Sports glasses retailers in the North West

petemadoc
petemadoc Posts: 2,331
edited March 2011 in Road buying advice
Looking to get some fancy glasses, like the look of Rudy Project. Not keen on buying glasses online because I want to try them on first. So where can I go to try them on? I live in rural North Wales but regular trips to Manchester and Chester mean anywhere here will be ok.

Another question, not sure weather to get contact lenses with normal shades or get prescription lenses. Any thoughts or recommendations, never tried contacts before but willing to give them a go if they're better on the bike. I only have a weak prescription for short sightedness.

Comments

  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Rudy are good in that they do a prescription clip on behind the lens whereas Oakley have the prescription as part of the lens. Look at the manufacturers sites to get the distributor list
    M.Rushton
  • T.C.
    T.C. Posts: 495
    Pete, Porthmadog isn't rural mate :-) come up my house , i've got a classic rudy set welcome to have a look
  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    T.C. wrote:
    Pete, Porthmadog isn't rural mate :-) come up my house , i've got a classic rudy set welcome to have a look

    Lol, it's bloody rural compared to what I'm used to mate. Where's the nearest Rudy dealer then? Maybe there's one in Garndolbenmaen.

    Which ones have you got? I was lookin at the Rydon II, not sure whether to get prescription lenses, those littl prescription insert things that go behind the lense or go for contact lenses.

    T.C. , just sent you a pm
  • campagone
    campagone Posts: 270
    I used to use a pair of Rudy Project's with the clip on glases, and for the most part they were ok. Not ideal in rain though, unless you can ride without your glases which with my prescription wasn't really an option so it was usually on with a peaked cap when it rained.
    Now though I wear contacts and use normal cycling glasses which I can put on and take off as I wish. Using contacts has worked out great for me as I don't suffer dry eyes on the bike, though they can be quite expensive and are an ongoing cost compared to a pair of glasses, I do wish I'd have tried them sooner than I did. By the way I got my Rudy's from Barnett Pepper's in Caernarfon, they aren't something they stock but they could probably get some in for you.
  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    campagone wrote:
    I used to use a pair of Rudy Project's with the clip on glases, and for the most part they were ok. Not ideal in rain though, unless you can ride without your glases which with my prescription wasn't really an option so it was usually on with a peaked cap when it rained.
    Now though I wear contacts and use normal cycling glasses which I can put on and take off as I wish. Using contacts has worked out great for me as I don't suffer dry eyes on the bike, though they can be quite expensive and are an ongoing cost compared to a pair of glasses, I do wish I'd have tried them sooner than I did. By the way I got my Rudy's from Barnett Pepper's in Caernarfon, they aren't something they stock but they could probably get some in for you.

    Thanks for the heads up on the Caernarfon shop, shame they don't stock them, I want to try some on before I buy. Sounds like you weren't satisfied with the little clip on lense things.
  • schweiz
    schweiz Posts: 1,644
    A bit further to travel but extreme eyewear at the Xscape in Castleford has provided me with excellent service. Give Simon a call.

    I have oakley jawbones with prescription lenses as I found i got lots of weird reflections from car headlights when using the inserts.
    VN BMC Cube SS
    http://app.strava.com/athletes/30000
  • campagone
    campagone Posts: 270
    PeteMadoc wrote:
    campagone wrote:
    I used to use a pair of Rudy Project's with the clip on glases, and for the most part they were ok. Not ideal in rain though, unless you can ride without your glases which with my prescription wasn't really an option so it was usually on with a peaked cap when it rained.
    Now though I wear contacts and use normal cycling glasses which I can put on and take off as I wish. Using contacts has worked out great for me as I don't suffer dry eyes on the bike, though they can be quite expensive and are an ongoing cost compared to a pair of glasses, I do wish I'd have tried them sooner than I did. By the way I got my Rudy's from Barnett Pepper's in Caernarfon, they aren't something they stock but they could probably get some in for you.

    Thanks for the heads up on the Caernarfon shop, shame they don't stock them, I want to try some on before I buy. Sounds like you weren't satisfied with the little clip on lense things.

    Pete, it's not that I wasn't happy with them, they served me well for many years, but my optician, who by the way is a keen cyclist himself convinced me to give contact lenses a try and I haven't looked back since.
    A few issues I had with the Rudy Project ( 'Perception' glasses, still available today I beleive), they have some sort of alloy/metal nosepiece and this corroded and turned green because of sweat. Also mine were titanium colur - the titanium coating started peeling off like it was painted on a black frame.

    I wouldn't hesitate to recomend them but if you can wear contact lenses instead it's like having normal vision again.
  • Ands
    Ands Posts: 1,437
    Pretty sure Bike Factory in Chester stock Rudy Project eyewear.
    There's a big Oakley store in Liverpool One - but more expensive than buying online.
    Cannondale Six Carbon

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