In Praise of Better Shades

elbowloh

I got a pair of Oakley Crosslink frames, prescription, clear lenses (not Oakley lenses though) and a second pair of regular specs for about £100.

Manc33

Next time I get some I am going to try those polarized ones from China = under £10.

For example:

"Professional Polarized Cycling Glasses Bike Casual Goggles Outdoor Sports Bicycle Sunglasses UV 400 With 5 Lens TR90 4 color"

I won't link to them out of respect for UK prices.

Of course its only any use if the polarization works but they sold enough of them.

iPete

Just make sure you don't put them on your face too tight

Why anyone would wear something they can't verify actually offers eye protection is beyond me.

Anonymous

I actually read that someone took some fakes to a shop who were pleasantly surprised with the amount of protection afforded.

One main issue is the optics are just not up to scratch. I had a few pairs of fakes (now lost/stolen/broken) and unless its bright sunlight, they are just all wrong.

I also have some 14 y/o M Frames. Lenses defo need replacing though!

gabriel959

I have a pair of Uvex Photochromic glasses which are very good, granted I've never had Oakleys but they are great. Then I also have a cheaper pair of BBB Photochromics, they are still very good but the lens aren't as good. They were also half the price.

I only look at photochromic lenses these days, perfectly fine for 95% of riding in this country.

Manc33

Protection from light? All I want protection from is flies. :P

If sunglasses make everything darker.. thats it for me, I class them as fully usable.

The only ones I ever didn't like were ones with red lenses / yellow lenses.

iPete

Manc33 wrote:

Protection from light? All I want protection from is flies. :P

If sunglasses make everything darker.. thats it for me, I class them as fully usable.

Shades that are dark but don't offer UV protection open your eyes to higher levels of harmful light.

There's a good your Chinese specials have UV protection but without knowing I'd rather buy a cheap pair of Bolle.

Anonymous

I think you'd be surprised. Sometimes in low light, with glare, setting sun etc, the quality of lens makes a huge difference. I am no optic oficianado, but swapping my fake oakleys for genuine ray bans when watching the sun setting over a river (low light, bright sun, lots of glare) was light and day. This could come in when riding in winter when there is a low sun with a glare over wet roads, or when descending at speed through a tree-covered lane with specks of sunlight

pblakeney

coriordan wrote:

I think you'd be surprised. Sometimes in low light, with glare, setting sun etc, the quality of lens makes a huge difference. I am no optic oficianado, but swapping my fake oakleys for genuine ray bans when watching the sun setting over a river (low light, bright sun, lots of glare) was light and day. This could come in when riding in winter when there is a low sun with a glare over wet roads, or when descending at speed through a tree-covered lane with specks of sunlight

This is where the expensive versions come into their own.
It was highlighted to me one sunny Saturday this year. We were having a family get together in the garden and I was wearing my "normal" sunglasses. All was good.
Once everyone was gone I went out on the bike. My Oakleys were a huge improvement in the high contrast lower sun.
Back home, I had to go somewhere in the car driving towards the setting sun so I drove using my Serengetis. Another massive improvement!
Horses for courses but there is more to lenses than making things darker.

EKE_38BPM

apreading wrote:

EKE_38BPM wrote:

I need new glasses and I'm torn between going for prescription lenses for my Oakleys, which will cost mucho dinero and getting prescription lenses for some other cycling sunglasses I've seen which will work out much cheaper. I'll also be getting some non-sporty glasses too.

The Oakleys are already expensive so getting new lenses for them will mean I'll be truly gutted if I lose them/sit on them/have them stolen etc.

Do you need prescription glasses on the bike? If so then the Oakleys will be useless to you unless you get new lenses in them. If not then why the question?

I don't need prescription glasses on the bike, but as I'll be getting new glasses anyway and I spend so much of my working day in my Oakleys I might as well get them (prescription lenses for the Oakleys) too.

The real cost will arise because I swap lenses depending on the light condition. I have smoke and orange lenses at the moment and I want clear lenses. That means three sets of prescription lenses. Mucho dinero x3!

meanredspider

If you work in them can you expense them or at least offset them against tax?

Kieran_Burns

meanredspider wrote:

If you work in them can you expense them or at least offset them against tax?

If you ever verb a noun again, I will hunt you down and kill you.

meanredspider

Kieran_Burns wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

If you work in them can you expense them or at least offset them against tax?

If you ever verb a noun again, I will hunt you down and kill you.

Expense them, expense them, expense them!!!!! There (I'll be waiting :twisted: )

verb
1.
offset (an item of expenditure) as an expense against taxable income.
"up to $17,500 in capital expenditures can be expensed in the year they were incurred"

davis

EKE_38BPM wrote:

apreading wrote:

EKE_38BPM wrote:

I need new glasses and I'm torn between going for prescription lenses for my Oakleys, which will cost mucho dinero and getting prescription lenses for some other cycling sunglasses I've seen which will work out much cheaper. I'll also be getting some non-sporty glasses too.

The Oakleys are already expensive so getting new lenses for them will mean I'll be truly gutted if I lose them/sit on them/have them stolen etc.

Do you need prescription glasses on the bike? If so then the Oakleys will be useless to you unless you get new lenses in them. If not then why the question?

I don't need prescription glasses on the bike, but as I'll be getting new glasses anyway and I spend so much of my working day in my Oakleys I might as well get them (prescription lenses for the Oakleys) too.

The real cost will arise because I swap lenses depending on the light condition. I have smoke and orange lenses at the moment and I want clear lenses. That means three sets of prescription lenses. Mucho dinero x3!

How strong is your prescription?
Have you thought about the glasses with a removal insert? (Rudy Project, Adidas Evil Eye)

EKE_38BPM

davis wrote:

How strong is your prescription?
Have you thought about the glasses with a removal insert? (Rudy Project, Adidas Evil Eye)

I don't think it is very strong but, considering I've been wearing glasses for almost ten years, I know very little about prescriptions and strengths and the like.
My eye test the other day says:
SPH CYL AXIS
R -0.25 -0.75 10
L -0.75 -0.50 175.0

So, lenses or inserts?
Either way, I'll expense them (that was for you, Kieran).

elbowloh

EKE_38BPM wrote:

davis wrote:

How strong is your prescription?
Have you thought about the glasses with a removal insert? (Rudy Project, Adidas Evil Eye)

I don't think it is very strong but, considering I've been wearing glasses for almost ten years, I know very little about prescriptions and strengths and the like.
My eye test the other day says:
SPH CYL AXIS
R -0.25 -0.75 10
L -0.75 -0.50 175.0

So, lenses or inserts?
Either way, I'll expense them (that was for you, Kieran).

Your prescription is almost non-existent! You hardly need glasses.

davis

EKE_38BPM wrote:

My eye test the other day says:
SPH CYL AXIS
R -0.25 -0.75 10
L -0.75 -0.50 175.0

So, lenses or inserts?

Ok, that's not very strong, and you'll be fine with prescription lenses, so you've got a good choice. You'd only really benefit from an insert if you were above about 4-5 Dioptres (add the absolute value of the sphere and cylinder numbers together[this is an over-simplification]).

I cannot recommend RX Sport highly enough for service/advice etc. I should be on commission for them....

Edit: Oooh look they're doing 50 quid off Oakleys too. (If you buy them this week)

EKE_38BPM

davis wrote:

EKE_38BPM wrote:

My eye test the other day says:
SPH CYL AXIS
R -0.25 -0.75 10
L -0.75 -0.50 175.0

So, lenses or inserts?

Ok, that's not very strong, and you'll be fine with prescription lenses, so you've got a good choice. You'd only really benefit from an insert if you were above about 4-5 Dioptres (add the absolute value of the sphere and cylinder numbers together[this is an over-simplification]).

I cannot recommend RX Sport highly enough for service/advice etc. I should be on commission for them....

Edit: Oooh look they're doing 50 quid off Oakleys too. (If you buy them this week)

Looking at the three lenses I want for my Fast Jackets, I'd be looking at ~£750!!!!

I may have to revise my options.
Edit: The brand I was looking at before was Sunwise. ~£30 including three lenses.

davis

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Looking at the three lenses I want for my Fast Jackets, I'd be looking at ~£750!!!!

I may have to revise my options.
Edit: The brand I was looking at before was Sunwise. ~£30 including three lenses.

Christ! (Wonders off to Sunwise for a gander)