Mirror mirror on the helmet

[matt2matt2002]

There has been a topic posted on the CGOAB site regarding a home made mirror fixed to a helmet for rear viewing
It looks pretty good and since it is low cost, I may give it a bash
But can anyone comment on what it's like having your 'reverse' wobbling about in front of your right eye?
I know they are available commercially - little mirrors on sticks
The one described in CGOAb is larger dameter - 5 cm.
Thanks for comments

[Si]

I tried the zefal but couldn't get on with it.

It's so small that it took several seconds of not looking where I was going before I could focus on what was behind me. Even then I could only see cars immediately behind me properly - anything further away and I could tell if it was approaching or parked.

Going over rough roads seemed to dislodge either the velcro or the ball joint like pivot on the mirror.

After a few weeks the reflective bit fell out of the mirror backing.

Not that I'm against mirrors - I have on on the 'bent and it's great. I also had one on the old tourer, mounted on the end of the drop - it was bigger than the zefal, stayed in place better, and I found it to be extremely helpful (bad neck).

[byegad]

I use a commercially made helmet mirror on the odd occasion that I wear a helmet and a glasses mounted one at all other times. I find them really useful and can scan the rear 180 degrees with a turn of the head. I also am aware of any movement behind me without really looking.

I think they're rather like varifocal glasses, some people can use them and others can't. I use both, a friend who tried varifocal glasses was nearly sick and had migraines when wearing them and went back to bifocals. He does use a helmet mirror though!

[scottg]

I have been using a Harris helmet mounted mirror for about 10 years,
they are common in my area. A bent spoke holds the mirror and the mirror
pivots on a spoke nipple inside the mirror. They stay in adjustment
and are spring fit to the helmet. The spoke is covered in heat shrink
tubing and bent into a spring clamp that holds the mirror to the helmet.
More info in link.

http://www.momentumplanet.com/blog/walk ... nahbs-2009

[Mick F]

I think they're rather like varifocal glasses, some people can use them and others can't. I use both, a friend who tried varifocal glasses was nearly sick and had migraines when wearing them and went back to bifocals. He does use a helmet mirror though!

Good point!

I need varifocals, and tried a pair - Specsavers allows you to try at no extra charge if you don't like them - and I hated them! I wear bifocals now.

When I last had an eyetest - last autumn - I asked the lady optician why I didn't like them and I explained the problems I'd had with them. Basically, the focus is in the middle and drifts out of focus on the sides, so you have to move your head.

"Ah!" she said, "You're an eye mover, not a head mover!"

When I read, or even use this computer, my head is still and I move my eyes. It seems that people who get on with varifocals are "head movers" so they are happy to keep the focus in the middle. Me OTOH, move my eyes from side-to-side and so varifocals go out of focus for me. Consequently, bifocals work for me as the focus is over the complete width.

So, I wonder if "Eye Movers" like me would be ok with a helmet mirror, but a "Head Mover" wouldn't be.

[thirdcrank]

In te past I've used a Blackburn - I probably still have it somewhere. (I used to store it in a discarded tube which had come with a refill of peppercorns; it's probably still in the garage.) As a mirror, it performed well, although the maker's warning that things appear further away than they really are was incorrect. Mine was flat rather than convex and it put the wind up me when I realised how close some drivers were following. I wear bifocals but that was not a problem.

The only problem I had was sticking it to the helmet. The idea was that a sort of base was fastened (semi-)permanently to the helmet with double-sided adhesive tape. The mirror stalk was then attached to that base with a Velcro type product to make it easily detachable. Unfortunately, my helmet had nowhere flat or even flattish to fasten the base properly so it kept coming adrift.

[Si]

I think they're rather like varifocal glasses, some people can use them and others can't. I use both, a friend who tried varifocal glasses was nearly sick and had migraines when wearing them and went back to bifocals. He does use a helmet mirror though!

Good point!

I need varifocals, and tried a pair - Specsavers allows you to try at no extra charge if you don't like them - and I hated them! I wear bifocals now.

When I last had an eyetest - last autumn - I asked the lady optician why I didn't like them and I explained the problems I'd had with them. Basically, the focus is in the middle and drifts out of focus on the sides, so you have to move your head.

"Ah!" she said, "You're an eye mover, not a head mover!"

When I read, or even use this computer, my head is still and I move my eyes. It seems that people who get on with varifocals are "head movers" so they are happy to keep the focus in the middle. Me OTOH, move my eyes from side-to-side and so varifocals go out of focus for me. Consequently, bifocals work for me as the focus is over the complete width.

So, I wonder if "Eye Movers" like me would be ok with a helmet mirror, but a "Head Mover" wouldn't be.

I think that you both have a very good point. One of my problems was that I was in the habit of moving my head when trying to see in the helmet mirror, thus getting a good view of the gutter rather than what was behind me!

[horizon]

Just to say that I use one of these and cannot fault it - utterly brilliant. Have used one for years - only downside is that they are vulnerable if the bike falls over.

[Greybeard]

"Ah!" she said, "You're an eye mover, not a head mover!"

Perhaps we should be labelled as 'chamaeleon' or 'meerkat' then - optically speaking
I'm definitely a chamaeleon and wear bifocals

Steve

[matt2matt2002]

Horrizon.....
is that a helmet mirror?
It looks like one for the bars?
Details please.

The bars on my Sardar have upwards grips
Does that make it impossible to fit end mirrors?
Thanks

[horizon]

http://www.blackburndesign.com/mirrors.html

[Starfire]

I wear varifocals and use a helmet mirror. I don't have any problems with this combination.

[MartinBrice]

Just to say that I use one of these and cannot fault it - utterly brilliant. Have used one for years - only downside is that they are vulnerable if the bike falls over.

I have one and it is better than noting but the vibration is unbelievable - i can see car and have to guess that it is approaching. To check where my mate is I have to look for wobbly yellow jacket in the distance. Also, one broke when the bike fell over. (Yes, I was on it at the time.)
On the hack bike I have a Mirrorcle, which is brilliant, bombproof and I've had it for 28 years. Shame there's nothing like it for STI.