Mirrors

[Billloudon]

I wouldn't be without my Zefal mirror - handlebar. I use it as guide to the traffic behind me and not solely for any manoeuvre.

 

[Radius]

I got a CatEye bar end one and havent looked back since, well I have, you know what I mean.

The shoulder-look is a very useful gesture as well as being for practical 'seeing' purposes. Mustn't be forsaken for laziness of looking in a mirror...

 

[Origamist]

Pretty much these days, in urban settings - ranging from a quick glance to a full-on stare into the whites of the driver's eyes. It has become a habit with me and I am conscious if I don't do it that I am nervous of what is behind me.

When I did my cycle instructor training a few months ago, I was struck by the comments of the trainer. This is going to be a paraphrase as I cannot remember his precise words but it was something along the lines that he did not want to be surprised at all by anything passing him too close. If he was, then he felt he was not looking behind enough.

I certainly don't want to downplay the importance of checking what is behind you, but this needs to be balanced against what is coming up ahead!

When confronted with competing priorites/stimuli, I'm all for trying to get eye contact and following the general principles of negotiating road space, but it is not always convenient/safe to constantly check rearwards to avoid close overtakes.

 

[CotterPin]

I certainly don't want to downplay the importance of checking what is behind you, but this needs to be balanced against what is coming up ahead!

When confronted with competing priorites/stimuli, I'm all for trying to get eye contact and following the general principles of negotiating road space, but it is not always convenient/safe to constantly check rearwards to avoid close overtakes.

True - you do need to be looking ahead to make sure that you have got time to look behind you and only do so when it is safe.

There is more to riding a bike than just turning the pedals.

 

[Nigeyy]

I used to have a handlebar mirror, but found it was too easy to break or to knock out of the angle I needed it. I graduated to a helmet mirror, which I loved because I liked the fact I could simply move my head to scan more of the landscape (can't really do that with the handlebars!). However, after a while the joint worked loose, so it became useless.

I've solved my problem by making my own helmet mirror, for less then a couple of quid. Don't mind saying so myself, but it is the best mirror I've ever had.

 

[potsy]

I had a mirror and found it really useful until one close overtake too many resulted in it being knocked bandy and now it won't tighten up anymore.
Will probably get another but have just fitted some bar-ends so they may get in the way of each other will have a look next time I order from Wiggle

 

[andrew-the-tortoise]

Would be lost without my bar-end mirror when riding in traffic, I always look over the shoulder before any major maneuvers though.

 

[blazed]

Mirrors on bikes dont sit right with me. Although not my intention when tearing up the streets on a ride i do get the odd lady admirer and mirrors would not be setting the right impression. They would definitely ruin my chances of getting some poontang.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Mirrors on bikes dont sit right with me. Although not my intention when tearing up the streets on a ride i do get the odd lady admirer and mirrors would not be setting the right impression. They would definitely ruin my chances of getting some poontang.

Why should mirrors take the blame, when it's your personality that ruins your chances?

 

[J4CKO]

Agree on the looking over the shoulder thing, in fact I think its part of a load of signals, movements that should be exageratted to convey your intentions as sometimes subtlety isnt enough to wake up the average driver.

 

[threefingerjoe]

Sometimes I wonder if ANYTHING wakes the average driver. They see the brake lights on the car ahead, and still slam into it, because their BRAIN is concentrating on their mobile phone conversation.

 

[ufkacbln]

I have one for long distant views of the road behind, just to see what is heading my way. When moving about in the road I look over my shoulder.

Mirrors are not a replacement for a final check before puling out or performing a maneouvre