Do you use a helmet mirror?

eSurfer

eSurfer

100 W
Joined
Feb 5, 2016
Messages
170
Location
Newport Beach, CA
I was wondering if anyone uses one of those rearview mirrors that attach to your helmet. If so, are they any good for keeping an eye on cars coming up behind you? Moving at the speed I do on my eBike, I'm nervous about turning and looking behind me sometimes. Here is one I'm looking at: http://www.amazon.com/Race-Icon-Bike-Helmet-Mirror/dp/B00SXHQP4C/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1456716014&sr=1-1&keywords=bike+rear+view What do you think?
 
I tried one before but didn't really like it. Couldn't see enough of the road and it got scratched up in no time.

Instead I use a 5" moped mirror that's mounted to my handlebars. I had the mirror just lying around, and bought an adapter on ebay to mount it to my bike. This lets me see the entire road behind me
 
eSurfer said:
I was wondering if anyone uses one of those rearview mirrors that attach to your helmet. If so, are they any good for keeping an eye on cars coming up behind you? Moving at the speed I do on my eBike, I'm nervous about turning and looking behind me sometimes. Here is one I'm looking at: http://www.amazon.com/Race-Icon-Bike-Helmet-Mirror/dp/B00SXHQP4C/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1456716014&sr=1-1&keywords=bike+rear+view What do you think?
Click to expand...

I have that one. It's alright in my opinion. Some annoyances I come across with is that since I put the helmet in my backpack, the mirror gets tilted and I would have to readjust it before I ride. And it could get in the way of your view depending how you set it up. It was better than handlebar mounted mirrors because it doesn't vibrate as much. Planning on trying large mirrors like the ones used on motorcycles to see if that helps. But until then, I prefer that one than the handlebar mounted ones. Just keep in mind some issues that I stated above.
 
On my cargo bikes, which have big sweeping cruiser handlebars, I have come to love a cheap mirror I got on amazon. Though a set only cost about 8 bucks, they work well for me, look good, and don't vibrate too much to see what's coming after me from behind.

No car overtakes me without I eyeball it.
 
I don't like a helmet mirror because most are cheap and distorted, they just feel weird to me. I think this is a good mirror: http://www.ebikeschool.com/mirrycle-bar-end-mountain-bicycle-mirror/
 
beng said:
I think this is a good mirror: http://www.ebikeschool.com/mirrycle-bar-end-mountain-bicycle-mirror/
Click to expand...

I have three of these, one on each bike. I love them.

For the one on my Terracycle Cruiser I cut the "final" bar supporting the mirror and extended it with 1/2 inch plastic water pipe so that it would ride about 4 inches further outboard.

These mirrors are high quality and hold their position very well.
 
Yes, I love my helmet mount mirror. I had some that were mediocre, which people above refer to (similar to what you linked to). I don’t use that one any more. The one I fell in love with is the one from REI – actually I mount it to glasses – you are wearing something to protect your eyes on your bike, are you not?

This one is clear stable, and offers good view.
http://www.rei.com/product/752285/bike-peddler-take-a-look-mirror

I have known people to crash on them, and they can really cut up your face, so keep that in mind. For that reason I don’t use them on fast road bike rides (where we are riding wheel to wheel or handle bar to handlebar), but riding solo on an ebike, they work great.
 
I have experimented with a handlebar mirror and an a helmet mirror also.
The snag with the handle bar mirror is that every judder of the road is transmitted even (with fork shocks) to the mirror and your eyes are not moving in harmony with the mirrors shaking .... I found the handle mirror next to useless at any speed as a result - even on relatively smooth roads.
The helmet mirror is much better from the standpoint of vibrations because - I use a thudbuster that insulates me somewhat and the helmet being attached to my head is not moving independent of me and the vibrations of the road do not seem to be such a problem... the only issues are
a) It is pretty small
b) Look like a jerk!
 
I see, but perhaps the mirror helmet could have benefits as well?
1) other's visability of you on the road
2) other's visability of themselves on the road :lol:
Perhaps that would work best in suburban/city traffic with minimum bike vs car speed differential tho.

Sorry, more to the intended topic: I've used the handlebar mount and found very useful on 1 and 2 lane country roadside with occasional traffic +20-50mph differential speed to my own. I could see how a helmet mounted mirror would be desirable in place of or in addition to the bar mount. I would probably opt for both for best case results.
 
I've tried both helmet and handelbar.. and much prefer the Helmet mirror. I have something like
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bike-Bicycle-Helmet-Mount-Handlebar-Rear-View-Vision-Mirror-Safty-Black-/181948012767?hash=item2a5cf258df:g:eDcAAOSwp5JWXYq2

The handle bar ones provide an okay view but are harder to stabilize the view (we have rough roads) and you cannot change the view angle with changing either adjusting the wheel (i.e. starting) or using your hands. With the helmet I can just turn my head a bit and get any viewing angle I need. Especially useful with our steep hills and also when cars are passing. Also really good for checking on other riders who may be at different angles.

I've taken spills with both.. the handlebar mirror shattered on the ground (and then my arm got cut). The helmet mirror pushed off its velcro.. and its all plastic so nothing broke.

Last fall we took a trip to SF and rented bikes to do the bridge. It was very disconcerting to be riding without the helmet mirror.
 
Further experimentation ... the helmet mirror was small and there was some wobble too so I tried the mirrors that stick out the end of the handlebars - more firmly attached.
The best yet for me
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/281891766382?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The first handlebar mirror I tried had some flex on the stem attaching it to the handlebar and this was useless as it wobbled continuously.
 
Bar-end mirrors like the Zefal Cyclops and the Myrrycle give excellent views. If you can't fit one, then a helmet mirror can work, but nowhere near as good. I use a helmet mirror, when I'm on my roadbike. The sticky pad didn't last 5 minutes, so I put a small nut and bolt though it, which holds it tight to the helemet to give a more stable adjustment.
 
I've used bike mirrors for thirty years. The very best is the Mirrycle mirror.

http://www.ebikeschool.com/mirrycle-bar-end-mountain-bicycle-mirror/

They are all in the drawer now. Have used this mirror exclusively for almost a decade...over 30K miles on e-bikes alone.

https://www.rei.com/product/752285/bike-peddler-take-a-look-mirror
 
I use the rei one also. I attach to my sunglasses. Amazon sells same one and bought because it was most poplar one on Amazon. I see why. I use compact one. I think longer one is more popular.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000C17M26/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1472160276&sr=8-3&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=bike+mirror&dpPl=1&dpID=31zVnNq%2B07L&ref=plSrch
 
personally, I like rear view cameras, it's not like we don't have a little power to spare
 
Personally, I prefer high enough performance to make mirrors unnecessary leaving me to turn my head to look back on only rare occasion.
 
Getting older makes for a stiffer neck, so I have been thinking about a rear view camera. What about the screen ? Can images be seen well enough in the daylight ? On my new build, I will have a small console area to mount the monitor.
 
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