Can I See Clearly Now ....?

Thursday 27th July 2023
Mobile musings on the subject of cycling specific prescription glasses.
Cyclists love their sunglasses and they've become an essential piece of kit over the past 30-35 years.
Protection from the elements and looking uber-cool - both are vital factors.
However, when you need corrective lenses to see where you're going then the choice is a little trickier. No hanging the sunnies off the jersey or poking them into helmet vents when things warm up or the rain falls.
In my first year back on the bike I used my old kit wherever possible and the 1998 Bolle Edge 2, soft prescription and all, have served me well.
This summer, feeling hampered by a lack of clarity or surface detail, I decided to invest in some new cycling specific specs.
Here's some of the thoughts behind the selection process and problems I've encountered over the years, as well as the first short ride using the new specs.
Expect a follow-up review for the prescription Jawbreakers in September when they've done some road-time.
Shot, edited, uploaded in 4k

[@thestonebiker5316]

Looking good,and the right weather to suit for a change.I can make out the speed on my Garmin but thats it lol.🚴🏼😎

[@clippingin1593]

Cheers. I'm quite lucky (so far) with close-vision but I've noticed that as my distance lenses become stronger I'm less able to read through them .... haha....can't win. I filmed most of the it around Hartshead yesterday morning in the sun then just popped out this afternoon between showers with the new specs to finish things off. Fingers crossed for the weekend - hope it's not a biblical flood like the last one.

[@MrDazP1adv3ntures]

You always raise worthwhile points Gordon which for many cyclists are a real issues. My vision is not what it used to be and also my brain's processing power is not as sharp as it used to be. Riding off road on the MTB creates a whole new range of challenges where I rely on the suspension to get me through some situations as I can't pick the lines any more, especially at speed. My biggest concern on the road is when I am looking across at 90 degrees to my direction when the views are stunning for example, I now see two images and can't tell which one is which. No doubt as time goes by I will need to look at getting some prescription cycling glasses. I also struggle to focus on things close up when diving in the rivers looking for the gold in the crevices and have spoken with other gold panners about these issues too.

[@clippingin1593]

I've worn distance specs for 35+ years and they've always been something of a hindrance for active sports. In my mountaineering days I couldn't afford prescription glacier glasses and I had to experience the most spectacular places in soft focus. I agree with you about MTB and I think eyesight is even more critical there than it on the road - especially when you factor in tree cover, unpredictable terrain, and lower speeds leading to more fogging. The double imaging might be some kind of astigmatism - I have it too and it's got worse with age as the eye changes shape, but a good prescription can correct it. I've only ridden 9 miles in the new specs but I was amazed at the clarity and sharpness of everything on roads I know well. So far I'm lucky with close-vision, although I find I need very bright lights for repairing watches or threading needles. I'd imagine murky stream beds won't be ideal in terms of lighting.

[@mattjohn7700]

Great video.,

[@clippingin1593]

Cheers Matt - I'm seeing in high-definition now!

[@toddfield4744]

I am also short sighted and use a prescription pair of wayfarer style sunglasses with polarized lenses. They work well and I update them whenever my health plan allows. I havent found a pair of wrap around sunglasses that will suit the lens. Thankfully, I am saving $300 on a pair of Sutro's but miss the glasses-upside-down-stuck in the helmet pose.

[@clippingin1593]

The wayfarer style were pretty close to being 'the answer' for me - only drawbacks were a little nose slippage, not staying put when I look under my arm at the cassette, and some internal reflections with side-lighting. A very cost-effective option which I could've stuck with, but my curiosity got the better of me. Don't worry about the upside-down posing Todd, we can both be unfashionable at the same time.

[@Trevor.Adams640]

I am shortsighted and have been on a similar journey to you. I wore contact lenses for years but eventually they started to irritate my eyes. I’ve had the clip in system and had similar problems with fogging. I now have prescription sunglasses from a company called Optilabs, who have wrap around designs and make up the lenses to your prescription. They are about £220 for either photochromic or mirror lenses, cheaper for a smoke lense. I’d like a pair of prescription Oakleys, but have been put off by the cost - I was quoted over £500.

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks for the details Trevor - that's really interesting - it sounds like we've experienced similar problems. I'll have a look at Optilabs when I want a pair of clear or low-light glasses for mid-winter. A clear, anti-reflective lens for the Oakleys is £185-ish. Altogether I paid less then £300 for the Jawbreakers with 'Black Iridium Polarising' lens from a company in York. From ordering to receiving was 13 days - not too bad.

[@cyclesaint]

I had all these problems. Went from glasses to contact lens to prescription insert lens and finally full prescription cycling glasses. Always problems, so ended up getting lens replacement to sort the eyes out.. drastic and expensive but makes cycling outside more enjoyable in the hills near us.

[@clippingin1593]

Wow, I didn't know that, but we've never spoken about this topic. I remember back in the racing days you also had a Briko aero lid. I recall you wearing glasses off the bike and assumed you were using contacts for racing....but that's 15- 20 years ago :o It's great that you've got it sorted out, especially for autumn and winter when the weather drops onto the hills. I'll be road-testing my new specs over t' Skye road in a few hours

[@cyclesaint]

@@clippingin1593 Had the eyes done over 10 years ago and it was mainly for the cycling. Yes i used contacts for racing before that, back when we were both racers ;-)

[@onemorecyclist]

A really useful watch for me. I wear contacts but you're dead right about the effects of speed and rain with them in and most rides - bar super cold days - I get sweat into my eyes wearing them and it's actually made me have to stop a few times (in eye agony!). Being short sighted the contacts sort that but slightly over compensate so I can't see my Wahoo that clearly (especially any text like street names etc.). Options I've been mulling over recently - varifocal contacts (not keen), get a bigger head unit (excuse to buy a new gadget (quite keen); wear a massive wrist sweatband for necessary brow mopping (budget friendly and I think I'll try this) or have a think about glasses. Out of interest which store did you get your new ones from? Will be interested to hear how you get on with them in different conditions. Bit of a rambling comment but cheers for the video!

[@NeilLavitt]

I find cycling caps help a lot with sweat control.

[@clippingin1593]

That's very interesting. I can relate to the 'contaminant agony' of contacts if dust, sweat or dirty water gets underneath.... ouch. I've noticed my 2023 distance prescription makes it much harder to read the GoPro display or any small text, but at least with glasses I can lift them momentarily. I bought the lens through 'Extreme Eyewear' in York (I'd bought the frames with a non-prescription low-light lens separately in a sale earlier in the year). I ordered the lens on 14th July and it arrived today - not too bad for a custom piece. The new glasses have only covered 8-9 miles so far but they seemed quite effective during a light shower - I'm guessing there's an Oakley hydrophobic coating of some kind. Adding to Neil's cap suggestion I also use track mitts with a towelling section for mopping heavy sweat on tailwind climbs.

[@clippingin1593]

Good tip Neil. The polyester ones are very effective at wicking and spreading sweat from the brow area.

[@NeilLavitt]

This is an area I have considered over the past year. At this time I have swapped between my normal glasses and wrap-around sunglasses. You will have seen me wearing these when we rode together Gordon. I think the solution may be reactive light lenses for my existing wrap-around sunglasses frames. I'm very happy with their fit so just a consideration of different lenses.

[@clippingin1593]

Non-prescription wearers don't realise how important 'good optics' can be. Like you Neil, I've been mulling over new cycling specs for the best part of a year and I noticed your black sunglasses straightaway in Barkisland. Photochromics are really good all-rounders, for everything short of high summer and glacier travel. Getting a reglaze or just buying a 2nd pair of the frames you like makes sense to me. I'll post a review video of the Oakleys in September and that will determine whether I buy a clear or photochromic lens for the Jawbreakers or source a separate pair of specs for winter.

[@shirleytoulson6931]

Good video food for thought,at the moment I’m holding my spec’s up with blue tac on the bridge of my nose bit of a bodge just being tight

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it interesting Shirley. It's a tricky decision because dedicated cycling specs aren't cheap, and you can't really use them off the bike. The Oakley system at the end of the video was c. £300 and I'll probably spend another £200 for clear lenses in a few months when the perma-gloom begins. I restarted cycling 16 months ago after 8+ years out and for my first rides of 12-15 miles I used my ordinary glasses but as the rides became longer I'd come home with wind-sore eyes, having lost count of the times they slipped or bounced. I dug out the 1998 Bolles and remembered how good a cycling specific unit can be, albeit with a soft-focus prescription... but I continued to drag my heels because of the expense. By way of a postscript to this video I've covered 240 miles in the Oakleys over hill and dale in sunshine. showers, and downpours and so far they're exceeding my expectations. I'll be posting a 1000 or 1500 mile review in September

[@terrymarlor-gage6214]

Its a tricky thing ,post cataract op its great to see again,glasses for riding are expensive all round

[@clippingin1593]

It really is a tricky one Terry. I've tried all sorts over the years and my eyesight today is a lot worse. Reading the comments it seems I'm not alone in this. One good thing is that after 180 miles of varying conditions my new specs have yet to disappoint.

[@terrymarlor-gage6214]

@@clippingin1593 i have looked at eyepods,may give them a go for reading my garmin

[@theralphster8492]

Interesting stuff, glad you managed to get a solution, they certainly look 'trendy' ! I suppose I should count myself lucky, just need glasses for reading, I can just about make out make out 'some' info on my cycling computer so I get by with just regular cycling glasses 😉

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks Ralphster, glad you found it interesting. My eyesight was poor in my 20s but nowadays it's really quite a problem on fast descents or off-road tracks. I generally try to avoid anything 'trendy' but I couldn't find another way around this, so I joined the hipster crowd :)) Not cheap, but if they last half as long as the old '98 Bolle then they'll have done OK. It's nice being able to get by without a prescription - that was the reason I tried contact lenses, but that came with its own problems.

[@tryan137]

I use reactive light sunglasses with small stick on reading lenses positioned so when I look down I can read the computer and great for the menu at cafe stops. If any help I obtained my stick on lenses from Specsavers and they positioned them for me to my own reactive sunglasses.

[@clippingin1593]

That's really good to know, I'm sure a lot of people will make a note of this. I'm lucky that my close vision is still good, although my new stronger distance lenses make reading a little more difficult. Thanks for adding to the info'

[@LakeDistrictcyclist]

Nice where did you buy them from, would be perfect for me 😊

[@clippingin1593]

I bought the Jawbreaker frames in a sale a few months ago - they came with a non-prescription low-light lens. The Oakley lens was ordered through Extreme Eyewear, York, and they arrived today, 13 days in total, which isn't bad for a custom piece. I went for a quick 9 miles to test them and shoot the end of the video but I'll be using them for some longer rides over the coming weeks before reporting back.

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

I’m lucky to be long sighted but I can’t see a bloody thing close up ie cycle computer 😵‍💫

[@clippingin1593]

That's tricky for those with computers and navigation units. My new distance prescription is too strong for reading, I have to lift the specs to see close things, but I'll trade that for being able to see clearly on fast descents, and hopefully avoid some of the cracks and craters I've been hitting over the past few weeks.