Finding The Best Cycling Glasses
Those that rode the Inaugural Tour Da Yoop, Eh ride with me know that I didn’t have a cyclist background. That said, it took me a little while to get into the correct equipment. The first year (2018) I did all 1,200 miles on my little triathlon shorts with no padding. Yes, it was a big mistake.
Cycling glasses are my newest aha gear - what in the world was I thinking not having these before.
I always wore sunglasses, but never glasses that were actually designed for the cyclist. I can credit the German professional riders that joined us in TDY 2019 for my recent purchase. While looking at a picture of the the group of us a few weeks ago (blog - You Know What Time It Is) I noticed they had on snazzy looking POC glasses that were significantly larger than my little shades. So, out of curiosity, I googled cycling glasses and immersed into all things glasses.
Here’s the bottom line. Cycling glasses make a tremendous visual difference and if you haven’t tried them out yet, you have to!
Of course I checked out POC, and ordered their Aspire. I also ordered Bolle Shifter and 100% Racetrap. That certainly doesn’t represent a wide array of eyewear on the market but I did learn what attributes were important to me in glasses, which can also help you decide. I chose 100% Racetrap and here’s why.
The first pair I wore were Bolle Shifter Phantom. They adjust darkness to the conditions. They blew me away and that was when I had the aha moment. Why I hadn’t purchased good cycling glasses in the past was beyond me, and is why I’m writing this blog. In the event you are like I was, and just riding around with normal sun glasses, you really need to try out cycling glasses!
Bolle’ Phantom modeled by Eller
I have long eyelashes, making some glasses annoying to wear. These were just far enough from my eyes that the lashes barely touched. The Phantom lens was awesome. And the field of vision was spectacular. I’m blind in my right eye. These glasses allowed me to see just a tiny bit into my right side that no other pair of glasses offered before. This is because there is no frame dividing the middle above the nosepiece.
Next I tried POC Aspire. These are bold glasses that made me feel either really cool or a little cheesy. I decided it was more on the cool side. They might work great for all of you, but being blind in one eye, I ruled them out immediately. Once I got a taste for the open vision offered by Bolle, I didn’t want a cycling glass that took from that. POC also has wide temple sides which obstruct some peripheral on my good eye.
POC Aspire - modeled by Eller
Finally the 100% Racetrap. At first I thought I was going to stick with the Bolle as the eyelash fit was just a tad better. But then a couple of extra nose pieces fell out of the 100% case, and one of them fit me perfectly! They have no frame between my eyes and the field of vision is fantastic. Plus, they have one other feature that I really like, interchangeable lenses. Bolle does make the LIghtshifter with interchangeable lens, I just wasn’t as big a fan of that particular style.
100% Racetrap - modeled by Eller
Last year while riding with a group during persistent rain I couldn’t see a thing. My eyes were full of water, red and irritated. While the others cyclists appeared to be doing OK. Now I know why.
There is a pair of cycling glasses for everyone out there. If you don’t have cycling specific glasses yet, don’t wait to much longer.
One more tip I learned from my German cycling buds - wear the temple arms over your helmet straps. Turns out I was doing that all wrong as well. Amazing how they help to keep everything in place.
By James Studinger