Designing a New Bike Mirror

Will95

Hi all

For my Design and Technology GCSE I have been tasked to design a bicycle mirror that will help make the cyclist more aware of rear view traffic and assist
in safe cycling for all.

To help me with my research can you answer the following questions by replying to this topic in the space provided for each question.

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1.

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3.

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5.

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6

Many thanks for your responses

Will

Berk Bonebonce

1/ Two.
2/ No.
3/ No others apart from brake lever/shifters.
4/ Not important, because I would only consider fitting a mirror to my utility bike, and not my road bike. With my utility bike, things like comfort and safety are more important than weight.
5/ Again, pretty unimportant because my utility bike is pretty utilitarian.
6/ Cost is of significance, but my feeling is that mirrors can be manufactured quite cheaply.

Additional notes: Mirrors have never found favour with cyclists because it is often easier to just swivel your head around. Have you heard of 'Reevu' where some guy incorporated a rear view mirror into a helmet?

hopper1

I was at the cycling show and some new outfit was pushing it's latest incarnation of the cyclists mirror.
It fitted on the downtube, close to where the old shifters used to sit.
Having tried it out on the demo, it did seem to work very well, whilst remaining small and discrete.

Still wouldn't have one, though.

Anonymous

What would be cool for you to design would be some kind of mini DV camera streaming video to a bike computer or something as mirrors have been done to death. However, you are tasked with designing a mirror, so -


Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. 5

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2 No

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. On the bike I'd consider using it I have light and GPS

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4 As long as it's not daft like 200g plus.

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. I would want it to be very discreet. Not fussed about aerodynamics. How about one incorporated into a bar end plug?

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6 Mirrors are incredibly cheap so I can't see cost being an issue, but I'd only buy it if it was a few quid. (Or less!)

Good luck with your project!

Edit - bar end plug mirror here! http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/kf-end-p ... 44978.html

mattward1979

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. Two

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2 No

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3.Just a light

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4 Not a major factor as long as it wasnt something crazy like a Kilo..

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. It would have to be in keeping with the Bike.. And some way to account for the change in position going from Hoods to Drops on a road bike.
Aero considerations would be quite important too.

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6. Safety equipment should not be skimped on. So price isnt too much of a barrier as long as the cost is reasonable for the item.


Hope this helps,

Good luck with your project!

johnsilva

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
3

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
No

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
2

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
As long as it's not ridiculous, not very.

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
If it's fairly small, it wouldn't bother me too much what it looks like.

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
£10 max for a mirror.

Good luck with your work.

brin

hopper1 wrote:

I was at the cycling show and some new outfit was pushing it's latest incarnation of the cyclists mirror.
It fitted on the downtube, close to where the old shifters used to sit.
Having tried it out on the demo, it did seem to work very well, whilst remaining small and discrete.

Still wouldn't have one, though.

It can't be that much of a 'new idea' i saw one last year whilst doing the Ryedale Rumble, saw one again last month whilst doing the Arthur Metcalfe Sportive, they did look the bizz if mirrors are prefered, as you mention they are quite discrete, and apparently effective.

fastbatard

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. 2

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2 No

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. 2 lights

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4 I'm not obsessed with weight but wouldn't want it too heavy

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. Would have to look ok and not be too 'geeky'

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6 I would probably pay around £10-£15 for a mirror that looked ok and functioned well.

Many thanks for your responses

Will[/quote]

Good luck, this brings back memories of my CDT gcse project when I made a trailer for my bike over 20 years ago!

MattC59

Personally, I wouldn't by one, as I think they introduce as many hazards as they remove. For example:
If you look into a mirror, you are only looking at a limited view of what is behind you. If you turn your head, you see much more. This is why motorcyclists call a quick look back, 'the lifesaver'.
Have you asked the same question in the commuter section ?

But that's not what you asked.............. so:

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. 4

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2 No

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. Cycle computer, lights if I'm out at night.

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4 On a commuter or utility bike, I don't think it's an issue. I don't think many people would put them on their 'road' bikes

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. Needs to look ok, but it's mirror, so I think the above counts again.

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6 I'm guessing that about £10- £15 is about right.

lae

Hi Will,

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. Seven!

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2 No

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. Lights on town bikes, bike computer on racing bikes

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4. Not that important because it would be going on already heavy town bikes. Function and cost are much more important

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. Aesthetics more than aerodynamics - again, it'd be going on a town bike rather than a racing bike. And I like my bikes to look nice

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6. Very important - it's got a fair chance of being knocked off or otherwise destroyed so I want to be able to replace it cheaply

Let us know how it turns out. How are you gonna make it? Two vacuum-formed plastic halves cemented together with a clamp bonded to one end? Or perhaps a cast and turned aluminium piece that clamps into the end of the handlebar?

furrag

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. Four.

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2. No.

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. Lights on two bikes (one Y-frame, one road), cadence sensor on one road bike, and Garmin mounts on both road bikes.

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4. Not very.

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. Important in looks. I'd be more tempted to get one if it looked good. I wouldn't care for aerodynamics though.

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6. High; I like value for money.

antfly

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

Additional notes: Mirrors have never found favour with cyclists because it is often easier to just swivel your head around. Have you heard of 'Reevu' where some guy incorporated a rear view mirror into a helmet?

There is one in the cupboard here, I tried it once, it was garbage.

rich164h

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. Two

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2. No

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. On my road bike I have a mount for my Garmin Forerunner plus a reflector. On my MTB I have a reflector and a mount for a front light

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4. As long as it's not made of lead, it's not really a major consideration.

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. Reasonably. It's has to be practical firstly, and secondly in keeping with the rest of the bike. A hot pink mirror would not be going on my bike!!

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6. Reasonably, but for a mirror device the price would be low so the odd pound here or thre won't make any difference to my decision.

vorsprung

Will95 wrote:

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. 4

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2. No

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. commuter bike has backup light+ computer
best bike has computer
racing bike has computer + map holder

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4. Not important

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. Not important

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6. Important

johnmiosh

The main problem with your questionnaire is that it does not establish whethe, the respondent would consider buying such an accesory. Questions 4-6 could have been in a different format e.g. new Q4, would you consider buying a mirror if an improved design bacame available. If yes the original Q4 - 6 could be slightly rephrased e.g. If a new mirror was made using lightweight materials, would you be more or less likely to purchase etc. If no then the respondent;'s viewas have no value in the research.

However, my answers to the posed questions:

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. Three

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2 No

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. Road bike: Summer, small flashing LED plus Edge GPS. Winter same plus more powerful 9 LED light. Fixed, edge GPS. Track, nothing.

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4 I would not purchase so the weight is irrelevant to me

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. No intention to purchase

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6 No intention to purchase

Smirf

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. 2

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2 no

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. lights, computer/gps

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4 moderate.

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. relatively. Commuters would value function over form

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6 important

bobones

Will95 wrote:

Hi all

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. 1

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2 Yes, this one http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Black ... 300005840/

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. 5 (1 computer, 2 lights, 1 bell, 1 ipod holder on stem)

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4 Not very important - within reasonable weight range.

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. Wouldn't want it to be ugly or huge. Would want it to be functional, adjustable, sturdy if bike falls, but not to move going over bumps. The one I have is fine but the positioning is a bit low down, and is not viewable from all positions (e.g on drops, or arm position sometimes obscures view. A brake hook mounted one would be higher and easier to glance at.

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6 Fairly important. Would pay £20 max. Paid £15 for the one I have.

Many thanks for your responses

Will

keef66

Q1. How many Bikes do you own or have access to?
A1. 1

Q2. Do you currently have a Mirror Fitted to your Bike?
A2 No

Q3. Other than brakes and shifters how many other devices are fitted to your handle bars, Lights, Bell, GPS etc?
A3. 2 (light, compoota)

Q4. How important would the weight of a product of this type be?
A4 Moderately

Q5. How important would the Aesthetics of such a product be, Aerodynamics?
A5. It would have to look good. Not worried about aero.

Q6. How important do you rate cost when buying a product of this type?
A6. Fiver. Tenner if it's really good.