Helmet Mirrors Good Or Bad. Better Then Handle Bar Mirrors ?????

[keithhazel]

the title says it all, are helmet mirrors better then handle bar mirrors,do you have it on right side of helmet or left, do you have both helmet mirrors and handlebar mirrors ?

your experience will be better for me then some salesman trying to "sell" me something he might have no personal experience of.........

 

[coops]

Or how about a tiny 'glasses mirror' . Not tried one of those myself though.

I recently got a Cateye BM500 R/hand mirror which works quite well, though I've been having to readjust it quite often due to the loose fit to the bars slipping - hopefully some tape/rubber will stop most of the movement.

A bar-end mirror seems more practical in some ways than a helmet mirror - can be used regardless of type of helmet or no helmet, or glasses in the above case . Also much less of a distraction I think, even though less eye movement, mirror shake & a wider view may be possible with a helmet mirror.

I'm sure I read some opinions about helmet vs handlebar mirrors here recently in another thread.

Stuart.

 

[flecc]

This post has some mirrors advice:

multi-mirrors
.

 

[flecc]

And here's another one with a link to helmets and a clip on mirror accessory:

Helmet and mirror
.

 

[keithhazel]

Or how about a tiny 'glasses mirror' . Not tried one of those myself though.

I recently got a Cateye BM500 R/hand mirror which works quite well, though I've been having to readjust it quite often due to the loose fit to the bars slipping - hopefully some tape/rubber will stop most of the movement.

A bar-end mirror seems more practical in some ways than a helmet mirror - can be used regardless of type of helmet or no helmet, or glasses in the above case . Also much less of a distraction I think, even though less eye movement, mirror shake & a wider view may be possible with a helmet mirror.

I'm sure I read some opinions about helmet vs handlebar mirrors here recently in another thread.

Stuart.

the "tiny glasses mirror" sounds good idea in principle, except if you had to take off after every bike ride you might easily damage specs and also leave sticky mark to clean, could leave on maybe ?...although as the modern thing is to have small lenses im not sure enough glass to stick to or wide enough to see anything except your own ear....not a nice thought.....its the wobble factor, will helmet mirrors wobble more then handle bar mirrors, could end up with both then between the two will feel less like ive missed anything, i cant turn round as i fall off if i do..

 

[coops]

Yes, at first sight the glasses mirror seems neat, but I think both glasses and helmet mirrors may have a potentially major drawback: glasses & helmets tend to slip & slide around a little & even such a small change of position of a mirror so relatively close to the eye could seriously compromise the rear view & hence their usefulness; worse still, constantly readjusting helmet or glasses for a clear view would be a major distraction & potentially very dangerous, not safety-oriented at all. I stress that I've never tried them, but to me the simplicity & effectiveness of a bar-mounted mirror outweighs any possible slightly reduced wobble benefit of helmet/glasses mirror .

A rear view mirror makes a huge improvement to road awareness when riding - it effectively almost doubles your view and you'll soon wonder how you managed to ride while only seeing half of your surroundings . Like Ian, I've not looked back since getting one either!

Stuart.

 

[keithhazel]

im wobbling off the idea of helmet mirrors now....when you say "ive not looked back since"....is that a physical term or mental term ?....are these handle bar mirrors efficient enough that you dont actually have to look behind for "definate" confirmation...

 

[flecc]

Yes, definitely Keith. They are convex and give a wide field of view. Where Stuart's mirror is loose in his bars, on the Quando the handlebar alloy is very thick and you may have to file the insert components to get it to go in. Either the 300G or 500G are suitable, but the 500G fits in easier, heres the link to see those two:

Cateye

You may have missed that our earlier posts crossed when I gave two links above to other posts on mirrors.
.

 

[keithhazel]

thanks Flecc will order now, firstly am i right in thinking people only have one on the right side, or is one either side better,i may look also later at helmet ones but im a bit careless and they might not last 5 minutes, however if im walking down the street i can see anyone coming up behind me i dont like and can leg it one...
keith

 

[flecc]

On one of those links I gave above, the poster says he uses them on both sides, but I wouldn't for one simple reason.

The downside of bar end mirrors is the way it's nearly impossible to avoid knocking them and having to re-adjust, especially when going through a narrow gap or wanting to lean the bike up against a wall etc. Having one on both sides would double that problem. It's usual to only use one, and you'd have to order a US model for that cranked arm design 500G to go on the left. That's one of the big advantages with helmet mirrors of course, that problem of knocking against walls doesn't exist. (Unless you're feeling very frustrated!)
.

 

[keithhazel]

ar narrow gaps yes thats me...short cuts and snickets ect...thanks for adviseing USA one, will order now, will have just the one, do you somehow fasten it in or just have it in tight and hope its not pinched as the rest will be chained up with 3 chains..lol....i will definatly later try a helmet mirror at some point as like the idea, just the wobble bit and i personally will find it very easy to brake...

 

[flecc]

They hold in with an end crosshead bolt, and I've never heard of one being stolen

Given the intellect of the average bike thief, he'd probably see his face in the bike mirror and think, "Oh no, someones watching me",
.

 

[keithhazel]

thats a brilliantly funny answer for you to wrap up this question topic and take the last post too....

 

[keithhazel]

Yes, definitely Keith. They are convex and give a wide field of view. Where Stuart's mirror is loose in his bars, on the Quando the handlebar alloy is very thick and you may have to file the insert components to get it to go in. Either the 300G or 500G are suitable, but the 500G fits in easier, heres the link to see those two:

Cateye

You may have missed that our earlier posts crossed when I gave two links above to other posts on mirrors.
.

do Halfords and other places sell these cateye mirrors or only website you gave me Flecc...
keith

 

[flecc]

Yes Keith, Halfords tend just to stock one type of them though, recently it seems to be the less suitable 300G, but worth checking them. Other cycle dealers usually stock them as well.

Price generally around £5.99.
.

 

[keithhazel]

thats great as on line might take a week, will try and get one quick if can get taken or go on my bike end of week maybe
thanks.
i will ring in advance of course to make sure.

 

[Jeanette Morgan]

I am lucky enough to have a Revuu helmet with built in mirror and I would not be without it. However, I believe they are no longer available in this country. I just need to look up to the peak of the helmet and thro clever mirroring within the helmet I can see behind. My husband has cateye mirrors on both sides of his Ezee sprint - they give a good view of behind and fit into the ends of the handlebars very nicely. He does have to adjust them on setting off as they are easily knocked when putting the bike away after a ride.

Mirrors should never be the only way of looking behind when manoevering, but they certainly do help you to know what is happening behind, whilst still keeping your eyes on the road ahead.

Regards
Jeanette

 

[keithhazel]

that helmet sounds brilliant, but you are right i think as cant locate them anywhere, think they have a building in newcastle and even have motor bike helnets on website but no mention of cycle helmets.....

the little stick on ones are for sunglasses and not normal glasses unfortunatly as they wont work through prescription lenses...another dead end without even thinking about it..shame...but not give up on helmet one like yours, even if i have to get from usa....i cannot turn round to look or i fall off so either have good mirrors or stop, look behind and then set off again which is awful....

 

[flecc]

Did you look at this expensive one Keith? Helmet and clip on mirror, waterproof cover, and even a rear light:

Link
.

 

[keithhazel]

i did see that but i dont want a raincover as something else to carry, asimple plastc cap like a shower cap style you would be able to have in corner of bagm where that cover looks stiff....the rear light...well i will want a set, or two so the odds are that wont fit in, i didnt quite work out the mirror when i first saw it, i think it will only work with that hat as the bracket will obviously fit it so that good, but 40 quid for a helmet and mirror really....but thanks anyhow and dont be afraid to keep suggesting, i NEVER complain about too much..