Cycling Specific Prescription Sunglasses

I have been wearing prescription glasses for 30 years now, and for whatever reason have never previously owned a pair of cycling specific prescription eye wear.

Having taken delivery just over a week ago, of a pair of Rudy Project Horus frames, (Picture Right.) with fully progressive bi-focal lenses, I am now wondering why on earth I didn’t do this sooner.

I can only put it down to ignorance, and never taking the time to research what was available. I have always made do with my regular prescription glasses with clip-on sunglasses. That seemed to be my only option when I went to my local eye wear provider.

Last month I discovered Sport RX, a company in San Diego who specialize in sport eyewear and sunglasses. It had never occurred to me that the wrap-around style of lens that cycling sunglasses have could be easily made up with prescription lenses just like any other glasses. So I ordered a pair.

I spoke on the phone with Rob Tavakoli who went over my options. They had a wide range of frames available including Oakley, Nike, and all the other popular models. I chose the Rudy Project Horus frames in Grey and Anthracite. I liked the shape of these made in Italy frames. They were available in other colors, but I felt the more conservative grey was more my style.

I explained to Rob that most of my riding in South Carolina was done in extremely bright sunlight. He suggested what he called their “Win, win” lenses. So called because they are silver coated outside and so block out a lot of glare and harmful rays, but at the same time looking from the inside, out, there a lot of color contrast and clear visibility.

Above: Win Win Lenses in Oakley Flak Jacket XLJ

This is achieved with a rose/copper tint to the lens. Rob explained that with some grey or green tints, shadows blend in with the grey asphalt, and it is not so easy to pick out wet and dry patches, and bumps and potholes in the road for example.

With these lenses the colors pop, and on many of my summertime rides, because of the heat, I set out early around 6 am. just before sunrise. With these glasses I can still see clearly even in the low light.

Rob offered to send me frames to try on, but I didn’t feel this was necessary, as I gave him my helmet size, and my head measurement. The glasses fit perfectly. With my regular glasses that I have always worn, there was a lot of glare coming in all around, especially from the side. 

My previous regular glasses tended to slip down my nose, especially when I started sweating, and I end up peering over the top of the frames. These glasses being cycling specific fit firmly but comfortably on my head and don't move.

Although the frames are quite thick and go all around the lens, because they are curved and fit closer to the face, the frames are not in my line of vision if I look up, down or sideways.

One of the biggest safety aspects I have found, with my regular glasses, when I turned my head to look behind, the edge of the glasses and the frames were always right in my line of vision.

With these new glasses, when I turn my head I am looking through the lens, where it appears the corrective prescription works right around the curve to the edge. Plus there is no glare coming in the sides.

The reason I had the glasses made in no-line progressive bi-focal lenses, is because I may occasionally need to read something, or fix a flat, or make some minor adjustment to the bike. With these being bi-focal there is no need to carry a separate pair of reading glasses.

Having the very bottom edge of the lens made for close up reading, does not affect the distance vision of the rest of the lens. Riding my bike, I am leaning forward, looking up anyway.

As I started out saying, I cannot understand why I didn’t treat myself to a pair of these glasses before. Like many other cyclists, I spend money on all the right equipment. Clothes too, shoes, helmet, my comfort is important.

And yet all these years I have neglected the vision part, which is important for my eyes, my safety, and is just one more thing to make my cycling experience just that much better.

Like many aspects in life, ignorance is bliss, and I never knew what I was missing until I tried something that is a vast improvement.

Thank you Rob, and all at SportRx.

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Winter Cycling Gloves

For die hard cyclists who train right through the winter, or maybe those who commute to work each day in all kinds of weather, a proper pair of winter cycling gloves, is a must.

I recently had the opportunity to try out two pairs of five finger winter gloves made by Castelli and Louis Garneau. 

The first pair I tried were the Castelli Diluvio Deluxe Gloves. (Picture left.)

Different than the usual approach to glove making, these are designed for keeping your hands warm, not only in cold conditions but cold, wet conditions, like winter rain or sleet. 

Made from neoprene, the same material wet suits are made from. The kind used by scuba divers and surfers.

The Castelli Diluvio Deluxe gloves are constructed from 3mm neoprene. The gloves insulate in order to keep out both wind and cold temperatures, but are thin enough that the wearer can feel the brake levers and gear controls.  

The design of these gloves is somewhat unique. Most gloves when not being worn lay flat with the fingers straight. These Castelli neoprene gloves when off the hand have the fingers pre shaped and curved.

When the gloves are put on the hand, the wearer’s fingers naturally take up the position they will form when wrapped around the handlebars or brake hoods. With the fingers pre curved in this way the neoprene material on the inside of the fingers has less of a tendency to bunch up.

A textured grip on the palm (See right.) makes sure the rider’s hold on the bars remains secure at all times, even in wet conditions. The glove has a long cuff that extends about four inches up the wrist, long enough to tuck into the sleeve of a jacket. This is very important because the blood flow to the hand needs to be kept warm in order for the hands to be warm. 

Because moisture can accumulate from sweat, is a good idea to turn the gloves inside out after a ride to allow them to dry, and disperse any smell that may accumulate. The gloves need to be hand washed and air dried.

These gloves are stylish and good looking. The company’s logo graphic is on the back of the hand, along with the Castelli name. A nose wipe strip on the back of the thumb, made from a soft fleecy fabric is a useful addition.

Although few materials excel at defeating the cold as well as neoprene, this material will keep out a light drizzle, it is not completely waterproof. However, like a wetsuit which is also worn next to the skin, the more water you encounter, the warmer that the gloves become. The Castelli Diluvio Deluxe Gloves come in the color Black and in the sizes Small/Medium, Large/X-Large, and XX-Large.

The second pair of gloves I tried were the Louis Garneau LG Shield Gloves. (Picture left.)

I am told that of Garneau's five-finger gloves, these are the warmest, and offer protection from wind, rain, sleet, and snow.

Unlike the Castelli neoprene gloves that are made from a single layer, the Garneau Shield Glove retains warmth by using layers of different materials.

This is accomplished by combining a 3M Drytex lining with varying thicknesses of Thinsulate interlining. There is more insulation layers around the fingers and less at the palm, which makes sense.

The exterior of the gloves is constructed of Garneau's Breathable Twillwave with a fully waterproof and breathable Hipora membrane.

There is a small ventilation panel in the middle of the palm (Pic. Right.) designed to allow sweat to evaporate.

A Faux Leather Amara palm, which fully extends inside all fingers and thumb, has strategically-placed foam padding at the base of the palm.

This glove has a soft nose wipe on the back of the thumb, and a Velcro tab to adjust the wrist closure for a snug fit. (See picture right.)

The gloves are warm and comfortable, and provide a good grip. Reflective piping on the back of the glove, (See above left.) provides some added visibility, when giving hand signals in the dark.

The Garneau LG Shield Gloves come in sizes Small through XX-Large and comes in a nice shade of black.

Both pairs of gloves are excelent quality, and performed well, although I did not get to try either in extreme wet conditions. Of the two I would slightly favor the Luis Garneau gloves, but for no reason other than they had a more familiar feel.

Note: After you click on the links to Evan’s Cycles at the beginning of each separate review, the glove prices can be set to your local currency at the top of each page.

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Black shorts and retro style jerseys

There has been cycle racing almost as long as there have been bicycles. In the beginning bicycles were handmade and were expensive, cycling and cycle racing was initially a sport for wealthy young men. However, in the late 1800s the safety bicycle was invented, and soon mass production lowered the price, and made the bicycle available to the working classes.

Prior to the invention of the bicycle the working man could only travel as far as he could walk, he had no form of personal transport. The bicycle set the working man free, to travel and seek work outside his immediate area. It also set him free to travel outside the cities and into the surrounding countryside at the weekends.

All over Europe cycling and cycle racing became the sport of choice among the working classes. Cycle races were held on Sundays, after all working people had to work the rest of the week, which included Saturdays back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Sunday was for many their only day off.

Cyclists wore black, and especially black shorts, both out of respect, and so as not to offend those who attended church on Sundays. This tradition later became a rule of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) which is the world governing body for the sport of cycle racing.

For 100 years, racing cyclist both amateur and professional wore black shorts. It was both a rule and a tradition. Sometime in the 1980s that changed when the UCI allowed professional racing cyclists to wear different color shorts. This came about because professional teams are now often financed by multiple sponsors, and there was a need for more room for advertising on both the jersey and shorts.

Also technology and the modern fabrics that cycling clothing is now made from, lends itself to the printing of graphics and sponsors logos. In the old days jerseys were made of wool and the sponsor’s name was embroidered on.

So what does the casual cyclist wear for a non racing weekend ride. Many cycling clubs have their own matching jerseys and shorts, styled after the pro’s kit with the club sponsors name and logo. For others there a still plenty of plain black shorts that is still a good choice as it can be worn with practically any color top.

One interesting alternative is produced by Solo, a company from New Zealand that now has a worldwide distribution network in place. Solo produces very high quality “Retro” style cycling jerseys that are designed after the style of those worn by the Professional cyclists of the 1950s through the 1970s. The jerseys are not replica jerseys, and do not represent actual teams of yester-year; but rather are unique designs inspired by retro jerseys. 

Solo jerseys are a high quality garment and the price reflects this. Although the design is retro, the fabric is modern with the same easy care and sweat wicking qualities of any modern cycling jersey. The colors and designs are screen printed on, which makes them permanent and non fade.

Knitted collars and cuffs are a nice retro touch, and the jerseys have three rear pockets as is standard with most cycling jerseys, plus they have an extra zippered pocket for keys, money, etc. There is an elastic gripper strip sewn around the inside bottom edge of the jersey, that stops it riding up, and supports a load if the pockets a filled with food and tools for a long trip.

The 1950s to 1970s was an era when pro cyclists often had a single sponsor. Sponsors names had to be embroidered on, and designs created by sewing different color fabric together. The results were simple, but powerful designs which demonstrated less is more. Solo have done a fine job of capturing the feel of these designs. And of course the jerseys look best when worn with black shorts because that was what the pros wore back in the day.

Footnote: A poor man's sport

I recently wrote the above article as a product review for Answers.com. I reposted it here because I thought you might find the history of black shorts interesting, as well as helping the good people at Solo who are supporters of this blog.

A few weeks back when I wrote another article, I mentioned the slump in bicycle sales in the late 1950s and the 1960s due to working class people buying cars for the first time. One reader could not understand why that would affect sales of racing bikes.

Cycling, and cycle racing in the UK and the rest of Europe in the 1950s and before, was not like it is today. And it was nothing like the cycling scene as it is in the US today. Low income working class people rode bicycles as transport, it was how they got to work each day. A few raced on Sundays, but it was more a social thing, than a fitness thing like today.

Many owned one bike that they put mudguards on and rode to work on it all week.

On a Sunday they would ride to a race, (In the UK that would be a time-trial.) carrying their best wheels with tubular tires. (Picture left.)

The mudguards would be removed, best wheels would go in and they would race.

After the event the mudguards went back on, etc., and they would ride home. Many did no further training, other than ride to work and everywhere else.

Middle class people with a higher income, owned and drove motors cars, they did not exercise, or belong to Cycling Clubs. When the income of the working classes improved, they also bought motor cars and didn’t exercise, so they gave up cycling and cycle racing.

For many Cycling was never seen as exercise, it was what people did out of necessity. Joining a Cycling Club and racing on the weekends was a social outlet. Racing was easy because people were naturally fit.

It wasn’t until the US fitness craze of the 1970s, that sparked a second bicycle boom. Today, racing bicycle equipment is high tech and super expensive, low income people do not buy it. Cycle racing is no longer a poor man’s sport, and never will be again.

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Retro style jerseys

A couple of weeks ago I received and email from Solo Cycling Clothing, a company from New Zealand that in April this year opened up a new branch in the US. They offered to send me a jersey to try out and review it here.

I am quite picky when it comes to reviewing products and I often turn down such offers; however, this one caught my attention because these jerseys were retro style, designed after those worn by pro riders from the 1950s through the 1970s.

This was my era, the period when I raced, when shorts only came in black, and jerseys were simple, tasteful designs, with a team name and that was it.

Paul Mason the founder of Solo said the company was born out dissatisfaction with the style of contemporary cycle clothing. He states,

“While I had a deep respect for modern pro-cyclists, I didn’t particularly admire the ‘moving billboard’ look of modern team kit.

What I did love was the clothing worn by the pro-riders of the 1950's - 1970's. These were simple and powerful designs which demonstrated that less is more.

Talking with my friends and cycling acquaintances made me realize there were other cyclists who felt the same.”

In certain cycling circles today it is frowned on to wear the modern team kit. My feelings are if a guy, or girl for that matter, is 20 or 30 something and looks like a pro, they can carry it off.

But if the cyclist has a middle age spread, and let’s face it many of us do, to be decked out in full team regalia with matching tops and bottoms is not always a pretty sight. Especially when sporting hairy legs, and a helmet with a sun-vizor.

My jersey arrived last week, it was a blue and black St. Neith design. (Picture left.)

Unfortunately I had ordered a Medium size, when I should have gone for the Large.

Not only was it too tight, it was too short and I had to struggle to reach the back pockets.

However, all was not lost; my wife who is now my regular riding partner found that it fitted her perfectly.

We did a longish ride of 40 plus miles last Sunday, and one of the first things my wife remarked on was the fact that the jersey didn’t ride up like her other jersey did. This was due to a rubber gripper strip that is sewn inside the bottom edge of the jersey. (Picture below.)

I’m sure this strip will also support the jersey when the pockets are fully loaded. I prefer to carry all I need on a long ride in my jersey pockets rather than have miscellaneous bags attached to my bike.

These jerseys, although retro in style, are made with the modern materials that wick sweat, keep you cool, and are easy to wash after a ride. An extremely well made product, and the price reflects this.

A nice retro touch is the knitted collar and sleeve cuffs. An extra zippered pocket on the right side rear is handy for money, keys and other stuff you don’t want to drop while pulling some other item from your pockets.

The jerseys are not replica jerseys, and do not represent actual teams of yester-year; but rather are unique designs inspired by retro jerseys. My wife loves the one Solo sent me, and will keep it. I am impressed enough that I will buy another in my size.

The US company's website is http://www.solocycleclothing.com/

The New Zealand company is http://www.solocc.com/

                       

A handy little road bike mirror

Being somewhat of an old skool purist, I am not inclined to hang a bunch of dorky shit on my bike.

However, I recently came across this little rear view mirror that fits in the end of the handlebars.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I would say this would rank at least an 8.5 on the acceptable side of dorkiness, but after using it for about a week, this mirror’s practicality far outweighs the small sacrifice to the pure aesthetics of my bicycle.

For years I have always felt that a rear view mirror on a road bike, ridden by an experienced rider, was totally unnecessary. To see what was behind me, I would simply turn my head.

However, I am no longer as young as my mind thinks I am. I am not as flexible; more important my eyesight is not what it used to be.

I need prescription glasses to see, and when I turn my head I am looking out of the side of my glasses and not through the lenses. The result is that everything in the distance is a blur.

For some time now I have relied on my ears to tell me if a car is passing and this still works well, but the car has to be pretty close, and often the noise of traffic in the opposing lane makes it hard to distinguish a car behind.

This rear view mirror gives me a visual check as to what is going on. If there is nothing coming I am riding about a third of the way out into the lane.

On seeing a car approach from the rear I move over to the right. It seems to me that drivers, having seen me out in the lane, will aim to pass me where I was originally, thereby giving me more room. Other cars following tend to play follow the leader and also swing wide.

Yesterday on my ride I rode about a two mile stretch on a normally busy road, and nothing came past me. It was a great feeling of freedom, to be out there on the smoothest part of the road, knowing it made no difference to other road users, as there was no one behind me.

Being out in the lane means that I am more visible to those ahead of me; people about to make a left turn across in front of me, and those waiting to pull out from side streets and driveways. It is these hazards that come from those in front of a cyclist that are still the biggest threat.

Which brings me to another point; having just got this mirror, like a kid with a new toy I had to be careful I was not paying more attention to my rear, than to what was going on ahead.

I should also point out that it is still a good idea to look over your shoulder and give a hand signal when changing lanes to make a left turn. The looking behind you is a signal in itself that you are about to do something.

From a design standpoint, I can see that the makers of this mirror have gone for an aerodynamic look.

The ball that allows adjustment is inside the rubber plug that fits in the handlebar, therefore the plastic housing could have been at least 5/8 inch (1.6 cm.) shorter.

Also, I would have liked to see the convex mirror round instead of egg shaped. (Giving a less distorted image.)

In my view the designers in an attempt to make this less dorky, have somehow increased its dorkiness; these changes would definitely make it more practical. There is a tendency to bump it with your leg when dismounting; not that this is a big deal, it is easily adjustable.

This mirror called “The Roadie” is available from CycleAware for $20 plus shipping.

I must add that I was not paid for this endorsement; I just thought this could be a product that you might find useful.