Darby
captain
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 384
Loc: Orange County California
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I have seen pictures of a small mirror that fits where the plug goes at the end of the handlebars. Does anyone know how well these work?
My other alternative is to mount a small mirror on my helmet. I have heard some say that helmet mirrors are distracting.
I ride in a lot of traffic and I would like to see if any cars are coming up behind me.
Bruce
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Jeff
friend
Reged: 01/29/04
Posts: 68
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I have one and do not like it very much. It is better than nothing but that is about it. vibration with all mirrors are an issue IMHO and this one is hard to adjust angle as they are held on by bar tape. I think the mirror that has attaches to glasses via a flexible wire works the best but looks dorky.
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Dave_Thompson
prophet
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 714
Loc: Spokane, Washington
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Quote:
Jeff wrote:
I have one and do not like it very much. It is better than nothing but that is about it. vibration with all mirrors are an issue IMHO and this one is hard to adjust angle as they are held on by bar tape. I think the mirror that has attaches to glasses via a flexible wire works the best but looks dorky.
Dorky or not, the Bike Peddler mirror http://www.rei.com/product/1842331.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC is the best rear vision device for a bike that I've found. I tried several bar-end mirrors and as Jeff posted, vibrations make them almost unusable, or they get knocked out of alignment every time the bike is leaned against something. Helmet mounted mirrors are better but still subject to vibration and the adhesive becoming weak and allowing the mirror to fall off.
The Bike Peddler mirror mounts easily and securely on the glasses and affords a very clear and wide field of vision. My wife and I ride in much traffic and both have this mirror. We even took it to Austria last year for our two week cycling vacation. It will be in Italy this year with us.
--------------------
Steel lover, but then I like Ti with carbon too.
Licensed bike geek.
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Umlungu
contributor
Reged: 03/04/05
Posts: 178
Loc: Plano, TX
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Just out of curiosity; how sturdy do the glasses have to be to use these? I wear rimless glasses with titanium frames that are very very small and always wondered if the mirror would weigh down one side of my specs.
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Dave_Thompson
prophet
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 714
Loc: Spokane, Washington
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Quote:
Umlungu wrote:
Just out of curiosity; how sturdy do the glasses have to be to use these? I wear rimless glasses with titanium frames that are very very small and always wondered if the mirror would weigh down one side of my specs.
Usually when riding I wear glasses like Bolle or Rudy Project, but on occaision I've worn my 'regular' glasses for a quick run to the store. My regulars are much like yours sound; Ti frames with semi-rimmed lenses, the mirror holds on well. The mirror's tension is adjustable and if your glasses are well fitted on your face, they shouldn't have a problem
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Steel lover, but then I like Ti with carbon too.
Licensed bike geek.
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Darby
captain
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 384
Loc: Orange County California
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Quote:
Dave_Thompson wrote:
The Bike Peddler mirror mounts easily and securely on the glasses and affords a very clear and wide field of vision. My wife and I ride in much traffic and both have this mirror. We even took it to Austria last year for our two week cycling vacation. It will be in Italy this year with us.
Thanks Dave and Jeff,
I bought them today and took them on a quick ride to test them out. They do work well. It took a little time to get them adjusted correctly. At the start of the ride, I was getting a great view of my left shoulder. With a little work I got them dialed in correctly.
Bruce
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Umlungu
contributor
Reged: 03/04/05
Posts: 178
Loc: Plano, TX
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Great Dave, thanks for the feedback! Exactly what i was hoping to hear.
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mickeymac
new member
Reged: 11/21/06
Posts: 9
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Maybe you've already found what you're looking for with the mirror mounted on glasses. However, if you're still interested in the bar-end mirrors, they're readily available on ebay and lots of other sources. I've been using them since June and really like them. I've had just two problems with them: 1) the right side mirror kept dropping down to the useless point any time I hit rough asphalt and 2) either knee can knock a mirror out of position pretty easily. I discovered that the first problem was due to not having the bar end/mirror holder pushed all the way in. Problem solved. The other problem I've solved by being more careful about where I put my knees. The best part about the dual bar-end mirrors is that 8/10 people don't even notice them.
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Darby
captain
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 384
Loc: Orange County California
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Quote:
mickeymac wrote:
Maybe you've already found what you're looking for with the mirror mounted on glasses. However, if you're still interested in the bar-end mirrors, they're readily available on ebay and lots of other sources. I've been using them since June and really like them. I've had just two problems with them: 1) the right side mirror kept dropping down to the useless point any time I hit rough asphalt and 2) either knee can knock a mirror out of position pretty easily. I discovered that the first problem was due to not having the bar end/mirror holder pushed all the way in. Problem solved. The other problem I've solved by being more careful about where I put my knees. The best part about the dual bar-end mirrors is that 8/10 people don't even notice them.
I thought that the bar-end mirrors is what I wanted. Several people on this forum recommended the glasses mounted mirror and I purchased one. It does work when it is adjusted correctly and the image in the mirror doesn't bounce. I do have to adjust the mirror correctly each time I put it on my sunglasses which is a little difficult, but the process will probably improve in time.
I have two concerns with the bar-end mirrors. One is that I have to rewrap the bars; I wanted mirrors that just replaced the plugs, but I haven't found any mirrors like that. Two, that they would bounce so much that I couldn't use them.
I may eventually try to use both mirror systems.
Thanks for the feedback,
Bruce
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mickeymac
new member
Reged: 11/21/06
Posts: 9
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I didn't have to re-wrap my bars to add the bar-end mirrors. I just pulled the Cinelli bar-end plugs and replaced them with the new plugs and then popped in the mirror. Like I said, the problem with mirror movement was my fault because I didn't have the plug pushed in all the way. Yesterday I noticed some buzzing, but it was easily solved by pushing the mirror back down firmly. I think it came a bit loose when my bike fell over the other day. With these bugs worked out one of the few unsolvable (but minor) problems is that with my arms in certain positions on the bar-tops my arms block the mirrors making them temporarily useless. However, I don't have my arms in this position often, so it's not a big thing. Another thing I love about the mirrors is that the right side mirror gives a good view of traffic approaching from behind on right-hand curves, when the mirror on the left side shows nothing. I also find that having two mirrors helps when I'm riding away from the sun because the glare usually hits one but not both mirrors. In case it doesn't come through clearly, I'm very happy with this purchase, and I'm not the easiest guy in the world to please.
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Darby
captain
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 384
Loc: Orange County California
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Quote:
mickeymac wrote:
I didn't have to re-wrap my bars to add the bar-end mirrors. I just pulled the Cinelli bar-end plugs and replaced them with the new plugs and then popped in the mirror. Like I said, the problem with mirror movement was my fault because I didn't have the plug pushed in all the way. Yesterday I noticed some buzzing, but it was easily solved by pushing the mirror back down firmly. I think it came a bit loose when my bike fell over the other day. With these bugs worked out one of the few unsolvable (but minor) problems is that with my arms in certain positions on the bar-tops my arms block the mirrors making them temporarily useless. However, I don't have my arms in this position often, so it's not a big thing. Another thing I love about the mirrors is that the right side mirror gives a good view of traffic approaching from behind on right-hand curves, when the mirror on the left side shows nothing. I also find that having two mirrors helps when I'm riding away from the sun because the glare usually hits one but not both mirrors. In case it doesn't come through clearly, I'm very happy with this purchase, and I'm not the easiest guy in the world to please.
Do you know who makes your mirrors? I think that they might work for me in addition to what I am already using. All of the bar-end mirrors I have seen are rather large and require the bars to be re-wrapped.
Thanks,
Bruce
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Mike
contributor
Reged: 12/25/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Oregon
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I think you are looking for these:
Sprintech Mirrors at Western Bike Works
I've seen them in person, they look well made, but I'm not sure about vibration issues. I am using the take a look eyeglass mirrors, and am happy with those.
Mike
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mickeymac
new member
Reged: 11/21/06
Posts: 9
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Yep, those are the mirrors I have. Here's the manufacturer's site.
Quote:
Mike wrote:
I think you are looking for these:
Sprintech Mirrors at Western Bike Works
I've seen them in person, they look well made, but I'm not sure about vibration issues. I am using the take a look eyeglass mirrors, and am happy with those.
Mike
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Darby
captain
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 384
Loc: Orange County California
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Thanks for the links. I will probably put them on my bike and use in addition to the mirror that mounts on my sunglasses.
Bruce
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cccyclist
journeyman
Reged: 09/27/05
Posts: 80
Loc: Central California
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There's not going to be any sneaking up behind you!
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NateM
new member
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 16
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Bruce,
I've been using the barend Sprintech mirrors for a few years with good results.They do not vibrate unless you are on very rough road.One word of caution with any barend system is that when you look down at the mirror you are not looking at the road in front of you.With the eyeglass system you can still be looking ahead as well as checking behind.I use a small eyeglass mirror that sticks to the inside of the lens (size of a pea) as well.I commute in heavy, fast traffic in NYC and sometimes taking my eyes off the road to check barend mirror is too dangerous.Nate
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Darby
captain
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 384
Loc: Orange County California
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Quote:
NateM wrote:
Bruce,
I've been using the barend Sprintech mirrors for a few years with good results.They do not vibrate unless you are on very rough road.One word of caution with any barend system is that when you look down at the mirror you are not looking at the road in front of you.With the eyeglass system you can still be looking ahead as well as checking behind.I use a small eyeglass mirror that sticks to the inside of the lens (size of a pea) as well.I commute in heavy, fast traffic in NYC and sometimes taking my eyes off the road to check barend mirror is too dangerous.Nate
Nate, thanks for the feedback.
After playing around with the Bike Peddler mirror, I think I finally have it dialed in correctly; and I don't think I need any other mirror. The Bike Peddler works fine. The problem I was having with it initially was that it was giving me a great view of left shoulder.
I will stay away from the bar-end mirrors and stick with what works.
Bruce
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Darby
captain
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 384
Loc: Orange County California
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Quote:
cccyclist wrote:
There's not going to be any sneaking up behind you!
I hope not. I am a little paranoid of cars. My first day on the Calfee someone lady pulled up next to me looked at me and then made a sharp right turn in front me. I almost the side of her car. So I have become nervous about cars behind me.
The Bike Peddler mirror has made me a lot more confident.
Bruce
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Darby
captain
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 384
Loc: Orange County California
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Dave Thompson,
Thanks for recommending the Bike Peddler mirror. That little device works wonderfully, and now I will not ride with out it.
Bruce
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Nev
captain
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 363
Loc: Never where I want to be
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Quote:
Darby wrote:
Quote:
cccyclist wrote:
There's not going to be any sneaking up behind you!
I hope not. I am a little paranoid of cars. My first day on the Calfee someone lady pulled up next to me looked at me and then made a sharp right turn in front me. I almost the side of her car. So I have become nervous about cars behind me.
The Bike Peddler mirror has made me a lot more confident.
Bruce
I commute pretty regularly now, and cars turning right and cutting me off in front of me drive me nuts.
But when it comes to cars behind you, you might want to consider
THIS REAR LIGHT
Have a look. Enlarge the photos. I got one and I really feel it has changed drivers behavior. Overall I get passed with much wider room. I've had my front lights go out on me and behind me was all I needed to keep the cars off. My presence on the road at night is much much bigger because of it.
But this light is EXTREMELY VISIBLE in daylight as well.
Having this much presence and the bright forceful beam I believe cars respond to that first before they adjust their driving to you, giving you a wider area.
I highly recommend it.
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Darby
captain
Reged: 08/03/06
Posts: 384
Loc: Orange County California
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Quote:
Nev wrote:
But this light is EXTREMELY VISIBLE in daylight as well.
Having this much presence and the bright forceful beam I believe cars respond to that first before they adjust their driving to you, giving you a wider area.
I highly recommend it.
Thanks Nev,
This is impressive. According to the pictures, it looks like it throws off more light than the tail light of my car.
Do you notice people giving your more space during the day as well? Right now I ride mostly during the day but may ride start riding at night too.
Bruce
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Nev
captain
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 363
Loc: Never where I want to be
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Quote:
Darby wrote:
Quote:
Nev wrote:
But this light is EXTREMELY VISIBLE in daylight as well.
Having this much presence and the bright forceful beam I believe cars respond to that first before they adjust their driving to you, giving you a wider area.
I highly recommend it.
Thanks Nev,
This is impressive. According to the pictures, it looks like it throws off more light than the tail light of my car.
Do you notice people giving your more space during the day as well? Right now I ride mostly during the day but may ride start riding at night too.
Bruce
Yes.
I use it in blinker mode during the day.
Edited by Nev (01/28/07 08:08 PM)
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