Commuting - Need a recommendation - non-sunglasses eyewear for take-a-look mirror

I currently am using both a bar-end mirror and a take-a-look mirror (on my wrap-around sunglasses) for riding in traffic on my daily commute:

259731

I like the take-a-look mirror better than the bar-end mirror for both speed of look-backs in traffic and quality of image.

However, my dilemma is that I don't wear corrective eyewear, so the only glasses I have are sunglasses. I need something to clip the take-a-look mirror to for night/low-light riding where the sunglasses are out. I would prefer eyewear to clip to rather than clip to helmet. Currently, I am just using the bar-end mirror at night.

I'm thinking that some kind of wrap-around clear protective eyewear would work nicely, both to clip to and for rain protection (if/when we ever get any rain!). I wanted to post here to see if anybody else has tackled this specific situation, with a solution or a link to a product to suggest. Thanks!

I don't attach a mirror to them but I do wear clear safety glasses when it's not bright enough for shades. They were about $6 and help with wind, rain & flying objects. They have deflected a truck-tire-flung stone that would have damaged my eye!

Also handy on trails for mud, water, sticks, stones, bugs, etc.

In certain low-light conditions I switch to yellow-tinted safety glasses instead of clear. Also $6.

Every local hardware/home improvement/building store has 'em.

Cheers!

In addition to safety glasses, you can get clear sunglasses.

Another vote for clear safety glasses. I use a Take A Look, too, and get my glasses for like 3 bucks from PK Safety Supply.

I have a pair of Nike Sunglasses that have interchangeable lenses. I have regular lessees for during the day & a pair of orange lenses for at night. The orange tint really helps with seeing at dusk/ night.

Good advice, thanks everyone. I will look for clear safety glasses next time I am near a hardware or home improvement store. Thanks.

clear safety glasses. They are awesome. Cheap too.

Dewalt safety glasses from any hardware store will work just fine.

I have bicycle glasses with changeable lenses. Clear lens is with me when I need it. They might be 10 years old. They came from Performance Bike.
They were about $30 then. I use the clear lenses once every week. Sometimes more.

Other option is shooting glasses at most sporting goods stores. The yellow or orange tint helps cut down headlight glare and increase definition.

Yes, Safety glasses are a good thing to use, I have a stick on bifocal lens on mine.

I've never understood the point of mirrors on a bike. Mirrors are there for blindspots in a car. I get it, there are obstructions so you can't really get a good 360 look around you. On a bike there are no obstructions. It literally takes me half a second to turn my head and look behind me.

I've never understood the point of mirrors on a bike. Mirrors are there for blindspots in a car. I get it, there are obstructions so you can't really get a good 360 look around you. On a bike there are no obstructions. It literally takes me half a second to turn my head and look behind me.

Its a tool to use, just like a car mirror is. And no, mirrors are not used for blind spots, You will end up turning your head in the car before changing lanes for example. Its another tool to use. I prefer using it so I can see when cars are behind me. Cars, like prius cars are hard to hear.

I have a take-a-look on my scattante (sp?) transition lens glasses. I have no problem at all seeing with them at night, and they work great on my morning commute into direct sun at ~8:30am too. They adjust pretty quick to different light conditions and were only $30.

I punched the glass out of $2 reading glasses. I've used this setup for at least 4 years now.

I actually have two 'take a look' mirrors. One on my regular (cheap $14) sunglasses for riding during the day to and from work, and another mirror on a cheap pair of clear safety glasses. The clear ones, in a REI soft glass case, lives in the brain box seat bag on my Bacchetta Giro recumbent all the time. If I go into work early, or come home late, they are there, available and don't require any set-up. Just slip them on and go. Oh, I might mention that I tend to TAPE my 'take a look' mirror into place on the temple of my glasses, it keeps them from coming loose or getting lost somewhere.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

Its a tool to use, just like a car mirror is. And no, mirrors are not used for blind spots, You will end up turning your head in the car before changing lanes for example. Its another tool to use. I prefer using it so I can see when cars are behind me. Cars, like prius cars are hard to hear.

Yeah I don't even turn my head in my car as I have convex mirrors on both outside mirrors, and a wide-angle interior rear view mirror. So my car has zero blind spots except for directly aft of the car. But on my bike I have to turn my head to check for traffic, which is kind of annoying, as I tend to drift in whatever direction my head turns. That could be pretty dangerous.

I use these 3M safety glasses for most riding, even in sunshine, $10 from Lowe's:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_50631-98-90703-80025_0__?productId=3102447&Ntt=3m+safety+glasses&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/078371/078371907037xl.jpg

The safety glasses sounds like a good, cheap recommendation. I ordered these, slightly pricier but not by much: http://www.amazon.com/Pairs-Kickback-Padded-Motorcycle-Sunglasses/dp/B003FBV8ZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341666928&sr=8-1&keywords=motorcycle+glasses

They are padded to protect the eyes against wind, which is useful for me since I wear contacts. The reviews indicate they probably don't protect against wind at higher speeds on a motorcycle, but that's obviously not a problem on a bicycle. I haven't had issues with watering eyes and irritation since wearing these.

I also use a take a look mirror, which I find indispensable. Even on trails, it's nice to know when there's a speedster bearing down on me. To the person not understanding the need for mirrors on a bike, even if it saves you only a split second (and it should save you a bit more than that), trouble can develop faster, and anything that saves you any time recognizing and reacting is a wise investment, IMO.

Thanks for all the posts, they have all been helpful.



The safety glasses sounds like a good, cheap recommendation. I ordered these, slightly pricier but not by much: http://www.amazon.com/Pairs-Kickback-Padded-Motorcycle-Sunglasses/dp/B003FBV8ZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341666928&sr=8-1&keywords=motorcycle+glasses

They are padded to protect the eyes against wind, which is useful for me since I wear contacts. The reviews indicate they probably don't protect against wind at higher speeds on a motorcycle, but that's obviously not a problem on a bicycle. I haven't had issues with watering eyes and irritation since wearing these.

I also use a take a look mirror, which I find indispensable. Even on trails, it's nice to know when there's a speedster bearing down on me. To the person not understanding the need for mirrors on a bike, even if it saves you only a split second (and it should save you a bit more than that), trouble can develop faster, and anything that saves you any time recognizing and reacting is a wise investment, IMO.

Those padded glasses look cool. And I agree with your statement that split seconds can count in traffic, that is why I like my Take-A-Looks so much.

I also like the idea that was posted by the recumbent rider who keeps two sets of glasses, one clear and one sunglasses, both with Take-a-looks. I plan to do the same.

Here are the clear safety glasses I am planning to get after next pay day:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002R96TMK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=A2N6NO8W19JCUN

One of the other challenges I face that I forgot to mention in the original post is that I am a larger rider, including having a larger than normal melon (I wear a 8 1/4 hat size - that is large enough that you cannot find a White Sox or any other MLB hat offered in that size anywhere). The sunglasses I have are Iron Man Triumphs that fit a wider face nicely. I'm hoping these clear ones fit the bill there too.

I have gotten a lot out of this thread, thanks again all.

Other option is shooting glasses at most sporting goods stores. The yellow or orange tint helps cut down headlight glare and increase definition.

I vote for shooting glasses too, in clear. They were $15+ for Beretta at the sporting goods store, but I went for Winchester brand at Walmart for $6.

If you have a motorcycle dealer near-by, check them out. They typically have lots of great glasses in varying price ranges. Personally, I wouldn't go with clear. They make some with a amber-tint that are designed for low-light conditions.

I've never understood the point of mirrors on a bike. Mirrors are there for blindspots in a car. I get it, there are obstructions so you can't really get a good 360 look around you. On a bike there are no obstructions. It literally takes me half a second to turn my head and look behind me.You sound like a dangerous motorist, as you clearly do not understand mirrors and blind spots. Head checks are for blind spots.

You misunderstand the idea of a blind spot CB HI.

One of the other challenges I face that I forgot to mention in the original post is that I am a larger rider, including having a larger than normal melon (I wear a 8 1/4 hat size -

Yeow! I wear 7 5/8 and that is already big enough to make finding hats a bit difficult. It must be tough to find a bike helmet big enough for you!

Yeow! I wear 7 5/8 and that is already big enough to make finding hats a bit difficult. It must be tough to find a bike helmet big enough for you!

I got really lucky and found a Bontrager Quantum XL bicycle helmet that fits okay, at the LBS. But yes, the world is stacked against you if you have a 8 1/4 melon and are looking for headgear....

And I found some clear safety glasses that work well for me:
http://www.dewalt.com/tool-parts/safety-products-vision-protection-safety-glasses-dpg55-dpg55-11.aspx

Thanks again to all who helped with ideas/advice.

Shooting glasses are probably a best value for cycling. They are impact resistant, many have thin padding on the inside of the frames that could spare your face a cut in a crash and have clear or yellow lenses.
I prefer the yellow tint because they aid vision in low light conditions by pulling contrast and really cut the glare from headlights.