Glasses & Helmets

[BMR]

Since I got my new pair of glasses a few months ago I haven't been able to, or have been to apprehensive to try to put them on under my helmet. They always feel like they are going to break when I try.

It's probably due to them having thicker legs around the ears than my old glasses, which I am using under the helmet for the time being.

My helmet is by no means super tight, just comfortable.

Any solutions or tricks? I was considering getting contact lenses solely for race days.

[Furyous]

Can be a tricky thing to make comfortable this.

Ive always tried put one side in first so to speak, rather than force both arms in directly together.

Sometimes you have to wriggle the lid around as well.

Been wearing specs and lids for more years than I care to remember, so I feel your pain.

[lewis1]

although i dont wear glasses, i would say contacts are you best bet.

[RobM77]

Contacts were a revelation for racing for me, although I've got fairly dry eyes and needed to blink frequently and when you race your blink rate goes down, so I had a few issues with them stinging. Also, I was instructing at Bruntingthorpe once and both contacts vibrated off my eyes; I never had that happen at a proper smooth circuit though.

Regarding the glasses, I used to get some guidance from someone else, mainly to check if they'd gone inside my balaclave or not - I found it difficult to tell sometimes.

I had my eyes lasered three years ago, which is the ultimate. I've got 6/4 vision now, which is better than with glasses or contact lenses, and there's no hassle at all. Best thing I ever did!

[deviant]

My glasses and my sunnies will fit in my helmet but I can never get them to sit completely normal on my ears. The arms end up just above my ears which tilts the lenses out a touch but I dont have vari-focals so vision is not affected. I find the biggest problem is them steaming up.

Contacts would probably be ideal but I would be worried about one dropping out while on track and I would be worried about any possible damage to my eyes in a bingle.

[procomp]

Hi

Also feeling the pain.
The best thing i found was the type of glasses that had the sprung arms on them. These allowed the glasses to be put on one side at a time very easily as mentioned above. As others they never seem to sit on the ears quite right. Although once the race starts i never give it a second thought and that nagging feeling that they are not quite right disappears.
The most annoying thing is that the so called auto tint ones do not auto tint. Unless in direct sunlight. IE they will not work inside a helmet with the visor down. Not what i was told when buying them though.

Cheers Matt

Edited by procomp on Monday 3rd August 09:05

[RobM77]

The worst thing I found with glasses was misting up. I once did two laps of a race only able to see out or a small hole in my left lens That was in a closed car, in an open car if you've got a vented helmet it's not so much of an issue.

[stuartj]

The only solution I've found is to buy the full face helmet with the biggest apperture available - although other myopic racers I know run with an open face helmet. I currently use an Impact Supersport lid.

[carl_w]

I have glasses with bendy rubber arms which seem to work quite well with a helmet. Although I do usually wear an open-face lid.

[onomatopoeia]

My old spectacles I had to wiggle somewhat to get them hooked over my ears under the helmet. My new spectacles have Oakley frames which don't hook over the ears so slide in easily.

Not every can wear contacts and not everyone wants to stick things in their eyes (I qualify under both of those).

[GreenV8S]

I used to have trouble with glasses because the slightest movement of the helmet relative to my head moved the glasses around and disrupted my vision. (This is with a very high prescription and hence high distortion.) High speed bumps and so on were a nightmare. Misting up was also a problem on some days. Changing to contact lenses was a massive improvement.

[deviant]

carl_w said:

I have glasses with bendy rubber arms which seem to work quite well with a helmet. Although I do usually wear an open-face lid.

OT...Now they are nice frames! Are they the exact ones you have? Whats the brand / model?

Back on topic. If its becoming a real problem maybe those sports gogles with elastic instead of arms might be worth looking at, though I dont know how you put them on and then get your helmet on over the top

[carl_w]

Tag Heuer 3206

[procomp]

Hi

I always found that rainX stopped any misting. Use it on my glasses and visor. Mind there a thousand recipes for anti fog solutions.

Cheers Matt

[RacerMDR]

i found glasses a total nightmare under helmet for racing. Not so bad on my motorbike as i'm moving more.

Sitting in the holding area....misting up, belts on, arm restraints.......just wasn't worth it

changed to contacts after I said I would never ever wear them.......and its FANTASTIC

[BMR]

I think I'll look into getting some disposable contacts for next time I need them. I've worn contacts before so shouldn't be a problem.

Has anyone ever used any of the online places for contacts ?

Edited by BMR on Tuesday 4th August 23:56

[Judd97]

I wear a Bell small aperture helmet and wear glasses all the time. I tried every anti-fog treatment going, but the only one which worked consistently was the Respro Foggy mask: http://www.bigbikebook.com/14877/RESPRO-FOGGY-MASK...

I always make sure I buy glasses with strong arms and narrow lenses - currently using these all the time and they are great (and cheap!): http://www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/mens-glasses/d...

I use contacts for other sports, but cannot and will not risk a blurring contact making a mess of things. For me, glasses give a more consistent view.

Oliver

[RobM77]

Another issue with glasses for sport is that the lens is flatter than the curvature of the eye, so vision is slightly distorted. When I got contact lenses I became more accurate at squash for this reason. I can't remember if this is an issue with a helmet on or not, but also you can't see out of the corner of your eye wearing glasses - the helmet may make this irrelevant though; it's a been a while for me!!

[fastcaterham]

I've always worn glasses with a helmet and never had a problem. Maybe I've just been lucky though. I'd never really given it any thought prior to reading this thread infact. Thats an interesting point broguht up by RobM77 though, I think thats going to the top of my excuses for being slow list though!

[RobM77]

fastcaterham said:

I've always worn glasses with a helmet and never had a problem. Maybe I've just been lucky though. I'd never really given it any thought prior to reading this thread infact. Thats an interesting point broguht up by RobM77 though, I think thats going to the top of my excuses for being slow list though!

It depends how shortsighted you are whether it's noticeable. My lenses were correcting -6.5 sph for short sight and 3cyl for astigmatism, so the effect was noticeable. Since LASEK I'm now about 6/4 or 6/5 acuity and I can't describe how cool it is to just pop my helmet on and jump in the car - no dry eyes, no misting up, no wonky vision