There is something supremely Fantastic about a precisely manicured set of sunglasses, particularly when they’re not being used for their intended purpose. Certainly, there are times when circumstance offer no alternative but to actually look through them, but for the most part, it’s a bit pedestrian to use sunglasses for seeing through.
I’ve been obsessed with sunglasses since I was a kid; photos of the Smallest Frank Imaginable feature sunglasses in close proximity, usually perched atop my head of wavy brown hair and rarely anywhere near my eyes. As an athlete, sunglasses have never been far adrift, whether in skiing or cycling, and – in all seriousness – for good reason: eyes are fragile things that should be protected.
Nevertheless, whenever any kind of effort is required, I quickly find myself moving the eyeglasses away from my eyes in an almost claustrophobic panic, and it wasn’t until my most recent ride up Haleakala in my 30th year of sport that the reason for this occurred to me. As athletes, we are hugely dependent on our vision to gauge our effort.
Flying by V-Meter only, our vision offers a constant feedback loop to how near the Man with the Hammer has wandered, and how sharp his blow might be. As we approach sustained effort at or above aerobic threshold, one of the early signs of Diminishing V Returns is the flushing of blood from our cheeks followed closely by the tunneling of our vision. Color is desaturated, then the sides box in a bit, then things get a bit narrow and blurry, and after that the deterioration is not normally recalled in any degree of clarity.
It struck me like a bolt from Merckx’s Crankset: when my vision starts to go, I tear away my sunglasses in order to gauge my effort without the abstraction of the lens. So long as I ride within myself, the shades happily cover my eyes; when I am at my limit, they come off and pop onto the helmet. I used to blame claustrophobia, now I realize it is a matter of gaining an unobstructed view on the V-Meter.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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Alas I wear prescription eyewear so it is never perched on helmet or cap for me... unless I am resting my eyes at the end of a ride. I will also admit that Rule #37 doesn't really work for prescriptio eyewear, but I am guessing that the over the helmet straps thinking is related to facilitating the eyewear perching.
@all,
When discussing which eyewear is the best I think it's like jabbering about which bike is the best for any given person. Any given brand is going to fit different face types. I was a huge fan of Smith for a long time. Oakley's have never worked for me as cycling eyewear. Casual only.
I'm stoked by Rudy Project stuff for me personally. I think (and hope that Keepers would agree), that you should try on everything you can get your hands on, and if it looks good, buy it.
@the Engine
1. Pros have closed roads and routes laid out for them.
B. Maybe when they get into their 50s they will.
iii. Yes they do.
@PeakInTwoYears
Well, I AM from Arkansas, so my middle name is Cooter and I have a sistercousin who has reached the age of consent (12) who will be happy to oblige...
But seriously, I can't see shite when my glasses have raindrops all over them. Anybody have a solution? wiping them with my gloves just makes a mess.
@starclimber
Depends on which shades and which helmet; Bell Volt or Sweep are very secure, to the point of staying in on the cobbles - upside down or not will depend on your shades. Giro seems much less firm, based on the VMH's helmet.
@Sauterelle
@Fausto
(I'm referring to the Ray Charles at 0:10, of course.)
@Spun Up
I have Puma frames for my prescription glasses with photo chromatic lenses they go on at 5:15am and come off at 10:00pm! I sweat like a waterfall the only thing that seams to help clear the lenses during a ride is to lick your finger and wipe the spit across the lens like a windshield wiper, this also works as an anti fog treatment, but alas not for long!
Anyone got any good recommendations for keeping sweat out of the eyes? I use a Gut 'R and a Halo skull cap with a rubber strip to push the sweat to the side of the head.
@chezzie
My new Radar Locks are photo sensitive; I wore them with a headlight yesterday - and at the top of Haleakala, they were jet black. Amazing how far that technology has come. Knowing that now, I'd have forgone the clear spare lens for a polarized or iridium option.
I suspect this will be my most-used pair of Oakleys. But I still love my Jawbones - fantastic in cooler weather especially.
@wiscot
This. Just...this.
@Paul 8v
Its a great look - very Desert Fox, who despite being a Nazi was a master of the aesthetic.
@the Engine
Yes, unless your name is John Bonham, in which case you can do whatever the fuck you want while shark fishing from a balcony.
@Ron
My approach is not that complicated, really. I just don't drop them. And I was very annoyed at how flubbed that shade perching went. Very unpro. Normally its one straight move.
@DerHoggz
Yes, see my response to @Sauterelle.