Re: Re: Re: Reverse vision glasses…
Man thats interesting. I found the article through google cause i really wanted to read it.
Thanks Daniel.
I don’t know what your body’s shaped like, but you have to consider first where your legs will be, and second where the mirror is supposed to get a look through. I don’t think there’s a clear shot anywhere in there.
My old “Excessory Cycle” had a mirror on it. I’ve attached a picture below. Unfortunately you can’t see the mirror in the photo. It’s a handlebar mirror, of the same era as the rest of the junk on that cycle (late 70s, early 80s). My how things have changed since then! The mirror is on the opposite side, approximately where you see the speedometer, down near the fork crown. It was a rectangular mirror, which I mounted vertically, snug against the frame just above the crown. No place else to put one on the cycle and still have it even partially function.
This mirror, though you could see behind you, was not useful. You had to look straight down to use it, and of course it had to be far enough down to have a view between your legs. I don’t know if this can work on a Coker.
For mgrant: There must be mirror solutions out there for the millions of cyclists who wear prescription glasses. I view my glasses-mirror through my lenses. Of course this is on a pair of $8 sunglasses. I’m sure you can find a mirror out there that will work with your glasses, though the narrower your glasses are, the harder it will be for any mirror to get a view behind your head.
I usually have to adjust my head position to see the road behind me. When I’m in my “semi-tuck” position, the mirror can’t get a clear view behind me without me moving my head some. Then when I’m sitting up straight it’s a different angle to the road behind me, so I’m used to the need to “aim” my head slightly to get a good view through the mirror.
When it comes to helmet or glasses-mounted mirrors, I think you have to allow for a period of adjustment and experimentation to find the right position. Give it some time, and patience.
Re: Reverse vision glasses…
mgrant wrote:
> I had heard good things about the 3rd eye mirror that attaches to
> eyeglasses. Last summer I got one to use for my Coker commute.
> Unfortunately my experience is not as positive as JF and JC.
>
> You see, I wear prescription glasses. In order for the mirror to “see”
> behind me it had to be positioned such that my eye had to look outside
> of my prescription lens.
I wear prescription glasses (or rather, cycling glasses with a
prescription insert) and get on very well with the 3rd Eye. Initially I
sometimes found that it fell outside the range of my corrected vision,
but after using it every day for a few weeks I was able to reliably
adjust it to fall inside my corrected vision.
I’ve been using them daily for nearly 2 years now and wouldn’t hesitate
to recommend them for recumbent riding or unicycling. Just bear in mind
that they only last about a year before the attachment arm snaps.
I had a Heads Up mirror delivered this morning. I’ve only used it once
- first impressions are good, but it’ll take a few rides for me to
decide whether it’s better than the 3rd Eye. The big disadvantage is
that being made for the US market it’s designed to mount on the left
hand side, for riding on the wrong side of the road. That’s not a
problem with the 3rd Eye, because it just swivels round on a
ball-and-socket joint.
The OP might be interested in the ViewPoint mirror, designed to mount to
the lens of your glasses:
<URL:http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/html/mirrors.shtml>
–
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
“He who dares not offend cannot be honest.” - Thomas Paine
I think you could put one near the end of a rig like this.
Your rig is awesome. I need to set up something along those lines for mine. I need a rack on the back, and a longer, lower handlebar. I want to experiment with more aerodynamic riding positions. I imagine I’ll end up with a compromise between aero and not-falling-on-face.
So I guess you meant to extend a mirror way out to the side. Yes, that would put it in major danger, not only on UPDs, but in average parking and handling situations as well. I think something on your head will be much more convenient, and easier to live with.
I recently had more or less the same idea. Mine is one of those little convex stick-on blind-spot mirrors that goes onto the side mirror of a car. I pulled the guts out of a broken wristwatch and stuck the mirror onto the front, so I can mount the mirror on my left wrist. It’s not terribly compatible with coat sleeves and gloves, so I haven’t had a chance to actually use it outside yet, but I tried it in the gym at MondoFest and it seems like it might at least be better than nothing. Whether having to hold your arm up in a window-washing position in order to use the mirror is harder or easier than looking back over your shoulder remains to be seen.
Sounds like the 3rd eye works great and there are some interesting ideas on hand held, or glove mounted mirrors. That watch idea is a good one.
Guess no one has tried these “spy” glasses, I’ll order a pair, of these: http://www.tbotech.com/spyglasses.htm ‘modern’ and let ya know.
ViewPoint lens mirror
In september 2003 I got hold of the little mirror which U stick to glasses.
It has 40 degrees pivot adjustement.
For me it is one more gimmick but proper road unicyclist would like it.
It gives good vision, no shacking and definitely can improve safety level.
Although I have imported it from USA it was, OBVIOUSLY, made in China:D .
Two of them cost , some 10$.
In America tel 831.685.115 or www.cycleware.com
info@cycleware.com
Best
Witold.
The best rear view mirror I’ve used is the Take A Look by Bike Peddler.
Large mirror, not glass
Made, mostly, of metal so it won’t shatter when cold
Can be bent to fit your configuration; just don’t bend the brass tubes
Adjusts easily to any position (you can even turn the mirror to face front!) and then stays there
Doesn’t shake like the others I tried (and trashed with out replacements)
Will mount on most glasses or any helmet (the funny thing on the left is the helmet mount, glues on, I’ve done velcro)
The helmet mount can be moved to another helmet (but not easily) or you can get other mounts
Left or right side
Can be moved from a helmet to any glasses to any other glasses quickly without any modifying
About $15(USD)
The only downside is the mirror can get scratched.
MTB reviews at Take A Look review
Look for it on the web, I’ve not seen it at a LBS.
I tried the “spy” glasses. http://www.tbotech.com/spyglasses.htm .
It takes just a little getting used to, but they do work. You can check on traffic with slight turn of the head. I’m planing to continue using them, I like being able check back for cars.
Before getting these glasses, I had recently been fooled when two cars approached me from behind and after one went by, I thought that was it. Although it wasn’t that close, it surprised me when I pulled out in front of the second car. So I like having better vision behind myself.
The biggest problem is that the quality of the glasses is very poor. Of two pairs, one has a dark streak across the lense, and both have blurry mirrors on the right lense. Also since they are dark sunglasses, they are only useful in bright sunlight.
I’m sure that if you don’t mind wearing a mirror on the side of your glasses or helmet that would be a better solution since it would work in all light conditions and be less blurry. Me, I’m still reluctant to wear the side mirror, because riding a unicycle looks weird enough without a mirror sticking out the side of my head.
But I expect that I’ll eventually break down and get the side mounted mirror. It’s better than making out like road kill.