another question for the group: sideview mirror necessary?

[villager]

While I haven't been getting to commute as regularly on the bike as I'd like -- owing to erratic single dad schedules and the like -- I sure dig the times I have.

I still need saddlebags, though the backpack is all right (though easily jammed full).

Do folks find those sideview bike mirrors actually helpful in city traffic? I do look over my shoulder a lot (I'm in L.A., no less). Should I consider adding one for aid in general tooling around?

thanks...!

[Kolesar]

1. I have a mirror like this on the end of my drop bars

I think I have a different model by a different manufacturer, though. I would not go without it in traffic. I even like having a mirror on the rail trails. My mirror has a slight convex shape for a wider view (objects in the mirror are closer than they appearor).
Blackburn Multi Mirror at nashbar.com -> Stealing bandwith, 2kB at a time. Also shop: Lickton's

I tried a helmet mirror, but quit using it. I was told that they are great products, but one has to try the mirror for a while to get used to it. Delta used to make this mirror that mounted to the top tube behind the headset. You could look straight down and see behind you, past the seatpost and down the road. I thought it was pretty splendid and used it before I got a bar end mirror. I cannot find it on the internet now. Happy cycling!

[Kolesar]

2. Found the Delta Insight mirror

The bar-end mirror would be your best bet, but have a look--literally.

Delta Insight at Braun's

[bikebloke]

3. Ears

I use my ears as rearview mirrors, with quick glances back when necessary.

[villager]

4. well, yes, when I got my bike, I noticed "ears" were already

including in the "cyclist" package that came with it. Still...

[bikebloke]

6. Not always used by some.

There are a lot of folk who won't use them. Or worse, plug into music. I tried that once, and felt half blind. If you need tunes, you'll be surprised what bubbles to the surface in a hum or whistle. And singing always keeps the stray dogs away.

[happyslug]

5. YES, YES

I have biked with and without a mirror, and the mirror gives me a better idea of the vehicles around me. I use a bar end mirror except for the time period where I could not use such a mirror, I then used a large helmet mounted mirror. The larger bar end bar mirrors were better but any mirror is better than none.

[ContraBass Black]

7. I'm considering a helmet mirror.

I'd rip off a bar-end mirror.

[happyslug]

8. I used one for two years.

Could NOT fit a bar end mirror on my handlebars (I recently found a way to install a bar end mirror on my curved mountain bar handlebars and thus went back to using bar-ends). The Mirror was good, but not as good as a bar end mirror. The chief problems with the Helmet Mirror related to the concept of the Helmet mirror more than a problem with the helmet mirror I had been using. The Problems I had with the helmet mirror are as follows:

1. The thing wears out, not the mirror itself, but the adjustment mechanism. To be light on a head the adjustment mechanism must be small and light weight. Furthermore they must be cheap. Thus most of them rely on fiction of plastic against plastic. AS you adjust the mirror the plastic slowly wear against each other and after a while the adjustment mechanism does NOT hold the mirror in place.

2. The mirror is small compared to a bar end mirror, this is true of Even the larger version of the Helmet Mirror (Which I used). IT is small and sometimes hard to use (Especially after the mechanism starts to wear out and drops from where it is suppose to be).

3. You need to adjust the mirror every time you start your ride, helping it wear out (Especially true if you adjust you helmet for wearing winter clothing under the helmet to keep warm).

As a whole I would go with a bar end. The adjustment is heavily built and will last for years (and easy to adjust by just tightening the bolts holding it together).

I use the Mirrycle Mountain Mirror, it is easy to adjust and if you hit something it will generally swing away from what ever you hit (Knocking it out of adjustment but it is easy to re-adjust).

For more on the Mirrcyle Mountain see their web site (They also have a bar end for Downturn Road bikes, but it is NOT on their web site). The difference appears to be that in the Mountain you have two adjustment arms rights after each other, while in the road version you are limited to adjusting it around the end of the handlebar. Looks like the road version just was NOT popular even among road bikers, if they opt for a bar end mirror they went with the Mountain Bike version given its 2-3 ways to be adjusted).

The "Adjustments" for the Mirrcyle Mountain Mirror are as follows:
1. At the bar end itself, you can rotate the base in the bar end, 360 degrees (the Arm coming out of the Bar end can be used to rotate the base if leverage is needed).
2. The arm coming out of the bar end turns 90 degree at the end another 90 degree arm exists. This second arm can be rotated 360 degree if needed.
4. At the Mirror itself which can be rotated 360 degrees.
It is a while built and designed Mirror that takes a beating and can be adjusted as needed.

http://www.mirrycle.com/mountainmirrycle.htm

[Shine]

9. I have a helmet mirror that is quite helpful.

I love it! :hi:

[villager]

10. thanks!

:hi: