I’m looking to invest in a proper pair of sunglasses I can race and train with. In terms of comfort, getting rid of glare and…this is perhaps my number one…not having the top of the frame get in the way of me being able to see while I’m in aero…what would you guys recommend? I’ve never bothered to invest in fancy sunglasses because I figured that any old sports pair would do but I’m getting a little irritated with the ones I have now, mostly because the top of the frames get in the way of me being able to see 100% while in aero…they don’t block my vision completely but they’re a bit obtrusive. Any suggestions before I plunk down a decent amount of money? what has been worth the money for you guys?
(also, anything that makes me look like a comic book villain will obviously be considered favorably)
I just started using Oakley Split jackets and love them. Jawbones were quite large on my face, but these work very well.
For racing, I finally took the advice of another (and far better) contacts-wearing STer who doesn’t race with sunglasses, and went without starting last year. No issues, and I’m pretty light-sensitive. Don’t have to worry about putting them on, taking my aero helmet off without sending the glasses flying, seeing through sweat or being annoyed by the frame. Funny that I don’t seem to be bothered by not having sunglasses when I’m racing, as I have other more important things to focus on.
For training, I use these:
$50 at Performance. But I’m cheap and obviously not style-conscious.
I just picked up a set of Oakley Radars. I have much better field of vision than my prior pair (older Oakley - I think half jackets or something). Great vision while aero. Not sure if it has been luck or because of the glasses, but in the last 4 rides with these on, I have not had any sweat on the lenses (used to happen with the old pair quite a bit).
Also - In the past few rides I have literally had large bugs (I think a few were bees, but can’t really be sure) bounce right off of the lenses. Glad those didn’t jack me in the eye.
I have the black glasses with the grey lense. I also have a second lens - the Blue Iridium - for early rides/lower light.
I too wear the Performance Radial II’s, but I wear them with the Rx adaptor (small glasses that replace the nose piece and effectively make them prescription sunglasses).
They fit my face tightly enough that I don’t see them when I look up (from the aero position). Unfortunately, after I start sweating like a sprinkler system they can slip a bit, and then I do see them. I can fix this by strapping them on. (I use one of the sliding-bead type pt straps.) This is obviously no big deal when training, as I can afford the time to put them on. It is also no big deal for my racing, since I do duathlons and can put them on before the first run and forget about them. I imagine it would cost a couple of seconds, however, between a swim and a run.
I wear Tifosi and i love them. I can see through them with no problem when i’m areo. They were like 60 bucks
Joe doe you find good visibility while aero? I have been a contacts guy most of my life ONLY with sweat activities, but this year my dry eyes finally said no. Currently in a real debacle trying to have vision while aero, hence riding the trainer is a big plus right now.
I think it’s greatly dependent on how much drop you run, but I’m in the middle of the road. 10cm, but I do have to pull my head back a bit and looking over the tops of the glasses basically makes me a ‘ghost rider’. Can you give me a feel for how you fare with TT positions as far as really aggressive or upright please? Thanks
I think if I had to sum up my biggest concern it’s ending up in a position where I can’t utilize my Rx inserts…make sense? Is there a gap between the top of your Rx insert and the top of the frame?
x2 - Tiffosi glasses they come with three different lens and the slits help with fogging/ventilation.
Oakley Radar XL. Best on the planet when in the aero position. Compared to a regular Radar, the XL is a few mm taller… so it keeps the lens in the right place when you’re low n’ aero.
Not technically sunglasses, but I went with a helmet screen to solve the same issue. LG has this option, don’t know about other manufacturers.
Saves putting sunglasses on in T1 also, and I don’t wear them for the run anyway.
I’m not currently real aggressive on the aero position (arm pads are lower than seat, but not by a great deal). (I also am currently on a road bike with shorty bars for the aero position. I have a Felt B14 on order, and should be getting it and starting to dial in that fit any day now.) I am not sure that they will make a great deal of difference as far as the glasses are concerned, however, since I am successfully using the extreme edge of looking up occassionally now.
What probably will make more of a difference is the shape of your face and how the glasses fit and tilt as regards to your ears and eyebrow ridge. For example, while I can’t see them when I look up, I see under them when I look down (which is actually excellent for me, since I am in the bifocal years and can’t read the smaller Garmin/Cateye dispays through my prescription, but can below my prescription).
I did have the issue you are mentioning of looking over the inserts when the glasses would slip from sweat. I don’t have the issue when they are tight to my face, either from initially putting them on, pushing them back into place, or, as I’ve finally settled on, cinching them into place.
Just got Jawbones with transition lenses. Love them!
For racing, I finally took the advice of another (and far better) contacts-wearing STer who doesn’t race with sunglasses, and went without starting last year. No issues, and I’m pretty light-sensitive. Don’t have to worry about putting them on, taking my aero helmet off without sending the glasses flying, seeing through sweat or being annoyed by the frame. Funny that I don’t seem to be bothered by not having sunglasses when I’m racing, as I have other more important things to focus on.
Do you race the whole day in your contacts? If so, that’s a really bad idea. REALLY bad. Especially swimming in them. My sister is an ophthalmologist, and she basically had a fit when I told her how many people race in contacts. Basically, 99% of all soft-contacts are hydrophilic. So they will suck up water - and all of the bacteria in it - and then they just sit on your eye, basically allowing that bacteria to fester right on top of your eye. Racing in contacts - and without glasses - is a terrible idea. You put your eyes at risk from just about every single different possible hazard there is, plus more if you are doing it with contacts in.
EDIT: to answer the original question, the Jawbones are the best for riding. I think the FlakJackets are better for running, but if I had to pick one pair, it’d be the Jawbones.
I really like the Smith Optics Pivlock V90 as they are frame less and thus give you no “blockage” when in your aero position.
H
Giro Havic
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Your sister would be appalled at how many triathletes and competitive swimmers swim with contacts in!
(I am not saying it is the correct thing to do, just reality)
Myself, I have done it for years. The water I am swimming in never, and I mean never, comes in contact with my eye.
Of course, I wear goggles that do not leak.
Do you race the whole day in your contacts? If so, that’s a really bad idea. REALLY bad. Especially swimming in them. My sister is an ophthalmologist, and she basically had a fit when I told her how many people race in contacts. Basically, 99% of all soft-contacts are hydrophilic. So they will suck up water - and all of the bacteria in it - and then they just sit on your eye, basically allowing that bacteria to fester right on top of your eye. Racing in contacts - and without glasses - is a terrible idea. You put your eyes at risk from just about every single different possible hazard there is, plus more if you are doing it with contacts in.
I’m now 52, and I’ve had contacts since I was about 25. I do everything in them (except sleep, and there was a while in the 90s when I wore them 24/7 for literally months at a time). My Speedo Sprint cheapo goggles seem to do the trick in keeping water out, but occasionally I get pool water in them (and even lake water at the New Jersey Triathlon, for the first time ever). Been doing triathlons since about 1985-6, and I’ve never had any issues with my contact lens (I only wear one, as I’m uncorrectable 20/300 in the other eye) or my eye health. Maybe I’m just lucky, but I figure the odds on getting two separate eye injuries in one lifetime are pretty long.
I’ve had them come out in bike races twice (while wearing sunglasses), but that was because I found that I wasn’t blinking during the race. Not an issue in a triathlon.
There’s a limit to how much water a contact lens can absorb, and if your lens has been soaking all night, I’m guessing it’s 100% saturated. Keeping hydrated will keep the lens hydrated, so I don’t see it sucking up pond/lake/ocean water very much.
If I were to do other than sprint triathlons and the occasionaly Oly, I’d wear glasses on the bike/run.
Your sister would be appalled at how many triathletes and competitive swimmers swim with contacts in!
(I am not saying it is the correct thing to do, just reality)
Myself, I have done it for years. The water I am swimming in never, and I mean never, comes in contact with my eye.
Of course, I wear goggles that do not leak.
She is. I think she’s gonna start handing out her card at local races. The thing is, even if you goggles don’t leak, think about the fray at mass start races. My goggles don’t leak either, until I get hit in the face… There are several good prescription goggle options. It’s worth looking into. It would stink to have to evaluate during a race “do I stop in T1 and try to take my contacts out” or “do I potentially risk the health of my eye.”
M Frame. It’s just great all around.
It’s your choice, obviously. I’m just telling you what someone (though it’s actually everyone in the Yale Eye Center, where my sister works) who spends all day taking care of people’s eyes would say. I.e., your contacts are not 100% saturated, they will still absorb bacteria, and that you are still playing with fire. Of course, she’s probably overly cautious because of what she’s sees every day. But the bottom line is that you are - medically - taking a risk. People take risks all the time. And if you’re okay with that, that’s totally your decision. But I’m just telling what she’s told me. In other words, you don’t see them soaking up much water, but that doesn’t mean that’s anything close to the truth…
She’d also tell you, as I think you would guess, to NEVER sleep in your contacts.
They’re your eyes, do what you want with them.