Indispensable

Anyone who uses a bicycle as their primary transportation quickly understands that constant and unflagging awareness of their surroundings on whatever kind of road they're using is key to       their survival. And while the need for protection in the form of helmets is pretty much indisputable, I will maintain that another       item – especially a particular variant of it – is just as valuable.

This bit of genius is the Take-a-Look Mirror from Bike Peddler. It can be fastened to a helmet or glasses. If using the latter, flat-sided stems provide the easiest fit, but round work as well. I've used one of these for years (literally one – I've never had to repair or replace it), and I cannot overemphasize how valuable it's been. It can be adjusted to give you precisely the angle you need to keep an eye on the traffic behind you. While it does take some trial-and-error to get that angle right, it doesn't take long, and re-setting it (not something you have to do often) is easy, since vibration from riding doesn't jiggle the mirror out of its setting. The acrylic mirror allows you to see details clearly at well more than a hundred yards distant. Best of all, this mirror allows you to dart your gaze at it for only an instant to see what you need to before turning back to the road ahead.

   Available in many bike shops as well as online, it sells for fifteen to twenty dollars.