Hey, I'm getting Peeper correctors! Advice?

[Roger Buchanan]

Never had glasses before, but now's the time. I knew it was coming
eventually as of last year, but a recent event had me address the issue
immediately. (Going through a suburban highway intersection at 45mph and
looking up and seeing the the turn arrow is actually a LEFT turn arrow,
not straight through, does that to a body. To the guy in the minivan
with the incredulous look on his face.... Sorry!)

These will be for long distance stuff, not reading.

Anyway, more on the topic of mountain biking. What should I look for
when I get my spectacles? Do frames really matter? What about lens
composition? Should I get any kinds of "coating"? What about lenses that
darken in the sun, are they good for riding? Would a separate pair of
glasses be better?

I'm thinking function over fashion. Value over style. I don't mind
spending the money, just not on gold impregnated frames encrusted with
jewels.

Does Chris King make optical glasses? I know there are CK beer
glasses...;-p

Any other advice, insights, recommendations into glasses would be
appreciated.

Thanks folks!
--
- Rog

http://www.wpcusrgrp.org/~rogerbuchanan/index.html

NOTE: to Reply to this, remove the phrase "NOSPAM"
from my "Reply To:" address, or it will be returned.

[Shaun aRe]

"Roger Buchanan" > wrote in message
...
> Never had glasses before, but now's the time. I knew it was coming
> eventually as of last year, but a recent event had me address the issue
> immediately. (Going through a suburban highway intersection at 45mph and
> looking up and seeing the the turn arrow is actually a LEFT turn arrow,
> not straight through, does that to a body. To the guy in the minivan
> with the incredulous look on his face.... Sorry!)
>
> These will be for long distance stuff, not reading.
>
> Anyway, more on the topic of mountain biking. What should I look for
> when I get my spectacles? Do frames really matter? What about lens
> composition? Should I get any kinds of "coating"? What about lenses that
> darken in the sun, are they good for riding? Would a separate pair of
> glasses be better?
>
> I'm thinking function over fashion. Value over style. I don't mind
> spending the money, just not on gold impregnated frames encrusted with
> jewels.
>
> Does Chris King make optical glasses? I know there are CK beer
> glasses...;-p
>
> Any other advice, insights, recommendations into glasses would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks folks!

Well, I do know you can get titanium framed glasses...

',;~}~

Shaun aRe

[just a guy that likes to ride in the dirt]

"Roger Buchanan" > wrote in message
...
> Never had glasses before.........<snip>
>
I've had them since the fifth grade. My eyes are ****, with one being much
worse than the other. That does wonders for depth perception. My riding is
limited more by my eyes, than my skill level. It's all good though, I still
have my semi-barney trails out back, and continue to expand them. :)

[small change]

..
>
> Anyway, more on the topic of mountain biking. What should I look for
> when I get my spectacles? Do frames really matter? What about lens
> composition? Should I get any kinds of "coating"? What about lenses
> that darken in the sun, are they good for riding? Would a separate
> pair of glasses be better?
>

Costco has excellent durable frames for not a lot of $$
Anti glare coatings really scratch up fast
photo greys are not the same thing as real sunglasses so consider
prescrition... my eyes are borderline so I just ditch the glasses and wear
sunglasses.

Penny S

[Andy Chequer]

> Anyway, more on the topic of mountain biking. What should I look for
> when I get my spectacles? Do frames really matter? What about lens
> composition? Should I get any kinds of "coating"? What about lenses that
> darken in the sun, are they good for riding? Would a separate pair of
> glasses be better?

I've worn glasses for as long as I remember (I am monumentally
shortsighted). Being a tight so-and-so I've always just used my ordinary
glasses for MTB and they don't fall off (the helmet straps see to that).

MTBing does nasty things to glasses, mainly from those moments where you
choose to stop the world spinning with your face, and trying to clear the
mud off them with an equally muddy glove (water from a bottle or camelbak is
the ticket here). IME the scratch resistant coatings are good, as are the
anti-reflective coatings - I know this because I bought a set that weren't
and the difference was tangible in both departments.

The unsticking of ordinary glasses in an MTB environment comes if you want
lenses that aren't merely clear. Any kind of clip on is fundamentally evil
so don't be tempted. I once had some Polaroid glasses (I'm not proud of it)
and I thought they were lethal in MTBing - think flying along in bright
sunlight with them very darkly tinted, only to crash headlong into a cow
lurking stealthily in the shade of the treeline.

I gather that prescription sports sunglasses can be had, and that they cost
a lot. I can see the benefit of having a pair that you use for sports and a
pair for other use, as the pair that work on the trail are unlikely to make
you look studious and interesting in the corner of a bar. Not that I spend a
lot of time in the corners of bars trying to look studious and interesting,
you understand.

Andy Chequer

[Shawn]

Roger Buchanan wrote:
> Never had glasses before, but now's the time. I knew it was coming
> eventually as of last year, but a recent event had me address the issue
> immediately. (Going through a suburban highway intersection at 45mph and
> looking up and seeing the the turn arrow is actually a LEFT turn arrow,
> not straight through, does that to a body. To the guy in the minivan
> with the incredulous look on his face.... Sorry!)
>
> These will be for long distance stuff, not reading.
>
> Anyway, more on the topic of mountain biking. What should I look for
> when I get my spectacles? Do frames really matter? What about lens
> composition? Should I get any kinds of "coating"? What about lenses that
> darken in the sun, are they good for riding? Would a separate pair of
> glasses be better?
>
> I'm thinking function over fashion. Value over style. I don't mind
> spending the money, just not on gold impregnated frames encrusted with
> jewels.
>
> Does Chris King make optical glasses? I know there are CK beer
> glasses...;-p
>
> Any other advice, insights, recommendations into glasses would be
> appreciated.

I'll second Penny's Costco recommendation for regular specs.
I went whole hog last year and got Oakley prescription shades. Great
investment ($275 for "Minutes" with gray lenses). Oakley makes lenses
that wrap around and still give good correction off to the sides. The
frames are tough, and stay put well while riding, but I clean them
*very* carefully, fairly soft lens material.
I use neutral gray tinting. I've had problems with distinguishing the
light brown dirt of a trail from dried grass while using amber tinted
shades. Green and red tints just screw up my color perception way too much.
Also, if you do anything out doors where you use an LED screen, watch
out for polarized lenses. The screen may look black unless you turn
them or your head 90 degrees! This is an issue with some GPSs.

Shawn

[David]

"Roger Buchanan" > wrote in message ...
> Any other advice, insights, recommendations into glasses would be
> appreciated.

Riding in contacts is easier for me than glasses, although typically I do neither. Easier in terms
of depth perception, reading the trail, etc, not in terms of dust management. YMMV I guess
depending on your perscription, and if you get contacts, your lens type.

I wouldn't recommend disposable 1 day contacts though--I had a very bad experience with them.
Other soft lenses worked OK for me, although after the bad experience, I think my contact
days are over.

[tcmedara]

Roger Buchanan wrote:
>
> Any other advice, insights, recommendations into glasses would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks folks!

Agree w/ Penny's recommendation of Costco. Lenscrafters or similar shops
also have some decent prices. Check the Sunday paper. The chain shops are
a bit more expensive than Costco, but selection may be better and the
customer service can be pretty good -- walk in w/ broken glasses, walk out
in ten minutes fixed, usually for nothing (that's right Scottie, nothing at
all). I'm also a big fan of prescription sunglasses, particularly for
athletic activities where eyesight matters.

Even better -- contacts. I use disposable soft lenses. Again, Costco can't
be beat. Started wearing them three years ago and won't go back. May take
some getting used to at first, especially if you've never worn glasses, but
well worth the effort. YMMV.

Good luck Four Eyes. Post pictures of your stylin' new frames!

Tom

[RonSonic]

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 07:34:25 -0600, Roger Buchanan >
wrote:

>Never had glasses before, but now's the time. I knew it was coming
>eventually as of last year, but a recent event had me address the issue
>immediately. (Going through a suburban highway intersection at 45mph and
>looking up and seeing the the turn arrow is actually a LEFT turn arrow,
>not straight through, does that to a body. To the guy in the minivan
>with the incredulous look on his face.... Sorry!)
>
>These will be for long distance stuff, not reading.
>
>Anyway, more on the topic of mountain biking. What should I look for
>when I get my spectacles? Do frames really matter? What about lens
>composition? Should I get any kinds of "coating"? What about lenses that
>darken in the sun, are they good for riding? Would a separate pair of
>glasses be better?
>
>I'm thinking function over fashion. Value over style. I don't mind
>spending the money, just not on gold impregnated frames encrusted with
>jewels.
>
>Does Chris King make optical glasses? I know there are CK beer
>glasses...;-p
>
>Any other advice, insights, recommendations into glasses would be
>appreciated.
>
>Thanks folks!

Been wearing glasses forever. Everybody's got a twofer sale of some sort. Use
it. Get the ones to wear normal and business like and the pair for slogging
through the woods. The photo's aren't as cool as either regulars or shades. I
usually get a medium gray for the tints. Not as dark as shades but far more
versatile.

Croakies work if you have a problem keeping them on.

Ron