KidTruth

Why all the hate? I'm bound to prescription glasses and I use a glasses mirror. Sometimes on the lonely farm roads I like to play around on the road (drift side to side, etc) and this lets me know when I don't have to worry about cars. Also, I can start speeding up the second I see that cyclist spec in my mirror.

So why all the hatred? They seem to be the most commonly identified as "Freddish".. but you'll shave your legs and wear magenta spandex shorts and not be worried at all.

CastIron

They have their uses, but on the open road? Swivel your neck.

Olebiker

I'm not as flexible as I used to be and a mirror helps a lot. I'm too old to worry about looking Fredly.

patentcad

Psimet2001 

Rotate that thing that's just above your shoulder....or would doing that cause you to swerve into oncoming traffic.

Squirrel?

GeraldChan

KidTruth: I also use a mirror and am old enough and slow enough to not care about being "Fredish".

I doubt that many here on this forum earn a living pedalling a bike lay off the hatin'.

Fox Farm

You know, I used one actually back in the middle 70s. They were sort of novel back then. I think that the best were made by a company called Ed's. Ed's Mirrors. Some others attached with a roach clip alligator clip and between that and the little mirror, you were set for riding and partying. I really do think that they are a good idea and rode with one up until a few years ago when I moved to a sparsely populated region in the west where there wasn't much traffic and you could easily hear what was coming. I know that the racer wanna' bes' all think that you look like some touring cyclist nerd when you use one but you know what? It's all about what works for you. Hell, there was a time when if you wore black socks while riding, every one would sort of move away from you, then Lance would only ride with black socks and now you are cool if you do too. I still think that they are a good idea.

downtown

Years ago I thought those mirrors were the gayest thing around. A friend of mine started using one and I tried it one day.......I've had one ever since. The main thing is for knowing what is coming up behind you and you can ride two abreast and not have to turn around all the time. I use the Take a Look, it has a real glass mirror, I mounted mine on my helmet, not the glasses. As far as looking Fredly, I don't care what people think!

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/produ...p?p=TLEGM&tn=0

mx_599

i use these and i love them!

biker128pedal

I use one of these on the bar below the left brifter. It does not stand out. Works great when on the hoods but a little cumbersome shifting from the drops. I tried it o the top tube like the left picture but my knee kept hitting it.

rollin

Fred is as Fred does

markyore

[QUOTE=KidTruth;6092809]. Also, I can start speeding up the second I see that cyclist spec in my mirror.
QUOTE]

Thing is, most people *think* they are THAT cyclist!

sam83

A person without a mirror can see neither in front of them or behind for a portion of the time during a head check.

A person without a mirror cannot always tell if a driver is migrating onto the shoulder.

A person without a mirror cannot consistently monitor dynamic changes in driver speed and positioning changes that would indicate recognition and adjustment for the presence of a cyclist and therefore cannot compare these dynamic changes to what is usual in the region.

A person without a mirror will hug a white line or shoulder and hope a texting teenager isn't drifting at an otherwise obvious constant speed and direction toward them.

A person without a mirror gives more of the responsibility of their safety to overtaking vehicles than those with mirrors.

A person who is so distracted by a mirror that they cannot pay sufficient attention to what is ahead should seriously reconsider cycling, or being anywhere near a street.

A person without a mirror will be surprised by Al Gore cars.

A person without a mirror looks cool like Lance.

There is no valid argument for not using a mirror except for some sense of warped vanity or machismo or some cognitive inability to use mirrors.

I guess those are valid, but less safe.

BarracksSi

I've got one that's mounted underneath the left end of the visor. I can "de-Fred" by pivoting it underneath & across. It stays protected that way after I take the helmet off, too.

Psimet2001 

I bet you guys don't turn you head and look when changing lanes or backing up in your cars either....you just the mirrors

Psimet2001 

Hmmm...sounds like you'd be more comfortable here...

...or here...

...or here.

akaio

^-- Haha

Mirrors would be nice for touring, but for a brisk day out on the bike I can handle myself fine without.

Edonis13

i have a mirror that i will put on the end of my left bar for when im riding with my MP3 player. ive noticed that when riding without it i will instinctively look at where it would be before turning my head. i like it being there when im on the roads but i do most of my riding on a MUP.

BarracksSi

Especially if such a car is following the loud dump truck that just passed you.

sam83

Absolutely not. Just because you have a mirror doesn't mean that's all you use. Headchecks are a must in many situations and a mirror does not preclude its' use.

You can't really believe you have less situational awareness with a mirror.

You can't really believe you are safer with less situational awareness unless your argument is that your brain can't process all that info.

So why don't you use one?

A) You prefer less situational awareness.
B) It's not cool.
C) I've got a 6th sense that works better.

Psimet2001 

OOooooo.....clicky, clicky.

WxGuesser

dudes.. you got me thinking.. why not just use these kind of sunglasses instead of those god awful mirrors..

downtown

[quote=sam83;6094616]Absolutely not. Just because you have a mirror doesn't mean that's all you use. Headchecks are a must in many situations and a mirror does not preclude its' use.QUOTE]

Exactly......When turning across the road I always look and not just rely on my mirror, but for just knowing what is going on around me, it's the best safety device I have.....Sam83, I see you are from middle TN, same here, so you know how people drive around here, you need to have some sort of warning. People can call me a Fred or whatever all day long, who cares, I just want to do my thing safely so I can go home and hug my kids, not get tagged by some fool texting while doing 55 around the curve.

look565

what he said

Retro Grouch 

Why do you even ask? This is road cycling and making fun of other road cyclists is what we do. I think that's because our mother's bottle fed us as babies so now we're doomed to live a lifetime of emotional insecurity. There is no detail of your bike, clothing, performance or behavior that's beyond scrutiny. No matter what you do we will find something to scoff about. That's just the way it is.

Practice this mantra: "You do what you think's best for you and I'll do what I think is best for me." If they get too abusive sometimes it helps to add an alternate word for "anus" on the end.