Are biking glasses just fashion or a must, all things considered? Thinking about doing more and
longer rides, so wondering if it's a good idea to get them.

Are there compelling reasons like road grit getting to your eyes, or protection from the sun? On
cold days I can get some watering in my eyes, but I haven't experienced discomfort from road grit
even on my 7 hour ride. Is it more a problem in other locations or during longer rides/tours?

Normally I wear about -2 glasses, they'd have to go over them which narrows down the selection. My
glasses double us as sunglasses though... In snowboarding ski goggles are a good idea, because snow
blindness is a real risk. Is cycling different?

--
Risto Varanka | http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/ varis at no spam please iki fi

risto.varanka@secure.from.spam.helsinki.fi wrote:
> Are biking glasses just fashion or a must, all things considered? Thinking about doing more and
> longer rides, so wondering if it's a good idea to get them.
>
> Are there compelling reasons like road grit getting to your eyes, or protection from the sun? On
> cold days I can get some watering in my eyes, but I haven't experienced discomfort from road grit
> even on my 7 hour ride. Is it more a problem in other locations or during longer rides/tours?
>
> Normally I wear about -2 glasses, they'd have to go over them which narrows down the selection. My
> glasses double us as sunglasses though... In snowboarding ski goggles are a good idea, because
> snow blindness is a real risk. Is cycling different?

I only wear glasses on grouprides when I get a lot of dirt from other tires. Alone I only use
glasses when the sun calls for it. Which is not very often here in Sweden

--
Perre

Remove and/or replace the DOTs as needed to reply

I wear shades when cycling. keeps the worst of the wind out of my eyes, plus flies, grit etc. Main
reason - strong sunlight is a migraine trigger for me - especially strong sunlight flickering
through trees, hedgerows, so shades are not to make me look "cool" but have a real purpose. Me, I'm
naturally cool ;-)

Cheers, helen s

~~~~~~~~~~
Flush out that intestinal parasite and/or the waste product before sending a reply!

Any speeliong mistake$ aR the resiult of my cats sitting on the keyboaRRRDdd
~~~~~~~~~~

>Normally I wear about -2 glasses, they'd have to go over them which narrows down the selection. My
>glasses double us as sunglasses though... In snowboarding ski goggles are a good idea, because snow
>blindness is a real risk. Is cycling different?
>

I wear glasses with Photogray so they provide UV protection, reasonable eye protection and double as
sun glasses.

I see no need for anything more.

Jon Isaacs

<risto wrote
> Are biking glasses just fashion or a must, all things considered? Thinking about doing more and
> longer rides, so wondering if it's a good idea to get them. Risto Varanka

Around here (Summit County, Colorado) UV is a concern at any time of year, so my regular glasses and
my sunglasses offer full UV protection. Most of the time I cycle in prescription mountaineering
sunglasses, which offer very good wind protection, UV protection, and good visibility in all kinds
of light (flat light, bright sun, and anything in between).
--
mark

Risto Varanka writes:

> Are biking glasses just fashion or a must, all things considered? Thinking about doing more and
> longer rides, so wondering if it's a good idea to get them.

They are mostly fashion although a necessity for some riders who have wind sensitive eyes or contact
lenses. Glasses among professional racers were unknown until Greg Lemond was sponsored by Oakley
Glasses and ever since, horrendously expensive pieces of fashionable plastic eyewear has been de
rigueur among the tifosi, the more insect like the appearance the better.

> Are there compelling reasons like road grit getting to your eyes, or protection from the sun? On
> cold days I can get some watering in my eyes, but I haven't experienced discomfort from road grit
> even on my 7 hour ride. Is it more a problem in other locations or during longer rides/tours?

In old pictures from the Tour de France, in the days of unpaved roads, riders used mountain climbing
goggles for descents that were dusty. I have toured in the Alps for many years and have not found
that I needed such eye protection.

http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/alps_photos.html

> Normally I wear about -2 glasses, they'd have to go over them which narrows down the selection. My
> glasses double us as sunglasses though... In snow boarding ski goggles are a good idea, because
> snow blindness is a real risk. Is cycling different?

No, it is not different but if you wear prescription glasses, make sure they don't cause disturbing
draft across the eyes at speeds similar to those you encounter when skiing.

Jobst Brandt jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org Palo Alto CA

risto.varanka@secure.from.spam.helsinki.fi wrote in news:b78ns6$o1m$2 @oravannahka.helsinki.fi:

> Are biking glasses just fashion or a must, all things considered? Thinking about doing more and
> longer rides, so wondering if it's a good idea to get them.
>
> Are there compelling reasons like road grit getting to your eyes, or protection from the sun? On
> cold days I can get some watering in my eyes, but I haven't experienced discomfort from road grit
> even on my 7 hour ride. Is it more a problem in other locations or during longer rides/tours?
>
> Normally I wear about -2 glasses, they'd have to go over them which narrows down the selection. My
> glasses double us as sunglasses though... In snowboarding ski goggles are a good idea, because
> snow blindness is a real risk. Is cycling different?

I find it odd that no one else has said this, but I feel they are a must. Not so much for UV
protection, but for eye protection. I have on numerous occasions had rocks smack me right in the
lenses. Had I not been wearing sunglasses, those rocks would have hit me right in the eye.

<jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org> wrote in message news:2EVla.4895$JX2.345140@typhoon.sonic.net...
> by Oakley Glasses and ever since, horrendously expensive pieces of fashionable plastic eyewear has
> been de rigueur among the tifosi, the more insect like the appearance the better.

If you can't budget $650 to $1000 a year on eye wear, then why even bother climbing on a bike in the
first place?

Please, when I get old and lose my MoJo like Jobst and Jon have and start making weird statements,
will you sneak into my nursing home and put me out of my misery.

Frank Riley <dont@email.me> wrote:
: I find it odd that no one else has said this, but I feel they are a must. Not so much for UV
: protection, but for eye protection. I have on numerous occasions had rocks smack me right in the
: lenses. Had I not been wearing sunglasses, those rocks would have hit me right in the eye.

Where do you ride?

I also wonder how much difference riding a low-slung recumbent makes. One would think there's more
stuff from the road flying around at that altitude. It's a widely known fact that the insects are
different too, juicier and contain more protein Guess one ultra event with other bents and lots
of uprights and I'll know... :-)

--
Risto Varanka | http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/ varis at no spam please iki fi

>They are mostly fashion

I remember reading somewhere that riding w/o sunglasses causes more fatigue than riding with
sunglasses. B

risto.varanka@secure.from.spam.helsinki.fi wrote:
>
> Are biking glasses just fashion or a must, all things considered?

Doctors claim a link between long term UV exposure and cataracts. However, my ordinary photogrey
glasses are excellent UV blockers, so I don't worry about that.

Long ago, I started a ride with a person with new contact lenses, who got a speck of dirt in her
eye. Her discomfort was severe. We had to end the ride immediately. Perhaps if she'd had _some_ eye
protection (even regular sunglasses) that wouldn't have happened.

Other than that, I can't see a need for eye protection when cycling. I certainly can't see a need
for _special_ glasses just for cycling - except for the style points, that is.

I think it was Thoreau who said "Simplify!" and "Beware of enterprises which require new clothes."
There are exceptions, of course, but I think those are often good ideas.

--
Frank Krygowski frkrygow@cc.ysu.edu

anonymous writes:

>> They are mostly fashion

> I remember reading somewhere that riding w/o sunglasses causes more fatigue than riding with
> sunglasses.

Then it must be true!

Jobst Brandt jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org Palo Alto CA

<risto.varanka@secure.from.spam.helsinki.fi> wrote in message
news:b78ns6$o1m$2@oravannahka.helsinki.fi...
> Are biking glasses just fashion or a must, all things
considered?
> Thinking about doing more and longer rides, so wondering
if it's a
> good idea to get them.
>
> Are there compelling reasons like road grit getting to
your eyes,
> or protection from the sun? On cold days I can get some
watering
> in my eyes, but I haven't experienced discomfort from road
grit
> even on my 7 hour ride. Is it more a problem in other
locations or
> during longer rides/tours?
>
> Normally I wear about -2 glasses, they'd have to go over
them
> which narrows down the selection. My glasses double us as sunglasses though... In snowboarding ski
> goggles are a
good idea,
> because snow blindness is a real risk. Is cycling
different?
>
> --
> Risto Varanka | http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/ varis at no spam please iki fi

IMHO, wearing glasses while biking is a bit like wearing a helmet, (and I'm not trying to start a
helmet discussion here.....) - you may never need the protection, but if you do you'll be glad you
were wearing them

That said, you have to be nuts to spend $40 or more on none prescription "cycling glasses" - a pair
of cheap wraparound sun glasses will do, or a $10 pair of safety glasses

<risto.varanka@secure.from.spam.helsinki.fi> wrote in message
news:b78ns6$o1m$2@oravannahka.helsinki.fi...
> Are biking glasses just fashion or a must, all things considered? Thinking about doing more and
> longer rides, so wondering if it's a good idea to get them.

I have a pair of cycling glasses made by Zeal. They have a built in sweatband, which is nice. Other
than that, I haven't noticed any benefit over wearing $3 convenience store glasses. Here in
insect-laden Florida glasses are a must, though.

Risto Varanka wrote: "Normally I wear about -2 glasses, they'd have to go over them which narrows
down the selection."

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Which is exactly why I use the Aero-Shield.

It mounts to the helmet, stands away from the face (so you can wear your regular prescription
glasses), allows flow through ventilation through the helmet yet still keeps the wind (and other
things) out of your eyes. Because of its larger size, the 99% UV protection not only protects you
yes, but the entire upper half of your face

All this for less than about 20 grams total weight and it only costs about $45 (replacement lenses
are about $7 each).

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": http://www.geocities.com/czcorner