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rear view mirrors
wondering about the wisdom of using rear view mirrors,
especially in city traffic. I visited a couple of bike shops here in Adelaide and the sales staff there didn't have too much positive to say about them, although they stocked the type that attaches to the handle bar. One shop had stocked the helmet type several years ago, but had discontinued them primarily because they shook too much to be of any use. Rec.Bicycles has a thread dealing specifically with the helmet types and opinion seems to be that they are an asset. Asset or not, I rarely see rear view mirrors on bikes here in Adelaide. Thanks in advance. |
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#2
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rear view mirrors
On Mar 26, 12:58 am, wrote:
wondering about the wisdom of using rear view mirrors, especially in city traffic. I visited a couple of bike shops here in Adelaide and the sales staff there didn't have too much positive to say about them, although they stocked the type that attaches to the handle bar. One shop had stocked the helmet type several years ago, but had discontinued them primarily because they shook too much to be of any use. Rec.Bicycles has a thread dealing specifically with the helmet types and opinion seems to be that they are an asset. Asset or not, I rarely see rear view mirrors on bikes here in Adelaide. Thanks in advance. I've tried a bar mirror and all it does is make me move over for traffic, which I don't want to do. I'm entitled to be in a safe part of the road and the cars and trucks should go round me. I've got good enough hearing and a mobile neck, so I can look backwards if I need to. If a vehicle is going to drive into me, I don't think having a mirror is going to change that. Most riders seem to share my disdain of mirrors. That said, other riders swear by them - each to his own. Perhaps try one and see if you like it. Donga |
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rear view mirrors
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#4
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rear view mirrors
wrote in message oups.com... wondering about the wisdom of using rear view mirrors, especially in city traffic. I visited a couple of bike shops here in Adelaide and the sales staff there didn't have too much positive to say about them, although they stocked the type that attaches to the handle bar. One shop had stocked the helmet type several years ago, but had discontinued them primarily because they shook too much to be of any use. Rec.Bicycles has a thread dealing specifically with the helmet types and opinion seems to be that they are an asset. Asset or not, I rarely see rear view mirrors on bikes here in Adelaide. Thanks in advance. My opinion is they are useful, but not necessary, in city traffic. Other people's opinions may vary I have had one for a few years on a mountain bike that is set up as a commuter. While I find it useful for letting me know there is traffic behind me, mirrors can never be depended upon to check if the road is clear. False negatives will kill ya. Just like in a car or on a motorbike, you must still have a look over your shoulder before shifting into another lane. So you have to decide whether they are useful enough to keep. I have a roadbike and a tourer with no mirrors fitted and I don't find that a disadvantage. They do vibrate and are generally smaller than rear view mirrors on cars, so field of view is not big. I have not tried the helmet mounted style, so cannot comment on their usefulness. Best thing is to try for yourself and see if you find them useful. Peter Miller Newcastle |
#5
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rear view mirrors
On Mar 26, 12:58 am, wrote:
wondering about the wisdom of using rear view mirrors, especially in city traffic. I visited a couple of bike shops here in Adelaide and the sales staff there didn't have too much positive to say about them, although they stocked the type that attaches to the handle bar. One shop had stocked the helmet type several years ago, but had discontinued them primarily because they shook too much to be of any use. Rec.Bicycles has a thread dealing specifically with the helmet types and opinion seems to be that they are an asset. Asset or not, I rarely see rear view mirrors on bikes here in Adelaide. Thanks in advance. I have the type that clips on to a pair of glasses (the brand is "Take a Look"). I think they are great. I have tried the ones that attach to a helmet and these ones don't bounce around anywhere near as much, hardly at all in fact. Compared with a handlebar mounted one, having the mirror closer to my eye means that it appears bigger so it covers more area behind me. Also it only takes a small, quick movement of my head to scan a wide angle behind me - you can't do that with the mirror on the handle bar. I mostly commute and tour on my bike and try hard to stay away from busy roads. It is rare that a vehicle passes me without me first seeing it and knowing how much room I will get when it passes. On a couple of occasions I have decided to dive off onto the shoulder because I didn't trust the room I was about to be given. In heavy city traffic I find I can't watch all the cars coming from behind since I have to watch where I am going but it certainly tells me a lot about what is happening on the road and it is a lot easier than turning my head right around. Personally I wouldn't ride without one. Peter Damm |
#6
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rear view mirrors
On Mar 26, 7:30 am, "pdamm" wrote:
On Mar 26, 12:58 am, wrote: wondering about the wisdom of using rear view mirrors, especially in city traffic. I visited a couple of bike shops here in Adelaide and the sales staff there didn't have too much positive to say about them, although they stocked the type that attaches to the handle bar. One shop had stocked the helmet type several years ago, but had discontinued them primarily because they shook too much to be of any use. Rec.Bicycles has a thread dealing specifically with the helmet types and opinion seems to be that they are an asset. Asset or not, I rarely see rear view mirrors on bikes here in Adelaide. Thanks in advance. I have the type that clips on to a pair of glasses (the brand is "Take a Look"). I think they are great. I have tried the ones that attach to a helmet and these ones don't bounce around anywhere near as much, hardly at all in fact. Compared with a handlebar mounted one, having the mirror closer to my eye means that it appears bigger so it covers more area behind me. Also it only takes a small, quick movement of my head to scan a wide angle behind me - you can't do that with the mirror on the handle bar. I mostly commute and tour on my bike and try hard to stay away from busy roads. It is rare that a vehicle passes me without me first seeing it and knowing how much room I will get when it passes. On a couple of occasions I have decided to dive off onto the shoulder because I didn't trust the room I was about to be given. In heavy city traffic I find I can't watch all the cars coming from behind since I have to watch where I am going but it certainly tells me a lot about what is happening on the road and it is a lot easier than turning my head right around. Personally I wouldn't ride without one. Peter Damm I've also got the take a look mirror (from the US) and it is the best I've tried. Everything that Peter said is right, but he left out the most important bit, if I'm on a training ride and I see another bike coming from behind who is obviously a much quicker rider, I can pull up and pretend there is something wrong with my bike. This can happen quite a lot. |
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rear view mirrors
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#8
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rear view mirrors
"Peter Miller" wrote: While I find it useful for letting me know there is traffic behind me, mirrors can never be depended upon to check if the road is clear. False negatives will kill ya. Just like in a car or on a motorbike, you must still have a look over your shoulder before shifting into another lane. The vaue of a mirror is not as a substitute for the all-important head check before making a rght turn/lane change. They simply reduce the frequency of hed checking needed, and give you much greater information about traffic and its movements at all times. They do vibrate and are generally smaller than rear view mirrors on cars, so field of view is not big. If it vibrates get another one. My old Rhode Gear bar end mirror is very secure - no vibration except for on rough coutry gravel roads. Thr rubber plug mount has vibrated out a couple of times on badly corrugated roads, but luckily each time I've known about it quickly and got it back. As far as the field of view is concerned, most are slightly convex to give a wider field, not as good as a car but they are wide rectangles which you'll never compare to. The convex shape gives a different distance perception, but after using this mirror for the past 14 years, I am very used to judging distance with it and don't get tricked by it. -- Cheers Peter ~~~ ~ _@ ~~ ~ _- \, ~~ (*)/ (*) |
#9
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rear view mirrors
Peter Signorini wrote:
"Peter Miller" wrote: While I find it useful for letting me know there is traffic behind me, mirrors can never be depended upon to check if the road is clear. False negatives will kill ya. Just like in a car or on a motorbike, you must still have a look over your shoulder before shifting into another lane. The vaue of a mirror is not as a substitute for the all-important head check before making a rght turn/lane change. They simply reduce the frequency of hed checking needed, and give you much greater information about traffic and its movements at all times. Also very handy on family rides to keep track of others. Also with the right angle can tell if daughter on trailer bike is actually holding the handlebars DaveB |
#10
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rear view mirrors
wrote in message oups.com... wondering about the wisdom of using rear view mirrors, especially in city traffic. I love 'em. If nothing else they make you feel much more confident in traffic because you can see what's happening all around you at once. The mount is the key though. If they hang under the bar like the cateye (http://tinyurl.com/yvzppw) you only see your elbow and if you try to mount it above the bar it just gets in the way. I finally found the Mirrycle and have been pretty happy with it as it both gets it away from your grip and outwards so you can see past your body directly behind much better. See http://www.mirrycle.com/mountainmirrycle.htm -- www.ozcableguy.com www.oztechnologies.com |
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