Tag: Oakley

As cyclists doing our weekly rides, we are exposed to both good and bad elements of the weather. Much like the apparel we wear while cycling that is designed to be lite, to be aerodynamic, and to protect us from over exposure to the sun, specialty cycling sunglasses offer us a layer of protection for our eyes.

While some cyclists put no emphasis on their eyewear, I would say that is a mistake. The eyewear you choose should be just as high quality as your helmet, kit, gloves, and shoes. Sure, you can get away with a cheap pair of shades from the grocery store. Specialty Cycling sunglasses, however, do more than protect you from bright sun and look cool and stylish, so I would say they are a ride essential.

Advantages of Using Cycling Specific Eyewear/ Sunglasses

There are many advantages to using cycling specific eyewear. These sunglasses are designed not only to protect you from harmful UV rays. They are made to wraparound your face and give you 360 degree protection against dust, debris, insects, even small rocks thrown up by other cyclists or cars. Here are some key points about cycling specific eyewear.

• Lenses are larger and cover more of your face.
• Many cycling-specific sunglasses have an interchangeable lens that either comes with a purchase of a pair of glasses or can be added through additional cost. Usually, it is a clear lens for early morning or twilight riding.
• The frame fits tightly against your face so sweat can’t drip into your eyes.
• Vented to breathe so sweat moves away from your eyes and keeps your face cool.
• They cut glare and reflection.
• Made with higher quality plastic lenses that won’t shatter in your eyes if they take a hit by an object from the road.
• Better contrast and depth perception.
• Better visibility in various weather conditions.
• Optimized to be worn with a cycling helmet.
• Longer and padded temples that extend over helmet straps to keep them in place and not flap in the wind and for comfort.
• Designed with an enhanced nose pad, so the glasses won’t slide down your face while you are riding in the drops.
• Eyewear and frame color can be fully customized to match your helmet, your bike, shoes, etc.

Contact Lenses and Cycling Specific Eyewear

When I first started cycling, I wore prescription glasses. Not knowing much about cycling specific eyewear at that time, I opted for a pair of Oakley sunglasses through my optometrist. They worked great but didn’t give me the full coverage of my face that today’s eyewear does.

Over time, cycling specific eyewear has vastly improved. You can now order prescription eyewear from Oakley and other cycling specific eyewear manufacturers but at a pretty high cost.

I eventually switched to wearing contacts while cycling. That gave me more variation in the choice of eyewear as well as full peripheral vision, which is a must have when cycling. That also means if I choose to change my cycling eyewear to something else, it’s a lot easier and more affordable than getting a new prescription plus new sunglasses.

Cost of a Pair of Cycling Specific Eyewear/ Sunglasses

Some cyclists, as mentioned earlier, put little to no emphasis on cycling specific eyewear. They believe an off the shelf brand from a grocery store or even a sporting goods store is suitable for them, or they just won’t bother to use them at all.

I get that. Plus, cycling specific eyewear can get quite expensive. Prices can start at anywhere from $100 all the way up to almost $300.00. To give you an idea, just look at these selections from Rudy Project and Roka. But why are they so pricey?

There’s no easy answer to that question. But cycling specific eyewear is meant to be more rugged and are built with higher quality materials. Most importantly, the optics and frame materials are designed and optimized to work well in various weather and riding conditions.

Last Thoughts

Wearing Cycling specific eyewear while riding is, like many things, a personal decision. But I definitely know there’s a difference between the glasses I use now and what I first used. I definitely see better definition and contrast and experience sharper clarity. Today, the lenses are even bigger and with even better optics, so I’m thinking I might upgrade sometime soon.

Whether you believe wearing cycling specific eyewear is essential or not is also up to you. I also like that I can customize the whole package versus using something straight off the retail shelves. I like that the optics aren’t just cheap plastic and that my eyes are protected from wind, dirt, and other debris. To me, that makes the high price worth it.