How will an unsuitable pair of sunglasses affect one’s ride? An uncomfortable distraction on your face can’t be good. On the flip side, how will the perfect pair of eyewear improve your ride? We’re not just talking about speed and time, we’re talking about pleasure. Not having to think or worry about your equipment while riding is a great thing and a confidence booster. This is why we measure everything when developing the models we recommend for road cycling — because details matter. We think about helmet interferences, head position, airflow, road glare and many additional factors to make sure that our sunglasses work for the ride. We use our experience and extensive knowledge of the sport to produce eyewear that will work so well you won’t know you’re wearing it.

FITTING SUNGLASSES FOR ROAD CYCLING

AIRFLOW — your glasses should have a bit of breathing room, but not so much that the wind gets in your eyes
Unless you are forced to stop a lot, ride in exceptionally cold weather, or spend your time climbing up ridiculously steep roads, you are unlikely to run into the fogging problems that are common for mountain bikers. There is also less debris to worry about when road riding versus mountain biking. One the flip side, road riding is much faster, so you need to protect against faster winds. Make sure you find a lens and frame combination that provides some airflow, but no so much that your eyes will water at high speeds.

LENS COVERAGE — find a lens that’s big enough to protect against wind as well as peripheral light
On a bright day, roadies encounter a lot of reflected light. This compounds the importance of a large lens—protect against wind as well as bright, harmful light.

COMFORT — you want to forget you’re wearing them
Are they comfy? Now that you have your helmet on, are they still comfy? Some people like the customizing options such as adjustable nose pads that are included on some frames.

VISIBLE LIGHT TRANSMISSION — location, light conditions, weather, and duration of your ride should all be considered before selecting the appropriate lenses
This is simply how light or dark a lens is. All of our lenses are shatterproof and block 100% of the UV they encounter, so you can pick a lens shade without concern of compromised protection. Please consider where you will be riding. If you’re likely to encounter a mixed bag of light conditions, or if you head out no matter what the weather, you might be best to consider a Photochromic pair that adjusts to the light conditions automatically. If you want a couple of different colour options, perhaps an Interchangeable pair will serve you best.

HELMET COMPATIBILITY — make sure they work with your helmet
Once your wearing your helmet, try to find a pair of glasses that won’t give you interference. Straps and other retention devices are things to work around. Airflow is also affected once your helmet is on, so try to make sure that your glasses have adequate breathing room when worn with a helmet.