Re: The need for a recumbent bike....

Greens wrote:
While riding along, I often think I wish I had eyes like a deer for bicycling, set on the side of my head so that I could see what's happening to the front, sides and to a much larger extent, the rear. ......


I use a eyeglass-mount rear-view mirror while riding a recumbent bike, and don't have any problem seeing what's happening behind me. It's very rare that any cars sneak up behind me anymore. ...Such mirrors don't work real well on upright bikes, because if you are positioned aggressively all the mirror shows you is your own shoulder.

I did have "regular" bikes some years ago, I don't know how anyone gets any use out of handlebar-mounted mirrors. The couple I've seen vibrated badly while riding, greatly reducing their usefulness.

I consider the rear-view mirror to be a far more important accessory to riding safety than a helmet. I usually ride with no helmet these days but always have the rear-view mirror. Anyone who tells you that turning your head to look or "listening for cars behind you" is just as effective as a good mirror is a simple fool.

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As for cars not offering much room, I play the fake out: pretend to be fumbling with something, and shake the handlebars a bit, wobble a few inches left and right. It's like Moses parting the Red Sea.

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As for signaling rider intent, there are a couple companies making bicycle turn signals (even with brake lights) and overall I like the concept, but not the products offered. If I rode much in urban traffic I'd have probably modified a setup to my liking and be using it. ....The general advice of taking one hand off the handlebars to signal turns while bicycling is probably bad, but for most of us there's no other choice easily available, unless you use left-arm signals and move your front brake lever to the right side (for US/right-hand-lane traffic). Maybe BigHa was not so dumb for including turn signals after all?

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As far as pedestrians walking dogs in the way, get an AirZound and keep it pumped up. Scare them so bad they soil their undergarments.
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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Rear-View Mirrors
    ... try reading this text with your head turned ... helmet mounted mirror, and tell me if you can read it. ... Cycling" the origin of "Take the Lane" bicycling, ...
    (rec.bicycles.misc)
  • Re: Rear-View Mirrors
    ... try reading this text with your head turned ... helmet mounted mirror, and tell me if you can read it. ... Cycling" the origin of "Take the Lane" bicycling, ...
    (rec.bicycles.misc)
  • Re: Einsteins lopsided caricature of space and time
    ... >>> The movenment of the mirror doesn't really matter. ... >>> flight times of the signal before and after the reflection ... > will take a time x'/, as measured in your frame. ... signals). ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Understanding SR - simultaneity
    ... For spacetime diagram see http://users.pandora.be/nicvroom/dirk1.htm ... When you synchronise the Left mirror, ... not see the signal and the front of the train together. ... He will See the reflected signals always simultaneous. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Amateur FTIR
    ... The moving mirror is a 'porch ... Laser signal phase lock loop - if the mirror moves at a constant ... A/D trigger signal - you use the laser reference zero crossings to ... > signals. ...
    (sci.electronics.repair)
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