Not everybody has sufficient range of motion so that looking back over
the shoulder actually works. And not to deny Patrick's experience at
age 11, but years later those aged vertebrae and related parts might not
be as up to the job as they were back when they were young and unscathed
by time.
As Pete Seeger used to sing,
/How do I know
My youth is all spent
My get up and go
Has got up and went.../
//
On 8/29/20 3:23 PM, Joe Bernard wrote:
That big cat is why I think mirrors are necessary. Especially in my
area where half the cars that pass me are plug-in hybrids or Teslas, I
can't rely on my (aging) hearing to know what's coming. It also
doesn't tell me if the idiot is texting, a thing I can see through a
windshield. So no "both sides are valid" here, I don't think the
shoulder check and hearing is enough on the road.
On Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 12:13:07 PM UTC-7 Patrick Moore wrote:
Good point about the car/bike comparison which fits my experience.
Bill's experience and response is much like mine, and this raises
a question: If you start riding in urban traffic early -- I
started in then-somnolent but still urban Bangalore age 11 when my
parents let me ride to school through city streets, then rode more
extensively in far, far denser urban traffic in New Delhi the next
year, without my parent's knowledge, as far as I know -- I wonder
if you don't simply acquire more thoroughly certain lifelong
listening and awareness habits -- the knack of being aware of what
is around you and of knowing where exactly you fit in to the
traffic mix, and what you can and can't safely do in that role or
position.
I also have not quarrel with those who insist on mirrors. Me, as I
said, I could never trust them.
On Sat, Aug 29, 2020 at 11:24 AM Bill Schairer <[email protected]>
wrote:
D2685882-DD57-483A-B3E7-FA767D92B55A.jpeg
I won't argue against a mirror but don't find the comparison
to driving a car without a mirror to be valid. If one has
ever driven a convertible with the top down without
distracting music playing I think one will recognize what a
difference hearing traffic around you makes in situational
awareness. I haven't used a mirror in over 50 years of riding
in traffic. When I was in junior high I rode to and from
school on my 3 speed with a mirror. It served me well when
one of my friendly school mates hurled an apple at me from a
passing bus. The apple struck and shattered my mirror much to
the delight of those on the bus. My parents did not replace
the mirror nor did I ever ask them to and I haven't used one
since.
In my experience as a cyclist and a motorist, there is
absolutely nothing that comes close to getting the attention
of a motorist, and almost always a good reaction, than a
quick head check. The motorist knows you want to do
something, gets nervous and, in my experience, almost always
will back off. Worst case, they want to get by you faster and
you do hear that. My ears are always on, the first head check
is quick, more a signal of intent that also gets my left ear
out of the wind. The second head check is a bit longer where
I go for a visual. The third lets me know whether or not the
motorist is actually hanging back for me. I'm not trying to
argue one way or the other but just presenting the other side
and suggesting that the choice not to use a mirror is not
necessarily an irresponsible choice so long as one's hearing
is intact. For the most part, I choose not to ride roads
where this strategy doesn't feel comfortable to me but it is
close to impossible for me to go for a ride from home without
being in traffic and I often prefer heavy traffic.
I have toured with friends who use mirrors and appreciate the
"car back" calls from time to time but my experience has been
that I am often aware of the car back before the mirrored
cyclist and maybe the one first one making the call. One of
my friends is very hard of hearing, uses a mirror and it is
frightening to me how often he is completely unaware.
That being said, one of my touring partners may have been
saved from a very unpleasant encounter when he noticed in his
mirror something trailing him. Curious as to what it was he
stopped and turned around to see this guy. He was alone at
the time. Kinda hard to know what might have happened had he
not turned and faced him down. The cat took off when another
rider then came up from behind to sandwich him. This is the
most compelling argument for a mirror I've encountered.
Bill S
On Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 10:05:47 AM UTC-7 Jim Kramka
wrote:
I use a mirror attached to my glasses and would never go
back to riding without. I’ve tried two different bar
mounted mirrors and found them significantly less safe and
useful. I can look in my mirror without moving my head. I
can scan lanes behind and beside me with just slight
movement, something possible with bar-mounted mirrors only
with large movements. And my mirror goes with me
regardless which bike I ride.
On Fri, Aug 28, 2020 at 11:21 AM Matthew Williams
<[email protected]> wrote:
Hi everyone,
I'm thinking about getting a small, bar-mounted
rearview mirror. For the past forty-five years I've
ridden without one and I'm in the habit of constantly
checking my surroundings, but after riding in traffic
for several months I'm thinking a mirror might be a
good idea.
Do you use a mirror, or is it unnecessary? Does it
help, or is it just a gadget that isn't a substitute
for turning your head? What are your recommendations
for rearview mirrors?
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Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum
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