Mirror, mirror, on the road

[aedifica]

Bike mirrors: do you use one? If you do, is it handlebar mount, helmet mount, or eyeglass mount?

Suggestions for the next line in the rhyme "mirror, mirror, on the road..." also welcome in comments. :)

(This post inspired by an email from my dad, who is thinking about getting a mirror for use with his bike.)

Comments

[aedifica]

Me, I've used a handlebar mounted mirror before and really liked it. I haven't tried a helmet mount; it seems like it would be a nuisance having it knocked out of alignment all the time when I stuff the helmet into my bag, etc. Is it?

Rhyme: Mirror, mirror, on the road... help me avoid being squashed by a toad? (Ewww.)

[darkemeralds]

I use a handlebar-mounted mirror on my Dutch bike. Couldn't feel comfortable riding without it: there's way too much other bike traffic around here, so even when I'm on side streets and bike paths, there's a lot to keep an eye on.

I had to hunt to find one suitable for the bike. Finally found an old-fashioned one on eBay, round and chrome with red reflector on the back, and a long straight stem that mounts to the bar where it can actually be useful.

[rax]

I used to ride with a handlebar mirror; I liked it, but not enough to replace it after it broke. It tends to require frequent adjustments if you park it in bike racks a lot.

[aedifica]

I used to readjust mine all the time! The buses here have bike racks on the front (room for two bikes per bus) and I always made sure to point my mirror down when I put my bike on the rack so there would be no chance of reflecting sun into the driver's eyes.

(Similar to you, I liked my mirror a lot but not enough to replace it after the bike was stolen. I'm thinking about it, though.)

[roadrunnertwice]

I don't use one. I had one when I was a kid, but it ended up being kind of useless for me; I'd rather just look back every once in a while to keep my mental model up to date.

[ilanarama]

I have used a handlebar mount and it was okay. I tried a helmet mount once and HATED it. It was so tiny and never reflected the tiny bit I actually wanted to look at!

I have gone mirrorless for ages now. It's not such a big deal to turn my head and to be aware of noises behind me and stuff in my peripheral vision.

ETA: also, I would hope the mirror wouldn't be on the road! That would mean you'd fallen over! Mirror, mirror, on my bike, show me only stuff I like? Mirror, mirror, on my lid, show me what I've just done did? Mirror, mirror, on my glasses, show me drivers who hopefully aren't being asses. :-)

[darkemeralds]

You win the poetry contest!

[ilanarama]

Thank you, thank you, and don't forget to tip your server.

[vlion]

I don't use one. I just look around all the time.

I had one once, but it wasn't very useful, as I recall.

[zingerella]

I don't use one. The helmet ones look dangerous (like, what happens when you do fall or get hit and that little thing gets broken right near your eye? The handlebar ones look like I'd be constantly adjusting and fussing and the more I have to adjust and fuss with, the less attention I have to spare for the considerable traffic around me. I've been riding in my city since I was 12, and have grown accustomed to looking around a lot, and to keeping my ears open. It seems to work for me.