Is This The Worst Piece Of Cycling Equipment On The Planet?

I wonder if the mirror that was pointing the wrong way was designed for mounting on the left vs. the right? In Seattle there are a lot of randonneurs who wear the eye glass mirror.

I’m profoundly deaf and found the Cateye bar end mirror for dropped bars really helped prevent me being taken by surprise by vehicles coming up behind and passing close. Have now got a Garmin Varia and no longer use the mirror. As others have said, it’s a game changer for some people.

I'm 56 and I put a Third Eye mirror on the end of all my bikes. I find it useful to confirm what my ears are already hearing, and it helps discern whether I'm about to be passed by an economy car or a dump truck, and whether there are multiple cars coming. And bring 56, over the shoulder checks aren't nearly as easy as they used to be, especially near the end of the ride.

After decades of riding without a mirror, I decided to go with the Spurcycle R-Series Mirror. At 35mm diameter, it's very stealth. Something so small certainly can make a big difference. It allows me to do an easy check before making a turn and see other cyclists in my draft.

Mirrors work well on cars but, even then, there are blind spots.
Mirrors work well on motorbikes for showing you how cool you look, and bits of what's going on behind you. There's just nowhere good to mount one so it shows behind you without it looking silly.
On bikes? Maybe on a commuter bike, even then, hearing and a quick glance back are just as good. I mean, how many iconic cycling photos are there of pros glancing back to check on a rival? If we can't channel our inner pro when riding, what's the point? 😂

I also feel like the body language signal of the head turn to check on a car coming up behind you is helpful to the driver, it tells them you're aware of their presence, not just riding along "in their way", and helps establish communication of a sort. If you have to pull out to take the lane, move over to give them room to pass, or signal them to pass the communication is already open.

I've been using a "third eye" eyeglass mirror for years and I can see that your helmet mirror has a ridiculously long stem on it that probably moves all over the place in your vision path. The mirror I use has a 7cm stem to put the 2.5cm flat mirror off to the front and side of your glasses. You can see traffic (or speeding delivery electric bikes) behind you with a glance to the side while you keep your eyes looking forward for opening car doors.

Don't fancy mirrors but I do always ride with a Garmin Varia radar unit. The best thing about that is that you can quickly see whether you are being approached by one, two, three, four or more cars. That's something you wouldn't pick up just through what you can hear.

Use of a bar end mirror is especially useful on windy days when hearing an approaching vehicle difficult, especially e-cars, they are so quiet.

Durianrider has entered the chat.

Excellent overview, Si. As a cycle commuter of some forty years, I have usually had a wing-mirror fitted to my handlebar – just like a car wing-mirror. Since I'm both a driver and a cyclist, I'm used to using the rear-view mirror as an aide to situational awareness. That's it. It's not about being able to avoid a rear-end collision, it's simply about feeding into my overall situational awareness, especially in an urban environment. I always use either the primary or secondary road position, and as I'm manoeuvring in traffic, the rear-view mirror allows me to judge well in advance whether I have a clearance behind be to manoeuvre into — simply glancing over my shoulder is often not enough for that type of scenario, and the rear-view mirror means that I don't have to do a full turn-around of my torso to get the information I need, maintaining better stability of the bike. Having said all that, I do agree with you about the helmet- or glasses-mounted mirrors: they cause a significant blind spot at all times, especially for circumstances like roundabouts or turning across oncoming traffic. Not to be recommended, and, for me, those in particular are a safety hazard! So, in summary, my rear-view mirror is about increasing my overall situational awareness, just like the rear view mirrors in a car.

Maybe test this on a group ride? I’ve unintentionally dropped people because I assumed they were on my wheel when they weren’t and I was head down riding hard.

I don’t use mirrors either but just a thought.

Simon, I'm a huge GCN fan and have been a subscriber and viewer for many years . . . . . BUT , yes, you've fundamentally missed something! Sadly, it's probably because your perspective is so self-centred. It's not just about "what helps you". I regularly ride bikes (road, mountain, and "shopping hack"). I also ride a motorbike and drive a car. I wouldn't dream of riding my motorbike without mirrors AND turning my head in what is referred to as the "life-saver" procedure before deviating my line in either direction. AND, having used a handlebar mirror on my various bicycles for several years, I would not now dream of riding a bicycle without a handlebar mirror. Most of my road riding of bicycles is on local minor roads. These roads are twisty, with relatively few places for safe overtaking. As well as making me feel safer because I know what's behind me (and, yes, I use my ears as well), the mirrors also allow me to help cars and vans pass me where it is safe for them to do so. Almost without exception, drivers express their appreciation of this and this in turn helps to reduce any general feeling of antagonism between car drivers and cyclists. When I go out for a ride, I think "reservoirs". There is a "reservoir of good-will" between drivers and cyclists and a "reservoir of ill-will" between drivers and cyclists. If I can add to the former through my behaviour out on the road and avoid adding to the latter, hopefully this will both keep me safer on this and future rides and also help other cyclists the next time that driver comes up behind them. Sorry for the criticism at the beginning of this comment, but you did ask!!!

After years of watching many GCN videos, this was the first one that was painful to watch. Simon, thanks for taking this subject on……but I disagree with almost everything you said. I'm 68 and I don't wear my sunglasses attached mirror due to restricted neck issues. I've worn it for years and consider it more vital to safety than my helmet (which has never hit the ground). Why would you not want to see what 's coming up behind you by simply moving your eyeball? And yes, even when they're coming fast I can tell whether they're going to be too close to me or not. I almost choked when you said that you'd prefer to not see them coming if you're going to get hit. Not getting hit is the objective. You asked for examples. Recently I was descending down a curving mountain road where nobody would even think of turning their head during such high speed turns. I saw a ways behind me a Porsche that was obviously faster than me in my mirror. I therefore had time to plan where he would pass me and I choose a tight left turn knowing that he'd probably be hugging the inside of the turn. (American roads on the right side.) I pulled to the edge and waved him on without needing to look back. He gave me plenty of room and honked and waved (convertible) a thank you to me. I knew I'd just improved cyclist/motorist relations. But there were two guys a ways in front of me with no mirrors. They were riding side by side descending the turns and had no idea he was coming. The driver was forced to slow to their speed and after about an entire minute of these guys not seeing him, he honked. I thought the driver had showed patience and given them plenty of time. They were startled at the honk and got mad at him, and it was returned in kind. All the good I did was wiped out by two guys who didn't have mirrors…………but at least they didn't look dorky.

Mirrors can be a distraction and a hazard when you take your eyes off the road. Garmin Varia is a safe alternative which lets you know when a car is approaching and their position.

I'm 68 and have always ridden with a small 1" diameter mirror attached to my glasses and find it indispensable. I also have a Varia radar unit so I'm always aware when a vehicle is about to overtake me and a quick mirror check tells me the size. As others have noted, it's great on a group ride to see when someone is getting dropped. I oftentimes end up speeding up to the lead rider(s) to tell them to allow down since they never even bother to even do a quick look over the should check!

Fair comment. Given my grandsons were older than him I really didn't need him patronising me.Shoulder checks are a given & I even do them in my car & definitely on my motorbike.

I'm another that loves the radar. Nothing helps with something hitting you, it's about making sure you don't move out into something else. So I don't care about every beep, but if I'm about to turn right (or even move a little further out from the side of the road to have more space on a descent) its good to know what I'm expecting to see with the over the shoulder check. Its also quite useful on a narrow lane if you've got something behind you and you're looking for the best place to let them past. What might be interesting is what a mirror combined with a radar might tell you. The radar (alongside what manoeuvrings you're doing) tells you when you might want to check what something coming up is doing (rather than checking all the time and getting distracted). I'also just never go on a dual carriageway, and also avoid the busier faster single lane roads as well as much as possible.

My ears usually do the trick in letting me know; plus, if you turn your body and put your arm on the back of your saddle, it helps you keep your balance as you look back 180 degrees. I could never ride with earbuds in my ears and feel safe, but I have 2 Bluetooth speakers that work simultaneously, which are very loud and I can still hear cars coming up behind me.

Don't look back in anger…

Radar would be a lot more useful on that dual carriageway. Only use for a mirror I see(😂) is if you are regularly turning right or a slower rider on a cycle path to see other cycles coming past.

I have Varia radar and bar end mirrors on bikes. Find useful on club rides where maybe some members of group aren't so strong or confident ..you see see what they are doing or not. Varia great for saying there are vehicles there, mirror great to ID what….let's say some vehicle types/brands are more likely to make a less than cautious pass.

I lost most of the sight in my right eye a couple of years ago, along with my confidence to ride. The Garmin Varia got me back on the bike and helped rebuild my confidence. It gives advance warning of approaching vehicles and affords me time to check properly behind. Wouldn't be without it.

Not that I use a mirror, but it seems to me you're using them wrong. You don't need to see every car that is coming up behind you when you're using a mirror any more than when you're not. What you should be using the mirror for is when you need to go wide, swerve or change lanes and make a spot check to be sure the path is clear without turning your head. The mirror should be used to supplement your range of view not completely take over your attention to the rear. Having said that I have no plans to use a mirror myself.

Great video. Rather than a mirror, get a Garmin Varia rtl 515. Super tear tail light with reliable radar notification provided to head unit when a car (or cars) are coming from behind. Eliminates the need for a mirror.