 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
There are so many options . I know from experience many give a poor view and personally found the magic eye mirror to be the best although not cheap and I have broken a few ...it also doesn't fold completely out of harms way .
Any recommendations ....I'd prefer one that will mount inside the bar and fold out of the way to avoid damage . I had considered a strap on type but would need to devise a bar extension piece to insert and extend the bar outwards a little . In that way I could get a better outboard view and not compromise grip position . Wooden dowel or ? with a zefal little spy ?
Any suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated .
cheers
Bill
I occasionally think about something like this. The only foldaway bar end type I know of comes from Topeak - https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/210-BAR%E2%80%99N-MIRROR but I've no idea what visibility they give (seem quite narrow).
There are a number that fit onto fork legs but I've never tried them (and they're rather in harm's way if you take them off-road).
As always, SJS Cycles seem to have everything under the sun - https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/search/?term=mirror
Thanks PJay ... I think I've been through most of the main contenders and also know SJSC well . IIRC the topeak one gets mixed reviews ..many say breaks easily etc . I think so many manufacturers try and keep prices down by using quite cheap materials which are OK unless you use offroad etc or take the occasional tumble which most don't ..so it's not in their interest. For mixed use I find them invaluable but I am getting old and more nervous of accidents . Also I enjoy riding with headphones/radio on back road/ lanes etc and with electric cars etc you can easily be given a shock as suddenly one is behind you with little warning.
There seem to be some good quality motorcycle ones, I'm not sure how easy they'd be to fit to mountain bike handlebars ( https://reactiveparts.com/cnc-racing-universal-evo-bar-end-mirror.html this one says 13.5/19 mm). Also a bit pricey were you to whack it against a tree off road.
Varia Radar is nice but too pricey for me I'm afraid , likewise on the motorcycle option ...they look nice but that's expensive for something that may well get smashed on the first day out !
I had the Topeal one on the tandem. Hard to align and the mirror fell out of one of them. Went back to a basic Cateye instead. Also have the Sprintech on the recumbent, but to be honest they all vibrate too much. A Vario would be better and is well received by people who use them.
Interesting .. The one I personally use is a modified magic eye and never vibrates + gives a great view . It doesn't fold completely out of the way though . I have broken one or 2 over the years . My brother is a serial damager of all delicate things so looking for something crash proof . I may go for a zefal spy and add a wooden bar insert at the end beyond the grip to extend and attach it and hopefully avoid impact damage .
I like the look of those sprintech drop bar mirrors, would probably have one of them if I was still commuting. Could be knee bangers though for more active riding.
It probably does vibrate, but mine is four inches off the ground on a very short pivot 😉
Will try one of the long armed ones next.