Tiger Eye
Cycling Mirror ($24.99 MSRP)

To be honest, I’ve never given much thought to cycling mirrors. But recently, I was riding on a (presumably) deserted country road and trying to have a conversation with the person I was riding with. It seemed every time I rode up alongside my friend to have a word, a car would come whizzing by. And for whatever reason, by the time I heard each car, it was already alongside of me.

In addition to being very annoying, it served to show that you can’t always rely on your ears. As such, it made me realize the benefit of being able to see what was coming up from behind.

Tiger Eye has been manufacturing mirrors for cyclists since 1995. They’re hand-made in the US and come in both helmet-mount and glasses-mount styles. The “frame” of the mirror is constructed from a stainless steel bicycle spoke. This enables you to adjust it simply by bending the wire. The mirror itself hangs from a swivel and provides a surprisingly wide view of the road behind you.

After watching this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0n4p4w0ouc), I found it to be a snap to install and remove. It came pretty well adjusted out of the box, so I didn’t really have to mess with bending any wires around.

Having tested it on some rural roads, I can say that it does help you notice cars coming up from behind. Just like in a car, you’ll be cruising along and then you’ll see a spot enter your field of vision. To me, this seems to be more of an advantage in rural areas (where there aren’t as many cars but they’re traveling much faster), than in the city (where there are hundreds of cars constantly around you, traveling more or less the same speed as you).

If you’re worried about fashion or aesthetics or being cool or whatever, like I said, you can easily remove the mirror. That way, when you don’t feel you need it, take it off. And when you do need it, simply snap it back on your helmet and go. I’m guessing if you try it and use it a few times, you might wind up just keeping it on there.

It’s worth note that this product comes highly recommended from the Adventure Cycling Association, and I think that’s a pretty big endorsement. In  fact, you can order a Tiger Eye from them, complete with the Adventure Cycling Association logo on the front. Not only do you get a functional product that can help keep you safe, you benefit a worthy cause.

Purchase Information:
Tiger Eye Website
http://www.teamtigereye.com/

To Purchase from Adventure Cycling Association
http://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/search-results/sp/tiger-eye-helmet-mirror/

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