Bicycle mirrors ?

"Timothy Murphy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (<80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

The Mirrcycle is the best That I have used available from www.sjscycles.com
PK

On Sat, 7 Jan 2006 15:32:37 -0000, "P K"
<[email hidden]> said in
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

The Mirrcycle is the best That I have used available from www.sjscycles.com

The Mirrycle is also the best I have used. Mountain Mirrycle for
straight-bar bikes. One on the 'bent, one on the tandem, and one on
SWMBO's bike.

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"To every complex problem there is a solution which is
simple, neat and wrong" - HL Mencken

Timothy Murphy said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

I've never found a good mirror. The Mirrcycle has been about the best,
but even that has limited use.

Problems with mirrors on bikes are that they suffer badly from road
vibration; it takes time to move your head to obtain a rearview image;
and it can take time to refocus the eyes.
They also have a limited angle of view and distort distance and speed.

It is much better to always look behind and to get a much wider view of
what is happening around you.

Unless there are any special reasons such as a physical inability to
look behind (or for recumbents)I would never recommend using a mirror on
a bike.

John B

John B said:

Unless there are any special reasons such as a physical inability to
look behind (or for recumbents)I would never recommend using a mirror on
a bike.

Thanks for the response.
I do actually find it quite difficult to look behind me,
so I shall look out for the Mirrcycle recommended by several people.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (<80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

"Timothy Murphy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

John B said:

Unless there are any special reasons such as a physical inability to
look behind (or for recumbents)I would never recommend using a mirror on
a bike.

Thanks for the response.
I do actually find it quite difficult to look behind me,
so I shall look out for the Mirrcycle recommended by several people.

I don't have any mirrors on my normal bikes, but on my recumbent trike, one
of these...

http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/trikes_t.htm

I have two of these...

http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/trike_details_ice_accessories.htm#Mirror

one on each hand grip.

I have to say that I have not been bothered by vibration making it difficult
to see a clear image in the mirrors. The image is steady.

Cheers, helen s

John B said:

Timothy Murphy said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

I've never found a good mirror. The Mirrcycle has been about the best,
but even that has limited use.

Agreed. The old drop-bar Mirrcycle is wonderful, though only fits
old-fashioned drop-bar brake levers, not the more recent types with the
cables along the handlebars. The flat-bar version is also excellent.

Quoted message said:

Problems with mirrors on bikes are that they suffer badly from road
vibration;

Slight in my experience. But depends on the road surface.

Quoted message said:

it takes time to move your head to obtain a rearview
image;

Though less time than looking behind you. If positioned well one can be
aware of things in them very easily.

Quoted message said:

and it can take time to refocus the eyes.

Depending on ones individual eyes. Some people, particularly as they get
older, may find focusing an issue.

Quoted message said:

They also have a limited angle of view and distort distance and speed.

True. This is a trade-off in all mirror designs for any vehicle. I find I
get used to automatically compensating for this.

Quoted message said:

It is much better to always look behind and to get a much wider view
of what is happening around you.

I'd recommend this _always_ before carrying out any manoever.

Quoted message said:

Unless there are any special reasons such as a physical inability to
look behind (or for recumbents)I would never recommend using a mirror
on a bike.

There I'd disagree. I find a mirror is a wonderful thing. I have one on
my usual touring bike. I don't have one on the station hack, and miss the
mirror. I find it lets me see when stuff is coming up behind well before
its into audible range. And, if planning a manover, I have half an idea
what to expect when I do a "look over the shoulder" check.

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

in message <[email hidden]>, P K

(') said:

"Timothy Murphy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

The Mirrcycle is the best That I have used available from
www.sjscycles.com PK

I'd second the recommendation for the Mirrycle. The original, which works
on the hoods of older road bike brake levers, is wonderful and provides
a good clear view back without too much vibration. Haven't tried the
Mountain Mirrycle (who needs a mirror on a mountain bike?) but it looks
as if it should be equally effective. Unfortunately they don't make
anything for roadbikes with modern integrated brake/shift levers.

<URL:http://www.mirrycle.com/index.html>

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Error 1109: There is no message for this error

"Timothy Murphy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (<80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

I wouldn't be without my MirrCycle. I wear varifocal specs and can't look
behind easily because I get the wrong bit of the lens.

Geoff Pearson said:

"Timothy Murphy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (<80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

I wouldn't be without my MirrCycle. I wear varifocal specs and can't
look behind easily because I get the wrong bit of the lens.

I also have the fairyvocal problem. I use a h****t-mounted mirror, which
gives me a better field of view than the mirror I have on the drops of one
of my bikes, and with less minification, so I can actually see cars before I
hear them.
This is a better reason for wearing a helmet (there, I've gone and spelt it
out) than any other, because it makes it useful all the time. I find myself
doing that slightly odd headflick at times when I'm not wearing the helmet,
though.
--

Martin Bulmer

Cycle star works well I have one on my trike and one on the daimond frame
http://www.bumm.de/index-e.html

SW

"Timothy Murphy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (<80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

Steve W said:

Cycle star works well I have one on my trike and one on the daimond frame
http://www.bumm.de/index-e.html

SWMBO insisted on having a mirror fitted and she used one of these on the
end of her drop bars. It was the model with a long stem. It was forever
getting knocked or shaken out of position. Eventually the joint gave way.
It is now on the list of Bad Buys.
Maybe it has been improved.

The model without the stem may of course be better and wouldn't suffer from
vibration so much.

John B

Timothy Murphy said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

If you're including glasses-mounted mirrors, I heartily recommend the
Take-A-Look mirror.

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"Living in a jungle, living in a tent. Better than a prefab - no rent."

Keith Willoughby said:

Timothy Murphy said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

If you're including glasses-mounted mirrors, I heartily recommend the
Take-A-Look mirror.

Is it available in the uk?
--

Martin Bulmer

In message <[email hidden]>, Martin Bulmer
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Keith Willoughby said:

Timothy Murphy said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

If you're including glasses-mounted mirrors, I heartily recommend the
Take-A-Look mirror.

Is it available in the uk?

ICE list it.

<http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/trike_details_general_accessories.htm>

Me, I like me mirrors, really miss them on the bike that doesn't have
one fitted.
--
Chris French

Martin Bulmer said:

Keith Willoughby said:

Timothy Murphy said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

If you're including glasses-mounted mirrors, I heartily recommend the
Take-A-Look mirror.

Is it available in the uk?

I got mine from Paul Budge, psmc [@] ukonline.co.uk

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"There was Riley pushing it, shoving it, shushing it"

"Timothy Murphy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I used to have one but took it off.

I find that having an obvious mirror on a bike is a cue for following
motorists to overtake even more dangerously than usual - sometimes I find
just looking over my shoulder has the same effect - sometimes I make a point
of doing that as a sign that I am happy to be overtaken.

Wearing obvious headphones seems to work too to make them think twice. (I
hasten to add that they don't stop me knowing there's someone close behind).
Sometimes things are so bad I deliberately wobble a bit so they give me a
wide berth.

It's a pity the Reevu helmet never caught on - not that there would have
been one in my size anyway ...

Quoted message said:

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (<80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

"Nigel Cliffe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

John B said:

Timothy Murphy said:

Are there any good cycle mirrors
to allow one to see the road behind?

I had one which was broken in an accident,
but it wasn't very good anyway -
it was mounted at one end of the handlebars,
and it was difficult to keep it sufficiently still
to get a good view of the road behind.

I've never found a good mirror. The Mirrcycle has been about the best,
but even that has limited use.

Agreed. The old drop-bar Mirrcycle is wonderful, though only fits
old-fashioned drop-bar brake levers, not the more recent types with the
cables along the handlebars. The flat-bar version is also excellent.

Quoted message said:

Problems with mirrors on bikes are that they suffer badly from road
vibration;

Slight in my experience. But depends on the road surface.

Quoted message said:

it takes time to move your head to obtain a rearview
image;

Though less time than looking behind you. If positioned well one can be
aware of things in them very easily.

Quoted message said:

and it can take time to refocus the eyes.

Depending on ones individual eyes. Some people, particularly as they get
older, may find focusing an issue.

So, that's what my problem is, old age!

Alan

Quoted message said:

And I believe there is another small advantage.My homemade mount with a
convex mirror stuck well out to the right side.It seemed to impress
drivers and kept them a little further away, maybe because this was the
obvious lateral marker, or perhaps they got a bright spot of
headlight(convex lens),or did they feel extra keen not to scratch their
paint on a bright metallic thing .I miss it in all activities.I shall
look at the mirricycle.My current cheap one is rubbish.The convexity
gave a good field of view for short range, very good in slow traffic,
not so good on fast lanes.
TerryJ

And I believe there is another small advantage.My homemade mount with a
convex mirror stuck well out to the right side.It seemed to impress
drivers and kept them a little further away, maybe because this was the
obvious lateral marker, or perhaps they got a bright spot of
headlight(convex lens),or did they feel extra keen not to scratch their
paint on a bright metallic thing .I miss it in all activities.I shall
look at the mirricycle.My current cheap one is rubbish.The convexity
gave a good field of view for short range, very good in slow traffic,
not so good on fast lanes.
TerryJ