Collection: Racing Bike Glasses

GLASSES FOR RACING BIKES

Road cycling is the most popular and widely followed genre of cycling competitions. Racing bikes fascinate millions of people worldwide, both amateurs and professionals, becoming a true tradition and sporting passion since the earliest official competitions in 1868 in Paris organized by the Vélo Club Parisien. Evolving over time, road cycling has become a globally acclaimed discipline, with daily updates on news, favorite athletes, and live broadcasts in the media.

Irrespective of one's level, whether a competitor or a simple amateur, it's well understood that to fully enjoy your outing, it's crucial to use and select the right equipment, starting from your racing bike to the technical clothing.

Specifically, when it comes to glasses for racing bikes, cyclists' needs vary greatly. Some prefer to use the typical mask, while others opt for glasses with separate lenses.

Therefore, we can already establish a clear distinction in the typology of racing bike glasses:

• MASK GLASSES: Typically designed with mirrored lenses, these glasses have a bold and aggressive appearance. They are recommended for those seeking total protection from the air. Unlike glasses with two separate lenses, the mask design provides greater protection from the air, particularly at higher speeds encountered in road cycling compared to mountain biking. The structure of the mask, thanks to advancements in lens materials, maintains a comparable weight to traditional racing bike glasses while offering superior protection from airborne debris and obstacles such as leaves, insects, dust, or small stones.

• GLASSES WITH SEPARATE LENSES: Glasses with separate lenses can also be used beyond road cycling. Cyclists who alternate between road cycling and mountain biking don't necessarily need separate pairs of sports glasses but can utilize the same pair for both activities.

  From a construction standpoint, it's advisable for those practicing both disciplines to choose frames with thicker temples. These temples provide protection from leaves, branches, and other small obstacles encountered during mountain biking. While the thicker temples have an aesthetic value when used for road cycling, they have less impact on protection from obstacles in that environment.

When it comes to lenses, it's a highly personal factor for every cyclist. There's no precise rule on the ideal lens to choose for racing bike glasses since preferences vary widely. However, we can categorize the types of lenses we mount on our glasses to help understand which one might be most suitable for you:

PHOTOCHROMIC LENSES: These lenses undergo a reversible chemical reaction when exposed to UV radiation or sunlight, darkening in response. Once the light exposure diminishes, the lenses gradually return to their initial transparent state. They are suitable for both mountain biking and road cycling, so it's important to specify which type performs best for your chosen discipline:

PHOTOCHROMIC SMOKE: Recommended for Mountain Biking, these lenses start off completely transparent (Category 1) and darken up to Category 2.5. They remain slightly clearer during maximum work to aid the eye in adapting more quickly from light to shadow. This feature allows athletes to maintain performance without the need to remove glasses when entering shaded areas. In dense forest zones, the lens will be fully transparent, providing protection from airborne debris such as leaves and branches. This gradual transition also makes it suitable for night outings as simple protection from the air.

PHOTOCHROMIC DCHROM: Suitable for both Mountain Biking and Road Cycling, these lenses start off slightly veiled (Category 1) and darken until reaching Category 3 (similar darkness to common sunglasses). They are particularly recommended for prolonged use without significant light-dark variations. Using this lens for road cycling ensures you have glasses that you never need to take off. Similar conditions apply for mountain biking, except in dense bush zones where it might feel slightly dark. We don't recommend this lens for those seeking glasses suitable for night outings.

Below is a comparison between a Photochromic Smoke lens and a Photochromic DCHROM lens.

DCHANGE: Primarily designed for road cycling, the DCHANGE lens package includes a set of 3 lenses that enable the use of cycling glasses in all atmospheric conditions, from intense sun to cloudy days, rain, and night or low-light outings. The set of interchangeable lenses includes:

» Smoke lens: Category 3, providing UV ray protection. Offers optimal performance in sunny weather and bright conditions.

» Orange lens: Category 2, offering UV ray protection. Provides optimal performance in cloudy weather or low-light conditions.

» Transparent lens: Category 1, also ensuring UV ray protection. Provides optimal performance in rainy or very low-light conditions, as well as during night outings.

While these cycling glasses can also be used for mountain biking, we recommend opting for a photochromic lens for the latter to achieve maximum performance.

Below is an example of the lenses included (smoke mirrored, orange, and transparent):

CATEGORY 3 SMOKE LENS: This is the same Smoke lens included as standard in the DCHANGE package. It's particularly recommended for use in road cycling during sunny days. This type of lens is often preferred by those seeking training glasses, where they may opt for a slightly less comprehensive lens package that meets their needs without additional features.