Cycling Glasses - where to try

[YMFB]

During Covid I really upped my cycling distances and bought on line a pair of Rudy Project prescription sunglasses, which are ok.

As I’m diabetic I have 2 year eye tests and this is due shortly. I think I’d like a pair of photochromic wraparound style cycling glasses and wondered if anyone has experience of a high st supplier where different styles and shapes can be tried?

 

[vickster]

Sunglass Hut perhaps? Boots? They do Oakley
Independent opticians?

Which High St can you access? If in London, there'll be shops or concessions for different brands in places like Covent Garden as well as posh opticians.
Have you looked for local stockists on the brand websites?
There's Optilabs near Croydon, plenty of people like them (personally although I find them meh!)
RxSport have a showroom near Peterborough
https://www.rxsport.co.uk/showroom/
Extreme-Eyewear near York
https://www.extreme-eyewear.co.uk/showroom/

There's a cycle show in NEC Birmingham in March, might be a glasses stand there

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I just asked at my local optician's when I went for an eye test

They found several possibilities for prescription lens
some had just proper lens and some had normal curved glass and then prescription inserts behind them - which apparently some people are fine with but others can;t cope with or find annoying

worth asking - but watch the price!!

 

[YMFB]

Sunglass Hut perhaps? Boots? They do Oakley
Independent opticians?

Which High St can you access? If in London, there'll be shops or concessions for different brands in places like Covent Garden as well as posh opticians.
Have you looked for local stockists on the brand websites?
There's Optilabs near Croydon, plenty of people like them (personally although I find them meh!)
RxSport have a showroom near Peterborough
https://www.rxsport.co.uk/showroom/
Extreme-Eyewear near York
https://www.extreme-eyewear.co.uk/showroom/

There's a cycle show in NEC Birmingham in March, might be a glasses stand there

Thanks,

I’m in S. Wilts, but Bath, Southampton, Bristol and Swindon are available in that order of preference.

 

[Sharky]

I was tempted in Specsavers, to buy a pair of sporty looking, wrap round glasses, with prescription, reactolite lens.

Looked great, but we're absolutely useless for cycling. The frames were too thick, especially when on drops and sight was blocked by the top of the frames.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I was tempted in Specsavers, to buy a pair of sporty looking, wrap round glasses, with prescription, reactolite lens.

Looked great, but we're absolutely useless for cycling. The frames were too thick, especially when on drops and sight was blocked by the top of the frames.

Good point - something to look out for

probably also applies to glasses with inserts - you need to work out where you need to look through the lens!

 

[vickster]

Thanks,

I’m in S. Wilts, but Bath, Southampton, Bristol and Swindon are available in that order of preference.

You'll likely just have to Google/check each manufacturer site for retailers. Look at RxSport and see which frames you like the look of and then see if you can try anywhere
I've used Oakley Bottle rocket prescription (single vision) Transitions for years (around £350 a pair these days)

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

WHen I was looking for some I decided that I didn;t need to have the varifocals on them

I can read the ebike controller fine with the upper part of my glasses

that would save a bit and extend the possibilities and practicalities

 

[vickster]

WHen I was looking for some I decided that I didn;t need to have the varifocals on them

I can read the ebike controller fine with the upper part of my glasses

that would save a bit and extend the possibilities and practicalities

OP doesn't mention varifocals that I can see

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

OP doesn't mention varifocals that I can see

No - just a point I thought might help others that might be reading

 

[T4tomo]

There's a cycle show in NEC Birmingham in March, might be a glasses stand there

That's where I tried mine on so I knew what frames fitted / suited
https://sportsglasses.online/
and then ordered online afterwards.

 

[YMFB]

WHen I was looking for some I decided that I didn;t need to have the varifocals on them

I can read the ebike controller fine with the upper part of my glasses

that would save a bit and extend the possibilities and practicalities

when I bought the RX sports glasses i thought why would I need varifocals, 5 minutes into the first ride I immediately saw (or didn’t) why I should hav. A few month’s later I bought a new pair of inserts. What ever I end up doing it will definitely be with varifocals.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I also have a problem that the last things I need is something cool and trendy

an old bloke on a hybrid type ebike is never cool in the first place

so wearing trendy wrap around glasses would make me look even more of a prat

or at least - it would make me feel like I looked like that - which is worse!

 

[YMFB]

I have, nor have ever had any concern over looks or style. Function is my only interest, wrap around lenses gives much more protection from flying debris and insects than my rimless specs.

 

[YMFB]

That's where I tried mine on so I knew what frames fitted / suited
https://sportsglasses.online/
and then ordered online afterwards.

Did you wear your cycling helmet ?