We have been in Suffolk for three weeks now and like most of the country the weather continues to be stunning.....
I have been getting out on the bike every other day usually going out in the morning and getting back about 1300hrs just in time to have a shower grab some lunch (and over this past week) settle down to an afternoon of watching the Tour de France......
Doing a lot of regular riding and also seeing all the pro riders taking part in the Giro d'Italia some weeks ago got me thinking again about riding/sunglasses....
Over a number of years now I have kept promising myself a pair of Oakley glasses....
Up to now I have used Tifosi Eyewear riding glasses..... Although they have had some quite good reviews in the cycling press my reason for choosing them was because they had the same name as my training bike the 'Tifosi' silly I know but I am being honest here Ha...Ha...
Although they seemed to do the job I always wondered whether Oakleys would be better,,,,,
The Tifosi glasses were mid priced and I must admit that every time I thought about a pair of Oakleys it was the price that put me off.... I felt that I just couldn't justify spending somewhere in the region of between £120 to £200 on a pair of sunglasses...
I didn't believe that the gain (if any) would be worth the expense....
Anyway when we were back in Canterbury I passed an independent optician and they had a large selection of Oakleys on display in their window....
Now independent shops I like rather than a national chain.... the display in the window was really eye catching too so I ventured in...
I tried on a number of different styles but the pair that I really liked was the style that I have being thinking about for a couple of years..... the Oakley Jawbreaker.
Apparently Mark Cavendish had an input into the design of these.... they are slightly higher above the eyeline than a lot of glasses so that when you are sprinting down on the drops (as Cavendish does) the top of the frame does not obscure any of the view.... not that I intend doing any sprinting down on the drops very often....
The jawbreakers have the 'Prizm Road' lenses which according to all the advertising blurb are supposed to help you spot subtle changes in the texture of the road surfaces.... did I believe all that...no I didn't but I did like the glasses.... I'd been thinking about a pair for a long time so I treated myself and splashed out and bought a pair.....
So are they any good...?. Are they worth the wedge of cash spent on them....?
Well surprising to say...Yes and Yes.
First of all they our beyond comfortable to wear....
The Tifosi's would always seem to press down on my nose no matter how much I adjusted the rubber nose piece and every so often I would have to push them back up my nose a little as they always seemed to slip down.....
The Jawbreakers have been comfortable from day one with no adjustment required and I have not experienced any slippage on the nose at all.....
The length of the arms can be adjusted in three different positions if needed.
I have mine on the longest length and they fit perfectly....
As for the claim about spotting subtle changes in the road surface.....well that seems to be true.
I have found that the clarity of these glasses is superb. I have now used them over about 450 miles of mixed riding and actually look forward to putting them on......
Were they worth the money I spent on them ?
Well from my perspective yes they were.....
The only question I have is why did I leave it so long before buying a pair??
**NB: I have received no payment or incentive regarding my mention of this product.
I have been getting out on the bike every other day usually going out in the morning and getting back about 1300hrs just in time to have a shower grab some lunch (and over this past week) settle down to an afternoon of watching the Tour de France......
Doing a lot of regular riding and also seeing all the pro riders taking part in the Giro d'Italia some weeks ago got me thinking again about riding/sunglasses....
Over a number of years now I have kept promising myself a pair of Oakley glasses....
Up to now I have used Tifosi Eyewear riding glasses..... Although they have had some quite good reviews in the cycling press my reason for choosing them was because they had the same name as my training bike the 'Tifosi' silly I know but I am being honest here Ha...Ha...
Although they seemed to do the job I always wondered whether Oakleys would be better,,,,,
The Tifosi glasses were mid priced and I must admit that every time I thought about a pair of Oakleys it was the price that put me off.... I felt that I just couldn't justify spending somewhere in the region of between £120 to £200 on a pair of sunglasses...
I didn't believe that the gain (if any) would be worth the expense....
Anyway when we were back in Canterbury I passed an independent optician and they had a large selection of Oakleys on display in their window....
Now independent shops I like rather than a national chain.... the display in the window was really eye catching too so I ventured in...
I tried on a number of different styles but the pair that I really liked was the style that I have being thinking about for a couple of years..... the Oakley Jawbreaker.
Apparently Mark Cavendish had an input into the design of these.... they are slightly higher above the eyeline than a lot of glasses so that when you are sprinting down on the drops (as Cavendish does) the top of the frame does not obscure any of the view.... not that I intend doing any sprinting down on the drops very often....
The jawbreakers have the 'Prizm Road' lenses which according to all the advertising blurb are supposed to help you spot subtle changes in the texture of the road surfaces.... did I believe all that...no I didn't but I did like the glasses.... I'd been thinking about a pair for a long time so I treated myself and splashed out and bought a pair.....
 |
| My Oakley Jawbreakers |
Well surprising to say...Yes and Yes.
First of all they our beyond comfortable to wear....
The Tifosi's would always seem to press down on my nose no matter how much I adjusted the rubber nose piece and every so often I would have to push them back up my nose a little as they always seemed to slip down.....
The Jawbreakers have been comfortable from day one with no adjustment required and I have not experienced any slippage on the nose at all.....
The length of the arms can be adjusted in three different positions if needed.
I have mine on the longest length and they fit perfectly....
As for the claim about spotting subtle changes in the road surface.....well that seems to be true.
I have found that the clarity of these glasses is superb. I have now used them over about 450 miles of mixed riding and actually look forward to putting them on......
Were they worth the money I spent on them ?
Well from my perspective yes they were.....
The only question I have is why did I leave it so long before buying a pair??
 |
| My Oakley Jawbreakers with 'Prism Road Technology' lenses |
I know riders who swear by Oakley so its good you're pleased with them. I have prescription lenses so in Jan this year I treated myself to some reactolites and I'm pleased with them. Its been good to have them in this weather.
ReplyDeleteI used to need prescription lenses too until having laser treatment following the temporary loss of sight in one eye following my big cycle crash a few years ago.. Up until then I used a prescription insert on my cycling glasses......
ReplyDeleteCool specs. I haven't bought a pair of sunglasses for years. I tend to rely on glasses I find by the side of the road. Sadly they have often come with a few scratches but my most recent find are absolutely scratch free and have polarized lenses and they fit me perfectly and they are extremely comfortable. After so many years of wearing literal trash, I truly appreciate a decent pair of glasses. (Feel sorry for whoever lost these)
ReplyDelete@David J
ReplyDeleteI've never managed to find any glasses by the side of the road..Ha...ha. Your latest find sounds first class you are obviously far luckier than I am on the finding sunglasses front.😊