Conference noted::bicycle

<    Does anyone out there know of any cycling eyewear that works with
<    regular glasses?  

I may be wrong but I believe that Rhode Gear glasses work, that is
if they are still available (boy are they ugly though).

    My wife had prescription sunglasses made.  There are different
    sport models now available.  It probably saved her a half-dozen
    flats!
    
    steve

>Note 991.0                Cycling eyewear with glasses?                2 replies
>CCYLON::SCHULDT "Larry Schuldt - WA9TAH"              4 lines   8-FEB-1989 15:06
>    regular glasses?  I don't want to have to buy contacts, and there
>    must be someone out there who has found a solution to the cycling
>    eyewear/prescription glasses problem!
    
    If you do find the solution please post it here.  A lot of people
    have resisted the conversion and spent a lot of denero in the process.
    Prescription sun glasses aren't the answer since you need several
    shades for different types of days (in addition to a clear pair
    that you don't mind getting all bugged up) and then what happens
    when you get to ski....you need another type.  I've been around
    and around on this for years and finally switched two years ago.
    One set of contacts cost about $100 and lasts about two years.
    I have purchased at least six pairs of sun glasses in the last
    two years that would have cost about $100/pr. if they were
    prescription.  If cost is the determining factor....go with contacts.
    I think there great.  Last summer I used them with my Diving Mask
    and actually saw the bottom for the first time in years.  If your
    active outdoors you should give them a try.  
    				
    						Jerry
    						Jerry
    

I was thinking about getting eyeglasses that are small enough to fit UNDER my 
Oakley Factory Pilots.  I would think that small round wire frames might work. 
I just wonder whether having two ear pieces would be uncomfortable.  I don't 
like the idea of contacts...

Kevin

    My SO has this sunglasses type shield thing that looks like a modified
    snorkeling mask.  It fits right over his glasses.  We got it at
    our local drug store.  We jsut got the Nashbar or Performance catalog
    and he mentioned seeing something similar in it.  I'll check into
    it tonight.
    
    	-Nancy

    I have   prescription  photo-gray  (sun-sensitive)  aviator  style
    glasses.  They keep the bugs out and are quite good at adapting to
    the amount of light. They don't get quite as clear as I'd like for
    riding at night, but they're good enough, and I don't do that much
    night riding anyway.

--David

    RAAM and the UMCA promote (if that's the right word) "Suspension
    Eyeware" (a brand name) - supposed to be very comfortable for long
    rides.  I've seen pictures, that's all.  I'd sure like to know if
    they could be adapted to use with prescription glasses.
    
    -john

    
    	I've worn glasses for quite a while and finally did make the
    'plunge' for contacts.  Aside from the advantage of needing only
    one pair of specs (Oakleys, etc.) they do provide better peripheral
    vision (which I noticed in other sports and is especially helpful
    in traffic).
    
    	Unfortunately, I find that I HAVE to have an eye buffer with
    them (cycling 'wind' immediately dries them out if I don't use some
    type of eyewear).
    
    MAB

    The sunglass/shield thing I talked about in my reply .5 can be found
    in the Nashbar catalogue.  Page 16 of the Early Spring '89 catalogue.
    Nashbar calls them "Allarounds".  Only $7.49.
    
    	-Nancy

    I put the Rhode Gear sunglasses mentioned in .1 over my glasses.
    Then I saw some in Lab Safety Supply catalog that looked amazingly
    like the Rhode Gear for only about $5, and available in clear and
    yellow (good on overcast days) as well as dark.  When they came
    the only apparent difference is in the shape of the vent slots.
    
    paul

I got a pair of Solar Shields sunglasses that fit over 
regular glasses at Classic Eyes in the Pheasant Lane Mall, Nashua, NH.  They
fit completely over your reg. glasses, and have full side shades - they are 
molded out of polystyrene - hard, fairly weak, easily scratched - but they
are around $14 - can't go too far wrong.  I plan to use them for skiing,
and maybe biking, and if fogging is a problem, I'll drill some 1/4" holes
in the side shields.  They are also sold in Littleton, MA, at the drugstore
in the Donalan's shopping center, but they are $20.  They are 100% UV blocking,
and come in Amber, Clear, Purple and a few other colors.  


Steve

    Well, I finally got a pair of the Nashbar All-arounds.  Definitely
    not as cool a the iridium Blades, probably pretty soft (scratch
    easily)...I don't know for sure, I haven't scratched them yet.  Anyway,
    they do fit fine over my regular glasses, and at the price of them,
    I can afford to replace them if they get scratched and I won't cry
    if I lose them.  I tried them out on a ride yesterday, they seem
    to do the job!

    
    	Rather than start a new note on contacts I thought I'd post 
    this here.  Two weeks ago I started wearing *disposable* contact
    lenses.  Any of you who couldn't wear contacts before because of discomfort
    should definately try these puppies out.  I could keep my old contacts
    in for up to a week before they began to feel like a my bike socks
    after a century ride, but with these lenses the day I take them out
    to dispose of them (1 week) they still feel as comfortable or better
    than the first few days of my old extended wear lenses.  Also, these
    lenses aren't as "light gatehering" as the others so riding in the
    sun is also more pleasureable, so if discomfort was one of your
    previous reason's for not trying contacts, think again.  You'll
    then be able to wear any kind of eye protection that *normal*
    people wear and hardly even realize you have contacts on...I can't
    wait to try these out under ski goggles....*see* ya out there.
    					_Jerry

    
    What are the costs and care needs of the disposable lenses?
    
    -john

    	Jerry,
    
    	Let me get this straight - You've been wearing puppies
    	in your eyes?!?!?
    
    	Scott 8-)>

>>    What are the costs and care needs of the disposable lenses?
  
When my wife was thinking about getting them this year she was looking at about
$120 for a 6 month supply. This included the exam at the beginning of the 6
months. She was offered a free set for a week but found she can't use them due
to the fact she sleeps with her eyes open just a little bit and this causes her
lenses to dry out. Most places will give you a trial pair for free.

Tom

	So contacts actually act as light gatherers?!?  I've noticed that
	I become *much* more sensitive to light with my contacts on, but
	never really know *why*.  

	By the way, I got some biking glasses from Nashbar that I really 
	like.  They're the wrap-around type w/no frames, just a nose
	piece.  They've also got a sweat-catching, wind-stopping piece of
	foam across the brow, and a strap for around your head.  Finally,
	my contacts don't dry out and become uncomfortable when I ride!
	I got them for only $23.  I think they're still in the most recent
	catalog.

	Sue 

    
    re:	Cost and care:
    
    	Tom got it right....you get to wear them free for a week (although
    I recall seeing an add that stated a *month* not long ago).  The
    initial cost can be a bit staggering because of the Doctors appt.
    but it gets rolled into *free* quarterly eye exams since they have
    to check your eyes every three months before they'll give you a new
    supply of lenses...you only pay for the first exam as you would if
    you bought regular contacts so it comes out to about $300 for an
    entire year which if you consider regular lenses, exam, replacement
    insurance on the leses (loss, defect, etc.) *and* cleaning solutions,
    and enzymes (use to cost me about $5.00/wk...no joke) they really
    are *cheaper*.....but as I stated earlier, cost is not the prime
    consideration....comfort is what really matters and they seem to
    have gotten it right this time with these new puppies.
    
re:
    >>	Let me get this straight - You've been wearing puppies
    >>	in your eyes?!?!?

    	Scott - Ever hear of seeing eye dogs :-)
    
    					_Jerry

     Has anyone had any experience with or know of anyone who has tried
    Suspension Eyewear? Basically it's eyeglasses and ear pieces held in
    place with fishing line. I read an article in "Sports Illustrated" but,
    haven't seen any in use, and was hoping for user input.
    
    RE .7 these are prescription glasses
    
    Joe

    I've seen several people use susp. eyewear.  They liked them.
    
    They were all UMCA types.  I haven't seen any 2 hr athletes use them.
    
    ed

    Ed,
    
     Do the people you know with susp. eyewear wear the glasses off the
    bike?  How do they like the comfort then? I'm interested in this type
    of eyewear not because I'm a distance rider but, because I dislike
    glasses and cannot wear contacts.
    
    Joe
    

    Ahh, I see the problem.  As I recall, they do wear them off the bike
    if they need glasses.  If they just wore them as eye protection, they
    tend to remove them shortly after dismounting.
    
    ed
    (I walked by their office in Fountain Valley just last week...)

Could someone explain this concept with a little bit more detail?

Thanks,
Kristine

    re: greater detail.
    
    The suspension eyewear consists of 2 ear pieces where the ear's piece
    of plastic has the usual semicircle that goes behind the ear
    and a very little more of a loop that goes in front and then a little
    hole or two.  The eyepieces are rather ordinary except that they have
    no hinges.  In the upper corners near the eyebrows are a pair of holes,
    one on each side, there is a nylon monofilament from these holes to
    the respective ear piece.  A bit further down on the side of the lens,
    near the cheeks, is another hole, again on each side.  there is another
    nylon monofilament from these holes to the respective ear pieces.
    
    The view from the side is that there are glasses perched on the front
    of the face until you get close enough to see the nylon mono., then you
    see a triangle formed by the two nylon mono. lines and the glasses.
    
    Did that make sense?
    
    ed

Yes, thanks for the info. What a quick response. I can picture what you are 
talking about.  I guess they might be more comfortable.

Kristine

    
    They look like they might be more comfortable.  I saw them worn
    by the 1990 RAAM Midwest Open winner (so that's one of Ed's sightings,
    too) - including at the awards banquet (so not just while biking).
    
    A problem with eyewear for long, long distances is the pressure on
    the nose.  That is the problem this scheme addresses, I guess.
    
    Another problem, though, with long, long distances is eye-fatigue
    from glare.  Specifically, imagine crossing the Arizona or California
    desert in the summer.  I should think you'd want to attack side-glare,
    so you'd need something wrap-around.  Suspension eyewear wouldn't help,
    would it?
    
    -john

    
     Thanks for the info. My interest is strictly in comfort off the bike,
    when I ride I wear wrap around sunglasses so glare isn't an issue.
    
    Joe