I'm officially getting old... What glasses?
Discussion
Afternoon all,
Yesterday, I went to the optician. Apparently I need glasses. Bah. And, indeed, humbug.
They gave me a load of placatory guff about how well I'd done to get to the age of 44 without needing them, but that doesn't make me feel any less old!
So... by now, you're probably wondering why I've put this in pedal powered?
The optician's recommendation was that the area I would see most benefit from them at this point was driving at night. After a quick clarification, mountain biking at night was firmly added to the list of areas of benefit, but none of the frames they showed me in the shop would have a hope in hell of staying on my face on anything fast and bumpy, which is what brought me to pedal powered for the post.
What do other people use in these circumstances?
Ideally, I only want a single pair of glasses, so they need to be of a design that will stay in place whilst riding, but not be so obviously sports glasses that they'd look completely out of place when dressed more smartly.
I'd also like interchangeable lenses so that I can use them both as sunglasses and for night riding / driving. Would this presumably mean inserts for the prescription lenses? I assume it would be costly to say the least to have all the lenses with the prescription built in?
Lastly, I've got a bloody massive skull - I'm pretty much limited to Spesh and Giro for helmets, for example, as they're the only manufacturers I know whose large helmets go up to 64cm rather than the more common (and too small) 63cm - so nothing that tends to be an overly snug fit!
I've no idea what represents a sensible budget here either. I'd rather spend a bit more for a quality product that's less likely to break or suffer scratched lenses in an off, or - more annoyingly - decide to pop out a lens at the slightest adjustment of the glasses, which was a terminal fault of a cheap pair of cycling glasses I used to own. On the other hand, I really can't see myself justifying more than £200 absolute top whack, including the prescription lenses. Is this reasonable? The lenses themselves should, I assume, be at the cheaper end of the scale, as it's only for a mild defect, and only a single type of defect.
All advice welcome!
Yesterday, I went to the optician. Apparently I need glasses. Bah. And, indeed, humbug.
They gave me a load of placatory guff about how well I'd done to get to the age of 44 without needing them, but that doesn't make me feel any less old!
So... by now, you're probably wondering why I've put this in pedal powered?
The optician's recommendation was that the area I would see most benefit from them at this point was driving at night. After a quick clarification, mountain biking at night was firmly added to the list of areas of benefit, but none of the frames they showed me in the shop would have a hope in hell of staying on my face on anything fast and bumpy, which is what brought me to pedal powered for the post.
What do other people use in these circumstances?
Ideally, I only want a single pair of glasses, so they need to be of a design that will stay in place whilst riding, but not be so obviously sports glasses that they'd look completely out of place when dressed more smartly.
I'd also like interchangeable lenses so that I can use them both as sunglasses and for night riding / driving. Would this presumably mean inserts for the prescription lenses? I assume it would be costly to say the least to have all the lenses with the prescription built in?
Lastly, I've got a bloody massive skull - I'm pretty much limited to Spesh and Giro for helmets, for example, as they're the only manufacturers I know whose large helmets go up to 64cm rather than the more common (and too small) 63cm - so nothing that tends to be an overly snug fit!
I've no idea what represents a sensible budget here either. I'd rather spend a bit more for a quality product that's less likely to break or suffer scratched lenses in an off, or - more annoyingly - decide to pop out a lens at the slightest adjustment of the glasses, which was a terminal fault of a cheap pair of cycling glasses I used to own. On the other hand, I really can't see myself justifying more than £200 absolute top whack, including the prescription lenses. Is this reasonable? The lenses themselves should, I assume, be at the cheaper end of the scale, as it's only for a mild defect, and only a single type of defect.
All advice welcome!
You can get prescription lenses in oakleys, so you could get a non prescription lens for bright sunshine and the other for nights, I expect it would be double your budget,
There sports models I have found stay on pretty well but you may have to go for custom frames, arms etc to get a suitable colour.
There sports models I have found stay on pretty well but you may have to go for custom frames, arms etc to get a suitable colour.
You're lucky mate - I've been wearing glasses since 14 years old!
I used to use ones with curly spring wire ends (and 'John Lennon' style)- the ends were, I think, specifically for sports. They worked well, I'm sure an optician (maybe over a certain age?) will know. Have contact lenses been suggested? I use these now, and they are great for cycling. My shortsight is -7.5, and they are much better than glasses in daylight or rain. At night, I would say glasses are better. You could use glasses for driving, and contact lenses for cycling - I've certainly found this good.
If you go for disposable contact lenses, they are cheap if you don't use them every day. About £1 a pair is the target figure, and there are no fluids to buy, no cleaning issues etc, so if twice a week roughly £100 a year. Simple glasses less than £50, should last at least 3 years unless abused or prescription changes. Welcome to the world of foureyes!
I used to use ones with curly spring wire ends (and 'John Lennon' style)- the ends were, I think, specifically for sports. They worked well, I'm sure an optician (maybe over a certain age?) will know. Have contact lenses been suggested? I use these now, and they are great for cycling. My shortsight is -7.5, and they are much better than glasses in daylight or rain. At night, I would say glasses are better. You could use glasses for driving, and contact lenses for cycling - I've certainly found this good.
If you go for disposable contact lenses, they are cheap if you don't use them every day. About £1 a pair is the target figure, and there are no fluids to buy, no cleaning issues etc, so if twice a week roughly £100 a year. Simple glasses less than £50, should last at least 3 years unless abused or prescription changes. Welcome to the world of foureyes!
Definitely buy separate glasses for biking and day to day. For cycling, Oakley sell their range with prescription inserts but they will be £200 plus the prescription lenses. Otherwise contact lenses plus normal biking glasses, which is what I've used for the past 20 years or so. Glasses aren't cheap, unfortunately, but using a decent online optician can lessen the pain a lot. I paid about £200 for my last pair online, where my local street optician wanted over £400 and wouldn't budge on the price - just make sure you get a full set of measurements with your eye test (position of your pupils, mainly) so they fit properly.
Pete
Pete
Thanks for the replies, chaps.
Just to clarify, I wasn't thinking of having interchangeable prescription lenses, as no doubt those would be bloody expensive. I used to have a pair of cheapo Chinese non-prescription glasses which had a separate holder for prescription lenses behind the interchangeable ones, so had I been wearing prescription lenses back then, I could've effectively had clear, orange and polarised sunglass lenses all in one, which is effectively what I'm after.
Sure, it might look a bit odd wearing them completely clear when I'm not riding, but that's only really going to be when I'm driving, so I'm not overly worried by the style of them.
Just to clarify, I wasn't thinking of having interchangeable prescription lenses, as no doubt those would be bloody expensive. I used to have a pair of cheapo Chinese non-prescription glasses which had a separate holder for prescription lenses behind the interchangeable ones, so had I been wearing prescription lenses back then, I could've effectively had clear, orange and polarised sunglass lenses all in one, which is effectively what I'm after.
Sure, it might look a bit odd wearing them completely clear when I'm not riding, but that's only really going to be when I'm driving, so I'm not overly worried by the style of them.
I race cyclocross and XC in normal glasses, I know BadgerBenji on here races the same in his normal glasses, most of the glasses wearing cyclists I know wear their normal glasses. The only person I know that had a "special" pair of prescription cycling glasses had them slip off in a race and the rest of the pack ran over them, he now races in his normal glasses.
Bend the glasses to fit and they'll not come off.
Bend the glasses to fit and they'll not come off.
I wear normal (cheap, glasses direct - usaully 2 pairs for £100 or so if you wait for their frequent special offers) photochromic lenses all the time. (-3 to -4 I think), inc lots of day and night riding on and off road.
Also some photochromic cycling glasses which I only bother with if there's a lot of road descending (wind).
Also some photochromic cycling glasses which I only bother with if there's a lot of road descending (wind).
ALawson said:
You can get prescription lenses in oakleys, so you could get a non prescription lens for bright sunshine and the other for nights, I expect it would be double your budget,
There sports models I have found stay on pretty well but you may have to go for custom frames, arms etc to get a suitable colour.
There are only a few suppliers of prescription lenses with Oakleys, my brother recently got a set of Oakleys from Vision Express. He opted for tinted/polarizing lenses in them which are said to be great in high level light and into late evening. As a bonus V.E were doing a off so you buy Oakleys at full price and got a pair of everyday glasses with plain lenses for half price. The total cost was around £400.There sports models I have found stay on pretty well but you may have to go for custom frames, arms etc to get a suitable colour.
He then bought a set of http://www.eyewearstraps.com/Adjustable%20Straps.h... these to wear with the oakleys as he is paranoid about them falling off when he is leaning out of his cab reversing a lorry or driving trucks over landfill sites.
I've got a pair of these that I got from Vision Express
http://www.selectspecs.com/Glasses/Oakley/OX8027-C...
I like the interchangeable arms, The blue set are my casual / riding arms and then I switch to the grey set of arms for work / more formal situations.
Great frame, I like them really comfortable.
I've always cycled in normal glasses, I've never had a problem with the falling off / loosing them.
http://www.selectspecs.com/Glasses/Oakley/OX8027-C...
I like the interchangeable arms, The blue set are my casual / riding arms and then I switch to the grey set of arms for work / more formal situations.
Great frame, I like them really comfortable.
I've always cycled in normal glasses, I've never had a problem with the falling off / loosing them.
OP,
IMO no way you;ll get prescriptions with interchangable lenses - so go for 2 pairs (specsavers buy one get one free anyway!)
Check out Bolle or Uvex sports style safety glasses - perfect for MTB'ing. You can even get them as sunnies, if you really want. I forget which one is which, but between specsavers and vision express, you have both brands covered.
IMO no way you;ll get prescriptions with interchangable lenses - so go for 2 pairs (specsavers buy one get one free anyway!)
Check out Bolle or Uvex sports style safety glasses - perfect for MTB'ing. You can even get them as sunnies, if you really want. I forget which one is which, but between specsavers and vision express, you have both brands covered.
gazza285 said:
I have a pair of Bolle Tracker II glasses, they come with a clip in prescription insert, you can get a few different tint of lense, and the frames are cheap enough to replace. They come with an elastic strap, so they are secure at all times.
I still use my normal glasses though.
That sounds like the sort of thing I'm looking for. I wasn't expecting the actual interchangeable lenses to be prescription.I still use my normal glasses though.
I'm really suprised at the number of people saying they ride in normal glasses! I tried it with my sunglasses, but they kept falling off. Either I've got an odd-shaped head or, maybe more likely, because I don't (didn't!) usually wear glasses, I'm very aware of the feeling of wearing them, and therefore deliberately chose something with a very loose fit?
Thinking about this, I could also do with a pair with adjustable nose pieces, as I certainly seem to have a broader nose than most, if the sizing of the average cheap pair of fixed frame glasses is anything to go by!
I wear a pair of Adidas Evil Eye half rim pro for cycling. Three different clip in lenses and a prescription insert.
http://www.adidas.com/Eyewear/content/en/products/...
Not cheap (think expensive!) but they do what I want for cycling.
They feel a bit more delicate than I'd like for sports glasses, but I haven't broken them yet and I can ride in them in all lights and my eyes no longer water.
http://www.adidas.com/Eyewear/content/en/products/...
Not cheap (think expensive!) but they do what I want for cycling.
They feel a bit more delicate than I'd like for sports glasses, but I haven't broken them yet and I can ride in them in all lights and my eyes no longer water.
Been wearing glasses since I was 4, 48 years ago. Tend to find that normal glasses on a road racer bicycle tends to mean that you peer over them thus pointless if you are constantly head down and going for it.
As suggested earlier, disposable daily wear contact lenses. I buy only 30 to 60 pairs a year so spend £80 max as they are only used for holidays and the rare swim.
As suggested earlier, disposable daily wear contact lenses. I buy only 30 to 60 pairs a year so spend £80 max as they are only used for holidays and the rare swim.
Another vote for contact lenses.
Been wearing gas permeable hard lenses for about 20 years. They hurt like hell every time you blink for about a week until your eyes get used to them but then you don't know you've got them in. They supposedly correct your vision better than soft lenses and are more hygienic too. As a bonus, there's no need for daily/monthly replacements - if you're careful with them, the same pair can last you years. No need to mess about with prescription sun/sports glasses either.
Been wearing gas permeable hard lenses for about 20 years. They hurt like hell every time you blink for about a week until your eyes get used to them but then you don't know you've got them in. They supposedly correct your vision better than soft lenses and are more hygienic too. As a bonus, there's no need for daily/monthly replacements - if you're careful with them, the same pair can last you years. No need to mess about with prescription sun/sports glasses either.
Edited by Risotto on Monday 8th December 12:11
Is there a reason why the optician wouldn't have mentioned contact lenses?
Thinking cynically, do they not like them because they're less profitable? Or is there a non-cynical reason they may not have mentioned them?
Part of the discussion was about cutting down glare from headlights. I'm assuming contact lenses wouldn't be able to do that?
Thinking cynically, do they not like them because they're less profitable? Or is there a non-cynical reason they may not have mentioned them?
Part of the discussion was about cutting down glare from headlights. I'm assuming contact lenses wouldn't be able to do that?
Saw this link on Twitter / Faceache!
Not sure if it's anything no covered above.
http://road.cc/content/review/137578-optilabs-swit...
Not sure if it's anything no covered above.
http://road.cc/content/review/137578-optilabs-swit...
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