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Sports glasses are an integral part of cycling. In hardly any other sport is eye protection so fundamentally important; wind, insects, dust and dirt burn our most important sensory organ, and the sun also stresses our eyes. And no less important for many cyclists: the perfect style includes casually cool cycling glasses, such as the 100% S3 just add it.
Ground lenses or optic clip?
The catch is that people who already wear glasses in normal life are often excluded from using cycling glasses unless they can or want to switch to contact lenses for sport. There are usually two ways for them to find suitable cycling glasses: either they choose a model of glasses whose lenses can be ground to their individual prescription; however, the selection of suitable models is limited and the grinding of the lenses can be several hundred euros expensive. The method usually only works for classically designed glasses with two separate, rather small lenses. Modern shield glasses with large-format and usually one-piece lenses are rarely suitable for this.
The second option is to fit a second frame with prescription lenses behind the sports glasses; this can also work with the large Shield glasses and is a comparatively inexpensive solution. However, it is not without its potential disadvantages: As cycling glasses have to sit close to the face, space behind the lens is tight. This can lead to the additional lens clip touching the face and increasing the tendency to fog up. Depending on the tint of the windscreen, the clip behind it is also more or less visible, which can give the wearer a somewhat owl-like appearance and is not everyone's cup of tea.
New RX Insert optics clip for several 100% models
The Californian eyewear brand 100%, which originally comes from motorsport, has been one of the most popular manufacturers for many cyclists at least since its sponsorship of cycling pop star Peter Sagan. Recently, some 100% models can now be fitted with the "RX Insert" optical clip. It is available in two sizes for the S3 and Speedcraft (large), Speedcraft XS and SL and Slendale and Slendale SL (small) eyewear models. The frame for the ground lenses is made of transparent nylon and costs 45 euros in both sizes. It accepts single vision lenses from +4 to -6.75 dioptres. We tried the RX Insert together with the S3 model (type: polished translucent grey) and photochromic lenses (179 euros). The single vision lenses (-2.75 dioptres on both sides) made for the RX Insert at the local optician cost €50 per lens and €35 to fit into the frame.
The clip is attached to plastic bases, which are part of the spectacle frame and normally support the flexible rubber nose bridge, by means of small eyelets. After inserting the clip, it is placed back on the base. The outer edge of the insert is supported on the inside of the large lens; the largest gap between the prescription lens and the lens should be around four millimetres. However, the combination of glasses and insert - at least the test sample - lacks precision. This should be improved in a future revision. This had no effect on the function and use of the goggles during our test phase so far. We have removed and reinserted the optical clip an estimated 20 times for inspection and cleaning; so far, the filigree bases and the clip's clamping eyelets have coped with this without any problems. However, there are signs that the clamping eyelets on the clip could wear out due to the relatively soft plastic.
First realisation from practice: The optical clip touches the eyebrows, which interestingly enough is noticeable when we put them on, but doesn't bother us on the bike. Second realisation: The view through the glasses with the clip is unusual at first. But you quickly get used to it, just like any other (new) pair of glasses. The initial irritation diminishes from time to time and soon disappears completely. This also applies to the field of vision, which inevitably cannot be quite as large as the huge panoramic windscreen would actually allow.
The weight is noticeable
One aspect that is permanently noticeable is the weight of the glasses. At 35 grams, the S3 is averagely heavy for a pair of Shield glasses of this size, while the optics clip weighs 16 grams with lenses. Together that's 51 grams. The "problem", if you want to call it that, is not so much that the weight puts pressure on the nose; rather, it is that the glasses follow the force of gravity when you lower your head to look at the sprocket on the rear wheel or under an arm when changing gear, for example. The glasses then lift off the nose and you look under the wheel, deprived of the visual aid. The tension of the (non-adjustable) temples on the head cannot prevent this, especially as the S3 is already designed for rather large heads.
The photochromic and only slightly mirrored lens (rose gold mirror photochromic lens) of the S3 remains relatively transparent even at maximum tint, meaning that the optics clip is visible from the outside. Anyone who is bothered by this should consider a more tinted or mirrored version instead of the photochromic lens; the S3 is available in numerous variants. The scope of delivery includes a very robust and spacious hard case and a cloth bag that also serves as a cleaning cloth.
Technical data cycling goggles & optical clip
- Glasses: 100%, model S3, polished translucent grey, 179 Euro >> available here at a reduced price
- Disc: rose gold mirror photochromic lens
- Weight: 35 grammes
- Optics clip100%, RX Insert, large, 45 Euro (16 gram incl. lenses)
- Glasses: Single vision lens, Rupp & Hubrach, plastic, Super ET, 70 mm (50 Euro per lens)
Thomas Musch
Publisher
