One thing I don't understand

[Hip Priest]

I find a Mirror can be useful for shoving down the front of your jersey before descending the alpe at speed.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

By far the majority of people stated that they have tried a mirror and then explained why it did not work for them. For me the reasons against are were summed up in the 3rd post

A mirror.

Do we all just test ride A[\b] bike when it comes to purchase time?

I covered this in my original entry to the thread & ad naueum previously. There's a wide variety of mirrors available, many total cr@p, some very good and it is a process of trial & error & elimiation to find the types that do work and don't conform to the prejudice that a bad one can seemingly instil so readily and so deeply.

Unfortunately the bad ones (again read my original post here for the common failings) are the ones most commonly seen for sale and are usually cheap ones. The shops will no doubt shift enough of them to merit re-order without the seller making follow up enquiries to the purchasers how they got on with them. And its often said on here buy chdap buy twice - people don't invest in quality and then assume everything is c**p.

I tried a mirror and didn't like it is hardly a representative statement of the efficacy of all mirrors any more than I got drunk once is a licence to spout teetotalism in the beer thread OR to claim all bikes are rubbish because the one you bought in Asda was.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

On the assumption that this is sarcastically intended, go back and read @Origamist's first post here. It was a perfectly reasonable invitation to consider what benefits the OP was advocating.

I read them all including the one accusing OP of trolling and the youtube tantrum clip.

The OP IMO did cover what benefits they perceive from mirrors in no less detail than many of the 'tried it didn't like it' & 'I've got a working neck' posts yet none of them were challenged to provide an enhanced burden of proof of opinion, and a degeneration of content (on both sides) from there.

 

[MontyVeda]

A mirror.

Do we all just test ride A[\b] bike when it comes to purchase time?

I covered this in my original entry to the thread & ad naueum previously. There's a wide variety of mirrors available, many total cr@p, some very good and it is a process of trial & error & elimiation to find the types that do work and don't conform to the prejudice that a bad one can seemingly instil so readily and so deeply.

Unfortunately the bad ones (again read my original post here for the common failings) are the ones most commonly seen for sale and are usually cheap ones. The shops will no doubt shift enough of them to merit re-order without the seller making follow up enquiries to the purchasers how they got on with them. And its often said on here buy chdap buy twice - people don't invest in quality and then assume everything is c**p.

I tried a mirror and didn't like it is hardly a representative statement of the efficacy of all mirrors any more than I got drunk once is a licence to spout teetotalism in the beer thread OR to claim all bikes are rubbish because the one you bought in Asda was.

The point you seem so keen to miss is.... someone tried 'a' mirror, and decided that it had no real advantage over turning their head to see behind (which is very effective). How many different types of mirrors do you suggest we try before coming to the same conclusion?

 

[swee'pea99]

Please don't post a reply about how the sound alerts you, we all see many cyclists riding with stereo's on their heads how would they hear?

The sound alerts me. I don't wear a stereo, and never would. Mainly because it would prevent the sound from alerting me.

 

[Drago]

You could chop your ears off and pour concrete in for the difference they make in heavy urban traffic.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

A mirror.

Do we all just test ride A[\b] bike when it comes to purchase time?

I covered this in my original entry to the thread & ad naueum previously. There's a wide variety of mirrors available, many total cr@p, some very good and it is a process of trial & error & elimiation to find the types that do work and don't conform to the prejudice that a bad one can seemingly instil so readily and so deeply.

Unfortunately the bad ones (again read my original post here for the common failings) are the ones most commonly seen for sale and are usually cheap ones. The shops will no doubt shift enough of them to merit re-order without the seller making follow up enquiries to the purchasers how they got on with them. And its often said on here buy chdap buy twice - people don't invest in quality and then assume everything is c**p.

I tried a mirror and didn't like it is hardly a representative statement of the efficacy of all mirrors any more than I got drunk once is a licence to spout teetotalism in the beer thread OR to claim all bikes are rubbish because the one you bought in Asda was.

Stupid question I know, but presuming everyone can refrain from jumping in with 'tried that one and hated it' posts (I know, some hope) having tried a number of mirrors, which one/s did you decide were worth the money?

 

[GilesM]

The OP was the OP's very first contribution on CC. I see it as on a par with going into a crowded pub full of locals, getting up on a chair and telling them that they are all wrong about something.

Although you need big balls to do that, this is the internet, ideal for the not so brave.

 

[Origamist]

I read them all including the one accusing OP of trolling and the youtube tantrum clip.

The OP IMO did cover what benefits they perceive from mirrors in no less detail than many of the 'tried it didn't like it' & 'I've got a working neck' posts yet none of them were challenged to provide an enhanced burden of proof of opinion, and a degeneration of content (on both sides) from there.

The thread was on a downward trajectory as a consequence of the OP's opening remarks and tone - which were ill-considered. Who attempts to win people over to their side of an argument by questioning the sanity of others. The OP then managed one line to justify his position - which was weak. If he wants to convince others of the safety benefits of mirrors, that's his prerogative, but he should expect to be challenged if all he can muster are appeals to common sense.

 

[Origamist]

Stupid question I know, but presuming everyone can refrain from jumping in with 'tried that one and hated it' posts (I know, some hope) having tried a number of mirrors, which one/s did you decide were worth the money?

I found the "Take a Look" mirror the best. It fixes to glasses.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

The point you seem so keen to miss is.... someone tried 'a' mirror, and decided that it had no real advantage over turning their head to see behind (which is very effective). How many different types of mirrors do you suggest we try before coming to the same conclusion?[\b]

good to see such an open minded approach to variety[\b]


I'm missing no point, if people are fine tuning heads then lovely - I do even with a mirror on my bikes. Like helmets, hi-viz et al, I'm pro do what works for you, but the point I find hard to fathom is why people can be so dismissive and dogmatic on a sample of one or less, it is hardly fair or representative.

I come back to the Asda bike analogy, if someone said they hate cycling because of such a machine, are we all going to agree wirh them and give up? or maybe we'd suggest that a single bad example doesn't tar the whole gamut of bikes as rubbish and they should give other ones a go & they'll eventually find a type & the quality that works for them. It may be the next one they try, it may take them a dozen goes and trying several of each on on drop bars fast flat bars, CXs, hybrids, MTBs.......

I could recommend you the mirrors I find effective if you like. We could turn this thread into something positive but I suspect not.

I shall bid the thread adieu and hide it in the ignore box.

 

[swansonj]

I am about to do that thing that always gets me really worried - disagree with @theclaud ...

I use a mirror on all three bikes (tandem, solo, Brompton) and it's the same one, a Mirrycle. I agree that cheaper mirrors I tried before hitting on Mirrycles vibrated too much to be very useful. 90% of my cycling is in one posture and I agree the usefulness would diminish if you swap positions.

I use it
(A) for general awareness of what's behind me. Just cycling along a road, where you probably wouldn't feel the need to look over your shoulder every twenty yards, it's helpful to be aware if a cyclist is drawing near, or if an approaching car seems to be a bit closer than you'd like. It may not make a great deal of difference, but it may affect whether I swerve to avoid a pothole or ride over it, for instance, or save me wobbling because taken by surprise by a close pass. I don't like surprises when cycling.
(B) when changing lane/turning right. You can cycle along the near side, being constantly overtaken by a stream of cars, and be monitoring the traffic flow for a gap, ready, when you see a gap approaching, to shoulder-check and pull smoothly out into it, something not so easy IME to do by shoulder checking.

I do not claim either of those as necessary for safe cycling.

 

[Ihatehills]

My bar end mirror is made by mirrcycle ( an atrocious name I accept) but it really does work, the field of vision is great and it doesn't vibrate loose like some reports suggest that the cheaper ones do.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Generic-Mirrycle-Bike-Mirror/dp/B00JQN3J50

I accept that that not everyone, needs , likes, wants or gives a fart about mirrors but some people are denying the fact that they can be useful. Yes they have limitations but when can having an extra awareness about what is behind you possibly be a bad thing.

 

[Ihatehills]

Oops @swansonj posted while I was correcting my typos :-)

 

[Bianchi boy]

Simon,

You posted an entirely valid discussion point. Many posters here hold a different view from you. Some of them may have have been slightly sarcastic in putting their point across, many of them weren't.
What I would say is that I suspect that most of them have many, many years experience of riding bicycles, and that if adding a mirror was going to make a fundamental difference to their riding safety, they would have done it by now. That fact that the vast majority of cyclists don't use a mirror, to me, speaks volumes.
If it works for you though - great! But don't get annoyed with people for disagreeing with you!

Ride safe!

Well said