.

Warbird21

Corky was deliveredand installed. Surprisingly good quality and field of vision. Babysitting my granddaughter today, so a test ride will have to wait. Well made and secure. I'm optimistic. More to come.

Warbird21

First ride with the Corky tonight - road and C&O Canal - big thumbs up. Field of vision is better than a helmet mirror, it's out of the way, folds for transport.
Moves if bumped, but simple to aim mid-ride.
This works.

jon c. 

I love the Italian Road Bike mirror. Far better than others I've tried. Nice clear image, good field of view and stays in place.

gpburdell

Best depends on you, your bike, and your circumstances.

I’ve been very happy with a Mirrycle mirror on my flat bar bike.

I’m considering a Selle Italia Eyelink mirror for my road bike when it comes in.

philbob57

I rode with a Rhode Gear brake lever mount mirror for decades and liked it a lot. Unfortunately, it started jumping off my brake levers on bumpy roads 2 years ago. I believe I would be able to shift focus well with a helmet- or glasses-mount mirror, so i got a Hafny bar-end mounted mirror.

I like it OK. It mounts very securely and doesn't vibrate independently from the bike, so the image is more stable than the Rhode Gear, but it's farther away from my eyes than the Rhode Gear was, which is a negative. The other lever-mounted mirrors available are either a hassle to mount, or they look like they'd vibrate a lot, so I'm sticking with the bar-end mirror.

R200

I completely agree. Although having even one mirror certainly isn't required, two mirrors provides much better visibility and a higher level of safety over one mirror. I find myself constantly scanning my bar mirror but then "zooming in" with my helmet mounted mirror if there is something I need to see. I often am surprised by overtaking and side traffic if I have only one of these. However, with two mirrors I am very seldom surprised by any vehicle. This is the same with an automobile where having two mirrors is much better than having only one.

epnnf

I dont use a mirror