Using Mirrors . .
- Thread starter David Parry
- Start date
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Frood42
I know where my towel is
- Location
- Magrathea, Horsehead Nebula
No mirrors or bells here.
I had a bell at one point, but it was useless, people either ignored it, or jumped the wrong way into my path, and of course it won't be heard by car drivers.
I find a simple hello, coming left or coming right works better, assuming it ain't two women having a gossip who move in the direction you call out as they are not listening or paying attention to what is around them (good job I ride slowly). Of course it gave the husband a chuckle...
Mirrors are your choice, but they will probably make me lazy.
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I had a bell at one point, but it was useless, people either ignored it, or jumped the wrong way into my path, and of course it won't be heard by car drivers.
I find a simple hello, coming left or coming right works better, assuming it ain't two women having a gossip who move in the direction you call out as they are not listening or paying attention to what is around them (good job I ride slowly). Of course it gave the husband a chuckle...
Mirrors are your choice, but they will probably make me lazy.
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Shut Up Legs
Down Under Member
I've used bicycle mirrors for decades, and haven't found them to be too distracting (any more than a motorist's mirrors are the real cause of distraction). As for bells: aren't these required on bicycles in the UK?
Shut Up Legs
Down Under Member
OK, thanks for clarifying. In Australia, every bicycle must have a working bell or horn attached.2861749 said:
OP
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David Parry
Active Member
- Location
- Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Yeah, you know I initially found the shoulder check hard to do. It took me a lot of practice before I could keep a reasonably straight line while looking back, and you know I really had to work at developing the physical flexibly. I found that just a quick "flick" check was good enough to determine if the lane was clear of traffic, but it you want to judge speed and distance of what's back there--more detail--you have to really turn your head and this was tough to do. Lots of practice, is required, and the move becomes really important in critical traffic situations.
OP
OP
David Parry
Active Member
- Location
- Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
I find it amazing how many pedestrians you pass wearing ear buds, and you know they can't hear your bell and you know they will get startled when you zip past.No mirrors or bells here.
I had a bell at one point, but it was useless, people either ignored it, or jumped the wrong way into my path, and of course it won't be heard by car drivers.
I find a simple hello, coming left or coming right works better, assuming it ain't two women having a gossip who move in the direction you call out as they are not listening or paying attention to what is around them (good job I ride slowly). Of course it gave the husband a chuckle...
Mirrors are your choice, but they will probably make me lazy.
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Frood42
I know where my towel is
- Location
- Magrathea, Horsehead Nebula
There is a local canal tow path/walkway near me called Lee Valley Way, which I like to use on the odd weekend.
It is quite popular with people who like to fish, they like to walk along side by side having a little chat carrying all their fishing gear (which is what you would be expecting on a nice lazy Sat or Sun).
I enjoy playing a little game with them, by riding as quietly and closely as I can to see how long before they notice me, I find it rather amusing
, as they all apologise quite profusely depsite the fact I am no rush to get by them (it's a shared space for recreation, so I am in no rush, and I believe everyone should be free to use it without concern).London is a pain for pedestrians just stepping out without looking, some with earbuds and some without, although those staring at mobile screens tend to irritate most, or stepping out in front of or between buses is another favourite...
I had to shout very loudly at a chap "bike coming" this morning, he obviously wasn't going to look, this depsite the fact he was going to have to step down off the pavement and into a dedicated cycle lane to get across to a bus island (bikes have priority, but I could see what he was going to do so had slowed down a little)...
Thankfully it has been only twice where I have been nearly wiped out by a pedestrian stepping out between a van/lorry and going across the cycle lane I was in, no lifesaving check from them, just walked into the cycle lane... (both taking me very close to colliding with vans/cars and almost taking off wing mirrors in having to take such last minute avoiding actions).
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potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
The last bike I bought back in April didn't come with one, I was most upset.
Rohloff_Brompton_Rider
Formerly just_fixed
Re bells: @Pennine-Paul and I used to do a lot of bridle way, NCN and canal towpath riding on our fixed bikes, I always had a bell and tbh no matter how loud I rang it most people just either didn't hear it or ignored it, it was effectively useless.
However a very loud "excuse me"or "hi" always worked so I don't have a bell now.
However a very loud "excuse me"or "hi" always worked so I don't have a bell now.
Cyclopathic
Veteran
- Location
- Leicester.
I've tried a mirror but found it not much use. A shoulder check gives as much information if not more than I can get from a mirror and it's all in the correct perspective. Trying to figure out what's going on in the mirror takes a bit too long and diverts my attention for too long.
I find sound to be one of the best indicators of if something is behind me and roughly how close. You can also tell if the engine is revving like mad and therefore likely to be going quite fast. Sound combined with a shoulder check is for me a lot better than a mirror.
Shoulder checking can be quite tricky though and even now I have to make a concious effort not to veer to the right.
I find sound to be one of the best indicators of if something is behind me and roughly how close. You can also tell if the engine is revving like mad and therefore likely to be going quite fast. Sound combined with a shoulder check is for me a lot better than a mirror.
Shoulder checking can be quite tricky though and even now I have to make a concious effort not to veer to the right.
hennbell
Guru
- Location
- Lloydminster, Alberta , Canada
5 pages on the pros and cons of mirrors wow, did not think that was possible. I can t wait for our in depth analysis of the use of mittens verses gloves. 
Frood42
I know where my towel is
- Location
- Magrathea, Horsehead Nebula
5 pages on the pros and cons of mirrors wow, did not think that was possible. I can t wait for our in depth analysis of the use of mittens verses gloves.
Mittens are warmer, but you forgot Glittens (gloves with a mitten flip top cover)
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