[Closed] Tell me bout those little rear view mirrors that clip to helmets...

never used one. They look ridiculous and I've only seen old men (65+) riding with them. Whilst you're at it, get one of those silly sticky out poles to attach to the back of your bike and fend off close traffic

Talking to a friend who tours Europe every year. He uses one and wont ride without it. He says its very useful if you can adapt to it. His wife couldn't n hated it.

I once had a European cycling holiday (a compromise situation for my GF!) and the Americans on the tour all had these.

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Beard optional.

Never used one - but when I lived in the US a lot of my friends used them, and a guy in the club made them as a sideline, using old spokes. You can get ones which fit to your glasses. The advantage is they give a wild field of view.

I used to ride with a handlebar mirror, which fitted over the brake hood. Never felt the need for a mirror in the UK - but they made sense in the US where you get long, straight roads.

and I'm getting increasingly paranoid riding on the road

as in tired of close passes?

The 'Livesaver' (looking over your right shoulder) might serve you better. Or a Bikeability session? (not calling your skills into question!, but it might provide some useful tips)

I think they are a bad idea. They make you less likely to look over your shoulder, you'll get lazy and less observant.

Hey, if they're good enough for dr shipman shark attack...

you'll get lazy and less observant.

Not true. You'll have a much much better idea of what's going on behind you than you did previously. You'll know what's going on almost all the time rather than just before you make a manouvre (sp).

The downside, as some muppet on here once said, is that motorists won't realise that you can see without turning round and so your actions may take them by surprise. Which is their bad rather than yours. But of course fault is of no consequence if you're the one in tatters.

But getting back to the point, I had one for years riding in Manc and it was excellent. You could time your actions much better/more safely. It made things like taking primary much much easier. The main downside, as mentioned above, is that you can see 'everything' going on behind you and given how shit many UK motorists drive... it may sometimes be best not to know.

They take a lot of effort to get adjusted properly. For ages I thought mine was useless then I realised it was all down to how it was adjusted. There are only three [spatial] dimensions, but I swear those things have at least 6 ways you can adjust them...

The ball socket joint on mine eventually wore out and I never got round to replacing it. The first few weeks riding without it felt 'naked'. Felt tremendously exposed.

I'd be interested if the naysayers also suggest we should remove rear view mirrors from vehicles as well.

I think the main point of them is not so you can look behind when you want to know what is happening; the point is that you don't need to specially look behind as you have been glancing in it every few seconds anyway and know exactly what is behind you*. Just like in a car.

* Or perhaps I should say you know what you expect to see behind you when you take that final double check look.

Let's face it, if it was a rear view GoPro streaming to Google Glass wed all be raving about it.

Aspire velotech do a neat looking mirror which fits as bar plug, looks good but would need to see one "in real life" before buying

I used one on a tour in the US, found it very useful as with a loaded bike it was hard to get a good look back without the bike slightly shifting direction (given i was used to looking other way). Didn't feel the need to keep it on in the UK, loaded or not.

We use them when touring in France, looking over your shoulder with a fully loaded bike isn't always easy or safe. Brilliant in that situation, but mine comes off as soon as we get home..... Not really sure why, thinking about it.

Whoa down there...

[b]Rule #66 // No mirrors.[/b]
Mirrors are allowed on your (aptly named) Surly Big Dummy or your Surly Long Haul Trucker. Not on your road steed. Not on your Mountain bike. Not on your helmet. If someone familiar with The Rules has sold you such an abomination, return the mirror and demand a refund, plus interest and damages.

Follow the rules..!

motorists won't realise that you can see without turning round and so your actions may take them by surprise

Exactly this. By turning your head you are signalling possible intent to move, change position or do something. Also making eye contact humanises you and makes the driver less likely to try something potentially dangerous.

I'd be interested if the naysayers also suggest we should remove rear view mirrors from vehicles as well.

Imagine how more observant car drivers would be if we did that?