Cycle Mirror

[RobF]

I have just been on my bike to the village for milk (goodness knows why I had to tell you that!).

Utility cycling - something else you can do on an ebike.

That trip will have saved you a couple of quid in motoring costs, you will have had a bit of fresh air and exercise, and the chances are you will have interacted more with other people than you would have done in the car

So it's all good.

 

[flecc]

I have just been on my bike to the village for milk (goodness knows why I had to tell you that!).

Support for our hard pressed dairy farmers, well done. Next time buy two pints and make a rice pudding!

The bars seem awfully low relative to my eye line so I imagine the mirror will have to be high and angled back to get a decent view.

The Myrrycle will be fine with those bars. It's good having it out of your normal eyeline since if in vision all the time, the movements in its images can be distracting.
.

 

[Lancslass]

Utility cycling - something else you can do on an ebike.

you will have had a bit of fresh air and exercise,
So it's all good.

I treated my first utility ride differently than our first road ride! I decided that since I was only going a couple of miles, I could afford to let my legs strain more than on a longer ride. So I used less assist and a higher gear and got back home more puffed out than on our first longer ride.
I was also less togged up and the fresh air felt great.
It felt good.
Another good reason to have an electric bike.

 

[RobF]

I treated my first utility ride differently than our first road ride! I decided that since I was only going a couple of miles, I could afford to let my legs strain more than on a longer ride. So I used less assist and a higher gear and got back home more puffed out than on our first longer ride.
I was also less togged up and the fresh air felt great.
It felt good.
Another good reason to have an electric bike.

Another way to look at it is you can load the bike with more shopping in future because the motor will take some of the strain.

Your bike has a rack, so a couple of basic pannier bags will give you a fair bit of carrying capacity.

It will also be very satisfying to carve your way through a crowded supermarket car park, particularly at this time of year.

 

[Lancslass]

Your bike has a rack, so a couple of basic pannier bags will give you a fair bit of carrying capacity.

I already have a rear rack bag which sits on top of my rack and contains my lock .... and the milk of course. It also looks rather splendid against my metallic teal bike I must say!

 

[Yamdude]

I use my Ebike as a utility bike a lot. My local supermarket is too far to walk and too far to cycle unassisted loaded with shopping. But its too near to keep taking my car, really not good for car engines to constantly be driven short distances where the engine barely gets hot.
So an Ebike is great for it, and i can get a decent amount of stuff in a largish rucksack.

 

[Yamdude]

Also no cost and hassle of parking..... and no tw@ts putting dings in the bodywork of my car. Which always happens in supermarkets.

 

[anotherkiwi]

"The bars seem awfully low relative to my eye line so I imagine the mirror will have to be high and angled back to get a decent view."

You just glance down at it from time to time. Don't let us catch you riding hands free to do your eye liner!

 

[eHomer]

Convex Motorcycle mirrors, like those above but these do fold
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROUND-MOTORCYCLE-MOTORBIKE-STREETFIGHTER-BAR-END-FOLDING-MIRRORS-7-8-Handlebar-/221938316948?hash=item33ac8df694:g:DykAAOSwT5tWQyPx

Thanks for that Gringo, I didn't realise there was a newer version with another joint on it. I must admit, that would make them more versatile.

I tried many cycle mirrors but they always seemed a little on the flimsy side, and none of my alloy motorbike mirrors has ever broken or given problems.

The original type that I have can be easily folded in if you make a slight modification to them. I just file the cheeks on the inside of the ball clamping arms, just enough to let the square arm pass over the top.

I've never found them to have insufficient adjustment, despite the short arm length, because of them being beyond the handlebar ends. They even work on the underseat handlebars of my recumbent trike.

 

[Lancslass]

You just glance down at it from time to time. Don't let us catch you riding hands free to do your eye liner!

Ohh, nearly sexist but I'll let you off!
Believe me when I tell you, the last thing I want to look at is myself.

 

[RobF]

Ohh, nearly sexist but I'll let you off!
Believe me when I tell you, the last thing I want to look at is myself.

OK, but a pic or two of your new bike - with its matching trunk bag - would be nice.

 

[Andy_H]

Rubbery coating over hard plastic? I drilled the end out with a 22 mm wood bit. Nice and clean looks like it came from the factory that way.

Thanks Kiwi, I'll probably order some this week, only thing I need to watch for is the right grip is a throttle so need to make sure mirror attachment doesn't bind on the grip.

 

[Lancslass]

The Mirrycle mirror came today and we have fitted it to my dutch style bike. I have not had chance to test it in anger yet but from sitting on the bike in our garage I have every reason to believe that it will do the job.

As has been said, there is plenty of sideways and backward/forward angle adjustment and I like the convex nature of the mirror, which will allow a wider view of things.

Fitting was very easy and I like the feel of it, very solid with smooth joint movements.

I have already put in another order for hubby's Vita Uno.

Thanks to everyone for their help - great forum!

 

[Gringo]

Thanks for that Gringo, I didn't realise there was a newer version with another joint on it. I must admit, that would make them more versatile

I'd only just found them, thinking more about it I decided to order a pr.
my current plastic mirror works fine as a mirror but having plastic fittings it gets knocked out of position easily and I have to be careful leaning the bike against things. These metal mirrors should take a few knocks and cheap as chopped fried potatoes

 

[eHomer]

I also use a "Reevu" helmet, with a built-in mirror.

It has a clever rear periscope built in, so that you just look up under the peak for a panoramic rear view. So it's just like in a car, where you can be "aware" of things behind you, without actually staring into the mirror.

A clever invention, that I bought about 10 years ago, though i think the sales foundered for lack of support in the UK, (shame).......

 

[Croxden]

Now that could be thing to make me wear a helmet at all times.

 

[Black Dog]

I got one of the cheap Halfords mirrors (here) just to see if I got on with it. For the price, it's excellent. As a car driver/motorcyclist, I am used to keeping a constant picture of what is behind me at all times, and I missed that on the ebike. Turning right round for a good look isn't possible every few seconds, but with a mirror it's a breeze. The drawback with the Halfords item is that the stem is short, so it's easy to knock with your hand, and the ball joint isn't very strong, so needs frequent readjustment. I had to cut a hole in the end of the grip, but it's invisible now the mirror is there. But the picture in the mirror is clear and useful and I am glad I have got it. Now it has proved its worth, I intend to upgrade to a better one, and this thread has made me think I'll go for a Mirrycle.

One thing - the OP mentioned using a mirror to check before moving out round a parked car. I would say use the mirror to get a general idea of what is behind you, but before any manoeuvre that takes you out of your lane you should always do a shoulder check before committing. They don't call it a 'life-saver' for nothing.

 

[eHomer]

.........One thing - the OP mentioned using a mirror to check before moving out round a parked car. I would say use the mirror to get a general idea of what is behind you, but before any maneuver that takes you out of your lane you should always do a shoulder check before committing. They don't call it a 'life-saver' for nothing.

Absolutely right.

In fact, not doing the "life-saver" on just one occasion was one of the fail points on my motorcycle test.......

 

[Lancslass]

Yes I would still do the shoulder check, as in fact I do in a car, when I used to ride a motorbike - oh, and even as a pedestrian when crossing a quiet lane.

In fact a shoulder check is one way of letting an observant car driver that you are about to make some kind of manoeuvre and is vital for that reason as well.

 

[Lancslass]

Did a few miles this morning delivering Christmas cards in the locality and it was the first time with the Mirrycle mirror in situ.

On both my dutch style bike and hubby's straight handlebars we found the mirror to be excellent. No shake, good rear view and being convex, a wide area was covered.

Recommended and well worth the money.

Oh, and somebody admired my bike!