Mirror, mirror...

if i saw a mirror on a rider who raced i would make sure to be in his blind spot hahhaha
there is no need...u develop a good perhiphial vision eventually..

If u have some medical condtion that give u a bad blind spot...like wearing glasses and not contacts...it could be worth it..
my .02

FIRST POST EVER!

Interesting thread, I was planning on getting one, but I guess checking back works just fine...

Maybe they're geared more towards beginners when you aren't used to turning your head and being able to continue in a straight line.

Welcome!

I disagree. I don't think they ever lose their utility. I think some riders may lose their interest in using them, if they ever used them in the first place, but I think their utility stays pretty static.

Just back from 50 miles today (granted: probably dramatically slower because of the weight and wind resistance attributable to my helmet mirror, but I toughed it out nonetheless 😄). I can't imagine I'd have seen all the other cyclists, or even those silly cars, quite as soon without the mirror. Gave me plenty O' opportunity to get safely out of the way. Also let me know whether I was clear to avoid those last minute broken-glass-piles, potholes, etc., without doing the involuntary tango with Detroit steel.... For me, the upward and outward "eye-flick" is still much quicker than the neck-twist. YMMV....

I wholeheartedly understand why racers don't use mirrors while racing. That's racing. Not quite as sure, though, that there's a particularly tenable reason for not using them in traffic--two-wheel or four-wheel traffic. I just haven't figured out the downside....

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Boston_Knoll
FIRST POST EVER!

Interesting thread, I was planning on getting one, but I guess checking back works just fine...

Maybe they're geared more towards beginners when you aren't used to turning your head and being able to continue in a straight line.

Yes, handlebar mount. How else to keep an eye on the kids in traffic without one?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Brunswick_kate
Yes, handlebar mount. How else to keep an eye on the kids in traffic without one?

Perhaps by riding behind them. Just a thought. Use it, don't use it 😄

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Ratty
Perhaps by riding behind them. Just a thought. Use it, don't use it 😄

Well, Pappa usually takes up the rear of the pack, but seriously, I find the little one(s) work better when they can follow someone and not worry about where they are going in addition to avoiding traffic and remembering to stop at stop signs. We're talking 8 yr old here, second summer on her *real* bike. Traffic management skills still leave a bit to be desired.

And finally, Momma, although she be "old and slow" according to the Junior set, can still leave the brat pack in the dust, which mean the mirror gives great feedback in when I've taught the nay-sayers sufficient respect for the day and should slow the hell down 😄

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Brunswick_kate
Well, Pappa usually takes up the rear of the pack, but seriously, I find the little one(s) work better when they can follow someone and not worry about where they are going in addition to avoiding traffic and remembering to stop at stop signs. We're talking 8 yr old here, second summer on her *real* bike. Traffic management skills still leave a bit to be desired.

And finally, Momma, although she be "old and slow" according to the Junior set, can still leave the brat pack in the dust, which mean the mirror gives great feedback in when I've taught the nay-sayers sufficient respect for the day and should slow the hell down 😄

RESPECT 😄 or as Ali G says RASPEK!!😄

It depends on the bike.

I was using a mountain bike with a handbar mirror(what a pain), and found out that looking back is a lot better.

If you use a recumbent looking back is a tad difficult so for the a mirror is needed

I don't use one now.

But, I DID when I rode from Oregon to Maine. In fact, the three of us on the tour all bought mirrors at the first bike shop we passed. Consider that we were on the bike 7 or 8 hours a day for 42 days. It got really irritating always looking back to see where the other guys were.

Hmmm, maybe I will get one.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jdawg
[B]I am surprised at all the novice remarks, and/or the remarks about strong riders not using mirrors. Honestly, I have never once used a mirror and do not plan to. I ride because of the simplicity of riding, and gadgets seem to complicate matters.


He may say he does not use gadgets but I´ll bet he´s got some type of clip-less pedal and uses a variant of the STI system of indexed shifting : one man´s gadget .............

I am in China and the people here are truly brainless, I have been rear ended by I guy I looked straight in the eye, and who knew i was there, and my friend was rear ended by a truck while driving on the side of a straight road in broad daylight with no other traffic. Hell yeah I use a mirror!!!

Jeez, people, I dunno about you guys, but frankly I'd rather be alive and look stupid, than cool & dead!

And let's be honest - the helmets we wear aren't exactly the most flattering items of clothing in the world, are they? Just because you're used to them doesn't mean half the world isn't saying "DORK!" behind your back. hehehe

Really, to those of you out there who think mirrors are bad for the image, imagine the cool image you'll display in a wheelchair or, worse, in a coffin with tyre tracks across your head.

I don't have one myself (yet!) but the first time I come across one that works well for me, I'll be making an acquisition.

Really, I have NEVER heard such claptrap as "I'll hunt them down after..." - you can't do that from a wheelchair, and ESPECIALLY not from a coffin. Prevention is one helluva lot better than 'cure'...

My 2c worth..........

p.s. in my country we have things called minibus taxis - and we have arguably the highest death toll in the world, mostly due to these taxis. You wanna live dangerously, come ride on our roads!

Yeah I use a mirror . A little handlebar mounted Cateye, wieghs next to nothing dosn't vibrate or come loose. I find that having two means of doing the same thing is not a bad idea, I can peek in the mirror and see how far back the traffic is, or the pack, then if I'm being cautious turn my head and have a look. Also really good for emergency avoidance manouveres when you dont have time to check. And anyway I always get a buzz checking just how damm cool I look in my cycling gear;-)

You GO, boy!

Practical AND honest!

😄

I cant see a need for one. I can hear a car coming for a long ways and really wouldnt wish to be reliant on glancing into a mirror all the time. Seems to me to actually introduce potential for more error. Also what rek said below, as even with a mirror I'd be doing what I have always done, gain eye contact.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by rek
I can't even think of pulling into a lane (for turning across the road, clearing parked cars, etc.) without doing a proper head-check to see what's about, and also to give the other people on the road the indication that YES, I can see you there just as well as you can see me.