Any experiences of mirrors on bikes?

[Cyclopathic]

I've been riding a bike almost since I could walk but I still have not mastered properly the art of looking over my right shoulder to asses the trafic. If I look around far enough to give me a proper view behind me I find that my steering gets all mucked up and I veer off dangerously to the right. For a while now I've been seeing bar mounted mirrors for sale and wonder if they provide any really useful service or if they are so limited that I'd have to look over my shoulder as well anyway. With their being a few different sorts with different positions I've not been able to decide which one to try first, largely because I'm a tightwad and don't want to waste a tenner.

Soooo, anybody out there with any experience of these mirror thingies or are they just a gimmick, invented to take advantage of poor impresionable cyclists like myself?

 

[corshamjim]

A lot of these mirrors are either too small or wobble so much you can't see much using them anyway.

The one which works for me best on my flat barred bike is this one:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/blackburn-blackburn-handlebar-multi-mirror-fits-to-handlebar-end-prod662/

I see Blackburn do one which fits round the brake lever hoods too - I must give that a try some time as the bar-end one is obscured by my arm when I'm riding on the hoods of my drop-barred bike.

Another good thing (IMO) about the mirror is the extra width, or maybe the knowledge that I can see what they're doing behind me means drivers give me a wider berth.

There are still quite a few times (just like in a car) when I have to look behind too, but the mirror I find helps a lot.

 

[mark barker]

I've had bar end mirrors on my previous bike, and found them really useful, although they tend to get knocked about alot and needed constant adjustment. I've recently fitted this and I'd recommend this to anyone, as long as you don't ride with panniers!

 

[gannet]

I also use the Bike Eye which is great once you get the right angle


and no vibrations

 

[Norm]

I also use the http://www.bike-eye....x.html]Bike-Eye[/url] which is great once you get the right angle

and no vibrations

Another Bike Eye user here, I've put one on each of my road bikes. As well as being vibe-free, they don't add to the width of the bike and they are almost invisible to anyone looking at the bike but they give a clear, if narrow, view directly behind you. Because of their location, they don't get knocked out of place.

However, they rely on the view between your legs, so they don't suit every bike and some people have issues when using them in conjunction with panniers or saddle-bags, so their suitability does depend completely on the design of your own bike.

Try holding a small mirror on the down tube when you've got any bags you use fitted, if you can use a Bike-Eye, I think they are unbeatable.

 

[frank9755]

I see Blackburn do one which fits round the brake lever hoods too - I must give that a try some time as the bar-end one is obscured by my arm when I'm riding on the hoods of my drop-barred bike.

I found that Blackburn one to be unusable due to shake, but have one of the bar end ones (Topeak?) on my tourer. It's useful but you do sometimes have to move your arm slightly to see it!

 

[Clandy]

I also use the Bike Eye which is great once you get the right angle


and no vibrations

I have something similar which attaches with a silicon strap, so I can move it between bikes.

 

[Cyclopathic]

Thankyou everybody for those thoughts. I think I'll try one out before very long as they do seem to give you a bit of an advantage. I doubt I'd be happy relying on one completely and will always do a quick look back when I can but it really does look like they give you a bit of extra sight.

 

[Norm]

I doubt I'd be happy relying on one completely and will always do a quick look back when I can

I would say that relying on a mirror alone is as dangerous on a bike as it is silly in a car. In fact, I did say something like that 9 months ago.

 

[orienteer]

Agree that a mirror is NOT a substitute for looking round. I have mirrors on my bikes, they help maintain awareness but I still look round, especially as the field of view in a mirror is quite limited. Also, looking round tells the road users behind that you are aware of them and that probably you are going to make a manoeuvre, such as pulling out to turn right.

Better to practise looking behind while holding a straight course on quiet roads.

 

[zoxed]

I think Mirrycle are the best, but B&M mirrors offer more mounting options.
Despite long cycling experience I would be lost without a mirror.
Like with a car you should never really solely on a mirror: you just keep checking the mirror till it looks free, *then* look round to double check. Also v. good for general situation awareness.

 

[siadwell]

I have something similar which attaches with a silicon strap, so I can move it between bikes.

Zefal Spy, perhaps?

 

[rodgy-dodge]

I bought a bike eye, they came in two sizes, I purchased the small one but wished I'd bought the larger one.
Its attached to my cross bar up the front and I really have to make sure my knee is high to see anything behind.
I certainly don't rely on it to look behind! I've now learned how to turn my head without vearing into the gutter. Someone on here suggested to drop my arm off the handle bars the side I want to turn and that worked for me.
Its really handy if there are a few of us going out as I can see who is behind me.

 

[Spinney]

+1 on not relying solely on the mirror.

I can look behind moderately well, but if I look round and there is unexpectedly something there, it sometimes makes me wobble - not good!

So the mirror helps me keep awareness, and saves me bothering to look over my shoulder when I can see from the mirror that there IS something there.

 

[suecsi]

Anyone have experience of mounting one on a Brompton? I saw one on a chap who came to pick up the S bag I sold, but was too busy admiring the lovely Brooks saddle to ask him about it. Sounds like a good backup in commuter traffic, and given the 'interesting' ride on the Brompton sometimes.