Are Cycling Sunglasses necessary?
10-19-15, 11:09 AM
#51
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Last weekend I went on a nice casual ride. Very... Grant Petersen style. Although I did wear a helmet... but I used no other cycling specific clothing. I even rode with platform pedals.
I have no idea what percent of cycling clothing is style and fashion... and which part is useful cycling equipment. I think for the most part most people could bicycle very happily with no more equipment... than the bicycle itself.
I have no idea what percent of cycling clothing is style and fashion... and which part is useful cycling equipment. I think for the most part most people could bicycle very happily with no more equipment... than the bicycle itself.
I wear biking jerseys in only two instances; when I need the rear pockets or when I am going to ride a route with a lot of cars where high visibility is a must. I have a couple that would bring on an LSD flashback.
10-19-15, 01:06 PM
#52
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I agree.... at least for me. Whether cycling, jogging, hiking, playing ball, or just hanging out.... the "normal" appropriate gear avoids lots of inconvenience. As well as provide needed safety and protection. I forget that first aid centers and emergency rooms regularly treat people who are over-exposed for the conditions they are in. And conditions believed to be caused form long-term exposure to things like the sun.... is another matter altogether.
But does cycling provide specific dangers/hazards that require specific clothing.... or as this thread asks: "glasses labeled as cycling sunglasses".
I don't think so.... even though mine are... and I prefer wearing/using regular cycling gear most of the time (when cycling). But I can't see how a pair of Wayfarer sunglasses would be inadequate for sun... or a pair of motorcycle goggles too much for cold wind.
But does cycling provide specific dangers/hazards that require specific clothing.... or as this thread asks: "glasses labeled as cycling sunglasses".
I don't think so.... even though mine are... and I prefer wearing/using regular cycling gear most of the time (when cycling). But I can't see how a pair of Wayfarer sunglasses would be inadequate for sun... or a pair of motorcycle goggles too much for cold wind.
I've worn ski goggles for really cold weather riding.
Couple of things I've found. Good lenses (not limited to cycling specific models) have minimal distortion, which reduces eye strain on a long ride. Before I had Oakleys I had Ocean Waves water sports glasses, with optically correct glass lenses lenses. Lens clarity was superior to most other glasses I've owned. They fogged like crazy, though, even descending after a climb.
Vented cycling-specific lenses tend to fog less than non-vented lenses.
That's about all that I can come up with as far as advantages. I think eye protection of some sort on the road is necessary. Cycling glasses? Definitely not a necessity.
10-21-15, 05:44 AM
#53
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I wear my Costa del Mar 580g green lense and love them they don't fog up and I'll even wear when it rains on me . Keeps stuff outa my eyes ,I probably need to invest I. Some 580p tho because they are plastic lense for safety
10-22-15, 12:46 PM
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Yes,of coarse.......Or would you rather be ridiculed to death at Starbucks.There are umteen reasons to wear special sunglasses and clothing,ask anybody that makes/wears them.
Wear what YOU like and pretend you didn't hear all the other crap.
I can ride 100+miles in a wife beater,wet Levi's and Van's with a hole in the bottom....But that's just me.
Wear what YOU like and pretend you didn't hear all the other crap.
I can ride 100+miles in a wife beater,wet Levi's and Van's with a hole in the bottom....But that's just me.
Last edited by Booger1; 10-22-15 at 12:50 PM.
10-22-15, 12:50 PM
#55
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Sunglasses for me are getting more and more difficult to find. I can't stand the ones that grab your head to stay on. That's an instant headache for me the moment I put them on. I have to have traditional arms that hook down around the ears and they are getting very difficult to find. My safety glasses at work are 15 years old because they don't order the ones that hook around the ears any more and I'd love to use the many sports sunglasses that are available, but they all grab into the head giving me a headache immediately.
10-22-15, 01:08 PM
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The $10 glasses I got work just fine, I wear them mainly because one of the days a bug almost blinded me! Wind protection is nice though, wouldn't ride without glasses again.
10-22-15, 01:32 PM
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Keys in the left front pocket of my cargo shorts. Cell phone in the right front pocket
Sunglasses for me are getting more and more difficult to find. I can't stand the ones that grab your head to stay on. That's an instant headache for me the moment I put them on. I have to have traditional arms that hook down around the ears and they are getting very difficult to find. My safety glasses at work are 15 years old because they don't order the ones that hook around the ears any more and I'd love to use the many sports sunglasses that are available, but they all grab into the head giving me a headache immediately.
Sunglasses for me are getting more and more difficult to find. I can't stand the ones that grab your head to stay on. That's an instant headache for me the moment I put them on. I have to have traditional arms that hook down around the ears and they are getting very difficult to find. My safety glasses at work are 15 years old because they don't order the ones that hook around the ears any more and I'd love to use the many sports sunglasses that are available, but they all grab into the head giving me a headache immediately.
10-22-15, 01:46 PM
#58
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Yeah, even when I ride the beater with normal pants/shorts, I prefer to use a carabiner so I can hook the keys to a belt loop. Keys grinding the thighs is no fun.
10-22-15, 02:12 PM
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"Cycling" sunglasses are unnecessary of course, but some kind of protection against UV, bugs and cold wind and rain is pretty much necessary IMHO.
I recently bought these from Amazon at $9 for two pair, and I'm pretty pleased with them.
If style is a concern, you don't get that for that price. You don't get quite the clarity of more expensive sports goggles. These will scratch easier, and might shatter with an extreme impact, and they won't fit as well as one of the fashion brands. All minor issues to me, but if any of those are deal-breakers then you have to go with cycling sunglasses. Or motorcycle, skying etc.
I recently bought these from Amazon at $9 for two pair, and I'm pretty pleased with them.
If style is a concern, you don't get that for that price. You don't get quite the clarity of more expensive sports goggles. These will scratch easier, and might shatter with an extreme impact, and they won't fit as well as one of the fashion brands. All minor issues to me, but if any of those are deal-breakers then you have to go with cycling sunglasses. Or motorcycle, skying etc.
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