Options
bike mirrors: safe or simply un-cool?
sporteve
Posts: 141
in General Chat
as i keep repeating it constantly most of the regulars here know by now that i am quite new to cycling
with this being cycling week in london, and willtri witnessing that incident at old st roundabout and all the accidents involving cyclists and blah blah blah in mind, i kind of considered that getting some mirrors for my hubrid while commuting (back and forth to the west end mostly) could be a good road safety precaution...
i hardly see anyone with mirrors on though...i know safety is paramount but looking like a dork is not a good look ....
what do you guys think ....how about if i check if they come in carbon...?
with this being cycling week in london, and willtri witnessing that incident at old st roundabout and all the accidents involving cyclists and blah blah blah in mind, i kind of considered that getting some mirrors for my hubrid while commuting (back and forth to the west end mostly) could be a good road safety precaution...
i hardly see anyone with mirrors on though...i know safety is paramount but looking like a dork is not a good look ....
what do you guys think ....how about if i check if they come in carbon...?
0
Comments
over time i've got less wobbly when looking as well, which means i feel happier about having a look back more often.
and they do look a bit 'middle aged audax rider' as well.
That said, I think one of the most dangerous things on the road is cyclists who wobble and weave unpredictably. I very much doubt you (or anyone else on this site) are in this worst category of offendors, but if your bike handling skills are still improving I see no reason why a mirror wouldn't be a good idea. Safety first and all that...
For me, since I don't know of any aero-mirrors I think I'll give them a miss!!
p.s. looking round isn't a foolproof solution... a friend of mine was cycling along in traffic with some Tw*T in a van right up on his tail, he looked round to make sure it was safe to manovour and as he did so the car in front stopped suddenly (i think avoiding a pedestrian) and he clattered into the back. what we all really need is eyes in the backs of our heads, or maybe just car free roads?!
I've started riding with flashing front and back lights even in daytime. I used to ride my motorbike with lights on all the time as well.
Safety wise i think the biggest thing i learnt this week was not to ride up the left hand side of cars. (just far too easy for them to turn left without thinking - as long as there's traffic coming in the other direction can be pretty sure that they won't be turning right.... possibly.
Or i might move to somewhere nice and quiet....like france!!
I'd go with the previous post to say that spending money on high vis clothing would be better.
I'd go with the previous post to say that spending money on high vis clothing would be better.
they are unsafe!
You _have_ to be able to see all around you, you have to do this all the time!
i found a brilliant style that will look just fab on your helmet!!!
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bla ... r-ec006158
on a more serious note i think we have to admit that they look pretty naff - the only way they could look 'cute' would be on a pashley with a basket at the front (baguette and cheese optional) on some french countryside road....
While we are on the topic of safety can everyone please remember to make sure their tri bikes are fully equipped with bells so that other competitiors will know when they are being overtaken?
ON A BIKE?????!!!!!!!!!
our survey says...................
Cruel but true ........