Sunglasses in overcast/early morning weather?

[Plin]

I've started riding early in the morning when it's usually overcast and
my regular sunglasses are too dark. I was thinking about buying some
clear or yellow/amber lenses for this situation, for UV and bug
protection. Or maybe glasses aren't even necessary. I ride about an
hour in the morning at a clip of 16mph or so.

What do most of you guys do?

 

[Steve Koterski]

On 23 Aug 2005 13:43:35 -0700, "Plin" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I've started riding early in the morning when it's usually overcast and
>my regular sunglasses are too dark. I was thinking about buying some
>clear or yellow/amber lenses for this situation, for UV and bug
>protection. Or maybe glasses aren't even necessary. I ride about an
>hour in the morning at a clip of 16mph or so.
>
>What do most of you guys do?

Many glasses designed for cyclists come with two or three different
interchangeable lenses. You could bring as many of them on the ride as you think
you would need.

For instance, I start out with clear or yellow lenses first thing in the morning
(depending on air clarity) and then pop them out and put in the tinted ones when
the sun is fully up.

Definitely wear something, though. Many people in this newsgroup can relate
horror stories of violent encounters with large bugs. I've hit large dragonflies
before. I'd hate to think what that would do to an eye! Bugs aside, though, I
find unshielded wind blowing directly into my eyes very unconmfortable.
--
Steve Koterski
Atlanta, Georgia

"Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask
yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you and act accordingly."
-- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

 

[Plin]

I have some Rudy Project Rydon sunglasses, which only came with one set
of lenses. For what they charge, you'd think they'd include three

Anyway, what would be best for overcast conditions, yellow, amber or
clear? I guess as long as they're not too dark for gloomy weather, one
of the tinted colors would be more versatile than clear.

 

[Tom Keats]

In article <[email protected]>,
"Plin" <[email protected]> writes:
> I've started riding early in the morning when it's usually overcast and
> my regular sunglasses are too dark. I was thinking about buying some
> clear or yellow/amber lenses for this situation, for UV and bug
> protection. Or maybe glasses aren't even necessary. I ride about an
> hour in the morning at a clip of 16mph or so.
>
> What do most of you guys do?

I find when it's overcast, UV and (usually) bugs are much less
of a concern. I'm using cycling glasses w/ interchangeable
lenses (Chameleon Shields[tm], purchased from Mountain Equipment
Co-op.) I've tried the yellow lenses but didn't like the way
they filtered certain colours. So now I'm using the clear,
brown and blue smoke/mirror lenses. And I generally don't
even bother with the clear ones. I've also sometimes used
my Bushnell shooting glasses (the brighter it is, the darker
they get) but they can be too awkward to put on and take off --
especially on the fly, while wearing a helmet.


cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

 

[Pat]

"Plin" <: I have some Rudy Project Rydon sunglasses, which only came with
one set
: of lenses. For what they charge, you'd think they'd include three
:
: Anyway, what would be best for overcast conditions, yellow, amber or
: clear? I guess as long as they're not too dark for gloomy weather, one
: of the tinted colors would be more versatile than clear.

What color lenses do you presently have with your Rydon sunglasses? I got
mine with the Racing Reds, but I haven't had a chance to try them out in
overcast conditions yet.

Pat in TX
:

 

[Steve Koterski]

On 23 Aug 2005 14:39:22 -0700, "Plin" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I have some Rudy Project Rydon sunglasses, which only came with one set
>of lenses. For what they charge, you'd think they'd include three
>
>Anyway, what would be best for overcast conditions, yellow, amber or
>clear? I guess as long as they're not too dark for gloomy weather, one
>of the tinted colors would be more versatile than clear.

I believe that "yellow" and "amber" are synonymous, the difference being what
one company calls the color versus what another calls it.

Yellow (or amber, if you will) is supposed to increase contrast. So it is
ostensibly the best for riding when it is foggy, overcast, or misty. It also,
however, almost completely drowns out all colors except yellow (making the
countryside rather dreary).

--
Steve Koterski
Atlanta, Georgia

"Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask
yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you and act accordingly."
-- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

 

[Plin]

<What color lenses do you presently have with your Rydon sunglasses? I
got
mine with the Racing Reds, but I haven't had a chance to try them out
in
overcast conditions yet.>

I have the laser black lenses (dk grey with mirror coating).

With those colored lenses (red, blue, orange), is the color just from
the reflection of light on the coating (e.g. just for cosmetics)? When
wearing them, everything is tinted neutral grey, right?

 

[Chris Neary]

>I believe that "yellow" and "amber" are synonymous, the difference being what
>one company calls the color versus what another calls it.

Not necessarily.

For example, Oakley offers both a yellow and a persimmon (their fancy name
for amber?) lense. The amount of light transmission between the two lenses
is quite different. REF: http://oakley.com/technology/lens_tints/

FWIW, I have a dark lensed set of glasses I use on sunny days and a clear
lense I use in overcast conditions. I've tried a yellow lense and the funky
colors didn't do it for me, plus I didn't see where it helped me more than
the clear lense did.


Chris Neary
[email protected]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

 

[Roger Zoul]

Plin <[email protected]> wrote:
:>I have some Rudy Project Rydon sunglasses, which only came with one
:> set of lenses. For what they charge, you'd think they'd include
:> three
:>
:> Anyway, what would be best for overcast conditions, yellow, amber or
:> clear? I guess as long as they're not too dark for gloomy weather,
:> one of the tinted colors would be more versatile than clear.

IMO, if you're not trying to shield your eyes from intense light, then clear
lenses are good because everything appears pretty much just as it is - makes
riding nicer. IMO.

 

[Pat]

: <What color lenses do you presently have with your Rydon sunglasses? I
: got
: mine with the Racing Reds, but I haven't had a chance to try them out
: in
: overcast conditions yet.>
:
: I have the laser black lenses (dk grey with mirror coating).
:
: With those colored lenses (red, blue, orange), is the color just from
: the reflection of light on the coating (e.g. just for cosmetics)? When
: wearing them, everything is tinted neutral grey, right?

No, not at all. With the red, everything looks sharper, i.e., tree leaves
and other structures. Everything has a slight rosy glow to it. Nothing looks
netural gray.

Pat in TX
:

 

[Steve Koterski]

On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 17:49:52 -0700, Chris Neary <[email protected] > wrote:

>
>>I believe that "yellow" and "amber" are synonymous, the difference being what
>>one company calls the color versus what another calls it.
>
>Not necessarily.
>
>For example, Oakley offers both a yellow and a persimmon (their fancy name
>for amber?) lense. The amount of light transmission between the two lenses
>is quite different. REF: http://oakley.com/technology/lens_tints/

Hmm. Then I must be confused from my years in the US Army. There, we were not
allowed to refer to anything that was yellow as "yellow." Such things had to be
called "amber." (This was because the term "yellow" was too associated with
cowardice and we can't have any soldier talking cowardice.)

So when it comes to the difference between yellow and amber, I guess I can only
see the issue in terms of black and white--no grey areas. This, of course,
should have me seeing red and might cause me to feel blue (or green with envy
for those who can tell the difference between yellow and amber). But I look for
the cloud's silver lining and deal with it all as stoically as I can. It is,
after all, a golden opportunity to experience diversity (of color).

>FWIW, I have a dark lensed set of glasses I use on sunny days and a clear
>lense I use in overcast conditions. I've tried a yellow lense and the funky
>colors didn't do it for me, plus I didn't see where it helped me more than
>the clear lense did.

I agree with this 100%. I never use my yellow lense and instead opt for the
clear one--for the very same reasons you cite. This is why I kinda hedged in my
reply to the original post as to which might be "best," yellow or clear.

--
Steve Koterski
Atlanta, Georgia

"Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask
yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you and act accordingly."
-- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

 

[jj]

On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 07:10:37 -0500, "Pat" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>: <What color lenses do you presently have with your Rydon sunglasses? I
>: got
>: mine with the Racing Reds, but I haven't had a chance to try them out
>: in
>: overcast conditions yet.>
>:
>: I have the laser black lenses (dk grey with mirror coating).
>:
>: With those colored lenses (red, blue, orange), is the color just from
>: the reflection of light on the coating (e.g. just for cosmetics)? When
>: wearing them, everything is tinted neutral grey, right?
>
>No, not at all. With the red, everything looks sharper, i.e., tree leaves
>and other structures. Everything has a slight rosy glow to it. Nothing looks
>netural gray.
>
>Pat in TX

I really like these:

http://www.all3sports.com/product_info.php?pName=optic-nerve-exhale-sunglasses

Optics seem good, they're not extremely expensive, and the persimmon lenses
are good on cloudy as well as sunny days. Also they completely cover the
eye and due to the upswept eyebrow, you don't see the sunglasses top frame
even when your head is down and you're looking with your eyes rolled up.

Interestingly, I like the clearer frames, not the black. With the black
you're too conscious of the frames. With the clearer type frames (the one
on the bottom) the frames are just not noticeable at all.

jj

 

[Plin]

I don't really care about increasing contrast (it would be different of
these were glasses for skiing), so I'll get some clear lenses since
they won't distort colors.

I checked Rudy Project's site - they have clear and "clear laser deg"
lenses. The latter has a mirror coating on the top half only, with
light transmission ranging from 40% to 99%. These sound good for
morning rides which can start out overcast and turn sunny towards the
end.

They cost $55, though (incl shipping). For that price, I might just get
a cheaper pair of clear glasses and not have to hassle with lens
changing.

 

[Andrew Price]

On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:16:32 -0400, Steve Koterski
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Yellow (or amber, if you will) is supposed to increase contrast.

It certainly does that. Black & white photographers used to use
yellow filters for precisely that effect.

 

[Gooserider]

"Plin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've started riding early in the morning when it's usually overcast and
> my regular sunglasses are too dark. I was thinking about buying some
> clear or yellow/amber lenses for this situation, for UV and bug
> protection. Or maybe glasses aren't even necessary. I ride about an
> hour in the morning at a clip of 16mph or so.
>
> What do most of you guys do?

I keep 'em on the top of my head until the sun gets bright enough.
>