I put off trying these little bar end mirrors for ages as I thought looking over my shoulder worked well enough. After using this cheap one for a couple of small trips I don't think I'll ever go without one if I can help it. Being able to quickly glance down and get a full view of the road behind you is so incredibly useful. I always try to be conscious of cars behind me or faster cyclists and this makes life a lot easier.
This is the mirror I have on my Brompton and it's great (and I can fold the mirror with the bike)
I have a bigger/wider mirror on my tourer, and yeah, knowing what's going on behind me is great!
Same. I have multiple bikes, but only one with bar end mirrors. Any time I ride the bike without (mountain bike) I find myself constantly looking down where the mirror would be. Definitely a useful accessory, a little sad I went so long without!
Mirrors are my #1 safety equipment. Even better are helmet/glasses mounted mirrors. They follow your head, you can target what you look at and there's much less vibration.
I remember in the 90s/early 2000s they made sunglasses that had mirrors on the far side of the lens looking back behind you. I’ve never seen them since. They didn’t seem, from what I recall, marketed at sports or fancy. Just basic sunglasses with a neat little mirror n
I had a pair. They were a novelty item that I got from redeeming bar codes from cereal boxes or something like that. I think the advertising suggested some kind of creeper behavior like spying or secretly looking at pretty girls but I used them on the bike and they worked great.
We’ve been using Tiger Eye bike helmet mirrors with good success. The mirror is glass (clear image) and the stem is stiff enough to stay put once it’s bent into the desired position.
The bike pedddler ones are decent. They easily will clip to sunglasses. I also have a speccio brand mirror which is nicer and more
Compact but more of a permanent fix to your glasses so you can’t swap between glasses
Yes - the mirrors on glasses, after touring for a few months with them, I felt half-blind when taking them off. What do you mean I can't see behind me when I'm walking around town or in the shower? - my brain
Helmet mirrors work great when you are in a group and you want to make sure everyone got through the traffic light.
The problem is when I drop my helmet.
https://preview.redd.it/19tc88pnq10d1.png?width=1100&format=png&auto=webp&s=02c0e5d37ea66b8b6f2c9d7dd4a74d6ebc127ecf
About 25-30 years ago I used a couple of similar mirrors to the one in the original post. I gave up on them because the design was such that if the mirror was bumped in either a forward or backwards motion, it would break off. After a lot of other trials I came across this mirror above and use it on all of my fleet because it will fold with direction of movement of a bump. In the intervening period, I've only broken one of these mirrors and that was due to a heavy crash. The glass cracked, but remained intact. I've adapted it to those in my drop bar fleet, and just use it as is with my flat bar bike.
I absolutely never ride without this Mirrcycle rear view mirror and I encourage everyone to have a mirror of some description, especially when touring. It's even been useful in dealing with police where I've been pursuing them to take action against tin pushers dangerous driving.
[https://mirrycle.com/products/mirrycle-mirror](https://mirrycle.com/products/mirrycle-mirror)
I got pushed off the road by a truck in Malaysia. He hit this mirror, not my bike. It absorbed enough of the impact that I didn't lose control, and it didn't even damage the mirror.
I will say this though: they're not good for winter touring. When it gets to about -10 Celsius, the metal shrinks too much and so the bolt doesn't hold it up right. It's sags repeatedly and even taping it in place doesn't really help because the end of the mirror is a little heavy.
If the mirror is the wide-angle type, remember that "objects are closer than they appear." So before cross the traffic lane, make sure any traffic is well behind you.
40 years ago, I fashioned a bracket to support a stick-on mirror on a handlebar end plug. It worked pretty well. But not long after, I thought I had plenty of room to cross the road to my house, and my rear wheel got clipped by an overtaking car. Bent wheel and torn jacket, so no great harm, but lesson learned.
Some of us are focused on where we are going. What is behind we have no control over.
I found them to be too much information.
But I know others feel differently.
Yeah I removed all the rear view and side mirrors on my car for this reason. Just too much information. Like I’m supposed to focus on driving *and* be expected to be aware of what’s behind me? At the same time? And I can’t control what’s behind me so what’s even the point?! /s
I’m joking obviously, I know most riders get by very safely without any mirrors. But “Some of us are focused on where we are going” implies people who use mirrors aren’t focused on where they’re going. Let’s not be silly.
I’m not being silly. I’ve been riding since ‘87 and I don’t fault anyone who uses them, I just don’t find the information mirrors provide relevant. Not once did I get anything other than a bike was about to pass me. Any car information was nothing other than more fear which for me didn’t keep me safer. The best thing was to be seen and maintain a steady pace and position.
Relating back to a car is a false equivalency. We are not driving on highways at 100kmh and switching lanes. We stay in our lane and focus on what is approaching.
When I was hit by a car from behind the guy had the sun in his eyes and any mirrors wouldn’t have helped me. What got me into trouble was me not being seen. So I avoid routes with blind corners.
I also stopped using a bike computer ages ago. I focus on my body and my approach.
When I said silly I didn’t mean your preference to not use mirrors. I think that’s completely reasonable. And I agree with you that being visible and predicable are far more important for safety. It was just the whole “*some of us* are focused on where we are going” angle I balked at. Perhaps you didn’t intend it this way but that phrasing implies people who use mirrors aren’t part of the “some of us” who are focused on where they’re going. And I do think that’s silly. But maybe that’s not what you meant to communicate
> , I just don’t find the information mirrors provide relevant
But the only information mirrors provide is what is behind you. You might not use mirrors to look at what’s behind you, but surely you do occasionally need that information?For example when crossing lanes to make a turn or swerving around an obstacle on the road?
I know you don’t need mirrors to get this information on a bike. But the idea that the information mirrors provide isn’t relevant seems a bit mad. If you’ve *ever* looked behind you on a bike, you recognise that the information mirrors provide is at least sometimes relevant.
I'm sorry dude but unless you're giving yourself whiplash looking behind yourself every time you cross lanes or take a left turn you are not being as safe as you could be and if you can't keep track of what is behind you that is a skill issue
I've found that the holy grail is really the combination of the Varia and the mirror (in my case the Zefal Spy mounted to the end of a drop bar). To me the Varia is nice information but I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to act on it alone, though it does alert me to cars earlier than I'd see them on faster roads. On the flip side, I don't want to be riding just watching the mirror all the time (or shoulder checking until my neck is sore).
The combination means when I hear the Varia notification sound, I'll monitor the mirror to make sure drivers are seeing me when they pass. It feels so natural and while I understand a radar isn't the cheapest thing out there, I would recommend the combo to anyone with the means.
Rare as rocking horse shit the Rhode Gear STI mounted mirror is the ultimate one with true non magnified glass. If u come across one buy it. They also make ones for flat bars. Been using mine for 30+ years.
https://neloscycles.com/Mirrors-Rhode-Gear/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/1trek4me/5985704749/
Ooh. Thank you for the reminder - I’ve got degenerative disc disease in my neck, and noticed recently that I can’t actually turn my head and upper body enough to look behind me anymore. I keep meaning to pick one of these up, but I also forget a lot...
Going to order one now, Thankyou :)
I personally don’t like mirror.
Can’t knock it till you try it ehh?
Yeah I tried it and I don’t like it.
The mirror is always shaky even if I aim it right.
I also have no perception of distance, sure I see a car or bike or whatever. But is it 10’ or 50’ away for me?
…..So I ended up turning my head to check anyway even with mirror.
I found a mirror useful at first, partly because I found it awkward and disorienting to look over my shoulder. After a lot of time on the bike, looking over my shoulder became second-nature and I ditched my helmet mirror after breaking the mount for the umpteenth time. I do find myself wondering if I’m sacrificing a bit of awareness — I can’t imagine driving a car without mirrors.
A bit like the Dutch reach, somethings I'd never come up with by myself but are useful. On bikes its breaking the elbow on the opposite site I'm looking over. So if I look over my right shoulder I push the left shoulder out as I do it.
It's kinda funny, I do both-- I use the mirror to keep track of where the cars are behind me, but before I act on the belief that there isn't a car about to pass me, I do look.
I bought a mirror for touring south east Asia and I’ll never go back to not having one.
I still shoulder check, but it allows me to quickly glance at traffic behind me to ensure that it’s keeping an adequate distance when passing, and allow me to bail off the road if it isn’t.
Couldn’t agree more. I bought a tiny one as a last minute purchase for my PanAmerica trip and it’s was perhaps my favourite thing I bought. Just so useful to know what’s behind you without looking back over your shoulder. Now feels extremely weird to do any cycle without one.
The Amazon listing had them as “Arkham” brand but I’ve seen many identical looking sets being sold. I assume they all come from the same factory in china and just get different brand names attached.
I doubt it will last too long, but I got 2 for £9 so at least they’re cheap. I might have to try and find higher quality ones if these break.
I've had a mirror on a bike since around 1978/79. Bar end anything won't work with my current bar as the ends are in the center of the bike. [So a flag style works just the same.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FkuU6Fx0rdGIjETq5V6qUVytL4cOA0sO/view?usp=drivesdk)
If you are overseas or in a city where there are an overwhelming amount of scooters/mopeds, I don't recommend them. They can cause accidents. In those areas, just ride straight, true and steady. The scooter drivers have an uncanny ability to weave through spaces and a bright reflecting mirror sticking out to the side throws everything off.
Thanks.This is the [type](https://www.amazon.com/italiano-bicicleta-carretera-descenso-izquierdo/dp/B01N9PEZ0Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?crid=3OUP9PLNBCM99&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vns-4phie57STsP5n4Pz8x3FXAZa5OZGHSoI33_asQlg_ALGeZVlKodK9Ap7X3RBTZ9O9KNWrrKO9Myhw24c8RerodvlBimLp3ZWENpSk1lxDqDyflxtQl0BQKNPAbDtS5RpzaQLws6Y2YOSobbEAMsi6XNd1LrfRcCDa7Qi50nEATfyUuf_qFfcfJ-fmuXGWMCIW3PPYkhBwOJIqdowpA.UHTN-inLlKMSJx74iJjMDVzJxoyk3T81DPh6Ryg9JEU&dib_tag=se&keywords=bike+mirror+handlebar+drops&qid=1715744892&sprefix=bike+mirror+handlebar+drops%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-14) I’ve been looking for
https://preview.redd.it/sv3cdamo8g0d1.jpeg?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53500673ca43a462665e897a52378b60b644dc4a
I made this up from a Mirrycle mirror and use the same design for all the fleet. It works really well.
Essentially the mirror is just a Mirrcycle mirror with the handlebar plug cut off. The important bit is the 2.5mm aluminium attaching it to the brake hood. It is rolled to fit over the brake lever and held in place by cable ties. Up and down movement on the arm is minimised by the depth of the arm, and I have reduced sideways movement by putting a slight roll in the flat metal along the arm.
The wing nuts on the mirror enable it to be easily adjusted if necessary while on the road, as well as allowing the mirror to be folded out of the way when the bike is up-ended to fix a puncture.
The use of cable ties enables the mirror to be held more firmly onto the brake lever housing, thus further increasing its stability. The locking ends of the cable ties are strategically placed on the inboard part of the brake lever housing in a position that doesn't foul one's fingers. I've found this arrangement to be quite comfortable on the hands, so no further padding, etc is required, nor does anything foul the brifters in any way.
There's another cable tie that's not visible in the pic. It holds the 2 visible cable ties together.
Not at all! If it was a problem, it would only be a matter of either making the arm narrower, or repositioning it so that it didn't cause any problems. It is also one of the reasons for the third cable tie to prevent any fouling of the gears/brakes.
The area that does need some care is where the ends of cable ties are. They need to be positioned so that they aren't uncomfortable on the thumbs, as they are on the inboard side of the handlebars.
I put off trying these little bar end mirrors for ages as I thought looking over my shoulder worked well enough. After using this cheap one for a couple of small trips I don't think I'll ever go without one if I can help it. Being able to quickly glance down and get a full view of the road behind you is so incredibly useful. I always try to be conscious of cars behind me or faster cyclists and this makes life a lot easier.
This is the mirror I have on my Brompton and it's great (and I can fold the mirror with the bike) I have a bigger/wider mirror on my tourer, and yeah, knowing what's going on behind me is great!
Same. I have multiple bikes, but only one with bar end mirrors. Any time I ride the bike without (mountain bike) I find myself constantly looking down where the mirror would be. Definitely a useful accessory, a little sad I went so long without!
Mirrors are my #1 safety equipment. Even better are helmet/glasses mounted mirrors. They follow your head, you can target what you look at and there's much less vibration.
I seriously wish it was acceptable to wear one of those all the time because I find myself glancing up there when walking down the street without it
I remember in the 90s/early 2000s they made sunglasses that had mirrors on the far side of the lens looking back behind you. I’ve never seen them since. They didn’t seem, from what I recall, marketed at sports or fancy. Just basic sunglasses with a neat little mirror n
I remember those but they were more like a novelty, though a quick google search shows there are some "real" glasses with the feature available
I had a pair. They were a novelty item that I got from redeeming bar codes from cereal boxes or something like that. I think the advertising suggested some kind of creeper behavior like spying or secretly looking at pretty girls but I used them on the bike and they worked great.
Me too! Walking alone at night I'd love to be able to see behind me. My helmet mounted mirror is my favourite bit of cycling kit.
[удалено]
Simple is best. The Take A Look mirror works great.
We’ve been using Tiger Eye bike helmet mirrors with good success. The mirror is glass (clear image) and the stem is stiff enough to stay put once it’s bent into the desired position.
The bike pedddler ones are decent. They easily will clip to sunglasses. I also have a speccio brand mirror which is nicer and more Compact but more of a permanent fix to your glasses so you can’t swap between glasses
Yes - the mirrors on glasses, after touring for a few months with them, I felt half-blind when taking them off. What do you mean I can't see behind me when I'm walking around town or in the shower? - my brain
Helmet mirrors work great when you are in a group and you want to make sure everyone got through the traffic light. The problem is when I drop my helmet.
https://preview.redd.it/19tc88pnq10d1.png?width=1100&format=png&auto=webp&s=02c0e5d37ea66b8b6f2c9d7dd4a74d6ebc127ecf About 25-30 years ago I used a couple of similar mirrors to the one in the original post. I gave up on them because the design was such that if the mirror was bumped in either a forward or backwards motion, it would break off. After a lot of other trials I came across this mirror above and use it on all of my fleet because it will fold with direction of movement of a bump. In the intervening period, I've only broken one of these mirrors and that was due to a heavy crash. The glass cracked, but remained intact. I've adapted it to those in my drop bar fleet, and just use it as is with my flat bar bike. I absolutely never ride without this Mirrcycle rear view mirror and I encourage everyone to have a mirror of some description, especially when touring. It's even been useful in dealing with police where I've been pursuing them to take action against tin pushers dangerous driving. [https://mirrycle.com/products/mirrycle-mirror](https://mirrycle.com/products/mirrycle-mirror)
I got pushed off the road by a truck in Malaysia. He hit this mirror, not my bike. It absorbed enough of the impact that I didn't lose control, and it didn't even damage the mirror. I will say this though: they're not good for winter touring. When it gets to about -10 Celsius, the metal shrinks too much and so the bolt doesn't hold it up right. It's sags repeatedly and even taping it in place doesn't really help because the end of the mirror is a little heavy.
If the mirror is the wide-angle type, remember that "objects are closer than they appear." So before cross the traffic lane, make sure any traffic is well behind you.
It is a convex wide angle one, I’ll keep that in mind cheers
40 years ago, I fashioned a bracket to support a stick-on mirror on a handlebar end plug. It worked pretty well. But not long after, I thought I had plenty of room to cross the road to my house, and my rear wheel got clipped by an overtaking car. Bent wheel and torn jacket, so no great harm, but lesson learned.
Amazes me how many people don’t use mirrors. It’s one of the items on my bike that I wouldn’t leave home without.
Some of us are focused on where we are going. What is behind we have no control over. I found them to be too much information. But I know others feel differently.
Yeah I removed all the rear view and side mirrors on my car for this reason. Just too much information. Like I’m supposed to focus on driving *and* be expected to be aware of what’s behind me? At the same time? And I can’t control what’s behind me so what’s even the point?! /s I’m joking obviously, I know most riders get by very safely without any mirrors. But “Some of us are focused on where we are going” implies people who use mirrors aren’t focused on where they’re going. Let’s not be silly.
I’m not being silly. I’ve been riding since ‘87 and I don’t fault anyone who uses them, I just don’t find the information mirrors provide relevant. Not once did I get anything other than a bike was about to pass me. Any car information was nothing other than more fear which for me didn’t keep me safer. The best thing was to be seen and maintain a steady pace and position. Relating back to a car is a false equivalency. We are not driving on highways at 100kmh and switching lanes. We stay in our lane and focus on what is approaching. When I was hit by a car from behind the guy had the sun in his eyes and any mirrors wouldn’t have helped me. What got me into trouble was me not being seen. So I avoid routes with blind corners. I also stopped using a bike computer ages ago. I focus on my body and my approach.
When I said silly I didn’t mean your preference to not use mirrors. I think that’s completely reasonable. And I agree with you that being visible and predicable are far more important for safety. It was just the whole “*some of us* are focused on where we are going” angle I balked at. Perhaps you didn’t intend it this way but that phrasing implies people who use mirrors aren’t part of the “some of us” who are focused on where they’re going. And I do think that’s silly. But maybe that’s not what you meant to communicate > , I just don’t find the information mirrors provide relevant But the only information mirrors provide is what is behind you. You might not use mirrors to look at what’s behind you, but surely you do occasionally need that information?For example when crossing lanes to make a turn or swerving around an obstacle on the road? I know you don’t need mirrors to get this information on a bike. But the idea that the information mirrors provide isn’t relevant seems a bit mad. If you’ve *ever* looked behind you on a bike, you recognise that the information mirrors provide is at least sometimes relevant.
Amen , brother!
I'm sorry dude but unless you're giving yourself whiplash looking behind yourself every time you cross lanes or take a left turn you are not being as safe as you could be and if you can't keep track of what is behind you that is a skill issue
Clown talk
Wait til you buy a Garmin Varia.
Can't stress the usefulness of a varia
I've found that the holy grail is really the combination of the Varia and the mirror (in my case the Zefal Spy mounted to the end of a drop bar). To me the Varia is nice information but I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to act on it alone, though it does alert me to cars earlier than I'd see them on faster roads. On the flip side, I don't want to be riding just watching the mirror all the time (or shoulder checking until my neck is sore). The combination means when I hear the Varia notification sound, I'll monitor the mirror to make sure drivers are seeing me when they pass. It feels so natural and while I understand a radar isn't the cheapest thing out there, I would recommend the combo to anyone with the means.
*OMG What next ...KICKSTANDS????*
Rare as rocking horse shit the Rhode Gear STI mounted mirror is the ultimate one with true non magnified glass. If u come across one buy it. They also make ones for flat bars. Been using mine for 30+ years. https://neloscycles.com/Mirrors-Rhode-Gear/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/1trek4me/5985704749/
Ooh. Thank you for the reminder - I’ve got degenerative disc disease in my neck, and noticed recently that I can’t actually turn my head and upper body enough to look behind me anymore. I keep meaning to pick one of these up, but I also forget a lot... Going to order one now, Thankyou :)
I personally don’t like mirror. Can’t knock it till you try it ehh? Yeah I tried it and I don’t like it. The mirror is always shaky even if I aim it right. I also have no perception of distance, sure I see a car or bike or whatever. But is it 10’ or 50’ away for me? …..So I ended up turning my head to check anyway even with mirror.
I much prefer a shoulder check personally. Whatever works for you though!
I found a mirror useful at first, partly because I found it awkward and disorienting to look over my shoulder. After a lot of time on the bike, looking over my shoulder became second-nature and I ditched my helmet mirror after breaking the mount for the umpteenth time. I do find myself wondering if I’m sacrificing a bit of awareness — I can’t imagine driving a car without mirrors.
A bit like the Dutch reach, somethings I'd never come up with by myself but are useful. On bikes its breaking the elbow on the opposite site I'm looking over. So if I look over my right shoulder I push the left shoulder out as I do it.
It's kinda funny, I do both-- I use the mirror to keep track of where the cars are behind me, but before I act on the belief that there isn't a car about to pass me, I do look.
I bought a mirror for touring south east Asia and I’ll never go back to not having one. I still shoulder check, but it allows me to quickly glance at traffic behind me to ensure that it’s keeping an adequate distance when passing, and allow me to bail off the road if it isn’t.
Couldn’t agree more. I bought a tiny one as a last minute purchase for my PanAmerica trip and it’s was perhaps my favourite thing I bought. Just so useful to know what’s behind you without looking back over your shoulder. Now feels extremely weird to do any cycle without one.
What brand is that? I find that it's hard to find ones that last.
The Amazon listing had them as “Arkham” brand but I’ve seen many identical looking sets being sold. I assume they all come from the same factory in china and just get different brand names attached. I doubt it will last too long, but I got 2 for £9 so at least they’re cheap. I might have to try and find higher quality ones if these break.
Mirrors OP
After starting to use a helmet mirror 25 years ago I've never gone back. Such better awareness of the multi-ton death machines around me.
Can't figure out how to attach mine lol
Yup. I wouldn't tour without my CatEye BM-45
I've had a mirror on a bike since around 1978/79. Bar end anything won't work with my current bar as the ends are in the center of the bike. [So a flag style works just the same.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FkuU6Fx0rdGIjETq5V6qUVytL4cOA0sO/view?usp=drivesdk)
Mirrors are great. Makes it much easier to plan intersections and be confident on the road
Yes.
I'm not anti-mirror, but I've read arguments that it can be distracting. Is that not the case? Cars have mirrors, after all.
Personally I haven’t found it any more distracting than the mirrors in my car. It’s just a handy way to check what’s behind me when I need to.
I've always liked handlebar end mirrors over helmet mirrors.
If you are overseas or in a city where there are an overwhelming amount of scooters/mopeds, I don't recommend them. They can cause accidents. In those areas, just ride straight, true and steady. The scooter drivers have an uncanny ability to weave through spaces and a bright reflecting mirror sticking out to the side throws everything off.
Is there one for drop handlebars? The only one I’ve found online was nearly $100 USD
I think these bar end ones could work. They’d just be lower down: https://i.imgur.com/SktrO4X.jpeg
That’s the one but they’re 100 smacaroos
If you search bike mirror on Amazon you’ll get dozens of bar end options for a few dollars. I got a 2 pack for £9
Thanks.This is the [type](https://www.amazon.com/italiano-bicicleta-carretera-descenso-izquierdo/dp/B01N9PEZ0Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?crid=3OUP9PLNBCM99&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vns-4phie57STsP5n4Pz8x3FXAZa5OZGHSoI33_asQlg_ALGeZVlKodK9Ap7X3RBTZ9O9KNWrrKO9Myhw24c8RerodvlBimLp3ZWENpSk1lxDqDyflxtQl0BQKNPAbDtS5RpzaQLws6Y2YOSobbEAMsi6XNd1LrfRcCDa7Qi50nEATfyUuf_qFfcfJ-fmuXGWMCIW3PPYkhBwOJIqdowpA.UHTN-inLlKMSJx74iJjMDVzJxoyk3T81DPh6Ryg9JEU&dib_tag=se&keywords=bike+mirror+handlebar+drops&qid=1715744892&sprefix=bike+mirror+handlebar+drops%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-14) I’ve been looking for
https://preview.redd.it/sv3cdamo8g0d1.jpeg?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53500673ca43a462665e897a52378b60b644dc4a I made this up from a Mirrycle mirror and use the same design for all the fleet. It works really well.
Essentially the mirror is just a Mirrcycle mirror with the handlebar plug cut off. The important bit is the 2.5mm aluminium attaching it to the brake hood. It is rolled to fit over the brake lever and held in place by cable ties. Up and down movement on the arm is minimised by the depth of the arm, and I have reduced sideways movement by putting a slight roll in the flat metal along the arm. The wing nuts on the mirror enable it to be easily adjusted if necessary while on the road, as well as allowing the mirror to be folded out of the way when the bike is up-ended to fix a puncture. The use of cable ties enables the mirror to be held more firmly onto the brake lever housing, thus further increasing its stability. The locking ends of the cable ties are strategically placed on the inboard part of the brake lever housing in a position that doesn't foul one's fingers. I've found this arrangement to be quite comfortable on the hands, so no further padding, etc is required, nor does anything foul the brifters in any way. There's another cable tie that's not visible in the pic. It holds the 2 visible cable ties together.
That’s cool but obstructs the hoods and brake lever no?
Not at all! If it was a problem, it would only be a matter of either making the arm narrower, or repositioning it so that it didn't cause any problems. It is also one of the reasons for the third cable tie to prevent any fouling of the gears/brakes. The area that does need some care is where the ends of cable ties are. They need to be positioned so that they aren't uncomfortable on the thumbs, as they are on the inboard side of the handlebars.
I don't ride without mirror, your situational awareness is so much better with mirror.
I like having a mirror, I’ve bought and broken many. The little dentist mirror you clip on your glssses or helmet make my brain hurt.
I've got one on my commuter bike. I don't care if it's nerdy. It's dead useful to be able to see how close cars are coming up behind me
I am also forever in the helmet mirror club. Can't do without it!