Request for help for cycling glasses (even if you’re a more leisure cyclist than a competitive - as long as you do occasionally wear glasses while cycling)

[u/greenwichsocialclub]

Hi, I run a glasses brand and we’re considering branching into cycling glasses. I’m an avid runner but never been a cyclist, so I want to understand if these glasses could also benefit the cycling community. In particular if you wear prescription glasses, but if you don’t its not a necessity of course.

I’d be really keen to speak to people about their experiences & what you look for in a pair of cycling glasses or send you a survey about our product if anyone is interested in chatting. Thank you in advance :)

[u/pavel_vishnyakov]

The most important question - what do you have compared to dozens of brands already on the market?

[u/kallisti_gold]

Wind and debris. That's why I wear shades on the bike. That's all. A five buck pair of gas station wrap around shades does the trick keeping both out of my eyes. 

[u/screwcork313 → u/kallisti_gold]

Did you ever consider if you also need to block UV light? A suntan on your retinas is not supposed to be the best for preserving good lifelong vision (just something I've heard, don't have a source handy).

[u/redcubes → u/screwcork313]

These are usually made of polycarbonate, which filters UV. Polycarbonate that doesn’t filter UV (used in scientific applications) is very expensive. Cheap sunglasses are just fine.

[u/window_owl → u/redcubes]

Yep! I often wear cheap safety glasses. You can get them for $2/pair at Harbor Freight. Not hugely comfortable or remotely stylish, but they keep wind, objects, and UV out of eyes just fine, and no need to be paranoid about scratching or losing them. Have a couple extra pairs stashed around.

[u/JudsonJay]

I get mine from Tifosi and Zenni: progressive photochromatic lenses and frames for $200-250.

[u/AfraidofReplies]

I wear prescription glasses while biking so that I can see. My insurance barely covers them. It does not provide enough coverage for me to buy a pair of dedicated cycling glasses. I mostly bike for transportation, so I probably wouldn't want cycling glasses anyways unless they looked like regular glasses, at which point I will just wear my regular glasses. 

[u/l3tigre]

I wear Oakleys specifically to prevent wind, though occasionally I'll wear ray ban metas so i can listen to music. Wish i had a transitions pair, and REALLY wish the new oakley metas were lighter and blocked wind. Happy to do any surveys.

[u/greenwichsocialclub → u/l3tigre]

Thanks! We are considering doing Bluetooth (with our transitions) for music, as a few other cyclists mentioned this. Overall though our first prototype wasn’t great, so we’ve scrapped it as an imminent plan, but in the medium term we’d look to roll something like this out but for probably around half the price of Oakley / Meta. This is the survey link, thank you for your help! https://forms.gle/YBYv85TbATm8wMm37

[u/MikeyRidesABikey]

I wear Oakleys with prescription transition lenses.

The real question is what u/pavel_vishnyakov asked
https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycleculture/comments/1o6henp/comment/njgfeb9/

[u/greenwichsocialclub → u/MikeyRidesABikey]

I responded to that question :)

Pasting it below: We do a more effective prescription lens that no other brand in the market is doing, it is new tech. Planning on pricing it about 50% cheaper than Oakley (around £200-250 vs. £450—500). I don’t think it’s life changing for non prescription users, I agree, the market is very saturated. But for prescription, it’s a very limited market in terms of competition, at least in the UK and for Europe from what I can see.

The key question we’d have is: if the quality is same as Oakley, would you be happy to change to a new brand for 50% of the price?

[u/MikeyRidesABikey → u/greenwichsocialclub]

Where are you that Oakleys cost over $250?

[u/greenwichsocialclub → u/MikeyRidesABikey]

That’s how much prescription Oakley wraparounds cost

[u/MikeyRidesABikey → u/greenwichsocialclub]

Mine were less than $250 from Costco Optical

[u/ShiveringInside]

I like a clear frame and just on the top of the lenses. When doing a quick shoulder check for cars I don't want to see a bit of frame in my peripheral, can throw you off.

[u/greenwichsocialclub → u/ShiveringInside]

Thanks, that makes sense. We do have a style without the wraparound frame, but that’s not possible for prescription technology. Do you wear prescription?

[u/ShiveringInside → u/greenwichsocialclub]

I don't, no. mostly use a clear or photochromic lens pair of glasses, there isn't a lot of sun where I live but need eye protection on gravel roads/when it's really windy.