one4smoke

At 53, my eyes aren't quite what they used to be. So, readers around 1.75 to 2.00 are a necessity these days. While cycling, I love to wear my favorite pair of Serengeti polarizing sunglasses. But I know there's got to be a better alternative than constantly switching back and forth from those to my readers so I can see clearly what's going on with my cycling app, texts coming in, etc.

I've noticed a couple cycling glasses on Amazon that claim to be an "all-in-one", but not with very favorable reviews. Anyone have some good suggestions?

Hot Potato

I have used some tinted progressive lenses by Shamir for cycling when I first started using progressives to cycle. Shamire has a wider useful zone on progressives than regular progressives. But that was early on, now it doesn't matter to me, I have become accustomed to the blurry peripheral of progressives. I have also become accustomed to ignoring my cycle computer and phone when I wear other non prescription cycling glasses that are curved and wind blocking. A win win adaption.

DCRICE

These work for me. EBAY POLARIZED BIFOCAL READING SUN GLASSES - 331BF - 1.25,1.50,2.00,2.50, 2.75, 3.00

TimothyH

I got prescription cycling glasses this past summer. Should have done it years ago.

I worked with my local eye doctor. He and the optician listened to my needs and came up with a solution that is working well for me. I'm using an Oakley Flak with progressive lenses. The bottom of the lenses are set for reading at arms-length, cycle computers and GPS. The rest of the lense is set for distance. They are also transition lenses with zero tint when not in sunlight as I also ride at night. The lenses are not from a third party but produced in Oakley's lab.

Serengeti are the finest non-prescription sunglasses made IMO. I miss them terribly for driving. Unfortunately they either don't make prescription lenses or my doctor could not get them.

Camilo

I have a pair of Serengeti polarized, photo sensitive sunglasses I love. So light and well fitting, yet remarkably tough from my ham-handed experience. From what I've read on their site and in the package insert, at least for my frame, they have detail on the corrections you can put on the various lenses and have a corrective lense program that the optician can work through, including progressive lenses. It would be $$ of course, but might be worth it if I can get the same lense in correction + progressive. Or even if I could get it with just a cheater.

Here, I found the link: https://en.serengeti.com.hk/technology/lens/rx-program

I have a pair of "normal" prescription sunglasses I bought about 10-12 years ago, and hadn't had updated since then so they were out of service for many years. I have a very weak distance correction, some astigmatism, and like a +1.5 or so cheater. These have full wire frame, fairly large dorky lenses, normal ear hooks, no style at all, certainly not athletic. Just for grins, I recently had them re-done with current prescription and progressive lenses. Cheap Walmart job... but I absolutely love these glasses now purely in terms of function. I've taken to using them riding my bike in lieu of the Serengetis or the "athletic" type glasses I have (cheap ones, see below), even though they are in no way sporty and the bows aren't optimal for sporting use - they actually have to hook around the ear so you can't wear them outside the helmet straps which I prefer. But they work so well for making everything - including the computer - so clear, it's worth it.

I'm going to take my Serengettis to the optician one of these days and see if it's worthwhile getting new lenses for the frames or if I should just get new complete glasses. If I can get the lenses for $200 or less, it's done, even though that's about 4X what I normally pay for my recreational sunglasses. I'm a cheap sunglasses guy - usually get tinted safety glasses or from the rack at the mini mart. Those Serengettis are the first >$25 pair of sunglasses I've ever owned (about $150 IIRC, a gift from my wife) and I'm starting to see why people buy them (only, of course, if one can afford them, a unnecessary luxury, IMHO, but a nice one).

If that doesn't work for you, just go to a large hardware store that has a large selection of safety glasses with cheaters and find a pair that fits you well, and buy a couple.

canklecat

I usually carry 1.25+ and 2+ reading glasses with me, either in a pocket or the handlebar bag.

I tried no-line bifocals or trifocals for a few years but never really liked 'em and preferred regular reading glasses most of the time, although back then I needed only 1.25+ for everything. When the frames broke I just bought various sets of reading glasses. I'm farsighted with presbyopia and only really need glasses up close. I like 1.25+ for the computers and reading, 2+ for small mobile devices and to see my camera controls, and just wear sunglasses while riding (although I can't clearly see the gear indicators on the handlebar, but no big deal).

Fortunately the diopter adjustments built into my cameras eliminates needing glasses while using cameras with viewfinders, but I need 'em for rear-LCD-only cameras or to make adjustments on the cameras.

It'd be handy to have all-in-one reading glasses with adjustable diopters like camera viewfinders. But as you noted the reviews are mixed.

dim

I have a pair of Serengeti Drivers sunglasses (brownish lenses). Bought it many years ago and they are brilliant. At the time, they were regarded as the best and were much better than Ray Bans and the likes. They have the Cornish lenses

Looigi

+1 on visiting the optometrist. They can fit you up with prescription riding/sports glasses. Mine ordered in three frames for me to try on and select among.

rydabent

In my opinion the perfect cycling glasses for older riders would be rimless lineless polaroid blue block sun glasses.

Sy Reene

Not sure you'll find these on Amazon, but these seem about ideal

trailangel

Put away the computer/phone. Ride the bike and enjoy. Don't text and ride.

Phil_gretz

^ +1. This.

I wonder why any text could be more important than riding. Or if you know an important message is incoming, why you wouldn't pull the side of the road and swap the readers on while you tend to that business.

Cycling apps and cyclocomputers are needless gizmos that can be eliminated. Unless you're using one to navigate new routes, of course.

one4smoke

ALWAYS... a comedian in the bunch.

one4smoke

Well, I used to have that mentality until last year. My wife sent me a text needing me to pick up our son at school who had become ill. I couldn't see it (as well as the ones that followed), so I ignored it until I stopped some two hours later.

It wasn't pretty...

trailangel

Everybody survived before cell phones and pagers.

veganbikes

A lot of those people are dead!

Retro Grouch 

I bought some internet sunglasses with bi-focal readers. They only cost around $15.00 including shipping. Don't know brand or even who I bought them from. I just Googled sunglass readers.

T Stew

How do you like the Oakley photochromatic lenses? I'm thinking about getting a pair for certain trips to avoid having to carry 2 sets of glasses. For nite time I'd want the one that start at zero tint too. I have prescription racing jackets currently.

Tpcorr

Check out these glasses. I bought them last year and they're great. You can get them in multiple color/frame/strength combinations.

Amazon.com: Aloha Eyewear "Stone Creek MX1" Men's Wrap-Around Bifocal Reading Sunglasses (Black +2.00): Health & Personal Care

Tom

wphamilton

You can get prescription sunglasses fairly cheap on eyebuydirect.com, with optional bifocal. There are also stick-on bifocals available on Amazon. I haven't tried the latter though so I cannot personally recommend but it would be ideal if they work.

TimothyH

People survived before dental hygiene and internal combustion engines too. I prefer to live in the present.

Nowadays, if someone doesn't answer the phone then the customer walks away and buys from someone else.

In my case, I'm on-call every other week. I get $500/week for every week I'm on-call but have to call back within one half hour or I get nothing for the week. The next text message could cost me $500.



Very satisfied with them.

I was skeptical of photochromatic in general and didn't think they would be dark enough, or that they wouldn't react quick enough, when going from bright sunlight to heavy shade for example. Having used them for close to 9 months now I hardly notice that I'm even wearing them. They just work well and feel natural. This is my first pair of Oakley and the first time I have used photochromatic lenses and so I couldn't tell you if they are better or worse than anything else.



I don't know how an online retailer can work with someone to tweak the solution.

In my case the optician worked with me to get the transition between near and far right. I wanted the "line" between near and far vision to be fairly low on the lense so that most of the top of the lense was for distance. They spent considerable time with me getting it right, marking up lenses and calling different labs to see who could make what I wanted. In the end Oakley said, "Yeah, we can do that" and so that's who I went with.

Can online retailers really do that? I don't know.

wphamilton

I have the prescription for both near and far vision, from the optometrist just yesterday as coincidence would have it.

You just enter the numbers at the site and they make the lens to spec. I did it for a pair of reading glasses ($15) months ago and when I got them I immediately ordered a second pair. Cheap frames, no-frills lenses at that price, but excellent results.

Getting the bifocal part smaller and lower is what makes the stick-on bifocals intriguing.

dim

CTRL Eyewear claims world's fastest sunglasses tint-change - BikeRadar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy97UdWIUkM

trailangel

bfd

etw

I have used glasses from Dual Eyewear Sunglasses and Bifocal Sunglasses - Official Site for a few years. I have a couple of pairs and they work great. Their customer service is also terrific. When I had an issue with some parts that wore out they sent me replacement parts no problem.