Glasses Mirror

On Tue, 07 Sep 2004 02:39:29 +0100, Keith Willoughby

() said:

The one thing I've never got used to, and the biggest thing that puts me
off cycling on the road, is the horrible sensation I get as I anticipate
being overtaken by a car, and the tenseness it creates. I think I'd be a
lot better about it if I could see the car approaching.

However, I don't fancy a chunky mirror attached to the bars, so I was
fancying one of those glasses-mounted mirrors. Does anyone have any
first-hand experience of them, and a recommendation? Also, does anyone
know of a UK source of them (I've seen them on the Kinetics website, and
I'd get them there if I had to, but 13 quid plus 2.50 postage was a few
quid more than I was expecting for a bit of plastic 🙂)

I've got one of those 3rd eye glasses-mount mirrors and I'm very happy
with it. When it breaks, I'll probably replace it with another one.
I've got a PFDB-mount[1] mirror as well and the two give me just about
360-degree vision. Very nifty even though when combined with
PFDB-mounted lights it makes me look like something out of the Borg
Collective.

You might be able to get a 3rd Eye mirror cheaper from the US,
depending on postage costs. Worth dropping them an e-mail?

--
Matt K
Waikikamukau,NZ.
"Those students who have become one with the universe will be allowed
to go on and become two with the universe."

Keith Willoughby said:

The one thing I've never got used to, and the biggest thing that puts me
off cycling on the road, is the horrible sensation I get as I anticipate
being overtaken by a car, and the tenseness it creates. I think I'd be a
lot better about it if I could see the car approaching.

However, I don't fancy a chunky mirror attached to the bars, so I was
fancying one of those glasses-mounted mirrors. Does anyone have any
first-hand experience of them, and a recommendation? Also, does anyone
know of a UK source of them (I've seen them on the Kinetics website, and
I'd get them there if I had to, but 13 quid plus 2.50 postage was a few
quid more than I was expecting for a bit of plastic 🙂)

(Helmet mounts are no good, btw. No helmet.)

I bought one and didn't get on with it. Always having to mess around
angling the mirror and my head to be able to see. Gave mine away (IIRC)
to Danny Colyer on this group but don't know if he fared any better with it.

The bar mounted ones are far better IMO.

Tony

Tony Raven said:

I bought one and didn't get on with it. Always having to mess around
angling the mirror and my head to be able to see. Gave mine away (IIRC)
to Danny Colyer on this group but don't know if he fared any better with it.

Rather unfunny comment, but Danny would have more use
for a head-mounted wirecutter!

Hope to goodness such things never, ever have to be thought about
and that scrotes who stretch lines across roads and paths are caught...

Whingin ' Pom said:

I've got one of those 3rd eye glasses-mount mirrors and I'm very happy
with it. When it breaks, I'll probably replace it with another one.

Cheers. I was just looking for one person to say it worked for
them. I'll give one a go.

[...]

Quoted message said:

You might be able to get a 3rd Eye mirror cheaper from the US,
depending on postage costs. Worth dropping them an e-mail?

$13 including shipping, by the looks of it - except I'd have to faff
around with an international money order!

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without
fighting."
- Sun Tzu

Tony Raven said:

Keith Willoughby wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

I bought one and didn't get on with it. Always having to mess around
angling the mirror and my head to be able to see. Gave mine away
(IIRC) to Danny Colyer on this group but don't know if he fared any
better with it.

Paging Danny Colyer! Mr Colyer to the white courtesy phone.

Quoted message said:

The bar mounted ones are far better IMO.

I already have bar-ends, a computer, and a light on there. I was trying
to avoid the clutter.

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"Did you threaten to overrule him?"

Tony Raven said:

I bought one and didn't get on with it. Always having to mess around
angling the mirror and my head to be able to see. Gave mine away (IIRC)
to Danny Colyer on this group but don't know if he fared any better with
it.

I got one on Danny's recommendation (3rd Eye Heads Up, from Kinetics).
It works pretty well, or it would work pretty well if I could remember
where I've put it!

Main downside was the minor faff attaching it to my glasses any time I
went riding, compared to the B&M CycleStar on the bars which is just
/there/ every time I get on the bike.

A built in mirror is probably Not Too Clever on an MTB used for its
avowed purpose, or a stripped down road racer, but for a utility cycle
and/or tourer I don't see many arguments against.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On Tue, 07 Sep 2004 09:08:37 +0100, Keith Willoughby

() said:

Whingin ' Pom said:

I've got one of those 3rd eye glasses-mount mirrors and I'm very happy
with it. When it breaks, I'll probably replace it with another one.

Cheers. I was just looking for one person to say it worked for
them. I'll give one a go.

Certainly worth trying one. You may also find that one of those
stretchy bands to keep your glasses in one place useful if they have a
habit of sliding down your nose. Like mine do.

Quoted message said:

[...]

Quoted message said:

You might be able to get a 3rd Eye mirror cheaper from the US,
depending on postage costs. Worth dropping them an e-mail?

$13 including shipping, by the looks of it - except I'd have to faff
around with an international money order!

:-(

--
Matt K.
Sinister Dexter has a broken spirometer.

Keith Willoughby said:

However, I don't fancy a chunky mirror attached to the bars, so I was
fancying one of those glasses-mounted mirrors. Does anyone have any
first-hand experience of them, and a recommendation? Also, does anyone
know of a UK source of them

I've been using a Take-A-Look for the past two years. It is this:
excellent. I got mine in the US (cheers, Garrie!) but there's now a UK
supplier advertising in the back of the CTC mag.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================

Dave Larrington said:

Keith Willoughby said:

However, I don't fancy a chunky mirror attached to the bars, so I was
fancying one of those glasses-mounted mirrors. Does anyone have any
first-hand experience of them, and a recommendation? Also, does anyone
know of a UK source of them

I've been using a Take-A-Look for the past two years. It is this:
excellent. I got mine in the US (cheers, Garrie!) but there's now a UK
supplier advertising in the back of the CTC mag.

Ta. Looks like a nice one.

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"Once Allende comes to power we shall do all within our power
to condemn Chile and all Chileans to utmost deprivation and poverty."
-- Edward Korry

"Whingin' Pom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You might be able to get a 3rd Eye mirror cheaper from the US,
depending on postage costs. Worth dropping them an e-mail?

Though they do drive on the wrong side of the road so you need to be sure it
will be correctly 'handed'.

T

Tony Raven wrote (of the 3rd Eye):

Quoted message said:

I bought one and didn't get on with it. Always having to mess around
angling the mirror and my head to be able to see. Gave mine away (IIRC)
to Danny Colyer on this group but don't know if he fared any better with
it.

I got along very well with it, thanks Tony. It's ideal for recumbent
riding and unicycling, though I can't see myself using it on an upright.

I'd read that the mounting gubbins was prone to breaking, particularly
in the winter when the plastic gets brittle, and sure enough it snapped
in the middle of the winter. I fixed it with a cocktail stick splint
and gaffer tape, that held for a couple of months, but I've since
replaced it. I find it useful enough that I don't object to having to
spend 12 quid on a new one every year, if necessary.

Kinetics sell the 3rd Eye and another glasses mounting mirror, the Heads
Up, which I think I might try next time:
<URL:http://kinetics.org.uk/html/mirrors.shtml>

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

ScumOfTheRoad said:

Rather unfunny comment, but Danny would have more use
for a head-mounted wirecutter!

Funnily enough, I was thinking along those lines last night. I've often
toyed with the idea of getting a Streamer fairing [1] for my bike, but
the cost is such that I'm reluctant to shell out without a test ride.
It occurred to me that I could attach a couple of vertical poles to the
top trailing edger of the fairing, extending to just above head height.
With a bit of luck, the vertical poles would break any future fishing
lines and save my neck.

It might not work, and even if I got the fairing I'm still short on
tuits, but it's something I'm sure I'll spend a lot more time thinking
about.

[1] <URL:http://kinetics.org.uk/html/wavey___streamer.shtml#streamer>

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

"Whingin' Pom" suggested:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You might be able to get a 3rd Eye mirror cheaper from the US,
depending on postage costs. Worth dropping them an e-mail?

to which Tony W replied:

Quoted message said:

Though they do drive on the wrong side of the road so you need to be sure it
will be correctly 'handed'.

Not sure if you're joking or not, but I'll bite. The 3rd Eye has two
ball and socket joints. The one that adjusts the 'handedness' will
readily rotate through 360 degrees.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

Danny Colyer said:

ScumOfTheRoad said:

Rather unfunny comment, but Danny would have more use
for a head-mounted wirecutter!

Funnily enough, I was thinking along those lines last night. I've often
toyed with the idea of getting a Streamer fairing [1] for my bike, but
the cost is such that I'm reluctant to shell out without a test ride. It
occurred to me that I could attach a couple of vertical poles to the top
trailing edger of the fairing, extending to just above head height.
With a bit of luck, the vertical poles would break any future fishing
lines and save my neck.

It might not work, and even if I got the fairing I'm still short on
tuits, but it's something I'm sure I'll spend a lot more time thinking
about.

[1] <URL:http://kinetics.org.uk/html/wavey___streamer.shtml#streamer>

James Bond had a nifty cable cutter on one of his cars IIRC

Tony

Tony Raven said:

Danny Colyer said:

ScumOfTheRoad said:

Rather unfunny comment, but Danny would have more use
for a head-mounted wirecutter!

Funnily enough, I was thinking along those lines last night.
I've often toyed with the idea of getting a Streamer fairing
[1] for my bike, but the cost is such that I'm reluctant to
shell out without a test ride. It occurred to me that I could
attach a couple of vertical poles to the top trailing edger
of the fairing, extending to just above head height. With a
bit of luck, the vertical poles would break any future
fishing lines and save my neck.

It might not work, and even if I got the fairing I'm still
short on tuits, but it's something I'm sure I'll spend a lot
more time thinking about.

[1]
<URL:http://kinetics.org.uk/html/wavey___streamer.shtml#streamer>

James Bond had a nifty cable cutter on one of his cars IIRC

Tony

Tomorrow never dies. I've just seen it on ITV.
--
Mark

1x1 wheel, 3x2 wheels & 1x3 wheels.

"Danny Colyer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Though they do drive on the wrong side of the road so you need to be

sure it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

will be correctly 'handed'.

Not sure if you're joking or not, but I'll bite. The 3rd Eye has two
ball and socket joints. The one that adjusts the 'handedness' will
readily rotate through 360 degrees.

I wasn't joking -- but you have confirmed that they are inherently
ambidextrous.

Thanks

T

Quoted message said:

I've been using a Take-A-Look for the past two years. It is this:
excellent.

Take-A-Look is definitely the best of its kind. If you have tried the
other kinds and not got on with them, I'd recommend giving the
take-a-look a go - it's a whole different animal, IMO.

Reviews here: http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Extras/product_86204.shtml

I bought one (complete with proper handing for riding on the lft side
of the road) direct from the makers in the USA back when I lived in
the UK, using a credit card. It arrived in the post within a few days,
no probs. They sell them in good bike shops over here (USA).

All of these things are too heavy for very light wire-framed specs - I
wear contacts and Oakley M's and the take-a-look works perfectly.

--
Peter Headland

Danny Colyer <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

It occurred to me that I could attach a couple of vertical poles to the
top trailing edger of the fairing, extending to just above head height.
With a bit of luck, the vertical poles would break any future fishing
lines and save my neck.

Maybe one of those glorified letter openers would be better, like the
things you can see here <www.safetycutters.com>. I had a similarly
designed safety knife for canoeing and it still worked well when it
was totally knackered with rust. I'm sure it could cope even with a
fairly narrow wire. Mind you, if it couldn't you'd then have to
contend with the wire+blade+lump of plastic pinging towards your
noggin at high speed :-(

Graeme

Keith Willoughby <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

...I was
fancying one of those glasses-mounted mirrors. Does anyone have any
first-hand experience of them, and a recommendation? Also, does anyone
know of a UK source of them

I have a take-a-look mirror from a chap who imports them from the US.
[email hidden] or 01425 674898. He advertises at GBP13.25 plus
GBP1.25 p&p but does club discounts (of a pound or two iirc) for CTC
LCC etc.

I have been happy with the compact model and you don't run the risk of
the legs breaking as apparently the third eye ones do occaisionally.
It took a couple of weeks to get used to focussing and angling my head
correctly but I am very happy with it. It mounts and dismounts easily
and seems to hold its adjustment well. The main faff is storage when
off the bike (mine lives in a rigid glasses case). My glasses arm is
approx 2x1mm rectangular section.

BTW, third eye will sell direct internationally. See ice bike for
links and also for take-a-look info
http://users.rcn.com/icebike/Equipment/cyclingmirrors.htm
They have added another product since I last looked. Cycle-aware who
also seem to do a lens-mount mirror

best wishes
james