Finding a mirror that is not a piece of crap...

On Fri, 3 Sep 2004 12:35:40 -0400, "Roger Zoul"
wrote:

Good info. One guy, on the second link you gave, did comment that he
thought the shorter version was superior because of the need for less head
motion to get a good rear view. Maybe he has a long neck

I would not be able to function with a stick-on mirror. funny how, in
cycling, so many of the products are poorly suited for their intended task.
You'd think a rag like Bicycling would scout and root out all of the
ill-suited products.

FWIW, I've now adapted really well to the third-eye type of mirror,
although it took a week of fiddling to get it adjusted. At first it seemed
like I needed to look down and then turn slightly, and it was a bit
annoying and difficult to get adjusted to, but now I use it all the time.
Just a quick, and slight turn of the head and I've got a good view of the
traffic behind - it seems very natural.

-B

"Rich Clark" wrote in message
...

"Roger Zoul" wrote in message
...
:: Here are some reviews for the Take a Look:
::
:: http://users.rcn.com/icebike/Equipme...ingmirrors.htm
::
:: http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Extras/product_86204.shtml


Do you have the long or short version?

??

I've used a Take-A-Look for years, swear by it; using it is so natural to
me
it's like part of my head. I miss it when I'm walking down the street.

I never saw more than one version. Is the version that's been widely sold
everywhere for the last many years the "long" one or the "short" one? And
where have you seen more than one version? (Aside from the fact that the
same mirror is sold with and without a helmet adapter, and in
left-side/right side versions.)

RichC (having a hard time imagining why there needs to be more than one
length)


The Long version is the original model. I think the shorter version was
just released in the last few years. Most of my riding friends use the long
version, and none of us has noticed any problems with using it. The
situational awareness provided by this mirror is outstanding - I always know
exactly where cars are in the lane behind me, and can keep a close eye on
them as they pass. Much easier than trying to listen for overtaking traffic
(wind noise and modern cars/tires make this problematic), or twisting around
to look over your shoulder.

--
~_-*
....G/ \G
http://www.CycliStats.com
CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

"Rich Clark" wrote in message
...

"Roger Zoul" wrote in message
...
:: Here are some reviews for the Take a Look:
::
:: http://users.rcn.com/icebike/Equipme...ingmirrors.htm
::
:: http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Extras/product_86204.shtml


Do you have the long or short version?

??

I've used a Take-A-Look for years, swear by it; using it is so natural to
me
it's like part of my head. I miss it when I'm walking down the street.

I never saw more than one version. Is the version that's been widely sold
everywhere for the last many years the "long" one or the "short" one? And
where have you seen more than one version? (Aside from the fact that the
same mirror is sold with and without a helmet adapter, and in
left-side/right side versions.)

RichC (having a hard time imagining why there needs to be more than one
length)


The Long version is the original model. I think the shorter version was
just released in the last few years. Most of my riding friends use the long
version, and none of us has noticed any problems with using it. The
situational awareness provided by this mirror is outstanding - I always know
exactly where cars are in the lane behind me, and can keep a close eye on
them as they pass. Much easier than trying to listen for overtaking traffic
(wind noise and modern cars/tires make this problematic), or twisting around
to look over your shoulder.

--
~_-*
....G/ \G
http://www.CycliStats.com
CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

"Reid Priedhorsky" wrote in message
news
Hello all,

I'd like to find a mirror that works for me and isn't a piece of crap.
I've been having trouble in this. I'd like the following:

1. Attached to the handlebars (drop bars) in the vicinity of the left
brake lever. (Head-mounted mirrors I find disorienting, and bar-end
mirrors are placed too low.)

2. Stiffly attached to the bars. No wiggly plastic bits to amplify
vibrations.

3. Holds adjustment well, and proper adjustment is easy to recover after
being bumped.

4. Reasonably sturdy and resistant to breakage.

Currently I have a Blackburn mirror which fails all but #1.

Does such a beast exist?

Reid

I have the Third Eye bar end mirror. Unlike other bar end mirrors that I've
seen, this one does not have an arm that moves the mirror further out. It
plugs directly into the end of the bar. When I look back I catch a view of
a little of my thigh, but that's much like any car rear view mirror. It
does vibrate a little on rough roads, but it's fine for 80% of the riding I
do. I think the arm on the other models accentuates the vibration.

You can see the one I'm talking about he
http://www.3rd-eye.com/welcome.html. Even though they show it on a straight
bar, it works fine on drop bars too. I monitor traffic with it and if the
road is straight, I can even make left-hand turns without turning around
(but I don't recommend it).

Ride on, behind aware,
Don

"Reid Priedhorsky" wrote in message
news
Hello all,

I'd like to find a mirror that works for me and isn't a piece of crap.
I've been having trouble in this. I'd like the following:

1. Attached to the handlebars (drop bars) in the vicinity of the left
brake lever. (Head-mounted mirrors I find disorienting, and bar-end
mirrors are placed too low.)

2. Stiffly attached to the bars. No wiggly plastic bits to amplify
vibrations.

3. Holds adjustment well, and proper adjustment is easy to recover after
being bumped.

4. Reasonably sturdy and resistant to breakage.

Currently I have a Blackburn mirror which fails all but #1.

Does such a beast exist?

Reid

I have the Third Eye bar end mirror. Unlike other bar end mirrors that I've
seen, this one does not have an arm that moves the mirror further out. It
plugs directly into the end of the bar. When I look back I catch a view of
a little of my thigh, but that's much like any car rear view mirror. It
does vibrate a little on rough roads, but it's fine for 80% of the riding I
do. I think the arm on the other models accentuates the vibration.

You can see the one I'm talking about he
http://www.3rd-eye.com/welcome.html. Even though they show it on a straight
bar, it works fine on drop bars too. I monitor traffic with it and if the
road is straight, I can even make left-hand turns without turning around
(but I don't recommend it).

Ride on, behind aware,
Don

Roger Zoul wrote:


You'd think a rag like Bicycling would scout and root out all of the
ill-suited products.

Hah!

Buycycling exists to make you buy products. They sell _you_ to their
advertisers.

Oh, they have to do a token "product sacrifice" once in a while, to keep
the newbies fooled, but root out _all_ the unsuitable products? No way,
never.


"The multi-colored high-intensity-discharge spoke illuminator was
somewhat dim in 'puce' mode. For $500, we expected better. We give it
just four chainwheels out of five."


--
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com.
Substitute cc dot ysu dot
edu]

Roger Zoul wrote:


You'd think a rag like Bicycling would scout and root out all of the
ill-suited products.

Hah!

Buycycling exists to make you buy products. They sell _you_ to their
advertisers.

Oh, they have to do a token "product sacrifice" once in a while, to keep
the newbies fooled, but root out _all_ the unsuitable products? No way,
never.


"The multi-colored high-intensity-discharge spoke illuminator was
somewhat dim in 'puce' mode. For $500, we expected better. We give it
just four chainwheels out of five."


--
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com.
Substitute cc dot ysu dot
edu]

Frank Krygowski wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::
:::
::: You'd think a rag like Bicycling would scout and root out all of the
::: ill-suited products.
::
:: Hah!
::
:: Buycycling exists to make you buy products. They sell _you_ to their
:: advertisers.
::
:: Oh, they have to do a token "product sacrifice" once in a while, to
:: keep the newbies fooled, but root out _all_ the unsuitable products?
:: No way, never.
::
::
:: "The multi-colored high-intensity-discharge spoke illuminator was
:: somewhat dim in 'puce' mode. For $500, we expected better. We
:: give it just four chainwheels out of five."

I guess there are just not enough cyclist spending money in the US to make a
good rag worthwhile, like those for computers and home theater equipment?

That seems hard to believe. My subscription to Buycycling is ending soon
and will not be renewed. I'm going to let them know why.

Frank Krygowski wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::
:::
::: You'd think a rag like Bicycling would scout and root out all of the
::: ill-suited products.
::
:: Hah!
::
:: Buycycling exists to make you buy products. They sell _you_ to their
:: advertisers.
::
:: Oh, they have to do a token "product sacrifice" once in a while, to
:: keep the newbies fooled, but root out _all_ the unsuitable products?
:: No way, never.
::
::
:: "The multi-colored high-intensity-discharge spoke illuminator was
:: somewhat dim in 'puce' mode. For $500, we expected better. We
:: give it just four chainwheels out of five."

I guess there are just not enough cyclist spending money in the US to make a
good rag worthwhile, like those for computers and home theater equipment?

That seems hard to believe. My subscription to Buycycling is ending soon
and will not be renewed. I'm going to let them know why.

"Don DeMair" wrote in message
...

I have the Third Eye bar end mirror. Unlike other bar end mirrors that
I've
seen, this one does not have an arm that moves the mirror further out. It
plugs directly into the end of the bar. When I look back I catch a view
of
a little of my thigh, but that's much like any car rear view mirror. It
does vibrate a little on rough roads, but it's fine for 80% of the riding
I
do. I think the arm on the other models accentuates the vibration.

You can see the one I'm talking about he
http://www.3rd-eye.com/welcome.html. Even though they show it on a
straight
bar, it works fine on drop bars too. I monitor traffic with it and if the
road is straight, I can even make left-hand turns without turning around
(but I don't recommend it).

Ride on, behind aware,
Don


Third Eye bar end gets my vote. I've been using them on all my bikes for at
least 10 years. They are harde enough to find that I keep a spare. Position
makes the view to the rear very natural. No more difficult than the rear
view mirror in the car. Very little vibration because it plugs directly into
the bar with no extension to amplify movement. My only complaint is that it
won't work with my touring bike with bar-end shifters. I'm right eye
dominant so helmet mirrors aren't satisfactory.
Bill Brannon