Why pros not using mirror

[shouldbeinbed]

If you assume that the whole side of you is clear before pulling out, based only on observations made with a rearward facing mirror. You will eventually come a cropper.

Recumbents?

Is that experience and fact based or another assumption.

Don't think anyone has ever said 'only' eirher.

But again my 20+ years of near daily cycling experience since breaking vertebrae in a car crash and losing quite a bit of roatational neck mobility leads me to a different conclusion on rearwards vision, adaptability, peripheral vision, side glances, using my ears, the lifesaver look AFAP as a visual clue to a driver more than anything else.

A mirror gives you pretty much constant rearward visual feedback in your peripheral vision even while looking forwards (admittedly more so on flatter bars than drops but still there with this type) giving you an awareness far in excess of what can be accomplished with shoulder checking unless you're wobbling your head back and forward like a thing possessed

It's amazing what we humans can achieve when we choose to or are forced out of our traditional niches and comfort zones.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Recumbents?

Is that experience and fact based or another assumption.

Based on experience, of motorcycles and cars. All mirrors have blind spots. If you're not moving your head to look at the blind spot, then you're simply assuming there is nothing there.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

What's the vibration like on a bar mounted mirror? As it's not on a stem it has to be better than the useless commuting ones, but I imagine there's still a fair bit of shake and blur.

That one 95% very good, the right flat bar types - invariably Zefal (dooback, spin & spy) absolutely rock solid - the cheqpo round cateye types, anything by Blackburn and anything with any sort of arm - save your money.

Also the Bike Eye frame one - less useful than roller skates for a goldfish.

Mirrors are trial and error, but do add a lot of value and benefit when you get your right set up, and a lot are simply crap but unfortunately where they are concerned cyclists are of a very traditional almost reactionary mindset, one person trying a £5 bit of tat from Halfords for a couple of rides and complaining about it is worth 1000x someone like me with 20+ completely safe & accident free(*) years using them extolling their plus points.

(*) attributable to my use of mirrors anyhow, speeding morons running into me a different matter

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Based on experience, of motorcycles and cars. All mirrors have blind spots. If you're not moving your head to look at the blind spot, then you're simply assuming there is nothing there.

So no direct experience of what we're actually talking about then

And there you go again determined to assume presence of mirror absents any other form of visual or auditory awareness.

Hey hum

 

[PhilDawson8270]

So no direct experience of what we're actually talking about then

And there you go again determined to assume presence of mirror absents any other form of visual or auditory awareness.

Hey hum

No.

I answered you exact question quite specifically. You asked why they would not be in the peleton. They are going to be crowded, and the areas of most interest are unlikely to be the areas covered by a mirror.

I'm unaware of any pro riders with neck mobility issues currently racing, and wouldn't have to provide a visual clue to cars.

You have simply taken my opinion on your original question of out context, as if there is some right or wrong answer to a hypothetical question that nobody on here can answer.

Of course, if you made a note at the start stating you only wanted a specific answer to your question I would have happily obliged. Or, alternatively, you could have just not asked for clarification, and then used unrelated scenarios to try and prove a point that isn't relevant to start with.

Hey hum

 

[shouldbeinbed]

My question?

Nowt to do with me kiddo, I answered the real OP in very specific terms why mirrors in the pro peloton wouldn't work either.

Maybe it is your eyes that need checking not any problem with the mirrors?

 

[PhilDawson8270]

My question?

My mistake, got names mixed up

Maybe it is your eyes that need checking not any problem with the mirrors?

Single mirrors will still leave blind spots, that will require a turn of the head

 

[shouldbeinbed]

My mistake, got names mixed up


Single mirrors will still leave blind spots, that will require a turn of the head

No worries just being a bit fly with the eyes thing.

I too am experienced in motorised vehicles with 2 & 4 wheels and their imposed to a budget, not generally user interchangeable mirrors that have a vastly different amount of vehicle infrastructure than a pushbike to render visible through or around, you're quite right from you (& my) motor vehicular experience these mirrors aren't 100%

But a bike is a far skinnier beast with much less of a rearward footprint getting in on the act and *caveat* the right mirror gives a far bigger surface area to vehicle body ratio than motorised units, which along with the right design and sometimes trial & error does in reality of being on a bike give a far more expansive and (again 20+ years real life experience to fall back on) safe & reliable field of vision - motor vehicle mirrors do not equate as easily as you imagine to bike ones.

particularly as again more so than 4 wheels at least, rightward awareness being invariably (tho not exclusively) far more key on a bike. Bringing in single mirrors as another caveat at this late juncture is a bit naughty and quite something of a red herring.

Also to bring it back to the sprintech mirrors of the OP, they tend to be sold in pairs anyway - and I strongly suspect the OPs were, given that the mirror in his photo is shaped for the other side of the bike.

 

[mjr]

Why aren't Tour Pros use mirror instead of constantly turning their heads to look back?

Probably because no mirror makers are sponsoring them enough to use them.

Is it just me that thinks if you haven't got time to look back, then you've not left enough margin for error?

 

[martint235]

Probably because no mirror makers are sponsoring them enough to use them.

Is it just me that thinks if you haven't got time to look back, then you've not left enough margin for error?

I'm going to see if this works.https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...1s0x47d8a9eb6b68067b:0xb79d392f5a65a612?hl=en

This road is nose to tail in a morning. Me and many motorbikes use the centre line and so I need to watch for them as I don't like holding them up unnecessarily. I also need to watch for cars switching lanes (pulling across the centre line and then forcing a gap).

Now this may be not leaving a margin for error but it also means I get to work the same day I left home

 

[palinurus]

What's the vibration like on a bar mounted mirror? As it's not on a stem it has to be better than the useless commuting ones, but I imagine there's still a fair bit of shake and blur.

Actually not much, it's possible to get a pretty good stable view behind with a decent mirror even riding on 23 mm tyres. I use Cateye road mirrors on three different bikes, it's round and on a little stalk.

I once bought a crap mirror which magnified the view too much- it was unusable, and the image shook about like crazy.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Then I go and be the one getting preachey

 

[mjr]

I'm going to see if this works.https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...1s0x47d8a9eb6b68067b:0xb79d392f5a65a612?hl=en

Nearly - you're facing oncoming traffic, but I think I get the idea.

This road is nose to tail in a morning. Me and many motorbikes use the centre line and so I need to watch for them as I don't like holding them up unnecessarily.

I would say riding safely is holding them up necessarily. Also - centre line? Isn't filtering on the outside usually preferred? If I was too worried about getting out of the motorcyclists' way, or if it's really nose-to-tail rather than stop-start, I'd be using the cycle track (which looks substandard, but at least fairly clear), as I don't like not having a return gap in sight.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I doubt very much if crashing while taking a look behind is an issue in the pro ranks. Though if they had a bell they could ring it just before they glance back to warn everyone they were riding blind.

 

[martint235]

Nearly - you're facing oncoming traffic, but I think I get the idea.


I would say riding safely is holding them up necessarily. Also - centre line? Isn't filtering on the outside usually preferred? If I was too worried about getting out of the motorcyclists' way, or if it's really nose-to-tail rather than stop-start, I'd be using the cycle track (which looks substandard, but at least fairly clear), as I don't like not having a return gap in sight.

The space is usually left in the centre, you wouldn't get far on the outside hence even the motorbikes use the centre. (if cars all pull as far from the centre as possible you can fit an ambulance down there)
It's not a cycle track really. It's a pavement with signs saying you can cycle on it. That would also greatly limit my speed (15mph?)

Easier to just have a mirror