Visibility on rainy nights

[Bugbear]

I've done a brief search in this newsgroup for tips but couldn't find
anything useful...

Does anyone have any tips for those of us who get caught commuting
home on a rainy night? The times when I have attempted this I found
that the water on my glasses impairs visibility, especially when
facing oncoming traffic with headlights...

Apart from the obvious "take your glasses off" suggestions (which
doesn't help much because then your eyes are exposed to whatever dirt
an muck gets flung up by your wheels and by other vehicles), does
anyone have any suggestions, experiences?

Cheers.

 

[Moike]

Bugbear wrote:
> I've done a brief search in this newsgroup for tips but couldn't find
> anything useful...
>
> Does anyone have any tips for those of us who get caught commuting
> home on a rainy night? The times when I have attempted this I found
> that the water on my glasses impairs visibility, especially when
> facing oncoming traffic with headlights...
>
> Apart from the obvious "take your glasses off" suggestions (which
> doesn't help much because then your eyes are exposed to whatever dirt
> an muck gets flung up by your wheels and by other vehicles), does
> anyone have any suggestions, experiences?
>
> Cheers.
I assume you mean vision rather than visibility. Seeing rather than
being seen. Other threads on Hi-vis clothing and asphalt-melting
lighting systems cover visibility.

There are various preparations that will make water bead and run off
glass. "Rain-X" works quite well on a motorcycle visor, but I haven't
tried it at pushbike speeds. (on a motorbike, the air flow helps
disperse the water). You will probably also need some sort of anti-fog
on the inside of your glasses as well. Most optometrists have something
suitable.

Some say rubbing neat dishwashing liquid (or raw potato) onto the glass
then polishing it off is effective, but I've not been able to make it work.

A little bit of chamois on the back of your glove can be used to quickly
wipe away moisture on the run. I used to have a pair of gloves with
such a strip on the back of the index finger for just that purpose.
(Tip: wipe one side at a time in case it smears and makes things worse)

Mike

(me? I'm a wuss. I don't ride the bike if it looks like heavy rain, and
if I do get caught, I can either hop on a train or take the slightly
longer traffic-free way home.)

 

[beerwolf]

Bugbear wrote:

> Does anyone have any tips for those of us who get caught commuting
> home on a rainy night? The times when I have attempted this I found
> that the water on my glasses impairs visibility, especially when
> facing oncoming traffic with headlights...
>
> Apart from the obvious "take your glasses off" suggestions (which
> doesn't help much because then your eyes are exposed to whatever dirt
> an muck gets flung up by your wheels and by other vehicles), does
> anyone have any suggestions, experiences?

I carry a cheap pair of eye protection goggles bought at a hardware shop a
couple of years ago for about $15. Worn over the top of my glasses, the
rain and road crud stays far enough out from my eyes that visibility is
usually not much of a problem. If it gets bad enough, I just wipe the
goggles with a clean cloth. It works for me.

--
beerwolf

 

[theo]

On Jun 9, 11:48 am, Bugbear <[email protected]> wrote:
> I've done a brief search in this newsgroup for tips but couldn't find
> anything useful...
>
> Does anyone have any tips for those of us who get caught commuting
> home on a rainy night?  The times when I have attempted this I found
> that the water on my glasses impairs visibility, especially when
> facing oncoming traffic with headlights...
>
> Apart from the obvious "take your glasses off" suggestions (which
> doesn't help much because then your eyes are exposed to whatever dirt
> an muck gets flung up by your wheels and by other vehicles),  does
> anyone have any suggestions, experiences?

I wore amber lenses in my Oakleys for the dark evenings.

Theo

 

[Fulliautomatix]

theo wrote:
> On Jun 9, 11:48 am, Bugbear <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I've done a brief search in this newsgroup for tips but couldn't find
>>anything useful...
>>
>>Does anyone have any tips for those of us who get caught commuting
>>home on a rainy night? The times when I have attempted this I found
>>that the water on my glasses impairs visibility, especially when
>>facing oncoming traffic with headlights...
>>
>>Apart from the obvious "take your glasses off" suggestions (which
>>doesn't help much because then your eyes are exposed to whatever dirt
>>an muck gets flung up by your wheels and by other vehicles), does
>>anyone have any suggestions, experiences?
>
>
> I wore amber lenses in my Oakleys for the dark evenings.
>
> Theo

I use Amber safety glasses for overcast days

But prefer clear ones for night time

 

[terryc]

On Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:48:50 -0700, Bugbear wrote:


> Apart from the obvious "take your glasses off" suggestions (which
> doesn't help much because then your eyes are exposed to whatever dirt
> an muck gets flung up by your wheels and by other vehicles), does
> anyone have any suggestions, experiences?

Wetting agent in some form?
Dropper of detergent onto the glass to encourage the water to just
spread across the surface,rather than stay in drops?

I tended to look at wiper pads on the back of the gloves, or even a wrist
band to wipe them clear.

 

[The Doctor]

Bugbear <[email protected]> wrote in news:e359bb20-415a-4658-aaf2-
[email protected]:

> Does anyone have any tips for those of us who get caught commuting
> home on a rainy night? The times when I have attempted this I found
> that the water on my glasses impairs visibility, especially when
> facing oncoming traffic with headlights...

Hi Bugbear,

I have a similar problem even during the day. On really humid days,
how does one stop one glasses from fogging up, especially waiting
at traffic lights. My glasses have inserts for vision correction and
so taking them off is definitely not possible .

 

[531Aussie]

This is why helmets have visors, and why many riders wear a cap under their helmets -- they use the peak of the cap to keep the rain off their glasses or out of their eyes.

 

[Moike]

The Doctor wrote:
> Bugbear <[email protected]> wrote in news:e359bb20-415a-4658-aaf2-
> [email protected]:
>
>> Does anyone have any tips for those of us who get caught commuting
>> home on a rainy night? The times when I have attempted this I found
>> that the water on my glasses impairs visibility, especially when
>> facing oncoming traffic with headlights...
>
> Hi Bugbear,
>
> I have a similar problem even during the day. On really humid days,
> how does one stop one glasses from fogging up, especially waiting
> at traffic lights. My glasses have inserts for vision correction and
> so taking them off is definitely not possible .
Most optometrists sell an anti-fog spray that works pretty well.
Automotive stores sell anti-fog agents ("Fog-X" springs to mind) that
can be quite effective.

I use an anti-fog wax crayon thingy that I bought from a street vendor
in the 70s. A light scribble on the lens, then polish it off with a
tissue and I'm fog-free for days or weeks. I haven't seen them since,
and my 30-year old one is wearing down, so if anyone knows where to get
them, I'd like another. (I suspect that the longevity of the fog stick
is it's commercial downfall. few repeat sales.)

Moike