Do you use a Mirror ?

[Elswick Cotterpin]

Yes.

 

[mjr]

Mirrors are useful for noting cars that are behind but too far away to hear. On a recumbent you can't have a glance under your arm like you can on a DF.

If I glance under my arm, I see the road close by - definitely close enough to hear. Why do that instead of looking over one's shoulder?

 

[swansonj]

It's interesting how many of the people here who use mirrors still feel the need to explain that they still look over their shoulders.(almost as if they are excusing themselves for doing something shameful - having a mirror - by explaining that they don't actually use it.)

Why?

If you have a mirror, why not use it?

I have a mirror. I have absolutely no desire to make anyone use one who doesn't want to. But having got one, there are lots of times when I rely solely on it and do not shoulder check - when riding more-or-less with the traffic along a road, and needing to ascertain any following traffic for purposes of moving out to avoid a parked car or deciding whether to ride over a manhole cover or swerve to avoid it or changing lanes or turning right; to discover what the vehicle following me is and how close they are following to help second guess their intentions; when filtering, to see if anyone faster than me is also filtering whom I ought to let past- I don't think I shoulder check for any of these.

 

[martint235]

It's interesting how many of the people here who use mirrors still feel the need to explain that they still look over their shoulders.(almost as if they are excusing themselves for doing something shameful - having a mirror - by explaining that they don't actually use it.)

Why?

If you have a mirror, why not use it?

I have a mirror. I have absolutely no desire to make anyone use one who doesn't want to. But having got one, there are lots of times when I rely solely on it and do not shoulder check - when riding more-or-less with the traffic along a road, and needing to ascertain any following traffic for purposes of moving out to avoid a parked car or deciding whether to ride over a manhole cover or swerve to avoid it or changing lanes or turning right; to discover what the vehicle following me is and how close they are following to help second guess their intentions; when filtering, to see if anyone faster than me is also filtering whom I ought to let past- I don't think I shoulder check for any of these.

Me too. But there is an element on here that treats using a mirror as "wrong" unless you're on a recumbent then it's fine. Therefore you'll find people get defensive about using a mirror. It's a shame really.

Other people (and I'm looking at @ianrauk here ) seem to take offense because the mirror is on an expensive road bike, with insulation tape holding it on and lots of sellotape making sure there's no rattling.

 

[oldwheels]

Always use a mirror. Cycling mostly on single track roads easy to keep an eye out for traffic behind so pull into any reasonable overtaking spot. Keeps everybody happy and get friendly waves or toot usually. Even on "normal" roads still useful to keep an eye on what is behind.

 

[classic33]

No.

 

[Jimidh]

No not since I was 12 on my chopper.

I also used to have a horn on that too.

 

[potsy]

I use a Zefal Spy mirror that is easily switched between bikes, great little accessory
Tried a few others over the years but this is the best one for me.

Used to be great for keeping an eye on where @ColinJ was on forum rides too

 

[ColinJ]

Used to be great for keeping an eye on where @ColinJ was on forum rides too

Ha ha ... I have a pair of 25 x 50 binoculars that you can use to keep track of me on our imperial century forum ride next summer!