Why should you use cycling glasses, and how can you choose the best ones?
If you’re serious about cycling, it’s a great idea to invest in high-quality equipment that protects you while riding your bike. With that in mind, cycling glasses are a very good investment. They are designed to give you very good protection while also making it easier to see where you are heading, even if the sun is very bright.
When should you buy cycling glasses?
When you ride your bike often, it makes sense to acquire cycling sunglasses because they are very useful. Cycling eyewear might not seem like a good investment at first, but it’s very effective, and it can provide exceptional value for money. Here’s why you want to use bike riding shades:
- Cycling sunglasses are very good when it comes to protecting you against bugs. When you are riding your bike at high speeds, it’s very easy for bugs to enter your eyes. We’ve all dealt with that at some point, and it’s disgusting, not to mention it can hamper your visibility.
- Another reason why you want cycling glasses is because they can protect you from powerful UV rays. Not only that, but if the sun is too powerful, you won’t even see where you’re heading on the road. That can be dangerous, so high performance eyewear for cyclists can be an exceptional investment.
- You can also use cycling glasses to protect your eyes during heavy winds or when it rains. You’ll have much better visibility on your bike, even if the weather is not great, as long as you invest in high-quality, polarized cycling sunglasses.
- Debris and dust can easily reach your eyes while cycling. With bicycle glasses, you will find it easier to protect your eyes from incoming damage. Instead of entering your eyes, dust and debris will be pushed away to the side while keeping you safe.
How can you choose your cycling glasses?
Lens size
One of the things to look out for when it comes to cycling sunglasses is the lens size. Obviously, larger lenses will give you better protection. However, if they are too large, that might lead to discomfort. That means it’s a good idea to find that middle ground between comfort and protection. Making sure that your lenses can protect you from debris or any other compounds is always a priority. But at the same time, they shouldn’t obstruct your vision in any way.
UV protection
When you buy cycling glasses, you want to have glare-free vision so you can easily see everything on the road. And on top of that, you also need UV protection. UV rays are very harmful to your eyes, so you want to protect them with high-quality cycling sunglasses. You can find glasses that block UV400, UVB, and UVA wavelengths.
Darkening performance
The role of bicycle glasses is to protect you from bright lights and UV rays while also delivering very good protection. There are five main protection levels:
- Level 0 has up to 20% absorption and transparent lenses, it’s good for rainy or cloudy days.
- Level 1 comes with 20% to 38% absorption and these are ideal for the cloudy sky days.
- Level 2 goes from 38% to 82% absorption. Here, you will find most bike riding shades, and they are great for a sunny day or even days with ever-changing weather.
- Level 3 has 82% to 92% protection. These cycling glasses have dark lenses, and you can use them for training rides and very bright days in general.
- Level 4 gives 92% to 97%; however, these sunglasses are not suitable for road traffic. They are generally used for glacier tours due to their great UV protection capabilities.
Polarization
Polarization is great for watersports; however, when it comes to cycling, you don’t really have the best results. What polarization does is it cuts down on the reflection, so it helps during sunny days when you have road glare. The problem is that you won’t see any surface water, which means it’s very easy to hit a puddle at high speeds without knowing it’s there.
Frame style
There are different frames for cycling eyewear. Frameless glasses are a good option because they are usually lighter and provide a great field of view. The same thing is valid with partial frames, although you will have a small frame there for higher durability and stability. Full-frame models are larger, but they do have the best field of view and protection. So it’s up to the style you want and the overall visibility you expect from using such a pair.
Lens color
You’ll notice that many cycling glasses have a different color. But it’s not only for style. These colors can actively provide ideal protection in certain situations. Yellow lenses are great for diffusing light; you should also use them during overcast skies or in foggy places. Blue lenses are known for offering very good contrast, so they are much better to use during the winter or when you’re in the mountains. Red lenses can be great for everyday, regular situations, while transparent lenses will be really good during cloudy conditions.
Material
What material should performance eyewear for cycling be made of? Lots of manufacturers opt for polycarbonate because even if these shatter, they won’t cause a lot of splinters. On top of that, polycarbonate doesn’t slip, which helps add to the overall security. And on top of that, manufacturers also tend to add a hard layer over the lens. That helps prevent any scratching, which can become an issue!
Coating
Not all bike riding shades will have a special coating. But some of the higher-quality cycling glasses do, and that’s very helpful. Such a coating can be great if you want your glasses to have anti-fog properties, thanks to foam-filtered ventilation. And, of course, you can also have an anti-UV coating for even better protection.
What are you using the cycling glasses for?
If you just want to ride your bike casually within the city, classic cycling glasses will be more than enough. However, trail goggles are better if you want to go on a downhill adventure. Some bicycle glasses include prescription lenses. So it’s always up to you to make the right choice and see what works.
Pricing
What’s great about cycling glasses is that you can find options starting at $20 or sometimes even less. But you can also buy cycling sunglasses that cost thousands of dollars. The most important thing to do is set a budget and then find the best option within that price range.
Comfort
When you buy cycling glasses, a very good idea is to test them out and see if the nose bridge fits comfortably or not. That’s because, a lot of the time, the nose bridge can be very stiff, and it can lead to discomfort. It becomes an issue if the glasses have larger frames.
Arms
It’s also a good idea to check the arms of your cycling glasses. A lot of the time, these aren’t as robust as you might expect. But they can still hold the glasses very well. In general, you want to look at their shape but also how stiff they are. The hinges shouldn’t have unnecessary play, either.
Conclusion
There are many different things to consider when buying yourself some cycling glasses. You won’t find a one-size-fits-all option, so the best thing you can do is to set a budget and assess the best models within that price point. Also, checking things like lens clarity and color, arm stiffness, comfort, design, all of those things will matter quite a lot. That’s why it comes as highly recommended to take your time, assess your needs, and then go with the best set of cycling sunglasses!