Has anybody solved the problem of wearing glasses to ride?

[Bill D]

I've recently returned to cycling after half a lifetime. Everything's going to plan, except that I've been getting a sore stiff neck. On the turbo today it dawned on me what the problem is. I've started to wear glasses since I last rode and my glasses slip down my face when I get hot and sweaty. (sorry.) This means I have to crane my neck up to see forwards through the lenses. Result = neckache. (In fact even without the slippage problem I realise I have to lift up my head much more than 'normal' people do, so as not to be looking over the top of my glasses. I'm not getting any younger so the less I have to tip my head back when I ride, the better.) Now I've tried contact lenses several times but I just can't get along with them. So has anyone out there found an answer to this? I was wondering whether some fancy prescription sunglasses thingies might help, but has anyone got any experience to offer please?

[thirdcrank]

In short, I just got used to it.

I was a bit different to you in that I was cycling when I started wearing glasses, initially only for reading. I used to take a pair of half-moon readers with me. Then it was bifocals and for a while I didn't wear them when I was riding, largely because I could not cope with the reading bit down at the bottom. I did have the usual problems with rain etc but it was the bifocal bit which was the issue for me. As I needed the reading bit more and more, so it became more of a nuisance putting them on to read so I started riding with them on all the time. (I'm now getting used to hearing aids )

[paulah]

Have you tried different frames? I've been wearing marchon flexon titanium frames now for a few years - they never seem to slip and they keep the fit so they don't get loose in between visits to the opticians .

Then again, depending on what your prescription is, there is laser eye surgery

[DaveP]

There's a gadget sold for activities such as canoeing which can help with the slippage problem. Its a strip of neoprene / wet suit material with the ends stitched into a tube. You slip the tubes over the ends of the arms and slide along until its just tight enough to hold the specs in place.

It occurs, though I havent tried this one, that if you could find about half an inch of high pressure rubber tubing (thick wall) or similiar, slit it, and slip it over the bridge of your specs, then they would ride a bit higher. Worth a bit of experimentation maybe?

[patricktaylor]

For cycling, I wear glasses which bigger lenses. They're almost frameless and the lenses are the thinnest plastic I can get, so the glasses are very light, and I can bend the thin metal sides back down behind my ears so they don't tend to slide down my nose (the glasses, I mean). Not very fashionable but it works for me. They also give better eye protection than modern-style glasses with small lenses.

[dkmwt]

Did you ever watch Dennis Taylor play snooker? He had glasses that put the lenses up where you would need them for cycling. Try googling snooker glasses.

[jawaka]

some sports glasses have a band to go around your head, maybe you can buy them for ordinary glasses. i'm going to go for some prescription glasses myself as they do give your eyes protection and prevent them watering all the time

[zenzinnia]

It's probably worth looking at proper sport glasses or cycle specific ones. These tend to have a place were a prescription lens fits behind the interchangable front lens, which can be clear, shaded or yellow (for better contrast on darker rides). Theyu tend to be a bit pricey but probably worth it. I'm intending to get some as soon as I work out which and have a bit of spare cash. At present I'm using really old specs that have a bit that curls round the back of your ears and is sort of springy so it keeps them tight on your face. I find these great for DIY too as they don't fall off whenever your looking down and about to hit a nail with a big hammer!

[squeaker]

Optilabssorted it for me.

[Richard]

Bill,
Looking at it from a slightly different angle - is it mainly occurring when riding the turbo or are you experiencing it on the road too? If you're not supporting the front wheel you're going to be nose down which will make the problem worse. Also, you'll sweat more on the turbo than on the road.

Another thought is that you've aged since last riding seriously. Could your setup need reviewing such that a more upright position may be more desirable?
Rich.

[thirdcrank]

Did you ever watch Dennis Taylor play snooker? He had glasses that put the lenses up where you would need them for cycling. Try googling snooker glasses.

My grandson - third birthday the other day - is already a spectacle wearer and has discovered how to get an all-round laugh by putting his specs on upside down and claiming to be Dennis Taylor . I'd do it myself but the reading bit would then be at the top - and the slippage problem would be even worse

[burnsie]

I was thinking aong the same lines as Richard...possibly adjust seat/handlebars to some extent??

[DavidT]

With a bit of spare cash a couple of years ago I took the plunge with cycling specific prescription frames via Optilabs (See ads in Cycle etc).

Excellent. Glasses stay put and wind deflection is unbelievable - no more streaming eyes while decending. Went for the photochromatic, so work as unglasses as well.

I didn't really want to take the step with cycle fashion glasses - I'm typically plodding along at 12-14mph rather than flat out. Nevertheless the benefits really outweigh my discomfort at "looking the part" (Which I don't!)

[paulah]

Optilabssorted it for me.

I've been looking for weeks for prescription sunglasses that can be made for my astigmatism but they never seem to go stong enough. I didn't have much hope when I checked optilabs but ...

[anniesboy]

For those that only require reading glasses. These are very good /cheap.
http://tinyurl.com/9v489b