sports sunglasses with a 'classic' look
 

I hate so much of the 'lycra brigade' look and the kit which goes with it, including wrap-around sunglasses. I'm looking for all-weather sports sunglasses which can get wet if needed, but which have a 'classic' look - I grew up on rayban aviators and wayfarers... any ideas?

thanks!

Form follows function. Wrap around sunglasses are very important for long rides with lots of sun. They minimize UV exposure and possible health problems down the road. These, along with a visor for your helmet, make a lot of sense in such circumstances.

Standard sized sunglasses work very well also, and of course are clearly better than not wearing any sunglasses. You can go to any retail store and get 100% uv protection sunglasses for $10 to $15.

I don't know what you're referring to by "all weather" sunglasses. Any and all sunglasses with plastic or metal frames will be sufficient, in just about any situation.

My favorite are the Ray-Ban Balorama, a true classic. In Black of course, and as a concession to modern technology, with polarized lenses:

http://www.eyesave.com/images/produc...4089.13965.jpg

The semi wrap-around design provides excellent dust and wind protection for the eyes while riding. All-in-all a high-quality, functional and good-looking classic design:

http://www.acim.lv/wp-content/upload...ma-290x300.jpg

If you're riding slow enough that wraparound sunglasses won't benefit you, then why not use Raybans?

I feel your pain and understand completely. Long time Rayban wearer here. These have recently been approved by me for wear by me. I like them a lot.

AO Eyewear, Inc. - Home

Classic cool, and sweet with the ladies...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=374646

http://www.probikekit.co.uk/blog/wp-...son-mullet.png

I find these keep the sun out of my eyes in all weather.

I'm sure the tan lines are also a huge hit. :thumb:

Ladies love tan lines.

Love the Raybans but too heavy and expensive for bike riding, IME.

I'm all about the Fisherman tortoise action:

Robot Check

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31R3ImvzztL.jpg

Robot Check??? Did BF do that or Amazon?

Seems like it had to be BF.

Freaky!

Aviators.

Can't get any more classic.

I wear Ray-Ban Wayfarers and Ray-Ban Aviators purely for comfort (and maybe hipster ****** style points) on my short rides, but they do absolutely jack for shading from the sun or protecting you eyeballs from the wind when on the drops as you tend to look over the glasses instead of through them.

On my longer recreational rides I wear wrap arounds, just makes more sense.

What's not to love about sunglasses that slide all over your nose when it's sweaty and don't keep the sun from streaming over the top?

Well, at least you didn't call it the spandex brigade. :)

I chose a more traditional frame from catalogs my optometrist had. The main functional criteria I looked for was that they were big enough, sat high enough for when in the drops, and had good temples that would retain them properly. There were many to choose from and he got in three different ones for me to try.

Traditional (real) aviator Raybans meet all these criteria, btw, though that's not what I chose.

The trick with classic style sunglasses for cycling is to get them with comfort cables - the arms that wrap fully around your ear. They will not come off in even extreme weather conditions. For aviators, get oversize lenses and then you will be seeing through them even when looking up from deep in the drops. American Optical make the kind I'm talking about.

(but the best kind I own personally are 80s vintage Jubo skiing glasses sans leather bridge and side shields, purchased NOS in Switzerland 5 years ago. They had a whole rack of them, hauled out of an ski lodge shops' cellar. If I could go back in time....)

I say "disposable" for cycling! I'm using these, http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=376131
"DG Unisex Aviator Hip Stylish Fashion Celebrity Inspired Sunglasses " :rolleyes: from amazon so half a dozen will last a while for under $20 total. Best of all they're "hip stylish fashion"!