Why pros not using mirror

[Shut Up Legs]

You'd still need to turn your head around to look behind/at the side of you with that mirror anyway. So it's pretty unnecessary

Really? I never have to turn my head the slightest bit when looking in my rearview mirror.

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.

I don't notice any vibration on the one I'm using.

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.

No doubt, but most people use their hearing as well as their eyesight for situational awareness. Even with the sub-standard hearing I was born with, I can still hear a car approaching from the rear, and even tell by the type of engine sound whether it's accelerating/decelerating. I very rarely have to do a rear head check.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I very rarely have to do a rear head check.

 

[oldroadman]

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.

Cracking!

 

[Tin Pot]

A HUD in my cycling glasses then you can add a rear view camera if you like:

 

[oldroadman]

You don't need them, that's why. In a peloton there is no point, if you are off the back there's no point, if you are away there's no point as the blackboard man and radio give you info on gaps. The only reasons for looking round are "where's the team car" when you have called for it, looking for team mates, or the glance round which nobody can resist (though we should) when away with a short distance to go and wondering when or if the catch is on. None of which a mirror would help because it's peripheral vision that's important. Hope that answers a query which I thought was a reasonable question.

 

[mjr]

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?)

Yeah, I know, but even motorcyclists are advised not to filter at more than 15mph faster than the stopped traffic. Oh well, each to their own!

 

[novetan]

you've also got it on the wrong side, the little cutout should go inside so that your knee doesn't obscure the vision

I lost the other one, so made do with this. Doesn't really affect the vision.

 

[novetan]

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.

Its quite sturdy actually and very little vibration. It has a rubber grommet that sits inside the drop that bite the male sphering ball of the mirror.

 

[martint235]

Yeah, I know, but even motorcyclists are advised not to filter at more than 15mph faster than the stopped traffic. Oh well, each to their own!

Agreed. However there's all kinds of advice that we don't heed. To use today as an example, traffic on that stretch of road doesn't really drop during school holidays (the bit before it which is a hill is much quieter, no I don't know how either). Today, dry roads, clear lines of sight, I was pushing low 20s down the centre line. Now I have a very conservative (so I'm told by people who have ridden with me) estimate of my abilities and I always ride within them and well within the capabilities of the bike (disc braked, steel) so based on continuous assessment, my speed today was ok. In winter with a damp road and dark, I'll be lucky to get anywhere near 15mph.

However. what's pertinent to this thread is that without a mirror and having to look behind me more often, both those speeds would be much lower.

 

[PpPete]

You don't need them, that's why. In a peloton there is no point, if you are off the back there's no point, if you are away there's no point as the blackboard man and radio give you info on gaps. The only reasons for looking round are "where's the team car" when you have called for it, looking for team mates, or the glance round which nobody can resist (though we should) when away with a short distance to go and wondering when or if the catch is on. None of which a mirror would help because it's peripheral vision that's important. Hope that answers a query which I thought was a reasonable question.

Sounds sensible for the pro peloton
OTH for small groups in more 'recreational' riding I think they are very useful; especially for the leader who can keep eye out for folks getting dropped without constantly looking around.

 

[palinurus]

I was really focussing on my mirror on the ride to work today because of this thread and noticed that he view is really very good- better than I thought it was. I can see the left hand kerb up as close as my rear wheel- with very little of myself in the field of view- and the whole width of the road. No real blind spot on a straight piece of road, changes in the bends of course.

 

[fossyant]

You didn't put a mirror on a Bianchi Oltre did you ? OMG !

 

[Hip Priest]

Why don't pro cyclists use mirrors? Because they don't want to look like nobbers. Next!

 

[2IT]

Sounds sensible for the pro peloton
OTH for small groups in more 'recreational' riding I think they are very useful; especially for the leader who can keep eye out for folks getting dropped without constantly looking around.

Like your answer. Would a mirror help them with motorbikes that are coming up from behind? It would help a cyclist's awareness. While it's still the responsibility of the moto to avoid the cyclist, it might help.

Perhaps the motorbike and cars could have only former racing pros driving them to cut down on their problems.

Wouldn't it be great if everyone rode a bike some just for the sake of improving their driving?

 

[Smokin Joe]

Wouldn't it be great if everyone rode a bike some just for the sake of improving their driving?

It wouldn't make a difference. I've known a few cyclists who were terrible drivers.