I sure seem to write about sunglasses a lot. I'm really getting kind of angry now... I am on my fourth pair of the summer. Which is why I don't buy good sunglasses. I lose 'em or break 'em. Of course, one could argue that perhaps I would take better care of my sunglasses if they were more valuable. What if I went ahead and spent a bunch of money and that isn't true though? What if I'm really just a naturally destructive force when it comes to sunglasses? Then I will have wasted money that could have been spent on my kids or starving kids or beer or beer for my kids (wait, no) instead of on proving something to myself that I already suspected! Gah!
Is there anyone out there who rides a bicycle often (or far) who does not think that sunglasses (or clear glasses) or goggles or something shielding your eyes is an absolute necessity? I couldn't have cared less when I was a kid, but I HATE riding without some sort of glasses now.
The pair I'm currently wearing were purchased at a lost and found sale. They are those "Solar Shield" types. Some people like 'em because some styles will fit over top of eyeglasses. Others like having as much UV blocked as possible. I don't wear glasses though and I'm OK with a little UV action on the side (nudge nudge, wink wink). I thought they might keep wind and airborne crap out a little better, which they do.
I have two problems with these. Firstly, I knew peripheral vision would suffer a little, but I didn't count on my shoulder checks being WAY more difficult. I need to either lose these shades or grow a more flexible neck.
Secondly, especially when combined with my bike helmet and camera, I can't shake the feeling that I bring to mind Dr. Nefario from Despicable Me.
I'm still wearing them for now despite my misgivings. Another cheap pair will come my way, I am sure.
Yer Pal,
R A N T W I C K 
20 comments:
I had a pair of sunglasses I liked (Rayban Predator, I think) lenses changed to grey-photochromatic prescription. Fantastic. They look silly when the lenses are clear, but I put them on in any weather, and they suit me in any weather, or night, riding home. I even got ski-goggles to fit over them, for winter rides and skiing (have too many allergies for contacts).
Brown-photo lenses would suit dealing with headlight glare and flat-light skiing better, but I prefer true-colour most of the time. Also want something to keep the wind and my breath out like Julbo Mountain Explorers.
Not had to much trouble with peripheral vision, even with ski-goggles on... I tend to use my ears a lot, and tuck my chin to my shoulder to look back, but everyone's style varies.
Yeah, its funny... I wear full goggles in winter myself and it hasn't bothered me. Must be something about these and being almost able to see through the sides...
Yes, I wear some form of eye protection almost always. Too much dust, mud, and rocks, and too many bugs. I don't tend to break or lose my cheapies, I just use them beyond the point they should be replaced. My cycling world is a scratched up version of reality.
I'm with you Rantwick, I almost always wear eye protection. Feel naked without them! (Also cycling without them would be difficult.)
I too subscribe to cheap sunglasses. I have more expensive ones but I would find myself riding without them, so now I have a nice black pair from MEC and 'knock on wood' have had them 5 years.
I have had my Oakleys for three years now. When I had cheap glasses, they'd last a month or sometimes two. Just sayin'
I found that I could order cheap prescription cycling sunglasses online, and am preparing myself for cheapskate cycling eyeware nirvana.
Pondero - scratched version... I get that.
Graham - 5 years? Carry on! In my world sunglasses have been known to vanish or get destroyed in five days. My record is probably about a year.
Steve - I think more expensive glasses are most likely more durable, unless of course I'm habdling them.
JRA - How cheap? Prescription adds another element; I have a prescription that I have never filled because I was told it was optional for me. I have, however, considered having my eyes shot by lasers and thereby improved.
Author's note: "habdling" is a middle english word meaning "habitually destroyling". "Destroyling" is an olde english word meaning having babies who are destructive.
I found the above facts on the Internet.
When our shop sold Rudy Project glasses I got a pair of Ekynox glasses with a prescription insert. I would not have bought them at retail, but I'm reasonably satisfied at the price I did pay. The prescription lenses for the insert run the price up, particularly because I refuse to do business with Wal Mart, but the system works well. The frames take interchangeable lenses. Most often I use brown polarized lenses for sun and clear for night or rain.
The original black frames seemed prone to break at the hinge. I grabbed a silver frame one day when I was on my way out the door of the shop and broke a black frame. It is now my only surviving frame, probably because it was not my favorite. It has stood up to daily use for at least three years now. I handle them very carefully.
The Ekynox frame provided the best eye coverage and field of vision even riding on the drops. That makes them look pretty weird, but I'll put up with that for the effectiveness.
For eventual replacement I would be curious to know JRA's source.
Me too. Hey, JRA - Where you gettin' 'dem shades?
Rantwick the prescription cycling glasses are from eyebuydirect.com and cost me $35 US with shipping and a 20% discount code. You need to know your prescription including the PD (pupillary distance) to order from them. Buying prescription glasses online for cheap is an obvious "buyer beware" type of transaction. So far I like the ones I bought though.
Thanks! Now if only I could find that damn prescription...
I like the fact you can see through the translucent sides. Cheap or expensive, you need 'em to keep various things out of your eyes IMHO!
Lookin' good my friend!
Peace :)
"habdling" and "Destroyling", both apply here. The reason for using a high quality lenses are to protect from the impacts. My son face planted once and a cheaper lens would have left him blind in one eye. We never counted on needing that kind of quality protection before that day, but wouldn't be without it going forward. My post from Feb 2 2012 is enough of a reminder to keep me from considering cheap sunglasses for active wear and consider the underside of the frame (bottom of lens)as coming in contact with your face. Our day could have ended differently had we considered the glasses as more than a fashion accessory with benefits. =)
I use clear safety glasses, and also polarized safety glasses from Lowe's. Pretty cheap, about $3 for the clear and $5 for the polarized.
If I don't then these little almost invisible bugs swarm me on the way home from work and try to eat my eyes out.
These glasses and my reflective vest combine to form a very effective babe magnet.
John - That is an angle I had not considered, I'm glad your son was OK.
Drummer - Oh, I've got that vest/safety glasses combo covered, baby.
http://www.rantwick.com/2009/12/industrial-bright-and-tragic.html
I have to wear prescription glasses, I've never experienced the sensation of riding "free" without glasses :(. I bet it feels pretty nice. Though I suppose with that being the case, that I've also never really realized/appreciated that my glasses have indeed been keeping all the gunk out of my eyes when riding.
As for sunglasses, I have those clip-on ones for glasses. Only $10, and kinda dweeby I reckon, but I'm cheap and it works just fine for me. Now if I didn't need my glasses to see, then or course I'd be rockin' an assortment of stylin' sunglasses. 8)
P.S. Have you ever just considered going all out and getting a pair of those old aviator goggles? If they're good enough for fighter planes, they're good enough for a bike! And you can't *not* look cool with those. ;)
Old aviator goggles have come up here before, I think... they look best on Snoopy, in my opinion.
That's okay though. Your post about sunglasses actually impresses us even if you talk too much about them. I love the stories you have with them.
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