Helmet mirrors

[nimchimpsky82]

While I was out enjoying today's unbelievably good weather today I saw a guy who had a mirror helmet. It seems like a useful accessory, and my skin is thick enough to put up with the abuse

There appear to be several options. There's the ubiquitous (well, by mirror helmet standards

) Blackburn one. People sometimes complain about the difficulty of fitting this correctly, however, and about how long the stickers last.

Then there's this rare and not-so-easy-to-get Yankee product, the Take A Look mirror, which may also be attached to glasses:

And finally there's the Reflex Flexible Helmet Mirror, the most expensive one, for which I can't seem to find any info on how it's actually attached to the helmet.

Does anyone here have any experience with these? Which one would be best? Should I also consider the ones that attach to glasses? (I don't use glasses at the mo, and am not sure I want to.)

 

[bottlemsher]

I use a take-a-look mirror , It doesn't vibrate and it's light.

The Trice people sell them for £15.65

http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/bikes/accessories.htm#mirrors

 

[nimchimpsky82]

Tx bottlemsher, that's helpful! Do you attach it to your helmet or glasses? If the latter, doesn't it make them slide down your nose? I know it's light, but...

 

[cheadle hulme]

I bought the Blackburn one once.

I could see behind perfectly once I'd adjusted it. Providing I always had my head in exactly the same position of course. Move more a centimetre and you'll only see your shoulder. Or the road.

Take a look at the bike eye mirror if you have a road bike or a bar end mirror for flat bars.

 

[Randochap]

I have sold a few different kinds. The Take-a-Look is by far the best of the bunch.

 

[bottlemsher]

The take-a look mirror which i have fits on my sun glasses with no probs at all,

Once you get your eye used to focusing on it, you'll love it

The normal comment I get is
Why have you got a radio antenna on your glasses?

 

[Headgardener]

As an aside to this thread what are the general feelings about barend mirrors on drop bars? It's a Dawes Horizon tourer if that makes any difference.

 

[Velorum]

I tried the one that came with my Bell - the field of view was so narrow as to be useless. I reckon that your better off with a mirror fitted to the bike.

 

[Randochap]

As an aside to this thread what are the general feelings about barend mirrors on drop bars? It's a Dawes Horizon tourer if that makes any difference.

As you can see on the (clickable) "cockpit" photo on this page or the (clickable) rain-lashed Paris-Brest-Paris shot here, I use barend mirrors -- on left side only (ride on right) -- on my bikes.

They're good.

 

[HJ]

You are better off just looking over your shoulder, this also has the added advantage of being a means of communication with anyone how is behind you...

It is far safer.

 

[nimchimpsky82]

You are better off just looking over your shoulder, this also has the added advantage of being a means of communication with anyone how is behind you...

It is far safer.

Thanks HJ (and all). I certainly wasn't planning on using mirrors instead of looking over my shoulder. Rather, it would be something I would do first, then double check over my shoulder if need be -- pretty much like when driving a car.

The reason I started thinking about this is that if it's really windy or rainy, it's not always possible to hear cars come up from behind, and this would allow me an effortless and quick first check.

I like the bar end mirrors you use Randochap, and on another forum someone also suggested something cool:

http://www.cycleaware.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3

Will have a little think, then prolly try one of these two things, and report back.

 

[Randochap]

I certainly wasn't planning on using mirrors instead of looking over my shoulder. Rather, it would be something I would do first, then double check over my shoulder if need be -- pretty much like when driving a car.

Exactly. One would assume -- just as when driving a car -- both precautions are used. But the bar-end mirrors especially are an excellent adjunct.

 

[Bman]

[Snip]

Hang on...... Isnt your avitar the bloke from the Carmageddon Loading screen!?

"you have to drive to survive..... else you will end up like this guy" or somethig along those lines.

Not entirely apt for this forum is it?

 

[potsy]

I use a bar-end mirror cheapish one by Zefal I think £10 from lbs,really useful as you can keep a constant check on what's going on behind without having to keep looking over your shoulder all the time.
Got mine knocked bandy by a too close overtake a few weeks back so was without one for a few days and really missed it.
OK they might not be trendy or cool,but who cares if it makes riding easier/safer

 

[threefingerjoe]

I've used both, the Blackburn and the Take-A-Look. Currently have the Take-A-Look mounted on the visor of my helmet. The Blackburn was fine, the sticky tape that held it on lasted until I had to replace the helmet, but can easily be replaced with any double-stick tape. I decided to try the Take-A-Look, because I couldn't find a decent place to mount the Blackburn on my new helmet. The Take-A-Look can also be mounted to glasses, but with some glasses, if the temple piece is too narrow, (like wire-rims) the mirror will flip upside down.

This is a personal choice. I like a helmet mirror. Once I got used to it, I loved it. Field of view is GREAT, because, by simply turning your head, you can "sweep" behind you.

Interesting point about the Take-A-Look, is that it has been produced since the 1960s with no changes made.