DooDah
Veteran
- Location
- France, now Northamptonshire
Anyone any experience of the above lenses with cycling. How quickly do they react? I am specifically looking at Oakley lenses.
Photo Chromatic Lenses
- Thread starter DooDah
- Start date
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OP
OP
DooDah
Veteran
- Location
- France, now Northamptonshire
Great thanks, i can't decide between these and two different interchangeable lenses, but i may well give them a try
jefmcg
Guru
This time of year, I'd suggest interchangeable. I got a pair of endura chromatics - which I loved and just broke :-( - but had to take them off to see properly at night in the country.
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
My other half has just got a pair of Rudy Project, she had her prescription put in them, and she thinks they are the best thing since sliced bread, I am going to get myself some.
http://www.rxsport.co.uk/products/Rudy-Project-Rydon-II-Directly-Glazed-Prescription-Sunglasses-%2d-Crystal-Gloss.html
http://www.rxsport.co.uk/products/Rudy-Project-Rydon-Sunglasses-%252d-Crystal-%7B47%7D-ImpactX-Photochromic-Clear-%28to-Grey%29.html
http://www.rxsport.co.uk/products/Rudy-Project-Rydon-II-Directly-Glazed-Prescription-Sunglasses-%2d-Crystal-Gloss.html
http://www.rxsport.co.uk/products/Rudy-Project-Rydon-Sunglasses-%252d-Crystal-%7B47%7D-ImpactX-Photochromic-Clear-%28to-Grey%29.html
andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
I use photochromic all the time, and wouldn't be without them.
When untinted (i.e indoors/at night) there's just enough tint to tell they aren't regular clear lenses, but not enough to affect night time use. There are also versions available with a base tint, so they go from mildly dark to very dark, rather than from almost completely clear to reasonably dark.
They go darker in cold weather than in the warm, and the tint doesn't fade as fast as the adverts would have you believe, so from a cycling point of view the worst problem is riding into a tunnel or heavy tree cover. In this situation it's best just to take them off or lift them up.
When untinted (i.e indoors/at night) there's just enough tint to tell they aren't regular clear lenses, but not enough to affect night time use. There are also versions available with a base tint, so they go from mildly dark to very dark, rather than from almost completely clear to reasonably dark.
They go darker in cold weather than in the warm, and the tint doesn't fade as fast as the adverts would have you believe, so from a cycling point of view the worst problem is riding into a tunnel or heavy tree cover. In this situation it's best just to take them off or lift them up.
jefmcg
Guru
Ignore me.
After following the Rudy Project links, I see that they go from 12-15% to 89%. Mine went from 22% to 33%, so no comparison.
Was going to say
I wear my Optilabs on all the FNRttC rides and they clear perfectly for great vision.
SquareDaff
Über Member
- Location
- Doncaster, South Yorkshire
I've got a set of Oakley's. The photochromatics are great and have used them for a couple of years now. In the winter months I do just use plain clear lenses though (from about late Oct-early March) as I ride on unlit country lanes and don't want any level of tint.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I don't use them on the bike, but I've had a pair of 'sighted' glasses glazed with photochromatic. They will darken outside, even under cloud, depending upon UV. When inside or indeed in a car, then they will lighten. They can take a minute or two to respond, especially when going indoors. They are great though.
OP
OP
DooDah
Veteran
- Location
- France, now Northamptonshire
Thanks for all the feedback guys, I went for some Oakleys with Photochromatic lenses today, as i managed to get them tax free plus a 10% discount (I am currently in Andorra). I will try them out on the slopes tomorrow, if they cope with sun and snow, they will be fine for cycling
andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
Mine (regular presciption glasses rather than sports) have been fine on the snow. Tested up to a summer on the ice shelf, under the antarctic ozone hole
Thanks for all the feedback guys, I went for some Oakleys with Photochromatic lenses today, as i managed to get them tax free plus a 10% discount (I am currently in Andorra). I will try them out on the slopes tomorrow, if they cope with sun and snow, they will be fine for cycling
How did they fare in the snow? I have a pair of Oakleys with photocromatic lenses and had a terribe time when caught in a bit of a whiteout in Chamonix. I couldn't read the gradient of the slopes which is pretty dangerous on the moguls and have sinced ditched the specs in favour of prescription Polarised lenses.
Not used them when cycling yet but hoping they'll be an improvement there too. The problem I found with photochromatics was the relatively slow time it takes to react to extreme changes in light. For example when riding into low level sunshine in the evening and turning into shade can leave you almost blinded for a few seconds.
OP
OP
DooDah
Veteran
- Location
- France, now Northamptonshire
They were absolutely fine in the snow and they changed colour pretty quickly too. I think they will be excellent for cycling.