Mirrors, anyone use them?

[ComedyPilot]

I have a nice little one on the offside handle bar, and it helped me twice today.

This morning a truck couldn't be bothered to overtake (nothing coming the other way), so just drove past as normal. 0 feet room. I saw it wasn't moving out in the mirror, so I darted into the layby entrance nearby.

Phew

This afternoon, some pillock in a green astra estate did a 0 feet 70mph flypast with a silver Rav4 up it's ass. I saw it coming, held primary till the last second then jinked left.

"you ******* arseh*le" shouted , complete with waving right hand signal, meant the following dozen or so cars that passed me gave loads of room, and some even kept behind till it was safe to overtake.

 

[fossyant]

I must admit I am tempted when I get my fixed - given the crap driving I've seen recently - but it would have to be a dinky little thing.... commuting only...doesn't belong on the stallions.......

 

[Auntie Helen]

I use two all the time and they're brill - I always know what's happening behind me. In heavy traffic I turn round to look before pulling out, not because I don't know if it's safe (because I can see more easily in the mirror than twisting round) but to make eye contact. That seems to work usually to encourage drivers to let me filter in.

 

[palinurus]

I have one on my commuting/winter bike. Got it a couple of years ago when I did something to my neck and couldn't look around so easily. By the time I got the mirror delivered and fitted my neck had recovered, left it on anyway.

I miss it when I'm riding my other bikes and often look down for it. Still, I'm not going to be putting a mirror on my road, 'cross or TT bikes.

 

[thomas]

Some people on my club have ones that attach to helmets. Looks a bit weird, but quite a good idea really.

 

[palinurus]

I won't mention why I don't use one of those. I could probably get one that clips to my glasses tho'.

 

[HLaB]

I won't mention why I don't use one of those.

You're driving a car B)

 

[palinurus]

B)

 

[dudi]

I got one for christmas, but i'm not going to use it.
I think i would sh1t myself every 5 minutes if I could see that big lorry baring down on me... I'm better off not knowing.

 

[J4CKO]

I have a bar end one, I wouldn't be without it, the helmet one i had vibrated too much, I use it as advanced warning, I still turn my head but I look but have a constant awareness of whats behind me, I do in my car and on a bike I miss it, I probably use it more due to the speed difference.

 

[BentMikey]

A mirror is only an aide to looking. If you find vehicles surprise you that tells me you're not looking back often enough, whether you look in a mirror or turn around.

I use a mirror on the bent because it's hard to turn around, but no mirror on the upright. Mirrors are nice and easy to use, but have two significant disadvantages. One is that there are blind spots, and you don't have this when turning to look back, and two is that they reduce the amount of non-verbal communication between you and drivers. Two is rather important as it makes a huge difference how most people treat you on the roads.

 

[Iainj837]

I am going to get some mirrors, but I will still turn a look over my shoulder

 

[peanut]

Some people on my club have ones that attach to helmets. Looks a bit weird, but quite a good idea really.

What kind of club do you belong to ??

no don't answer that .

I rely on my hearing and look back a lot. one of these days I'll run into the back of a milk lorry B)

 

[Iainj837]

B)

 

[HF2300]

... one of these days I'll run into the back of a milk lorry B)

<pedant> Hope not - milk float, maybe... </pedant>