Mirrors For A Drop Handlebar Bike (Road Bike)

[fossyant]

@Lovacott How the heck has a mirror survived on an MTB - or are you not crashing into trees on it ?

PS there are some nifty ones for road bikes that are available. Big ones look terrible.

Never used one myself, my ears work, and even I, with a dodgy back, can turn my head.

 

[SGG on a bike]

I have the small round bar end type on mine. Works a treat. about £15 from Amazon. (You may have to zoom in a bit to see it).

 

[Donger]

A quick search using the words "road bike mirror drops" came up with a few Cateye mirrors you might consider. I bought a pair of Zefal mirrors for each of my bikes a couple of years back, but the exact type no longer seems to be marketed.

I wouldn't be without them. The only drawbacks are that road vibration and rattles sometimes blur images in the mirror, and I do find that they are quite easily nudged out of position. They are easy enough to reposition in a matter of seconds, and while not showing a particularly clear image, it is clear enough to warn you of the presence of a vehicle behind you or (as sometimes happens in group events) of a cyclist trying to overtake on the wrong side. Having one on the left side when riding abroad has been a particular aid, as I find it quite unnatural looking over my left shoulder. I can recommend them, but you really do need to carry out other visual checks too, as they should not be relied upon for 100% of your observation before manoeuvring.

 

[oldwheels]

Never used a mirror on a cycle. Are the frame mounted ones useful? I've looked at them a few times but never bought one.

I tried one and found it useless. Would only possibly be of use if you have nothing behind the saddle which obscures the view back.

 

[Teamfixed]

I have never considered one until a few months ago. Now I find it really useful. It's not like a car mirror and sometimes you need to shift your elbow a touch but overall I now feel uncomfortable without one. Also handy to see how far behind Ms T.F is although that is becoming less often now🙄
I use this one because it has the huge advantage of easy switching between bikes.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/zefal-spy-bike-mirror

 

[Sea of vapours]

I use the Bike Eye one mentioned above, which mounts to the frame between downtube and head tube, on my road bike. It's excellent.
https://www.bike-eye.com/

- True, one leg, when down, obscures the view, but if you're pedalling then this is not an issue, in the same way that you can look through spokes when a wheel is rotating. If you're not pedalling, and the mirror side leg is 'up' then the view is clear.
- It's discreet: riding in a group people have several times asked how I can be so aware of traffic behind us.
- It doesn't get knocked. Critically, being on the frame, it does not suffer vibration.
= Like most mirrors on bikes, the field of view is relatively narrow, but if you use it like a car mirror, looking behind every 5-7 seconds or so to maintain situational awareness, it's a very effective bit of kit indeed.

I have the standard width one. I don't think the wider one would help on a road bike.

 

[chris-suffolk]

I have the one on the right on my MTB.

The one on the left looks ideal.

The one on the right looks identical to the ones I run on my drop bars. Perfect view, and out of the way - just replaces the bar end and holds the tape in place.

 

[Lovacott]

A quick search using the words "road bike mirror drops" came up with a few Cateye mirrors you might consider. I bought a pair of Zefal mirrors for each of my bikes a couple of years back, but the exact type no longer seems to be marketed.

My mirror on the MTB is similar. Tiny but convex so it gives a good view of the road behind.

I use mine as an early warning of traffic approaching from behind on the narrow country lanes. I can then make a run to the nearest farm gate or wide section of road where the car can overtake. It's also a good way to see if someone behind me is a bit of a loon intent on doing a bit of close overtaking etc. Like an early warning system of impending but avoidable doom. It's become something which I can't really do without.

Mine is easily knocked out of line and being ball and socket, sometimes it can actually pop out when I try to straighten it and I've had to stop a couple of times to pick it up from the road.

I've tried my existing mirror on the road bike but my right arm is in my line of sight so I wanted something which fits in the end but protrudes out to the right.

 

[chris-suffolk]

My mirrors and B&M cyclestar - SJS seemed to have the best pic I could find quickly. Other shops are available.

 

[Lovacott]

The one on the right looks identical to the ones I run on my drop bars. Perfect view, and out of the way - just replaces the bar end and holds the tape in place.

I used the MTB one on the road bike last week but I had to keep shifting my right arm out of the way to see the mirror. Maybe I'd get used to it after time?

 

[chris-suffolk]

I find, on the 'hoods' or 'tops', I can see down between my arm and the frame, without the need to move out of the way. On the drops I can't see without making some effort, but then I rarely use the drops except on quick descents, and then focusing on the road ahead is much more important than what's going on behind.

 

[dodgy]

I've used Zefal spy mirrors for years, handy for lots of reasons:

Have you dropped your ride partner?
Is someone gaining on you that you'd rather not?
Is a shoulder check necessary (before you get all het up, I mean if you can see a car is coming, no shoulder check is necessary, if you don't see one then you do the shoulder check).

I put min on the end of the drop, so when I look down I can see behind. I've seen other cyclists put them on the top tube.

 

[Lovacott]

Is a shoulder check necessary (before you get all het up, I mean if you can see a car is coming, no shoulder check is necessary, if you don't see one then you do the shoulder check).

I don't "shoulder check" either if I've been keeping track of what's going on behind me in the mirror. Not "shoulder checking" is not a crime.

 

[dodgy]

I don't "shoulder check" either if I've been keeping track of what's going on behind me in the mirror. Not "shoulder checking" is not a crime.

Yerriknow, just pre-empting the elf-n-safety brigade.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

A quick search using the words "road bike mirror drops" came up with a few Cateye mirrors you might consider. I bought a pair of Zefal mirrors for each of my bikes a couple of years back, but the exact type no longer seems to be marketed.
View attachment 574660
View attachment 574661
I wouldn't be without them. The only drawbacks are that road vibration and rattles sometimes blur images in the mirror, and I do find that they are quite easily nudged out of position. They are easy enough to reposition in a matter of seconds, and while not showing a particularly clear image, it is clear enough to warn you of the presence of a vehicle behind you or (as sometimes happens in group events) of a cyclist trying to overtake on the wrong side. Having one on the left side when riding abroad has been a particular aid, as I find it quite unnatural looking over my left shoulder. I can recommend them, but you really do need to carry out other visual checks too, as they should not be relied upon for 100% of your observation before manoeuvring.

That road vibration is going through your hands. Lowering tyre pressures can reduce / eliminate the vibration pretty much.