Cycling Shades
Author
Discussion

Nicko_12345

Original Poster:

1,157 posts

229 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
Hi,

While out riding tonight on a fast downhill bit my eye took a direct hit from a fly, I stayed on and didn't hit anything, I think I should get some shades, anyone got any recommendations?

Dont want to be spending silly amounts on a set of Oakley's or the like...

Thanks

Nick

Edited by Nicko_12345 on Sunday 15th April 22:47

Jimbo.

4,217 posts

218 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/giro-semi-compact-lens-mat...

...are definitely worth a punt. Recently acquired a pair of the clear ones myself, and they're great. Yes you can pick up Bolle Spider eye protection from eBay for what, a tenner...but, having tried them myself, I won't be going back. These (the Giros) fit brilliantly, don't slide down, have good optics and rarely - if ever - fog up. The cheap Bolles were the opposite. Not cool.

re. Oakleys. One of the rare instances of a "premium" brand/product being worth every penny, so should they be open to consideration...get some! The customer is excellent, the fit/stability great etc, but it's the optics and sun protection where they excel. Nothing comes close IME. Flak Jackets with Positive Red Iridium lens. Om nom nom! biggrin

Gizmo!

18,150 posts

238 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
And if you work out how to stop flies hitting the back of your throat... yuck

Fluffsri

3,410 posts

225 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
I use PBKs 20quid specials, light and nice looking, good case with 5 sets of lenses.

IroningMan

10,598 posts

275 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
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I found Oakley Radars for just over £100 - I wanted something that I wouldn't find myself peering over when tucked on the tri-bars. I also have a pair of Madison Arcs, which do 90% of the job for 20% of the cash.

CoolC

4,499 posts

243 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
Cheap (i.e. free) safety specs from work wink

These: http://www.kcprofessional.co.uk/products/personal-...


Nicko_12345

Original Poster:

1,157 posts

229 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
Fluffsri said:
I use PBKs 20quid specials, light and nice looking, good case with 5 sets of lenses.
Got a link?

Kermit power

29,622 posts

242 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
Whatever you do, steer clear of the Lidl ones!!! Potentially lethal, which, let's face it, rather undermines the 8 quid bargain price tag!

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Sunday 15th April 2012
quotequote all
Go cheap, with perhaps the exception of Oakley. I bought some pretty expensive specialized ones that had reactalight type lenses in them which are superb bits of kit. Came off a while ago and scratched a lens and the buggers have stopped making replacement lenses.

HardWorkers

537 posts

239 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all
We've tried most on the long distance charity rides we do at Ride2Raise and for value for money the dhb Triple Lens Sunglasses from Wiggle take some beating.

http://www.raisemagazine.co.uk/2012/03/summers-her...

Fluffsri

3,410 posts

225 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all
Nicko_12345 said:
Got a link?
Not the same as mine but same sort of money.
http://www.probikekit.com/uk/clothing/mens/sports-...

Edited by Fluffsri on Monday 16th April 09:29

MadDad

3,835 posts

290 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all
I was in a similar position about a month ago, kept hovering over the 'buy' button on a nice set of Oakleys but eventually went cheap and bought a set of Sinwise Windrush interchangable glasses from Absoloute Cycles on eBay.

Very happy with them, they cost £24 and came with 4 lenses (clear, yellow (low light), orange (normal sunlight), smoked (bright conditions). They fit really well, are well made, and look a lot more expensive than they were. Wore them on a 7 hour ride a week ago with no issues, no eye strain or pressure induced headache.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sunwise-Windrush-Interch...

Fluffsri

3,410 posts

225 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all
MadDad said:
I was in a similar position about a month ago, kept hovering over the 'buy' button on a nice set of Oakleys but eventually went cheap and bought a set of Sinwise Windrush interchangable glasses from Absoloute Cycles on eBay.

Very happy with them, they cost £24 and came with 4 lenses (clear, yellow (low light), orange (normal sunlight), smoked (bright conditions). They fit really well, are well made, and look a lot more expensive than they were. Wore them on a 7 hour ride a week ago with no issues, no eye strain or pressure induced headache.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sunwise-Windrush-Interch...
PBK now do the Sunwise stuff as well, they dont seem to do their own range anymore so Sunwise must be the replacement.

robpearson

441 posts

231 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all
Can I start a minor threadjack please?
Does anyone have any experience of glasses with prescription inserts? I like being able to swap the lenses for clear in the evening, and tinted depending on the level of daylight, but multiple sets of prescription lenses gets rather pricey, especially if you have an off and scratch them.
Any suggestions?

Kermit power

29,622 posts

242 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all

CoolC

4,499 posts

243 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all
robpearson said:
Can I start a minor threadjack please?
Does anyone have any experience of glasses with prescription inserts? I like being able to swap the lenses for clear in the evening, and tinted depending on the level of daylight, but multiple sets of prescription lenses gets rather pricey, especially if you have an off and scratch them.
Any suggestions?
I'd be interested in this too. I don't have a particulaly strong precription so "get away" with using the safety specs I linked to further up. But a pair of prescription glasses would make it that little bit better.

As I can manage without now, I don't really want to spend a small fortune on some prescription Oakleys etc.

anonymous-user

83 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all
CoolC said:
robpearson said:
Can I start a minor threadjack please?
Does anyone have any experience of glasses with prescription inserts? I like being able to swap the lenses for clear in the evening, and tinted depending on the level of daylight, but multiple sets of prescription lenses gets rather pricey, especially if you have an off and scratch them.
Any suggestions?
I'd be interested in this too. I don't have a particulaly strong precription so "get away" with using the safety specs I linked to further up. But a pair of prescription glasses would make it that little bit better.

As I can manage without now, I don't really want to spend a small fortune on some prescription Oakleys etc.
depends what you describe as a small fortune, prescription jawbones are £220 from www.theinternetopticians.co.uk. I went to vision expres et al, paid £25 for an eye test, make sure you get the pupillary distance measured too not just the prescription, and ordered on line....

I needed some perscription sports glasses recently so went to see what these insert styles were like. they do stick out a bit further from your face and i was worried about them steaming up having two lenses as getting air circulating around the insert looked impossible. might not be an issue running/on a bike but its hard to tell.

like most things, there are cheap ones and expensive ones, the ones i tried were around £150 and had clear, yellow and dark lenses so i get the advantage of having lenses to cope with light changes but question how often i would change them... eg sunny days on the mtb, in and out of woods etc, which do you choose and i cant be arsed getting mates to wait whilst i faff around changing them all the time.

if your prescription changes, you get new inserts and dont need to shell out for new glasses but most peoples eyesight deteriorates gradually so i am told and you will only be changing the inserts every 2-3 years, by which time you will probably want new frames anyway...


SlimJ

401 posts

258 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all
I have some Rudy Project Rydons with photochromic lenses (lenses are also polycarbonate), these are light and have withstood impact from branches, stones and bugs! Lenses react to light so can be used in bright sunlight or after sunset. Cannot ride without shades now! smile

Captain Beaky

1,389 posts

313 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all
I bought a pair of dhb Pro Triples a couple as years ago to get started and several thousand miles later they are still going strong.

Cheap enough that you don't worry about breaking them - though I haven't yet - and give clear vision and minimal fogging.

lotusandy

257 posts

300 months

Monday 16th April 2012
quotequote all
I have these with prescription inserts,
XLC Bahamas Sunglasses

An amazing 15 quid from CRC plus 20 quid for the prescription from www.lens-wear.co.uk.
Don't be fooled by the low price, these are great glasses...
See info & reviews here
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Reviews.aspx?Mo...

Andy