You could just use your normal generic surfing brand sunnies or prescription glasses right?
Well, yup you could. But you'd be missing out on a whole bunch of cycling specific features.
Firstly, lets look at why you at least consider wearing glasses on your bike.
To stay in complete control of your bike you need to see. Obvious, but if you've ever had driving rain, glaring sun, insects or grit (all four if you're very unlucky) forcing they're way into your eyes whilst trying to avoid traffic or doing thirty miles an hour down a mountain – you'll know the importance of what we're saying.
So what do cycling glasses have that normal glasses don't?
Fit. They'll have a very athletic fit. This means that they will sit closer to your face, giving less space for flying crud to get in, also giving you better overall coverage and vision. They will also tend to be designed to fit around helmets, something that normal glasses/sunglasses are not.
Weight. When you're looking at spending over an hour on your bike, the weight of everything you're using becomes increasingly important. Cycling glasses tend to be very lightweight.
Adjustability. Many cycling glasses will come with interchangeable lenses. A good cyclist will get out and ride whatever the weather. A good pair of cycling glasses will be able to adapt to the changing conditions. Roughly speaking yellow lenses improve your vision in poor light, clear in neutral conditons and dark lenses when it's bright. Some more expensive models will have an adapting lens that will shift to suit the conditions.
Build quality. Even the cheaper cycling glasses will tend to be built to last and take the odd knock.
Our favourites:
Madison D Arcs Quad Set: A lenses for all occasions for less than £30? Madison cycling equipment is typically great value for money and well built.
Endura Shark cycling glasses: These have an anti fog finish and are very light weight. Unsurprisingly one of our most popular cycling glasses for roadies, again with multiple lenses for different conditions.
Specialized Berm Non-Adaptalite: Specialized make a massive range of cycling glasses (or 'optics' in Specialized talk), and these are one of their mountain bike specifics. The non adaptalite lenses don't shift for different conditions, but they are nigh on unbreakable, vented and sit in a moulded frame that is very light and comfortable. A trail classic.
