Should mirrors be mandatory?

[mjr]

If you mount a mirror where does your make up go?

Your undercarriage, presumably. If you've mounted the mirror, that's the reflection you'll see.

 

[RichK]

I did try using a mirror on my commuting bike for a while. Vibration on it was bad & it rarely seemed to be at the right angle (no matter how I adjusted it) that I was simply looking over my shoulder anyway. It didn't work for me.

 

[dodgy]

I have a zefal spy mirror, tiny and unobtrusive. My ride partners mostly don't realise I have it, but I'm always first to call out that there's a following vehicle, later on they figure out how I know.
Also really handy for spotting if your mates are dropping off the back. And no, I don't substitute a glance at the mirror for a proper shoulder check, the mirror is as well as a shoulder check, not instead of.

 

[NickNick]

Any more so than sunglasses or spectacles?

Based on where the rod is placed on the helmet I would guess (could be wrong) it would have more potential to pierce through a cheek/mouth/jaw than the frames from sunglasses or spectacles.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Based on where the rod is placed on the helmet I would guess (could be wrong) it would have more potential to pierce through a cheek/mouth/jaw than the frames from sunglasses or spectacles.

They are incredibly flimsy, being easily knocked off even when simply setting the helmet down on a table if you're clumsy about it. I'm not saying they're safe, but I don't expect they'll cause any more injury than striking your face on a surface while wearing glasses, where the frames/lenses have potential to cause serious injury to the eyes.

 

[Mike_P]

Catseye on the hybrid, Zefel Spin on the road bike. Do not always use them but exceptionally useful for spying gaps approaching in the queue of traffic passing by on a busy A road when needing to do a right turn.

 

[MiK1138]

Another thread got me thinking about the use of mirrors. I don't see very many bikes that have mirrors on them, particularly road bikes. I do have one of the bar end mirrors on my road bike, which is very unobtrusive, and I find it to be very useful, particularly in town. Do you use a mirror? Mirrors are mandatory on every other vehicle, why not bikes?

Only if you are handsome bugger like what I am

 

[jonnysnorocket]

No !!

 

[mustang1]

Airliners don't use mirrors so I dont want to either.

Anyway, if I wanted to use mirrors then I'd go the whole way and get parking sensors on my bike too and possibly a reversing camera. Cars have them, why shouldn't bikes?

 

[numbnuts]

I ride a trike so I have mirrors

 

[derrick]

I have used one for a while. Find it really usefull on clib rides. I can see if anyone is getting dropped. I have a problem with my shoulder and find it awkward to turn my head to far round. It only weighs a couple of grams so it dont slow me down.

 

[cosmicbike]

I ride a trike so I have mirrors

Same here. On a recumbent trike they are very useful indeed.

 

[FishFright]

Another one with trikes and they are extremely useful , it's a right pain without one. I am tempted to fit one on my tourer at some point.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

It's worth noting that mirrors aren't even mandatory on motorbikes in the UK.

 

[classic33]

No