Bike_UK

on your commute?

It's something i've considered for years, but never got round to doing. Then last night I had a little fly in my left eye (that re-emerged an hour or so later at home!), and a big fly bounced off my right eye all in the space of my 6 mile commute home. So i am wondering if i have just been lucky for years and should take this as a warning, or if i was unlucky last night.

mrkott3r

yes. Keeps wind out of eyes. I hate wind in eyes.

wheres the friggin poll?

dalmore

I wear safety glasses or saftey sunglasses depending on the light.

wahoonc

Well been wearing glasses in one form or another for over 33 years so the answer would be yes. I usually wear a wrap around style glasses with the prescription inserts. Clear for lowlight and dark tint for daytime. To me sight is the one sense I would miss the most, so it pays to protect it.

Aaron

Juha

I have el-cheapo frames with switchable lenses (black, yellow, clear). Wind does not bother me, but the bugs do.

--J

rgtft

I just got prescription glasses, but have trouble with them fogging up on these humid summer days. So I don't wear them on my commute.

chephy

I wear prescription glasses (which get to be a pain on rainy days - I really need a tiny version of windshield vipers for those)! I don't really like sunglasses, but am thinking now that I should probably wear them before the sun burns out my eyes... So whenever I can afford the money and time to do it, I'll probably be switching to contacts...

gear

Considering how little saftey glasses cost and sun glasses too for that matter, and how much I value my ability to see. I can't understand why anyone would ride without them.

Az B

It's very hilly around here and I regularly hit 35-45mph. At those speeds you can lose your eyesight from something flying into them. So yes, I always wear eye protection.

Az

knucklesandwich

I wear contacts so without sunglasses the wind dries them out immediately. Was using an old pair of sunglasses that were a little small for me (also that I'd lost the additional lenses for), but just upgraded to a pair of Quiksilvers I got real cheap- they have 3 sets of lenses: polarized gray, orange, and yellow. Been using the orange ones for the commute and they've been awesome. I highly recommend swappable colored lenses.

newbojeff

Definitely good to have something over your eyes when riding. Seems I just have the wrong somethings.

I wear prescription glasses and have beat the hell out of them by wearing them when on the bike, but more so by taking them off as soon as I get to work or get home. They've had a small chip in one of the lenses for about 6 months when I dropped them this winter. I have prescription shades that are more fashionable than practical for riding, but obviously don't want to be wearing those in the winter in low light.

My prescription is not too severe, but I think I'd like prescription riding glasses that could be clear and be shades. Recommendations?

Mr_H

Bad vision, gotta wear them. I've been thinking about getting prescription sports glasses though. I've never used those so I don't know how good they are or not.

krazygluon

I went on a ride with a friend last weekend, it was heavily overcast (most people looked at us like we were crazy for being on bikes that day, but it never rained) I was wearing my usual contact lenses and wraparound el-cheapo sunglasses, he (having a degree in biology no less) couldn't fathom why I was wearing them. I replied in the words of a famous comic: it ain't that the wind is blowin, it's what the wind is blowin'. seriously, even if its not sunny, there's far worse particles to hit your eyes besides photons. not to mention with less direct wind on the eyes its easier to keep them open and pay attention.

LóFarkas

I literally can't ride without biking glasses. The wind bothers my eyes so badly that I'd have to close one eye half the time. Not fun, so I ride with my Rudys all the time. If your eyes are cool with the wind and dust, it's not imperative to wear them because of the bugs. After all, you got on w/o them for years...

LittleBigMan

I wear glasses anyway, but after having stuff bounce off them (very rare) I figure I'd still wear glasses even if I had contacts. And like someone said, wind (especially cold wind or dusty wind) really messes with my eyes.

CigTech

Just get the wraparound el-cheapo sunglasses and a pair of clear safty glasses for the night time rides.

2manybikes

I can't ride at night here without glasses, the bugs are too plentiful. Even if I could I would not do it. It's not practical, one piece of dirt in the eye can really be a big problem.

Everyone I ride with here gets something in the eye without eye protection.

legot73

I'd say you've been lucky. Eye protection is a very good idea, whether it be sunglasses, safety glasses, or goggles.

For operating a motorcycle in most US states, it is not legally required to wear a helmet if you're over the age of 18, but it is required to wear eye protection, and for the very reasons you're asking.

fender1

I always wear glasse and was reminded why a coukpe of days ago. I have steep decent into a park (no real auto traffic) abou 3/4 of mile long. Speed is often over 30 mph. On the way into work I felt an impact near my left eye that made made flich and bring the bike to a stop. What was left on the glasses looked to be the remnants os a honey bee. The sting on the eyeball and the ensuing wreck would have been horrible. Hooray for glasses!

Nightshade

Every state in the union REQUIRES cover for the eyes for any cycle.
Be they glasses or face shield. (Bicycles ARE considered as vehicles
in all states.)

This law is mostly enforced for MOTORcyclist but with the number of
folk's now riding human powered cycles the law could be applied also
to them.

While I don't know British vehicle law I'm sure that the Brits are smart
enough to require some eye cover also.

CaptMatt15

I wear sunglasses almost all the time when outside anyway - so i just wear my Natives on my bike for the commute and riding - plus i have 3 extra sets of lenses (orange, yellow, and clear) and i usually use the clear for night commuting home - interchangeable lenses are the stuff

DataJunkie

Sunglasses. My commute is along the platte river. Tons of bugs.
Bugs + eyes= pain

I need a clear pair for nightime riding. Couldn't stand using safety goggles.

rec-cyclist

Bike UK you must have been lucky thus far. Always wear eye protection, regardless of the light level

CliftonGK1

Any river trail is gonna be like that. My commute is along the Sammamish River, and the bugs aren't bad in the morning (when it's cool and dark,) but in the afternoon heat, the bugs are out in full force. I've actually pulled my t-shirt up over my nose and mouth before, because I could see that I was going to ride through a giant cloud of gnats.

DataJunkie

I usually swallow a few every morning. Plus, I have to wash my scalp after I arrive at work.
I shave my head and the sight of quite a few dead bugs on my forehead is gross.
I suppose I could actually wear the bandanna I purchased a few months ago.

River routes provide another reason to ride in the drops. It keeps my nose and mouth facing downwards. Much easier to breathe.