Found a $15 mirror that saved me from getting doored twice already

Honestly, I was always one of those riders who thought mirrors looked dorky and didn't need one. But after nearly getting clipped by a car door on my way down 7th Ave in Portland last month, I grabbed a cheap little bar-end mirror for like $15 on Amazon. It's just a simple round one that screws into my grip, takes 2 minutes to install. Now I can see traffic coming up behind me without twisting my neck around, which actually makes me feel way more stable on the bike. I swear it's already helped me dodge two close calls with parked car doors opening. Does anyone else use a mirror or are you still riding blind like I was?

2 comments

2 Comments

abby_palmer1mo ago

My first mirror was a hilariously terrible $8 one from a gas station that literally wiggled off somewhere on a downhill. I felt like a total doofus when I bought it, like I was admitting defeat or something. But the second I almost got taken out by a delivery van I never saw coming, I decided looking like a dork was way better than looking like a pancake. Now I can’t ride without it, it’s like my little neck-saving buddy. I still cringe when I see my dorky reflection in it though.

fisher.mason1mo ago

I read somewhere that a lot of bike crashes involving cars happen because the driver just didn't see the cyclist, and a mirror helps you spot trouble before it's right on top of you. That stuck with me after I started using one, because it's not just about dodging doors, it's about seeing the whole picture behind you. I got a cheap little bar-end one off Amazon too, and it's amazing how much calmer I feel on the road now. Do you find yourself checking it constantly or just in those moments when you're about to shift lanes or ride past parked cars?