specs for night riding
After having both my corneas torn off my eyeballs by the low-hanging branches on the Round-Tuit track, I've been thinking about getting some specs that'll do for night riding. What's the best lens type? Just clear?
Coincidentally I've just snapped my regular sunnies, so now I'm hoping I can find a pair that'll do for both night and day riding. Or am I dreaming?
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Rudy projects
Hey, you can always look into Rudy Projects. I purchased a pair prior to the 6hr & love them! I've heard the clear lenses might be ok for night riding. You can always have a peek at thier website www.rudyproject.com.au or call visionary optical in East Freo & speak to Jo Florio.
I think a few Perth MTB folks wear rudy's... TT? Ian seems to like my pair..
C
Sunnies
I use and recommend Rudy Projects. Alot of Rudys have interchangeable lenses, so I use my Ekynox SX's for night and day riding. I use good ol' clear lenses for night riding. Another plus for Rudys for me is the clip-on lenses for prescriptions, so if I'm wearing my contacts, I can just take the clip off and I've got my normal sunnies back.
Only disadvantage I can think of is the cost... rrp $230 for the sunnies, then $90 for the clear lenses.
Dave
Rudy V Specialised?
All about the Rudy Projects eh? Cool, I'll check 'em out.
I have this Avanti voucher I was hoping to use toward funding my new specs. Any Specialised sunnies fans out there? Do they have interchangable lenses? I'm guessing you don't want to use anything other than clear lenses for night riding.
Evileyes
Adidas Evil Eyes - 2 lenses, usually a smoke/tinted and clear. Adjustable arms and nosepiece. They come in two sizes - small or large. Best thing is they don't fog up, even when you stop riding. Downside, like most cycling specific eyewear (e.g. Rudy's) is cost.
I have heard BBB glasses are quite good too.
First off I have to say that
First off I have to say that not wearing glasses on a bike is one of the craziest things I've heard of. Your Eyes are so important and so fragile that not wearing glasses is just asking for trouble. To me wearing glasses is just as important as wearing a helmet.
But since you see the light (luck you still can!) I use BBB glasses with the interchangeable Len's. they come with dark lenses with a yellow/orange mirror finish on them for your real sunny days. Yellow lenses for over-cast days and clear lenses for night riding. For $50 I don't mind if I smash them. I also have a pair of Specialized San Remo Optics with the Adaptable Photochromic NXT lenses. I use them more on road, mainly because there bit expensive to replace if I scratch or break them.
If you want to spend allot on them. I would personally buy either the new Oakley Radars, or a new MTB specific Specialized glasses. Mainly because of the Lens technology that these company have come up with. To much to explain so check there websites for more info.
Cheers
lens technology
hey - "dan the insensitive man" back off a little maybe, he's already converted so no need for a sermon.
As for lens technology, Specialized make more noise about it, Rudy project is the go. Why? Clear lenses for night riding with no optical distortion. Photochromic lenses for trailriding with the Rudy "impact-X" material (this lens bends and not breaks).
As for glasses not getting damaged on XC rides, the Rudy Projects are very hard wearing and are unlikely to be damaged by normal thrills and spills. The BBB's that mr insensitive recomends are actually significantly less robust - and therefore offer less protection from impact.
In the end, you do actually get what you pay for.
dave
Something else to be aware of...
I had some Specialized Riding glasses and the arms were so long they would hit my helmet at the tips, pushing them up off my nose. If you can, I recommend a helmet-compatability check before purchase. Now I use clear safety glasses, but do have fogging issues when stopped.
Yellow?
I went to Bunnings and bought a yellow pair of safety specs which wrap around like old style oakleys. They haven't let me down in rain or shine and increase contrast when riding in trees etc. Plus they cost $14 so if you lose them or break them it's no biggie!!
All the lenses on Spy, Adidas, Oakley etc are made of polycarbonate, as are safety glasses, and besides i'm a tight bastard so the Bunnings jobs do me fine!!!!!!!!
They also come in tint, clear and amber.
Try em!
Yeah!
Look around Ranger outdoors ect. They have the Dark, clear and yellow which you can interchange, They are also very cheap but look pretty good and come in a nifty fabric container with a lenz wipe.
specs for night riding
I do recmmond specs for riding any time.
However some good old fashioned trail maintenence to get rid of those overhanging
branches goes a long way to make the trails so much safer. If everybody just did a little bit!!
Adidas has some great
Adidas has some great sunglasses i have a pair of goggles for skiing and oakley for riding plus a few pairs of designer sunglasses just for day to day but having a good pair is in my opinion essential.
Safety specs
Check out the range at all these new safety oriented retail stores popping up in your local industrial areas.
Most stock a comprehensive range of low to high quality impact/scratch resistant eyewear at very reasonable prices.
Night eyes
Max,
i have a number of different glasses and have used others over the years, for road, indoor track, mtb riding in bright daylight, artificial light (indoors) and complete darkness. Some I got through work.
I would recommend a completely clear lens for darkness because even the lightly tinted /coloured lenses reduce visible light quite considerably.
I know various big name companies do the photochromatic lenses (lighter in low light / darker in bright sunlight), but I haven't used them myself so can't say how good they are.
My favourites were a pair of Briko glasses that sadly died recently after 10yrs of faithful service.
I have Rudy Project Freon that I like. Strong and fit my head well. Also the old Ekynox with thick frames (limited side vision) for looking like a roadie. Both are quite expensive though.
I have several Oakleys (including M Frames & 2 types of goggles) and these are well made but in my view are over priced. I have one pair that have "not for sale" where the model name is normally stamped, so i dont know how I managed to buy 'em.
I have used various Serfas glasses for the past couple of years. They are about $75 and I rate them highly. I have the Niner and Hunter models that both have interchangeable lenses. One has a frame at the bottom of the lens, one doesn't. They come with a cleaning bag, four different colour lens sets (dark, clear, orange & yellow) and a great zip up protective case. Very good value for money and do the job well. I also have the Serfas Dezmo but am too embarrassed to wear them in public.
I dont change the lenses anymore as i have had several frames fail and lenses get loose from changing them in the past. I just choose the colour lens I want for a purpose and leave them like that so i have a sunny pair, a indoor pair, an overcast pair and a nightime pair. They live in their cases when not on my face.
I hope that helps.
specs
...so many choices...one set of eyes
Firstly anti-fog glasses don't exist, just push them down after a climb or stopping! Friends rate the addidas evil eyes -they come with interchangeable lenses, sweat pad and can take inserts for prescrptions if needed- Tim& Jo at Kalamunda have a good range. I ride with several pairs of rudy's. I do use the photochromatic lenses and can ride in the wee dark mornings on the road but i don't think they would change quickly enough for off road. In saying that two british mtb mags gave them the best rating for that type of lens (over oakley and spesh)..very roadie though(rydon). I use two different lenses in a rudy project apache.(smaller version of ekynox)..pale pale orange which I can use at night bec it softens the white light from HID/LED lights and brown as it sharpens off road compared to brown/blue. I looked at some bolle safety glasses I bought for work(impact resistance isn't a priority only coverage/clarity) one day thinking if I could use them..they are clear wrap around well and the frame looks ok ..and they were only $20 from a safety store near ranger outdoors in canning vale (might have been atkins can't remember)..bolle site says medium impact protection??(and ha ha antifog!..they come in brown or blue lens also so you could buy three...a little cheaper than their commercial glasses!!) sidewinder model. Most friends here, interstate & o/s ride brown day, orange/yellow low light and clear at night. Have a look at the oakley/rudy sites if you want to see what the photochromatics are meant to do..but $$ and they do scratch. Serfas meant to be ok, found BBB too light. Good luck
oops forgot something
can bend arms on rudys ,addidas helmet compatibility not a problem..so no headache or nasty little pressure area/sudden forward trajectory of galsses
Fleets have I think BBB
Fleets have I think BBB glasses with 3 interchangeable lenses for $19.99 on sale. picked up two so have a yellow and a clear without the need to change lenses. I always seem to drop the lense when I changed on my old pair. I had a pair of Rudy Project Eckynox which were great (right up until i lost them). I bought mine off ebay.
Also a guy a rode with last weekend bought a pair of glasses same as the BBB from Anaconda in Inaloo, 3 interchangeable lenses for $10 !!!!