Topeak Bar 'n' Mirror

Topeak’s Bar n’ Mirror is an interesting and stylish concept - a bar end with a fold out mirror, executed with the brand’s trademark panache. A blend of cold forged aluminium and engineering grade plastics are undeniably chic but form presides over comfort on longer distances.

Prised from their packaging, attention to detail here is excellent. Run a finger along the left and right specific ball burnished alloy ends, unclip and swing the mirror section outward and the smooth, refined action is seductive. Employing plastics in the mirror shell has obvious weight saving and safety advantages, particularly since the optics are made from convex glass and measure 9 x 2.5cm each. Other surfaces can wear and tarnish, reducing length of field/accuracy, especially for wearers of prescription lenses or habitually nocturnal riders.

Getting these aboard the bars is simply a question of sliding them on and making sure you don't overtighten the pinch bolts. The intuitive mirrors align and lock into position via a ratchet assembly that rotates 360 degrees on a set of interlocking splines which overcomes accidental misalignment/breakages at rest stops or parking in the street.

Correctly adjusted, their relatively small surface area provides an accurate reflection of conditions behind, although convex types mean traffic can be closer than the mirror suggests, so over the shoulder glances shouldn’t be neglected, especially in congested town centres.

Comfort is subjective but while sitting nicely in the palms, the Profiles' stubby profiles left my fingers feeling cramped on rides exceeding five or six miles – take note if you enjoy scenic towpath devation.Vibration hasn't proved problematic on metalled road but becomes apparent exceeding 10mph along forest trails and towpath – although, to be fair, you don't often need to use a mirror on this type of terrain.

Verdict

Sleek but form overshadows comfort on longer rides.