Bike mirrors

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I never had a mirror until 2012, which was when I got my Betty Foy and discovered that mirrors existed. I bought the German mirror from Rivendell and it’s all I’ve ever had since. But, I got a new bike now and I’m wondering if there is anything else better than the mirror I got in 2012. I don’t think I want one of those mirrors screwed into my bar end, because it’s weird (like a contraption from a Dr. Seuss book).

Anyway, do I just use my old trusty German mirror? Or is there a more sleek, modern, useful one I could snag for my Platypus?

Thanks!
Leah

[dougP]

Have you thought about mirrors that clip onto your glasses?  I see they now also have a helmet adapter.

https://takealookactive.com/gallery/

Personally I use a "beer-view mirror"  A friend makes these as a hobby.  He has common brands but the fun is give him a cap from some obscure beer or soft drink.  My current favorite is the Lost Coast brewery, and my wife (who's not a beer drinker) has one with the Brooklyn bridge; she's originally from Brooklyn.  The take-a-look is the most user friendly & easiest to adjust, but nowhere near as much fun.

dougP

[Nick Payne]

I've been using CycleAware reflex helmet mirrors for many years. The mirror arm has a swivelling ball attachment to the mount that sticks to the side of the helmet, and can be quickly removed with a knife or flat screwdriver blade for transport.

https://cycleaware.com/shop/ols/products/reflex-the-flexible-helmet-mirror-rfl-the-flx-hlm

Nick

[Steve Cole]

Leah,

Like you, I want everything on my bikes to be put together well.  I understand your thinking about the clunkiness of a bar-end mirrors.  Still, I want to put a word in for them and make a recommendation.  In August, Matthew William asked a similar question.  Here's that link [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/rbw-owners-bunch/steve$20cole%7Csort:date/rbw-owners-bunch/vQ-DHCe6NAs/laR_tENeDAAJ] and here's what I wrote then:

"Over the years, I've tried many kinds of mirrors -- I think they are truly essential for safety, especially in cities and towns.  After lots of experimenting, like Rick Freeman, I settled on the Hafny.  I tried the German mirror Riv sells and really found it wanting.  Same for the Mirracle.  I won't go into the reasons here but will elaborate if you or anyone else is interested. Here's why I like, no love, the Hafny.  As you know it is a bar-end mirror.  Inserting it into the bar end and tightening it makes it rock solid.  I won't lose it and important to me, the image is stable.  Second, it's flexible with respect to placement.  By this, I mean it can be set (and work well) anywhere within the 360 degree circle.  Personal taste. Mine is set upward.  Third, it has a stainless steel mirror, which is an important safety factor as it won't shatter.  Fourth, it's unbelievably inexpensive, $15; the Berthoud on the Rene Herse website is nearly $90 and has a much smaller, harder to use mirror.  The Hafny is easily available if you are willing to buy from Amazon.  

You didn't ask, but I use Ergon Biokork GC-1 grips.  They are specially designed for swept back handlebars like the Bullmoose, which sweeps about 30 degrees.  They come with openings at the end of the handlebars and easily accommodate the Hafny mirror.  In addition, they really support the base of my hands, which rarely get numb anymore.  While Ergon grips are widely available, the GC-1 model is a little rare.  Be sure you get this model; it's easy to make a mistake.

I'll try to answer any questions you have.   

Cheers,

Steve Cole

Arlington, VA

[J Imler]

Keep using the German mirror. Not sure if you’ve done the following, but make the mirror loose enough to twist on the bar. This helps allow for more hand placement as you can push/pull out of the way. Interactive like.

[Mark Roland]

It sounds like the Hafny is a good choice. But I do run bar ends on some of my bikes. I generally put mirrors on my upright bikes. I like the Riv German mirror. It has its little flaws, but it does the job and I think it looks good on a bike with upright bars (anything from albastache/tross to full on Boscos). Just ordered another one for my Hubuhubbuh. I kept thinking I had one somewhere, but couldn't find it....then after I ordered, I realized it is still attached to the old tandem....yikes. That's okay, building up my Crust Cargo forked bike this winter and it will definitely be getting a mirror.

[Matthew Williams]

I've been looking into this (no pun intended) and here are some styles I'm considering. Some of these would require additional fabrication or modification, but I don't anticipate any major problems getting them to work.

Motogadget

Berthoud

Rizoma Spy

Oberon

On Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 8:39:09 PM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

[Joe Bernard]

I have the same issue, I have the German mirror on my Boscos and have never been thrilled with them, I don't like the "everything is far away" convex feature. I love my Mirricyle bar-end mirrors on flatbars, but Leah's right that they don't work well in that position on pullbacks (and look lame there). I wish I could find one like that but with a German-ish (Germanic?) mount. 

[masmojo]

I've never felt the need for a mirror on my normal bike, but when I got my Ebike I discovered that it's pretty easy to get crosswayz going 20+ MPH if you are constantly checking behind you.

I first bought an Electra bike mirror and while I liked the look of it, the lens rattled around at high speed

I found these and they work pretty good
Serfas, the problem I've always had with bike mirrors is they typically don't stick out enough for you to see beyond your arm, the bar end mirrors sort of solve this problem, but typically only work well on drop bars where again your arm is not in the way.

Another problem is looks: does it convey the proper esthetic?

Leah's not going to want a mirror that looks funky on her Shiny new Platypus; the German mirrors look kinda funky honestly.

The Serfas mirror has a couple articulation points, the arm doesn't stick up too much, but does stick out enough to be able to see around your arms.  Probably not an issue with Bosco Bars or bars that sweep straight back.

On top of that they look nice, not dorky. IMHO

https://www.serfas.com/shop/products/mirrors/mr-4-glass-lens-bar-mirrors-left-right-specific/

[Leah Peterson]

Thanks for these fantastic suggestions! I finally settled on a Hafney mirror. It was $20, available on Amazon, thus, easily returnable. I did give up and go with the bar end, but I realize the Bosco bar angle may complicate the usability of a bar end mirror. This was the least goofy mirror, so I’m giving it first shake.

 I may have to have a goofy mirror after all, but I suppose I’d rather submit to that than to being hit by a car I didn’t see. Hafney offers other models to try, so we’ve got options and I’ll report back. We will have a fleet of well-dressed Platypuses on parade.

Leah

Sent from my iPad

On Nov 2, 2020, at 7:49 AM, masmojo <mas...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

I've never felt the need for a mirror on my normal bike, but when I got my Ebike I discovered that it's pretty easy to get crosswayz going 20+ MPH if you are constantly checking behind you.

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[Patrick Moore]

Have you considered helmet-mount mirrors, or sunglasses-mount ones? I tried all sorts, mounted to glasses, helmet, and bike, and while I finally decided I didn't care for any of them, the helmet ones worked as well, for me, as the bar-mount ones; tho' this was years ago and the current crop of bar mirrors are probably better than in 2007. The downside of helmet mirrors is that of course you can easily knock them out of alignment when storing your helmet.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[Leah Peterson]

Patrick - I may get to that level of Lone Wolf-ery but not yet. 😂 Helmet mirrors are getting a hard no from me for now. But I may eat my words one day!

Sent from my iPad

On Nov 2, 2020, at 10:40 AM, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:



Have you considered helmet-mount mirrors, or sunglasses-mount ones? I tried all sorts, mounted to glasses, helmet, and bike, and while I finally decided I didn't care for any of them, the helmet ones worked as well, for me, as the bar-mount ones; tho' this was years ago and the current crop of bar mirrors are probably better than in 2007. The downside of helmet mirrors is that of course you can easily knock them out of alignment when storing your helmet.

On Mon, Nov 2, 2020 at 11:33 AM Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for these fantastic suggestions! I finally settled on a Hafney mirror. It was $20, available on Amazon, thus, easily returnable. I did give up and go with the bar end, but I realize the Bosco bar angle may complicate the usability of a bar end mirror. This was the least goofy mirror, so I’m giving it first shake.

 I may have to have a goofy mirror after all, but I suppose I’d rather submit to that than to being hit by a car I didn’t see. Hafney offers other models to try, so we’ve got options and I’ll report back. We will have a fleet of well-dressed Platypuses on parade.

Leah

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[Sam Perez]

Any one have the berthoud mirror that can take pictures of how it reflects from the rider perspective. ..seems kinda small no?

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[aeroperf]

This is why I love this group.
For two years I’ve been thinking about getting a mirror so that I can see the people with silent bikes overtaking me before they yell “On your left”.
I check, and Leah has started a thread.  Motivation.  Three days later I’m trying out a Hafny mirror.  Thanks, Leah, and thanks, Steve Cole.
I have Albatross bars with bar-end shifters on my Sam, so mine mounts best under the bar and ahead of the brake lever.

[Ben Mihovk]

I use the German mirror and the Take-a-look helmet mirror simultaneously. The German mirror is a nice, wide look at what's behind me, but it makes objects seem farther away than they are. The Take-a-Look mirror seems to be a better gauge of how close cars are coming up behind me. As others have pointed out, the only thing I don't like about a helmet mirror is I seem to have to re-adjust if I even breathe on it wrong.

In one of my favorite articles from the Riv website about bike commuting, Grant suggest that you use mirrors AND "look like a nutcase." Helmet mirrors get both birds with one stone. 

Ben

[Leah Peterson]

Hey, who wants to hear a funny story? I ordered two mirrors - one bar end, one on-the-bar. Tried the bar end first, that was a no-go. Would work great with straight bars but not the Boscos I love. 

So, I tried the bar mounted mirror. It fell apart as I was tightening the screw.

I broke it. Fastest $20 I ever wasted.

Leah

Sent from my iPad

On Nov 3, 2020, at 11:36 AM, Ben Mihovk <bjmi...@gmail.com> wrote:

I use the German mirror and the Take-a-look helmet mirror simultaneously. The German mirror is a nice, wide look at what's behind me, but it makes objects seem farther away than they are. The Take-a-Look mirror seems to be a better gauge of how close cars are coming up behind me. As others have pointed out, the only thing I don't like about a helmet mirror is I seem to have to re-adjust if I even breathe on it wrong.

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[Joe Bernard]

She's right, that is a funny story! 😂😣

[Richard Gitz]

Sounds exactly like that $35 kickstand I put on my bike which instantly fell over and that stand went right in my junk drawer that I might get five bucks at a swap meet.

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 3, 2020, at 3:06 PM, Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey, who wants to hear a funny story? I ordered two mirrors - one bar end, one on-the-bar. Tried the bar end first, that was a no-go. Would work great with straight bars but not the Boscos I love. 

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