Head mounted mirrors

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classic33

Leg End Member
For those on here, that wear a helmet. Would you use one and if you you do is there any real advantage to a shoulder check?

For those who don't wear helmets but do wear glasses, the same question.
 

MikeW-71

Veteran
Location
Carlisle
Not a helmet mounted one. If I wanted to use a mirror it would be mounted on the bars.

There is also this option:
https://rearviz.com/index.php

A wrist wearable one.
 
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shouldbeinbed

Rollin' along
Location
Manchester way
I have bar end mirrors on all my bikes (zefal on straight/ish & sprintech on drops) and a bad neck. I've tested and used the right ones for me for long enough and trust them sufficiently not to need to do the limited range shoulder check I can do to see what is there, I still do it tho as a visual cue to the driver behind.

I've tried a helmet mirror very briefly and wasn't impressed, for the difficulty in setting it solidly, accurately and consistently as well as it would force me to wear a helmet all the time and I don't wish to, I also wonder if a helmet mounted light would blitz the view.

As to a limb worn one, I made a prototype idea one, last time I spotted such a thing raised on here, there was nothing to commend it over a bar mount mirror. More of a gimmick than indicators IMO. And requires eyes off the road and arm off the bars both at the same time.

At least bar/frame mounted you are looking back with fixed points in the frame to act as reliable references and distance gauge. Stuff on a waggly head or flappy limb doesn't have that same consistency to be used properly as a rear view option.
 

Moodyman

Legendary Member
Nope. I prefer to shoulder check. It improves visual communication with other road users.

But I know some people have ailments and may not be as flexible in the neck
 

Katherine

Guru
Moderator
Location
Manchester
I wear a helmet and don't want to add anything to it which I might land on. I do shoulder checks, which, as @Moodyman says, communicates my intentions to other road users. I have good flexibility, Pilates for me is the best thing since sliced bread. However, if I couldn't do shoulder checks, I would mount a mirror on my handlebars.
 

Roadrider48

Voice of the people
Location
Londonistan
Shoulder checks for me too. As someone has already said, it gives any vehicle behind you a good indication that you know they are there.
 

Roadrider48

Voice of the people
Location
Londonistan
Only if the driver sees you checking!
True, but it gives you half a chance.
 

glasgowcyclist

Charming but somewhat feckless
Location
Scotland
I used one on my recumbent because it was not possible to turn my head enough to get a good view behind. The bike has under-seat steering so had no good place to mount a mirror either; this meant I had to wear a helmet-mounted mirror which, although it was fiddly to set up and get used to initially, was a very useful device. Within a couple of days it became second nature to use and I liked being able to scan all the lanes behind me with a small movement of my head.

blackburn-helmet-mirror.jpg

For anyone worried about injuries from it in a collision, I'd say that it would be unlikely in the extreme. The whole thing is made of plastic and would come apart in a crash.

GC
 

shouldbeinbed

Rollin' along
Location
Manchester way
I've tried a bike-eye in the past. Rack/panniers can limit what you see and I took it off after realising I was looking in it then doing a shoulder check anyway.
Cos of the neck, I've gone through a lot of mirrors over the years to be sure I'm using the best ones for me & will take the hit of the £5-15 they usually are if they're no good, but this is the one type I've never wanted to spend on to try. I can't get my head around how mounted to the middle of the frame you'd get a clear unimpeded view behind, with the rest of the bike frame, your own torso & legs & luggage all in the same viewing plane as the mirror.

Apologies @classic33 for the slight thread hijack but I'd love to see pics / hear from people that do use and like these type as to how they do work in the real world and with a rack bag, saddle wedge (ono) or panniers attached. Do you have to synchronise a kick out of your leg with a glance down too to get the necessary view behind?

Also as a regular folder rider, on that frame, it'd be 9 inches off the ground and 5 feet from my eyes :sad:
 
Cos of the neck, I've gone through a lot of mirrors over the years to be sure I'm using the best ones for me & will take the hit of the £5-15 they usually are if they're no good, but this is the one type I've never wanted to spend on to try. I can't get my head around how mounted to the middle of the frame you'd get a clear unimpeded view behind, with the rest of the bike frame, your own torso & legs & luggage all in the same viewing plane as the mirror.

Apologies @classic33 for the slight thread hijack but I'd love to see pics / hear from people that do use and like these type as to how they do work in the real world and with a rack bag, saddle wedge (ono) or panniers attached. Do you have to synchronise a kick out of your leg with a glance down too to get the necessary view behind?

Also as a regular folder rider, on that frame, it'd be 9 inches off the ground and 5 feet from my eyes :sad:
My wife has almost no ability to turn her head, so I've never been able to get her cycling on anything other than a sustrans type path. Shame really as she wants to and would - happily did so on segregated paths when holidaying in Holland. Tried mirrors but it just isn't going to happen on the roads as they terrify her.

I'll have to have a poke about and see if I've still got the bike-eye and I'll happily post you it so you can have a try yourself if you want. As I said, it didn't work for me.
 

shouldbeinbed

Rollin' along
Location
Manchester way
My wife has almost no ability to turn her head, so I've never been able to get her cycling on anything other than a sustrans type path. Shame really as she wants to and would - happily did so on segregated paths when holidaying in Holland. Tried mirrors but it just isn't going to happen on the roads as they terrify her.

I'll have to have a poke about and see if I've still got the bike-eye and I'll happily post you it so you can have a try yourself if you want. As I said, it didn't work for me.
Brilliant, thank you, I'll DM you my address and pay postage.
 
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