Tandem Cycling - Riding In The Rain With Glasses

We seldom purposely ride in the rain but this past weekend, for example, we drove 7 hours to Chattanooga, TN to ride in the 3 State 3 Mountain Challenge. When we make that kind of drive we are going to ride rain or shine and it rained - a lot.

We have visors and we had shower caps over the helmets which help but it rained hard enough in addition to water rooster tails from other bikes that my glasses were quickly spattered. My glasses are no line bifocal photochromic sports glasses. I can see well enough for distance without my glasses and I don't mind pulling them down to look over the tops but on the descents, the water is hitting hard enough in the face to sting and I want my glasses back on but the vision is not good.

I would like to try RainX (like I have used on my car windshields for years) or some similar hydrophobic treatment on my glasses. RainX does not recommend application to plastic. I have been searching bike forums and some motorcycle forums for ideas. Apparently, RainX has ruined some peoples glasses but some say it's been fine for them. Some are more specific and see a difference between lenses with coatings and lenses without other coatings. I also know that there are different plastics involved in lenses. Some motorcycle riders say RainX yellows and / or cracks the surface of Lexan windhields. Some motorcyclists swear by Pledge Lemon spray for their windshields (and the rest of their bike). Some cyclists put a wax on their glasses (Meguiers is a popular choice).

I have to find out specifically what my lenses are made of and whether they have a coating. I don't think they do but they may have a scratch resistant coating on them.

Shell has a product from their Aviation product line called Flight Jacket Plexicoat that is for plastic and it got some mentions in the forums.

Oakley sells some hydrophobic glasses (Radar lense) and they sell a hydrophobic lense treatment kit that sounds good but I don't yet know if it's OK for coated lenses or all plastics.

If any readers have any first hand experience or second-hand anecdotal information, I'd love to hear it.

Bloomington, IN

Oakley sells some hydrophobic glasses (Radar lense) and they sell a hydrophobic lense treatment kit that sounds good but I don't yet know if it's OK for coated lenses or all plastics.


The radar lenses are OK. The treatment kit didn't work at all for me. I tried it on a few pair of M frames.

I have the same problem with glasses in the rain. I found this product on an internet search and want to try it. It is for plastic, not glass; http://www.motosolutions.com/raincoat.html

I usually wear a set of cheap safety glasses with built-in bifocals as my far vision is still pretty good but near vision if fading fast. DeWalts are my favorites at about $12 per pair, and I buy clear and shaded in multiple pairs when I order them. I wear the clear ones at night, overcast days, or when its raining. I keep a bottle of Rain-X hanging next to my helmet. It works for me on those lens. When they are scratched, I just get a new pair.

Have you tried Cat Crap Anti-fog Cleaner by EK? Amazon sells it:

(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009A1XJI)

Cat Crap is for fogging. It won't help keep rain drops off your lenses.

This may sound a bit to extreme, but why not get a set of Oakley, Scott or other high end MX race goggles, coat them and let the lens in the goggles be sacrificial.

I would not recommend tear-offs or roll-offs type vision clear systems for road riding with goggles. If the water gets between the tear-offs and goggle lens distortion can occur.

As for coatings, I have used Rain X on my Oakleys when racing motorcycles. The lenses have yellowed over time. Most times I just use anti fog wipes, which work decent. On the airplanes, which have acrylic windshields, these get waxed, sometimes lemon pledge, but most times it's the same wax we use for the painted surfaces.

PK