Toshiba Boy
N+1er
- Location
- By the beach, West Zummerzet
No.
It felt like you were implying that those who have tried and dismissed mirrors had misused them. The mirror has to be so far out that the reflected line of sight clears the rider's arm, shoulder and hip. Mirrors on extension arms nearly all get criticised in reviews for various types of distortion, which was my experience too. Shorter flat handlebars like yours may well help - only my folding bike has that, with porters and drops on my most-used bikes.
Plenty of the most popular mirrors are on or below the bar end like the Zefal Spy which means you can't see much on the opposite side of the bike unless it's a long way back and I think it's not the stuff a long way back you have to worry about. I've seen plenty of people with mirrors like the Spy or the between-the-legs-but-can't-use-longflap-saddlebags-or-racktops Bike Eye spend far longer peering down and wobbling around than they would have with a quick look behind if they were physically capable.
I rode once with a guy who used one of those. We had quite a long chat about it and he said he'd been using it for years and found it very effective. And who am I to doubt him? He also said he'd used some other brand which was less so. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of either brand.
The backward look, maybe even eye-contact, is an essential part of the communication process, which lets the driver know you are aware he is there and you are looking for a place where you think it safe for him/her to pass.
On a side note - has anyone toyed with the idea of an LCD screen on your bars - linked to a rear camera on the bike ?
I'm not talking 21" screen here, just a small 2 or 3 inch display
I wander if they've done any proper safety tests on those mirrors that attach to helmets, to me most of them look like they'd have a high chance of causing some quite nasty injuries to the face and or eyes in the event of a fall.